A couple of Alaska 2016 questions

[matheke]

When you fly into Vancouver where does ground transportation pick you up? I am assuming the Airport?

Is it cheaper to arrange your own transport to the ship?

Since we will fly in a day early, where do you stay for the night. Really don't care to do much sightseeing and are just looking for a meal, a shower and a good nights sleep along with a ride back to the airport/ship.

Thanks

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

When you fly into Vancouver where does ground transportation pick you up? I am assuming the Airport?

Is it cheaper to arrange your own transport to the ship?

Since we will fly in a day early, where do you stay for the night. Really don't care to do much sightseeing and are just looking for a meal, a shower and a good nights sleep along with a ride back to the airport/ship.

Thanks

I did my own transfers far cheaper a well appointed airport easy to navigate and you find everything just outside.

 

[jdb in AZ]

When you fly into Vancouver where does ground transportation pick you up? I am assuming the Airport?

Is it cheaper to arrange your own transport to the ship?

Since we will fly in a day early, where do you stay for the night. Really don't care to do much sightseeing and are just looking for a meal, a shower and a good nights sleep along with a ride back to the airport/ship.

Thanks

Vancouver hosts a lot of conventions so there are a lot of hotels. You can check Orbitz, Priceline, or other search engine to get a good deal. Rooms near the airport are generally cheaper than those near the cruise terminal.

 

[sdjen]

Not sure when you are cruising but you might want to start looking now for research. If you find a good rate, book it now. I found a $145 rate at the Hyatt on last minute travel about 10 months out. The rate now is more than double that but we are there on a holiday weekend. There are some highly rated hotels by the airport that might be quite a bit less. If you are only there overnight, you can just grab a taxi the next morning. From the airport to pier is about $35-$40. It is a fairly expensive town.

 

[sharksfinatic17]

The Vancouver airport has a hotel attached - The Fairmont - which is very nice. A taxi will cost a little over $40 with tip and most seemed to hold three people although there is a van that can hold more. We stayed at Pinnacle Harbourfront which is walking distance to Canada Place (10 minutes with luggage). I made our reservation through last minute travel for $136 a night.

 

[anricat]

We are cruising August 2016, but I'm a planner and I'll book the hotel very first day I can so I've been in research mode the last couple of weeks! We can't afford anything too expensive and we plan to stay a couple days in Vancouver before we cruise. We are planning to stay at the Days Inn. It looks to be around $120-150/night depending on the day (US dollars) and it's fairly close to the cruise terminal and other activities we might want to do. It has good reviews on trip advisor. Now I just need to decide how I want to book it. I'm thinking I should be able to book in September or October. We'll either take a cab or the train. Might come down to how much luggage we have.

 

[Geomom]

We are cruising August 2016, but I'm a planner and I'll book the hotel very first day I can so I've been in research mode the last couple of weeks! We can't afford anything too expensive and we plan to stay a couple days in Vancouver before we cruise. We are planning to stay at the Days Inn. It looks to be around $120-150/night depending on the day (US dollars) and it's fairly close to the cruise terminal and other activities we might want to do. It has good reviews on trip advisor. Now I just need to decide how I want to book it. I'm thinking I should be able to book in September or October. We'll either take a cab or the train. Might come down to how much luggage we have.

We're doing the 8/8/16 cruise. I'm also a planner and have looked around at stuff, but want to wait to book hotel until after we book flights--while I'd like to fly in on Saturday...if Friday is a lot cheaper, we might do that. I was looking at the Radisson airport location as it's right next to Canada Line.

 

[matheke]

Thanks for the input folks.

 

[NYKaren]

We are cruising August 2016, but I'm a planner and I'll book the hotel very first day I can so I've been in research mode the last couple of weeks! We can't afford anything too expensive and we plan to stay a couple days in Vancouver before we cruise. We are planning to stay at the Days Inn. It looks to be around $120-150/night depending on the day (US dollars) and it's fairly close to the cruise terminal and other activities we might want to do. It has good reviews on trip advisor. Now I just need to decide how I want to book it. I'm thinking I should be able to book in September or October. We'll either take a cab or the train. Might come down to how much luggage we have.[/QUO

We are cruising August 2016, but I'm a planner and I'll book the hotel very first day I can so I've been in research mode the last couple of weeks! We can't afford anything too expensive and we plan to stay a couple days in Vancouver before we cruise. We are planning to stay at the Days Inn. It looks to be around $120-150/night depending on the day (US dollars) and it's fairly close to the cruise terminal and other activities we might want to do. It has good reviews on trip advisor. Now I just need to decide how I want to book it. I'm thinking I should be able to book in September or October. We'll either take a cab or the train. Might come down to how much luggage we have.

Taxi to the pier is very inexpensive if you are staying downtown Vancouver. Last year, we stayed at Blue Horizons hotel on Robson St. It's near all good restaurants and shops and is only 5 minutes from the pier. Prices are inexpensive for downtown Vancouver and should be around $125/night. Very clean and centrally located hotel!

 

[Grammy4Lizzy]

We took a cab (van) from the airport. $35.00 flat rate to Canada Place. We stayed at Pan Pacific. We paid a lot. Not worth the price. Rooms are small and only double beds, not even queens. Restaraunt in hotel was very slow and poor service with an attitude for too much money.
We took the cab back to airport, just a little cheaper.
We were 3 adults and a 10 year old child. The cab drivers were very nice and helped with the bags.

 

[anricat]

We're doing the 8/8/16 cruise. I'm also a planner and have looked around at stuff, but want to wait to book hotel until after we book flights--while I'd like to fly in on Saturday...if Friday is a lot cheaper, we might do that. I was looking at the Radisson airport location as it's right next to Canada Line.

Same cruise! *waves*

I don't think my DH can take any more time off than he will be so we'll definitely be flying in Saturday.

 

[disprincess4ever]

The Hampton Inn is awesome! Not directly at the cruise port, bit farther into the city. Next to the BC Place stadium where the Fifa woman's soccer finals were held last weekend. The hotel has queen beds, the staff is very friendly, there's a lovely rooftop terrace, and breakfast is included. Costs more than a typical Hampton Inn but still cheaper that the standard non discounted port hotel rates. 31 CAD for a taxi ride from the airport to the hotel. 8.40 CAD for a ride from the hotel to the cruise port. The hotel also has a free shuttle that can take you to the port. It's about a mile walk to Canada Place to get to excursions and such. Pretty easy and flat walk, takes about 15 min moderate pace. The city is gorgeous and fun to walk through. Very safe area. Lots of designer shops on Robson street (which the hotel is on). Some quick cheap eats around the hotel as well as a nice sit down restaurant that serves Italian next door. Less than 5 minute walk to fresh pizza, Vietnamese, ramen, Dairy Queen, McDonalds, Japadog.

 

[Cousin Orville]

... Japadog.

I had to look this up. A Japanese hotdog?! This is the first I've heard of such a thing. Genius!

 

[disprincess4ever]

I had to look this up. A Japanese hotdog?! This is the first I've heard of such a thing. Genius!

To be honest, I never got around to trying it, which I regret. It's a very famous place and one of the top eateries in Vancouver. According to most people, seaweed on a hotdog is a great combo! Wish I had tried it but passed by at the worst times eating schedule wise.

Also, I have to add that the Canadian McDonalds is much better than the American one. Tried their "greeking out" salad and it was very high quality, close to Panera Bread level. Now if only the American McDonalds could get their game together...

 

[bulldog42]

Same cruise! *waves*

I don't think my DH can take any more time off than he will be so we'll definitely be flying in Saturday.

We are on this cruise as well!!!

 

[xlxo]

I had to look this up. A Japanese hotdog?! This is the first I've heard of such a thing. Genius!

To be honest, I never got around to trying it, which I regret. It's a very famous place and one of the top eateries in Vancouver. According to most people, seaweed on a hotdog is a great combo! Wish I had tried it but passed by at the worst times eating schedule wise.

Also, I have to add that the Canadian McDonalds is much better than the American one. Tried their "greeking out" salad and it was very high quality, close to Panera Bread level. Now if only the American McDonalds could get their game together...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japadog
http://www.japadog.com/
http://www.japadog.com/history_En.html

It's not the seaweed... it's the "miso-mayo" that many find addictive. During the Olympics, people would wait over 2 hours for a dog.

Amazing story of husband & wife new immigrants. Had a difficult time selling hot dogs with other competition in 2005. Add some Japanese fusion... it's become a narcotic.

 

[xlxo]

Also, I have to add that the Canadian McDonalds is much better than the American one. Tried their "greeking out" salad and it was very high quality, close to Panera Bread level. Now if only the American McDonalds could get their game together...

Really? I notice Canadian MickeyDee's downsize the drinks and burger sizes. Does American burgers use marbled meats, while Canadians choose healthier lean meats?

 

[MommyMeNDisney]

To be honest, I never got around to trying it, which I regret. It's a very famous place and one of the top eateries in Vancouver. According to most people, seaweed on a hotdog is a great combo! Wish I had tried it but passed by at the worst times eating schedule wise.

Also, I have to add that the Canadian McDonalds is much better than the American one. Tried their "greeking out" salad and it was very high quality, close to Panera Bread level. Now if only the American McDonalds could get their game together...

Were the lines long at Japadog whenever you passed by?

 

[disprincess4ever]

Were the lines long at Japadog whenever you passed by?

As I mentioned earlier, I passed by at weird eating times so never saw much of a line. Around 4pm on a Sunday there was a small line, maybe 8-10 people long? I imagine it's very crowded for lunch.

 

[disprincess4ever]

Really? I notice Canadian MickeyDee's downsize the drinks and burger sizes. Does American burgers use marbled meats, while Canadians choose healthier lean meats?

Can't say I tried their burgers or ordered a drink. I was only commenting on their salads as well as some of the menu offerings they were promoting. One was a McLobster, which was pricey but looked good. They had some other limited time offerings promoting "Canadian taste" or something that looked good. Also, I live in an area where the McDonalds are run down, dirty, and not the friendliest. So to go to one that had friendly service and was clean was surprising to me. I know America has nice McDonalds buildings as well, but not the same menu. Also, the McDonalds in the foot court near Canada Place didn't have the new, healthier options like the one near the Hampton Inn on Robson street did.