Alaska 2016 Planning!

[l4dk]

Hello,
Need help with hotel planning in Vancouver. This will be our first Alaskan cruise and first time in Vancouver. Are 3 full days enough for sightseeing or do you recommend less?
We are a family of 7 so will need 2 hotel rooms. Will love to stay with the Hilton chain to take advantage of HH benefits but need help with the hotel selection. I am trying to reduce the cost and the Hampton Downtown will be great but a little more than what I was expecting. Anyone familiar with the Hilton Metrotown? Is this property to far or what about the ones around the airport? Any other recommendation on hotels even if we have to get something other than Hilton? Do you need to rent a car? Thank you so much in advance for all your comments.

 

[bcwife76]

3 days is a good amount of time for sightseeing around Vancouver, you can get a lot done and won't feel rushed. I would not stay as far out as the Hilton at Metrotown, that is in Burnaby and a good 20+ minutes from downtown Vancouver. There is nothing around there except the mall. Stay downtown if you can. The airport is also a good 20-30-minutes from downtown so if you are planning on staying in Vancouver for 3 days, you will want to be closer to the action than that.

 

[sharksfinatic17]

Hello,
Need help with hotel planning in Vancouver. This will be our first Alaskan cruise and first time in Vancouver. Are 3 full days enough for sightseeing or do you recommend less?
We are a family of 7 so will need 2 hotel rooms. Will love to stay with the Hilton chain to take advantage of HH benefits but need help with the hotel selection. I am trying to reduce the cost and the Hampton Downtown will be great but a little more than what I was expecting. Anyone familiar with the Hilton Metrotown? Is this property to far or what about the ones around the airport? Any other recommendation on hotels even if we have to get something other than Hilton? Do you need to rent a car? Thank you so much in advance for all your comments.

We were in Vancouver from mid-day Friday to the time the cruise left on Monday. We spent Friday in downtown Vancouver and went out to Granville Market, Saturday we went to Stanley Park and Sunday we went to Grouse Mountain and Capilano Suspension Bridge. For our hotel we stayed at the Pinnacle Hotel Vancouver Harbourfront. It wasn't the fanciest of hotels, but the location was great. We walked with our luggage to the ship.

 

[xlxo]

I vote to skip the Hilton Metrotown. The walk to the train station and the time on the train will not be enjoyable.

You can spend a few weeks there with countless opportunities. Some ideas....

• Day 1.... Grouse Mountain and Capilano Suspension Bridge
• Day 2.... Hop On with a focus on Stanley Park and Granville Island.
• Day 3.... Victoria or Whistler day trip?
• Additional days.... we can give you ideas for a few weeks...
  • Weather contingency?
  • Storybrooke?
  • Banff can fill a week?
  • Seattle side excursion?
  • Vanduzen? Festivals?
  • Shopping?
  • food???

@l4dk: Can you share your cruise day.... we can help identify season opportunities.

 

[l4dk]

3 days is a good amount of time for sightseeing around Vancouver, you can get a lot done and won't feel rushed. I would not stay as far out as the Hilton at Metrotown, that is in Burnaby and a good 20+ minutes from downtown Vancouver. There is nothing around there except the mall. Stay downtown if you can. The airport is also a good 20-30-minutes from downtown so if you are planning on staying in Vancouver for 3 days, you will want to be closer to the action than that.

Thank you, totally right!

 

[l4dk]

I vote to skip the Hilton Metrotown. The walk to the train station and the time on the train will not be enjoyable.

You can spend a few weeks there with countless opportunities. Some ideas....

• Day 1.... Grouse Mountain and Capilano Suspension Bridge
• Day 2.... Hop On with a focus on Stanley Park and Granville Island.
• Day 3.... Victoria or Whistler day trip?
• Additional days.... we can give you ideas for a few weeks...
  • Weather contingency?
  • Storybrooke?
  • Banff can fill a week?
  • Seattle side excursion?
  • Vanduzen? Festivals?
  • Shopping?
  • food???

@l4dk: Can you share your cruise day.... we can help identify season opportunities.

Great, Thank you for the suggestions. Any hotel recommendation? We are cruising 06/27/15. Thanks again

 

[l4dk]

We were in Vancouver from mid-day Friday to the time the cruise left on Monday. We spent Friday in downtown Vancouver and went out to Granville Market, Saturday we went to Stanley Park and Sunday we went to Grouse Mountain and Capilano Suspension Bridge. For our hotel we stayed at the Pinnacle Hotel Vancouver Harbourfront. It wasn't the fanciest of hotels, but the location was great. We walked with our luggage to the ship.

Thank you! Did you rent a car?

 

[xlxo]

Great, Thank you for the suggestions. Any hotel recommendation? We are cruising 06/27/15. Thanks again

You are cruising just before the busy July 1st weekend. You are missing the worst of the city's congestion. Perfect.

Hotel wise, the Hampton downtown is best if you want to stay with the Hilton chain. Otherwise I would be looking for hotels further West on Robson (Blue Horizon) for more restaurant and ambient life.

 

[sharksfinatic17]

Thank you! Did you rent a car?

So you are sailing the week after we did. We took the train from Seattle to Vancouver and then a taxi to the hotel. To get to Granville Island we took the bus, and we walked to Stanley Park and did their hop on hop off trolley. To get to Grouse Mountain we took their free shuttle bus from Canada Place, took the Grouse Mountian shuttle to Capilano and then the bus and water ferry back to Vancouver. So a real long answer to your question, no we did not rent a car.

 

[anricat]

You are cruising just before the busy July 1st weekend. You are missing the worst of the city's congestion. Perfect.

Hotel wise, the Hampton downtown is best if you want to stay with the Hilton chain. Otherwise I would be looking for hotels further West on Robson (Blue Horizon) for more restaurant and ambient life.

We are taking several DIS members recommendations and staying at Blue Horizon in August. I'm super excited. It looks like a fantastic location and the price is amazing, especially with a AAA discount.