Anyone been to Vancouver?

[Netty]

Hi!
We are in the middle of planning a research trip to Vancouver for 10 days just after Easter. As some of you know, we are applying to emmigrate to Canada
If anyone has any info or advice for us we would really appreciate it.
If we can we might have time to go to Calgary as well..
With this trip coming up, i doubt if we can do a trip to wdw this year, i have suggested to dh about going for a week over xmas though if we don't get our 2 week fix in the summer!!

 

[Hilary]

Hi there

We spent two weeks in Vancouver, Whistler and Victoria in the summer of 2003. Ours was purely a holiday, so the kind of information I might still have would be geared to a tourist's eye view rather than someone going to live there, but I'd be happy to help if I can

What kind of thing are you hoping to find out?

 

[Netty]

hi Hilary,
What was your overall impression of Vancouver and surrounding areas?
what about the prices over there, is it reasonable, are the cities clean, etc etc!
any info you have got would be appreciated
thanks!

 

[Hilary]

Overall impression of Vancouver and surrounding area? We liked the surrounding area more than the city itself, although we had only three nights in Vancouver. From what we saw it's a very pleasant city with lots of space and wonderful open areas like Stanley Park and Grouse Mountain almost side by side with the shops and restuarants. Our favourite parts were Granville Island, Lonsdale Market and Stanley Park.

Of the other areas we visited, we all loved Whistler and would really like to go back there. Victoria was a much more manageable city than Vancouver and the ferry between the mainland and Vancouver Island makes it seem a world away. We stayed a couple of nights inland on the island and loved the easy pace here. All in all, I'd prefer to spend more time on Vancouver island (both inland and in Victoria) and in Whistler than in Vancouver, but I certainly wouldn't say "no" if you offered me another trip to Vancouver .

I can't remember much about the prices which makes me think it must have been comparable to UK prices - otherwise I'd be more likely to remember!

Just shout if there's anything else I can try answering about our trip or see my trip report which may give you more of an insight. I'd love to return one day, but air fares seem expensive, even by Florida standards!

 

[cabmom]

Hi Netty,
Jump on over to the Canada Board so we can help you with your questions. I know there are people from BC there.
Please come and visit in Ontario when you get a chance. I hear the weather is much better in BC than it is here in the winter. It's been -34 with the wind chill this last week! It's been over 0 in BC this week and looks to be your kind of weather for the next week.

Enjoy your trip!

Marilynn

 

[Abba98]

Hi there,found your post very interesting.I'm Canadian,and we visited Wales in '98.........Loved North Wales,stayed at Ruthin Castle.My Mom is of Welsh descent,was a Thomas........
I was born in Vancouver,BC,and only lived there as a baby,but have visited a few times as an adult,and it's awesome.........Very clean,great climate,and overall,a beautiful city.I loved it especially when they hosted Expo '86.
I live in Nova Scotia,and that's the other end of Canada (Atlantic Ocean vs. the Pacific),and,of course,I'm partial to this area,but really ,either end is awesome,eh?
Come visit us in Canada's Ocean Playground,Nova Scotia

 

[Netty]

Hi Hilary,
we were thinking of living out of the city in one of the towns/lake side communities maybe half an hour away. Just depends where the jobs are..
Thanks for all the info on places, its a great help!
cabmom
thanks for the invite to the canada boards, i'll be right over there!
Abba 98
we live in Prestatyn north wales, I work in Denbigh which is not too far from Ruthin about ten minutes away.My co-worker lives in a little village just outside Ruthin.Are you planning another trip over here?
If you need any info or anything else, please let me know.

 

[KayleeUK]

No advice. But I would love to visit one day

 

[cheryl.UK]

We visited Vancouver in 2002 and LOVED it.

It is the only city we have ever visited that has made us want to emigrate.

Clean, friendly, lots to do, a thriving Arts and Culture scene, Stanley park is beautiful, the aquarium is great, the Malls on the outskirts make great (and cheap) shopping. House proces were very reasonable (See I told you we'd thought of emigrating) Wages were low compared to the UK but we worked out that we could sell our house here, move to a si ilar house there and buy it outright with our equity.

Transport arounfd the city was easy and cheap.
Quick story. We were getting on the local train to go to the mall and as we were going to the turnstile 2 (seperate) people came up to us and gave us tickets which were still valid for 1 hour but they didn't need. Same thing happened on the return journey. Seems it's common practice and NOT illegal. Tickets didn't have the common UK message of 'NOT Transferesble' on them.

Our hotel was in the slightly shadey area but even there it felt safe compared to some areas of Sheffield (which is NOT a scarey city).

Ditto the comments about Whistler. 45 miles away from Vancouver (not commutable due to winding slow roads) but a fantastic place for weekend visits.

Can we come with you PLEEEEEEEEEZZZZEEEE?

 

[Netty]

Cheryl,
what stopped you from emmigrating?? just being nosey!