**** Vancouver FAQ Thread **** A few updates in main post!

[mellers]

Thank you so much! We are just a couple, no kids (well, they are adults and don't travel with us).

In that case, Disney transportation's not a bad choice.

Advantages of the Richmond Area:

Incredible Chinese Food (although, it may be a little adventurous for some)
Lansdowne Shopping Center--Zellers (This is like Target. VERY handy for last-minute items)
If you like your beer and wine, there is also a state-run liquor store in the Lansdowne Shopping Center, so you can pick it up before you go to the port.
Lansdowne SkyTrain Station--takes you quickly into downtown Vancouver proper. From there, you can get to pretty much anything in the city you want to do
Lansdowne Shopping Center--Food Court: Inexpensive, pretty decent meals
Lansdowne Shopping Center--local community performances are sometimes held in the mall
Price: It costs MUCH less to stay in Richmond. We usually stay at either the La Quinta Airport or the Four Points Sheraton by Lansdowne. The La Quinta Airport has A LOT of amenities for the price. The Four Points Sheraton only costs 3,000-4,000 SPG reward points to stay there.
The International Buddhist Temple--they have incredible gardens: http://www.buddhisttemple.ca/

Advantages of Downtown Vancouver:

Closer to the port
Closer to the water, with correspondingly better views
Closer to the usual tourist attractions--you don't have to start your day with a SkyTrain ride, or a drive to where you want to go.

For us, we always stay in Richmond. It's cheaper, and we don't mind the morning and evening SkyTrain or bus ride. We can't drive, and I'm in a wheelchair, and we still didn't have any real trouble getting around.

 

[llkoolj40]

We will be on the Wonder Alaska cruise May 3rd and are staying Vancouver before,but it is the marathon weekend. Not a lot of hotels to choose from.The hotels that are available that we are looking at are:

Time Square Suites
Ramada limited
Ramada Inn and Suites
Executive Hotel Vintage Park (booked this one as a place holder)
Blue Horizon
Century Plaza (curious why this one is still open considering its location)
Burrard Inn ( will re-open renovated in May) any news on this?
Inn at the Quay(but is not close to downtown)

Any feedback on these would be appreciated.

Lj

 

[ibouncetoo]

Just saw your "note to self". Don't bother changing Canadian money before you leave. Take your ATM card, head for the nearest ATM at the airport (or the hotel, or the local 7-11---you get the picture) and take out some Canadian money. You'll get a much better exchange rate from the bank.

THANKS!

.

 

[KYDIZFAN]

We are going to Seattle after our Alaska cruise. Anyone have recommendations for places to stay? Thanks in advance

 

[mellers]

We are going to Seattle after our Alaska cruise. Anyone have recommendations for places to stay? Thanks in advance

It really depends upon what you want to do. If you want to do the touristy things, and you need transportation back to Seattle, the Best Western Executive Inn is a good, inexpensive place, and you can take the Quick Shuttle (http://www.quickcoach.com/ ) directly there from the Port.

If you're looking for a more upscale place, the Mayflower Park is a good location--it's right on the light rail and by the monorail.

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

We will be on the Wonder Alaska cruise May 3rd and are staying Vancouver before,but it is the marathon weekend. Not a lot of hotels to choose from.The hotels that are available that we are looking at are:

Time Square Suites
Ramada limited
Ramada Inn and Suites
Executive Hotel Vintage Park (booked this one as a place holder)
Blue Horizon
Century Plaza (curious why this one is still open considering its location)
Burrard Inn ( will re-open renovated in May) any news on this?
Inn at the Quay(but is not close to downtown)

Any feedback on these would be appreciated.

Lj

Executive or Centry Plaza for sure.
I wouldn't stay at those Ramadas - ick. Never heard of time square suites or the burrard inn. Have to look those up. Use tripadviser! Reviews are very accurate for Vancouver.

 

[cindy18]

We are going to Seattle after our Alaska cruise. Anyone have recommendations for places to stay? Thanks in advance

We are going to Seattle for 3 nights after our cruise too. We decided among the three Kimpton hotels, all of which looked terrific, all of which were in the perfect neighborhood, all of which were priced well and all of which had nicely sized rooms big enough for the 4 of us. Worth a look (I think we chose the Alexis).

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

You can also get great deals on seattle hotels on priceline - I booked the Westin for $68 a night recently!

 

[soonerfan2008]

We are going to Seattle after our Alaska cruise. Anyone have recommendations for places to stay? Thanks in advance

We like the Westin (just because it is neat and nicely located directly across from the monorail that goes to the Space Needle area). You can get it very cheaply on priceline.

We also like either of the Marriotts in downtown (Renaissance or Waterfront).

The airport hotels (at least the nicer ones) are very cheap, nice amenities, and you can take the light rail into downtown. It stops right by the Macy's that is about 2 or 3 blocks from the Market.

 

[megsablue]

For those who are thinking of flying out of Bellingham or Seattle after their cruise, my DH & I found that Avis does a reasonable rental one way rental from YVR (the Vancouver airport) to the Bellingham or Seattle airport locations. From the cruise terminal, one can take the Canada Line to YVR so you don't necessarily have to taxi it to YVR.

Our one way rental from YVR to the Bellingham Airport was under $100 and I just checked and from YVR to Seattle, it's around $160 for a compact (that's without any discounts). It may be cheaper for some to do that than take the train or any shuttles.

 

[adedward]

Thanks for the Mayflower Park recommendation. After looking it up and seeing reviews, costs, and that it was next door to light rail station to and from the airport for $1.25 each, I cancelled my other two hotels and am staying here day of arrival and day before departure. Appreciate the heads up!

 

[llkoolj40]

Executive or Centry Plaza for sure.
I wouldn't stay at those Ramadas - ick. Never heard of time square suites or the burrard inn. Have to look those up. Use tripadviser! Reviews are very accurate for Vancouver.

Thanks for the input. i think we will stay with the Executive

 

[jlwhitney]

Has anyone stayed at or know much about the Days Inn Downtown Vancouver? It is 2 blocks from Canada Place and so much cheaper than the Pan Pacific.

 

[mellers]

Has anyone stayed at or know much about the Days Inn Downtown Vancouver? It is 2 blocks from Canada Place and so much cheaper than the Pan Pacific.

I've never stayed at that specific Days Inn, but I've had bad luck at Days Inn in general.

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

Has anyone stayed at or know much about the Days Inn Downtown Vancouver? It is 2 blocks from Canada Place and so much cheaper than the Pan Pacific.

I wouldn't stay there - I can't stress enough to people to just pay the extra in Vancouver, if it is a $69 special it is that for a reason! Unless its hotwire/priceline!
If you are spending thousands on a vacation, just spend an extra $200 for your hotel and you will be grateful in the end. Hotels here are pricey in cruise ship season, but you can get deals on hotwire and priceline!

 

[poohj80]

Hotels here are pricey in cruise ship season, but you can get deals on hotwire and priceline!

Does anyone have any tips to have a good idea which hotel you are getting on Hotwire or Priceline before booking? I know there are some tips on the DIS Boards to help book the Hyatt in the Orlando airport, but haven't found anything yet to help know about Vancouver.

Thanks!

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

I had put this in first faq post - amazing site - www.betterbidding.com - lists all the hotels that come up on both sites.

 

[poohj80]

I had put this in first faq post - amazing site - www.betterbidding.com - lists all the hotels that come up on both sites.

Thanks! I'll dig through the threads for info on finding a specific hotel.

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

Its easy - just go directly to http://www.betterbidding.com/index.php?showforum=162&
then you can see these too..
http://www.betterbidding.com/index.php?showtopic=92&
and
http://www.betterbidding.com/index.php?showforum=166&

No 'digging' needed- very well organized.

 

[poohj80]

Those list the possible hotels but not necessarily how to tell one from the other when bidding especially when the amenities are very similar in some cases. For example, one might show 500+ reviews while another 100+ reviews. I found some of this info in specific threads, but not much.