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

[dkmjgal]

We liked it. We stayed pre and post. It was in a good location. We even got a rollaway bed for no extra cost. We actually walked to the port with our luggage-very walkable. My DH pulled 2 big suitcases, and I pulled one big one. The kids had their backpacks and 2 of them pulled the 2 carry on bags. We walked pretty slow with them and it took a good 10-15 minutes. A taxi would have been $10, but we would have needed 2. We cut through the hotel/convention center and took the elevator down to where the entrance of the terminal was. We also walked back to the hotel after the cruise-everything seemed heavier!! We bought our water for onboard the ship at Urban Fare-a mini grocery store and cafe one block away from the hotel. It as $1 for the Nestle 1 liter bottle. My kids are picky about water. Our room was clean and the beds were comfy, but they were double beds. We are spoiled in the US with those queen size beds in the room. Hope that helps.

Thanks so much! Very helpful!

 

[poohj80]

OK, we have everything figured out for our cruise next week *squeal* except for how to get from the Amtrak Station to our hotel ( Pacific Rim, across from Canada Place). My DH says we can just call a cab when we get there, but I am uncomfortable with not having a "set plan" trying to get ourselves and 2 young children from the train to the hotel. Any suggestions from those who have done it?

I had the same question earlier and was told there are plenty of cabs waiting outside the Amtrak station. We have 5 people so will need to take 2 cabs from what I have been told. If you find out anything better, please let me know.

 

[Rat-a-too-ee]

I didn't realize that the term "Skid Row" comes from Hastings Street in Vancouver.

For those familiar with the area, please let me know if it is safe to walk the following path on Monday morning:

Walk from Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden (578 Carrall Street),

to Vancouver Lookout (555 West Hastings Street), and then to Canada Place.

Or, should play it safe and go with a cab?

Thanks in advance.

 

[kandt]

Yes it is easy to drop off. We dropped off some of our group and then parked the rental car at the airport and took the sky train back to the port.

Drive to Canada Place and where the people are directing traffic you drive down the right hand side of the garage. Tell the attendant you want to drop off for the cruise and they will direct you to back into a space right at the terminal to unload your luggage. The porters will take your luggage to the ship.

Thank you! I'm hoping I can go sit somewhere with my daughters until my husband gets back, or go for a walk outside. Any idea if it would be easy to get outside from this location? Where did you meet back up with your group?

 

[Balmacara]

I didn't realize that the term "Skid Row" comes from Hastings Street in Vancouver.

For those familiar with the area, please let me know if it is safe to walk the following path on Monday morning:

Walk from Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden (578 Carrall Street),

to Vancouver Lookout (555 West Hastings Street), and then to Canada Place.

Or, should play it safe and go with a cab?

Thanks in advance.

I must admit that DW & I felt a bit "uncomfortable" around this area particularly with 2 children. We decided not to walk too far from the garden and headed back to to the bus stop just outside as we had 24hr tickets for the open top bus "The Big Bus". We merely jumped back on this and headed towards Canada Place. I am pretty sure the bus stops around the Vancouver Lookout as well.

This is the only area of Vancouver we felt unsafe in - this is truly a wonderful city and our stay (3 nights each both pre & post cruise) were fantastic

 

[Fivepin]

Thank you! I'm hoping I can go sit somewhere with my daughters until my husband gets back, or go for a walk outside. Any idea if it would be easy to get outside from this location? Where did you meet back up with your group?

Right out front of the connvention center entrance there were a couple of sitting areas where my mom waited with the kids while my DH checked if the hotel was ready. The kids ran around and burnt off some energy chasing the birds.

 

[staffieri]

I am staying at the Marriott Reniaissance and would love ANY HELP. I am way behind in figuring this out and have had some extend family to care for. Any info or thoughts would be wonderful. We me, my mom 65, DD 5 and DS 13 will be arriving the day before around 5pm. hoping to go to Grouse Mountain the day of cruise. CRAZY... but only day and we will get to boat by 2:45.

So transportation form Airport to Hotel..cost of taxi. Think public transport maybe to hard with luggage and kids.

Where to eat? that night for dinner. We have no transportation.

Grouse Mountain: Thinking of getting cab and being there by 9am and cab back picking us up at 1:45. Will have cab swing by hotel for luggage.

 

[vacationsitis]

Vancouver's public transit system (Translink) only has daily and monthly passes. However, some of the tourist bus systems (Grayline) have multi-day passes.

You can buy Translink daily passes at many convenience stores (including the 7-Eleven in the airport), as well as at the vending machines in every Skytrain Station. (The Skytrain stations on airport may charge a $5 surcharge, like they do for basic 1-zone and 2-zone tickets, but you won't pay this at any other station.) The skytrain ticket vending machines are super-efficient and they take virtually every type of payment. (I personally prefer using Skytrain vending machines to buying from the people who work in convenience stores.)

If you want to take a cab downtown, I wouldn't buy passes at the airport. On Sunday, you can drop in the nearest convenience store or Skytrain station and purchase your day passes. You will have to repeat this on Monday.

If I bought a the booklet of 10 for a single zone, could I use two tickets to travel to airport from Canada Place?
Thanks

 

[lilsonicfan]

If I bought a the booklet of 10 for a single zone, could I use two tickets to travel to airport from Canada Place?
Thanks

Technically no, because that crosses a zone line, so you are supposed to carry a two zone ticket (not two one-zone's.) One thing you could do is to get out at the Marine Drive station of the Canada Line (which is the first station in Zone 1, Vancouver) and validate your second one-zone ticket and get back on. But that could be a bit of a hassle.

 

[lilsonicfan]

OK, we have everything figured out for our cruise next week *squeal* except for how to get from the Amtrak Station to our hotel ( Pacific Rim, across from Canada Place). My DH says we can just call a cab when we get there, but I am uncomfortable with not having a "set plan" trying to get ourselves and 2 young children from the train to the hotel. Any suggestions from those who have done it?

You should have no trouble at all calling a cab, if there aren't some already waiting outside. Yellow Cab is probably the most popular, and the number is 604-681-1111, easy to remember

 

[lilsonicfan]

I am staying at the Marriott Reniaissance and would love ANY HELP. I am way behind in figuring this out and have had some extend family to care for. Any info or thoughts would be wonderful. We me, my mom 65, DD 5 and DS 13 will be arriving the day before around 5pm. hoping to go to Grouse Mountain the day of cruise. CRAZY... but only day and we will get to boat by 2:45.

So transportation form Airport to Hotel..cost of taxi. Think public transport maybe to hard with luggage and kids.

Where to eat? that night for dinner. We have no transportation.

Grouse Mountain: Thinking of getting cab and being there by 9am and cab back picking us up at 1:45. Will have cab swing by hotel for luggage.

I haven't been to Grouse in a LONG time so I'm not even really sure what there is to do there! If you're wanting to experience some local scenery that isn't quite as far, you can also do the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Stanley Park/seawall.

As for where to eat, there should be lots of stuff available in that area. What kind of food are you interested in? Chain restaurants, ethnic cuisines, etc?

 

[HiMagicFan]

I am staying at the Marriott Reniaissance and would love ANY HELP. I am way behind in figuring this out and have had some extend family to care for. Any info or thoughts would be wonderful. We me, my mom 65, DD 5 and DS 13 will be arriving the day before around 5pm. hoping to go to Grouse Mountain the day of cruise. CRAZY... but only day and we will get to boat by 2:45.

So transportation form Airport to Hotel..cost of taxi. Think public transport maybe to hard with luggage and kids.

Where to eat? that night for dinner. We have no transportation.

Grouse Mountain: Thinking of getting cab and being there by 9am and cab back picking us up at 1:45. Will have cab swing by hotel for luggage.

Hey Kimberly! You might want to consider the taxi ($35-40) to downtown since it is you, your Mom and two kids - lots of luggage for you to be responsible for if you use the train. My parents ixnayed the skytrain because they didn't want to have to take their lugagge too far and so we are taking a taxi from the airport.

Don't forget that there may be traffic and I read somewhere else that if there is an accident or some such then to cross the bridge might be longer than expected.

Hoping this helps.

 

[mom_rules]

I haven't been to Grouse in a LONG time so I'm not even really sure what there is to do there! If you're wanting to experience some local scenery that isn't quite as far, you can also do the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Stanley Park/seawall.

As for where to eat, there should be lots of stuff available in that area. What kind of food are you interested in? Chain restaurants, ethnic cuisines, etc?

I was really surprised at the cost of Grouse mountain-what do you get for you $40?

 

[staffieri]

I was really surprised at the cost of Grouse mountain-what do you get for you $40?

A General Admission ticket includes round-trip Skyride, the Lumberjack Show, Ranger Talks at the Grizzly Bear Habitat, movies in our Theatre in the Sky, Bird show, amazing view and access to all our summer activities and more.
Adults are $39.94
Youth are 23.95
Child are 13.95

Extra cost are paragliding and zipline. However, I think the cost includes your admission.

I have been told it is 30 minutes from downtown. You can take public transportation, or there a free shuttle that goes there direct, or a taxi cost $30

This was the info I found out yesterday.

 

[geffric]

From their website:

A General Admission ticket includes round trip Skyride, Lumberjack Show, Birds in Motion, Ranger Talks at the Bear Habitat, movies in our Theatre in the Sky, plus access to alpine shopping, dining and more.

Ziplining is $105 and includes General admission..

 

[tanyaewa]

If you can find a CHEVRON gas station they currently have coupon booklets for the *Vancouver Top 10 Attractions*
vancouverattractions.com
The coupons are for the listed attractions - each for a free admission with one purchased

capilano suspension bridge
stanley park horse drawn carriage
harbour cruise
science world
vancouver lookout
Dr Sun Yat-Sen Gardens
Burnaby Village Museum
Minter gardes
Hells gate airtram

And FWIW - there is a Chevron on Georgia St - right almost at the entrance to Stanley Park. Near the Westin Bayshores hotel

 

[DizC1288]

From their website:

A General Admission ticket includes round trip Skyride, Lumberjack Show, Birds in Motion, Ranger Talks at the Bear Habitat, movies in our Theatre in the Sky, plus access to alpine shopping, dining and more.

Ziplining is $105 and includes General admission..

So...if your going to zipline you don't also pay for admission?
~ does anyone know for sure????

 

[HiMagicFan]

A General Admission ticket includes round-trip Skyride, the Lumberjack Show, Ranger Talks at the Grizzly Bear Habitat, movies in our Theatre in the Sky, Bird show, amazing view and access to all our summer activities and more.
Adults are $39.94
Youth are 23.95
Child are 13.95

Extra cost are paragliding and zipline. However, I think the cost includes your admission.

I have been told it is 30 minutes from downtown. You can take public transportation, or there a free shuttle that goes there direct, or a taxi cost $30

This was the info I found out yesterday.

Now you have me thinking! We weren't sure what to do with our one day after the trip in Vancouver so this might be a good idea. thanks!

 

[geffric]

So...if your going to zipline you don't also pay for admission?
~ does anyone know for sure????

it says it is included.

 

[staffieri]

Now you have me thinking! We weren't sure what to do with our one day after the trip in Vancouver so this might be a good idea. thanks!

MagicalFan, were on the same cruise. I'm going the day of we board. We come in on Monday and Tuesday is our only day in Vancouver. We are heading out at 8:15 and heading back at 1:45. Its a 30 minute drive. Taking a taxi. I read lots of great reviews on this. And the lumberjack show is rated better. Ask me on the ship how it went and I can let you know. Everything I read looks great. And my son and I are going to try the paragliding.