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

[dizzyr]

Great to have you here! Since you're a native, the bit of planning I have yet to do for our trip - which includes some time in Vancouver - involves food. We are staying at the Westin Grand (on Robson St., near Yaletown) and are looking for a couple of cool spots to have dinner. We do plan to hit Gastown, Granville Island, Grouse Mountain, the Capilano Suspension Bridge, and Stanley Park...maybe more if we can find the time (we have three full days).

So, given those geographic areas...where to eat? DH and I consider ourselves "foodies," so anything that you think is a must-eat works for us. We love Sushi, Indian, seafood, and a good gastropub. In fact, I'd say a place to grab an awesome Pacific Northwest craft beer, and a place to grab some awesome sushi would be our top two requests. The only thing we really don't like is chains...why eat exactly what you can get at home if you're visiting someplace new? Does anything in particular come to mind?

I'm actually working on a food recommended response for someone else as well so I will keep your requests in mind as well. I'll try and work on it tomorrow. One thing we do have is lots of sushi places!

 

[dizzyr]

Sorry if this has been answered. Does Sutton place have a shuttle to the cruise terminal. If ao, does anyone know the rate?

It's no more than a 5 min drive - 10 with lots of traffic from sutton to the cruise ship. Not sure if they have a shuttle but unless its a free one a cab would be just as cheap.

 

[dizzyr]

So, why haven't I read very much about renting a car in Vancouver?
Lots about taxis and trains...... Why not car rentals?

I understand that the transportation system in Vancouver is very efficient and for those who are staying a day might not want or need a car, but.......

We are a family of 5 and plan to stay in Vancouver for 4 days.
I got a pretty good rate ( National) for $118.00 for 3 days.
I understand parking can be 15-20 dollars a day at our hotel as well ( maybe cheaper if we find an overnight parking garage.)
But by the time we factor in roundtrip fares on a bus or taxi for 5 to and from the airport, site seeing excursions like Grosse Mountain, Capp Bridge, Stanley Park, and different markets around the downtown....wouldn't it be cheaper to just rent the car? I like the convinience of going to a grocery store/ liquor store or a restaurant off the beaten path.
We are used to big city traffic ( we are close to Toronto, On) I just don't understand why no one seems to recommend a renting a car.
What am I missing?

People in Vancouver don't like to drive! Parking downtown is expensive and not always easy to find. The bridges can be a pita to cross in traffic and lots of vancouverites don't know how to drive lol! That being said it can come in handy if you are leaving the downtown core. If you are doing grouse and capilano I'd go for the car for sure. Stanley park is easy to get to without one but if you have one I'd use it. Parking is pay parking throughout the park but you don't have to wait for a bus and after a long day it's easier to just hop in the car and drive 5 min to your hotel.

Where are you staying? In the downtown core the grocery stores and liquor stores are pretty close.

 

[dizzyr]

And you have Japadog just outside the hotel, and you're a walk down the street and a left turn away from Cafe Crepe and Lush. (I love Robson street) And unless my brain is fried, you're a right turn away from a grocery store as well!.

Japadog ALWAYS has a lineup. I've worked across the street from it for 10 years now and not once have I seen it without people in line. I LOVE street meat but have only had it once - not a fan but I'm in the clear minority! They just opened up a second cart/location.

 

[bumbershoot]

People in Vancouver don't like to drive! Parking downtown is expensive and not always easy to find. The bridges can be a pita to cross in traffic and lots of vancouverites don't know how to drive lol!

Not to mention that many people going up there for a cruise aren't actually staying in the area for all that long.

Or aren't comfy driving with kilometers. er, kilometres.

Japadog ALWAYS has a lineup. I've worked across the street from it for 10 years now and not once have I seen it without people in line. I LOVE street meat but have only had it once - not a fan but I'm in the clear minority! They just opened up a second cart/location.

Oh definitely it has a line. We stayed at the Sutton once, and at La Grande Residence another time, and the awesome thing about the latter was that we had a balcony that looked over the street, and we could see when the line was not huge.

We get their veggie dogs with things like umeboshi and pickled veggies...so tasty. DS always gets his veggie dog plain with just mustard; we keep trying to tell him he can get it cheaper and easier at the Yves stand up the road, but he loves the ambience of Japadog.

They have several locations, in case you don't know! We found a sitdown one on our last Vancouver trip. Pretty cool! Also one just around the corner from Canada Place, though they tend to close that one up on a whim.

We are huge Psych fans, and found out about japadog from one of their episodes where "Santa Barbara" not only looks just like the Vancouver area, but suddenly sprouted a Japadog as well. Someday they'll go out for TimBits in "Santa Barbara" and my life will be complete.

 

[Never to old]

People in Vancouver don't like to drive! Parking downtown is expensive and not always easy to find. The bridges can be a pita to cross in traffic and lots of vancouverites don't know how to drive lol! That being said it can come in handy if you are leaving the downtown core. If you are doing grouse and capilano I'd go for the car for sure. Stanley park is easy to get to without one but if you have one I'd use it. Parking is pay parking throughout the park but you don't have to wait for a bus and after a long day it's easier to just hop in the car and drive 5 min to your hotel.

Where are you staying? In the downtown core the grocery stores and liquor stores are pretty close.

Dizzyr, Sorry jumping in here. I haven't booked our hotel yet. I was looking at Pan Pacific. Is this considered the downtown area? I really didn't want to rent a car. We don't mind walking. I thought I saw somewhere that there was a bus you could take to get to grouse and Capilano. Do you know if there is one? And how much is bus fare? Do I need coins or paper money? Can I walk to Stanley Park from Pan Pacific? Last question, any idea how much cab fare would be from the airport to hotel? Or is there another public transportation system to use? Thanks Vicki

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

I got one emailed a couple of weeks ago or actually it may have been a code on the radio - I'll keep an eye out.

Thank you!!

 

[richmo]

Just wanted to jump in with a tip that we used a couple years ago. We flew into SEA, rented a car, spent a couple of days there, then the night before the cruise at Whistler. After the cruise, we flew back home from SEA (the day after the cruise; I wouldn't recommend it the day the cruise ends).

Rather than do two one way rentals, it worked out better for us to keep the car the whole time. We parked it at YVR and took the SkyTrain to and from YVR and the port. In case you're looking at doing something like this, you should go to the YVR website (www.yvr.ca) and get a parking coupon. Just took a look and you can park there for CA$45 a week. Not bad.

We found the SkyTrain to be quite convenient and a fun ride. The walk from the SkyTrain station to Canada Place is only about 5 minutes. If your luggage is on wheels, it's not bad at all. If you have to carry much stuff, I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[CruznLexi]

Can you tell me about the area around the Pan and Canada Place. Places to eat, both sit down and quick service. Any quick marts? Bakery? We have 4 birthdays while we are on vacation and would like to get some sort of cake or desert for Sunday. Hop on off trolly worth it?

 

[emilyann415]

Dizzyr, Sorry jumping in here. I haven't booked our hotel yet. I was looking at Pan Pacific. Is this considered the downtown area? I really didn't want to rent a car. We don't mind walking. I thought I saw somewhere that there was a bus you could take to get to grouse and Capilano. Do you know if there is one? And how much is bus fare? Do I need coins or paper money? Can I walk to Stanley Park from Pan Pacific? Last question, any idea how much cab fare would be from the airport to hotel? Or is there another public transportation system to use? Thanks Vicki

We are staying at Pan Pacific and I, too, read that there is a free shuttle that picks up at Canada Place and takes you to Grouse Mountain and another one that takes you to the suspension bridge. I hope that is the case cause we aren't renting a car because it's seems so easy to get around without one.

 

[Never to old]

We are staying at Pan Pacific and I, too, read that there is a free shuttle that picks up at Canada Place and takes you to Grouse Mountain and another one that takes you to the suspension bridge. I hope that is the case cause we aren't renting a car because it's seems so easy to get around without one.

Thanks- that might be where I read it. When are you sailing? We sail July 29.

 

[emilyann415]

Thanks- that might be where I read it. When are you sailing? We sail July 29.

We leave the week after you! Can't wait!

 

[Never to old]

We leave the week after you! Can't wait!

Bummer, I was hoping we would be sailing at the same time

 

[dizzyr]

Dizzyr, Sorry jumping in here. I haven't booked our hotel yet. I was looking at Pan Pacific. Is this considered the downtown area? I really didn't want to rent a car. We don't mind walking. I thought I saw somewhere that there was a bus you could take to get to grouse and Capilano. Do you know if there is one? And how much is bus fare? Do I need coins or paper money? Can I walk to Stanley Park from Pan Pacific? Last question, any idea how much cab fare would be from the airport to hotel? Or is there another public transportation system to use? Thanks Vicki

Yes Pan Pacific is definitely in the downtown core. You can easily get by without a vehicle there.

To get to grouse you would take the seabus right at waterfront station (which is only a minute or two from the hotel) to Lonsdale Quay (takes about 10 min) and then bus #236 right to Grouse Mountain skyride (half an hour or so).

To get to Capilano it's the same route but you would get off the bus a few stops before Grouse. Easy Peasy!

The adult fare is $4.00 and child is $2.75 - it's good for the seabus, skytrain and bus any direction for 90 minutes. An all day pay is good on all three zones for the whole day for $9.75 or child $7.50

Stanley Park is about a 3km walk from the Pan Pacific. It's a really easy route basically you walk to Georgia Street and take it all the way to Stanley Park - maybe half an hour?

 

[dizzyr]

We are staying at Pan Pacific and I, too, read that there is a free shuttle that picks up at Canada Place and takes you to Grouse Mountain and another one that takes you to the suspension bridge. I hope that is the case cause we aren't renting a car because it's seems so easy to get around without one.

It looks like the Grouse Mountain shuttle is run by Grouse not the Pan Pacific - I found this info on the Grouse Mountain website

We are pleased to offer a free shuttle from downtown Vancouver with the purchase of a Peak Experience ticket throughout the summer. Pickup/drop-off point is Canada Place.

Our complimentary shuttle service has now ended for the summer season. It will be available again in late May.

 

[peyjax]

Just wanted to jump in with a tip that we used a couple years ago. We flew into SEA, rented a car, spent a couple of days there, then the night before the cruise at Whistler. After the cruise, we flew back home from SEA (the day after the cruise; I wouldn't recommend it the day the cruise ends).

How was Whistler? We are going before our cruise but are debating if we should spend 1 full day or 2 there. Was is it 2 day worthy in the summer? Planning on hitting Stanley park for a few hours on the way up as nothing else in Vancouver really peaked our interest, so thinking to devote time to Whistler?

 

[dizzyr]

How was Whistler? We are going before our cruise but are debating if we should spend 1 full day or 2 there. Was is it 2 day worthy in the summer? Planning on hitting Stanley park for a few hours on the way up as nothing else in Vancouver really peaked our interest, so thinking to devote time to Whistler?

What kinds of things were you looking to do in Whistler?

 

[Never to old]

Yes Pan Pacific is definitely in the downtown core. You can easily get by without a vehicle there.

To get to grouse you would take the seabus right at waterfront station (which is only a minute or two from the hotel) to Lonsdale Quay (takes about 10 min) and then bus #236 right to Grouse Mountain skyride (half an hour or so).

To get to Capilano it's the same route but you would get off the bus a few stops before Grouse. Easy Peasy!

The adult fare is $4.00 and child is $2.75 - it's good for the seabus, skytrain and bus any direction for 90 minutes. An all day pay is good on all three zones for the whole day for $9.75 or child $7.50

Stanley Park is about a 3km walk from the Pan Pacific. It's a really easy route basically you walk to Georgia Street and take it all the way to Stanley Park - maybe half an hour?

Thank you for all of the great information. My only question is regarding money for the bus fares. Will they take US dollars or should we convert to Canadian currency?

 

[HealthyDisneyGuide]

There IS a free shuttle from downtown to Capilano.

http://www.capbridge.com/visit/shuttle-service/

 

[nzdisneymom]

Thank you for all of the great information. My only question is regarding money for the bus fares. Will they take US dollars or should we convert to Canadian currency?

Convert to Canadian currency. What we found was that many places will accept US dollars and give you your change back in Canadian, so that's how we ended up getting Canadian currency when we found our US-issued ATM card wouldn't work ( eek ). Thank goodness we had taken some US cash and our credit card would work but not the ATM (something to do with our bank - I was aggravated because I called the bank before we left and told them we were going to be in Canada and they didn't mention that the ATM wouldn't work even though it's Mastercard branded).