Which hotel in Vancouver

[tarheelmjfan]

I'm trying to decide on a hotel for our post cruise stay in Vancouver. The 2 choices are the Fairmont Waterfront or the Fairmont on Georgia St. I'm leaning toward the Waterfront location, but want some opinions on which has the best location. FYI, we won't have a car. TIA

 

[talicskai]

The Waterfront Centre is beautiful and you can walk (if you are energetic) to Gastown and around the financial district. You may want to hire a taxi to take you to Stanley Park but once there, you can walk all around the seawall and it is beautiful. I have seen the Fairmont (the old Hotel Georgia) and it is also gorgeous but the Waterfront Centre would be my choice. I personally stayed at the Delta Suites right across from the Tower with the restaurant on top (for the life of me I can't remember the name of it!) and it was great as well. Just be careful not to cross over into Chinatown - very scary!!!!

Have a great trip! I love Vancouver!

Teresa

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Thanks for the info. I'm really leaning in that direction. I'm also trying to decide whether we will need to add a 3rd night. I would love a day trip to Victoria, if it's not too long of a day. I'm curious, what is scary about Chinatown? I visited Chinatown in NYC when I was a teenager, & loved it. We are also going to be staying 3 nights in San Francisco prior to our cruise, & I told my DS(13) that we should go to their Chinatown. He said, "No way, there's too many gangs there." I have no idea where he got that idea. Now I'm wondering if I'm the one who is misinformed.

 

[tradeyafp]

My vote would also be for the Waterfront in Vancouver. .



A day trip to Victoria is always fun. You can take Maverick Coach Lines from downtown Vancouver to downtown Victoria. The bus goes right on the ferry. Lots of fun and not that expensive. If you are lucky you will see seals and dolphins.
Enjoy

 

[c&m]

The Marriott Pinnacle is very nice too. It's across the street from the waterfront centre.

Vancouver's Chinatown is not a nice place to visit. Over the years, it's deteriorated. My last visit there was 2 years ago to satisfy my SIL who wanted to visit Dr. Sun Yat Sen's garden during Chinese New Year. The street had dog poop, overall just filthy and reeking of bad air. It's not safe during the evening because it's haunted by drug addicts and purse snatchers. If you go during the daytime, you would be fine as there are businesses there and people shopping for groceries. If I were a visitor to Vancouver, that would not be a place I'd visit--too many beautiful areas to see, such as Stanley Park in downtown. To choose Chinatown would be to choose the seediest part of town to see, which would cloud your opinion of Vancouver. The restaurants there aren't that great--too much MSG to hide bad Chinese-Canadian type of Chinese food. A better "Chinatown" that's totally clean and truly reflective of recent Chinese immigrant population is the one in Richmond (close to the airport). You will find lots of great places to eat (authentic Chinese food), and shop.

Hope you have a good trip!

 

[Scottyk]

Chinatown is not that bad.......Well OK it is. Unfortunately it borders on the poorest area in Canada. The Downtown eastside. These people are really harmless and usually only do damage to themselves. Although I would not be scared to walk down there it is no longer a place where I would take visitors.

Victoria for the day would be an awesome trip. Although it would be a long day. The Ferry is 1.5 hours each way. Victoria is a wonderful town with a very British flavour. The BC museum is there, but there is also the Wax Museum and a very ecclectic assortment of shops. The view on the boat over is beyond belief.....

Enjoy your stay.

Scott..

 

[lilsonicfan]

Chinatown really isn't that bad. I don't necessarily walk by myself in the downtown eastside, or for that matter, anywhere downtown at night - but most people would really not bother you if you left them alone. I still think Chinatown is a cool place to visit - but I'd probably pick a hotel somewhere else. I've never stayed at either, but the waterfront fairmont looks nice!

Oh and also, about Victoria - I personally find it to be sort of a dull city (sorry, Victorians, don't flame me ) - I have to say it would only be worth it for me as a two day trip, only b/c the ferry ride itself takes 3 hours in total, not including waiting/boarding, getting to the terminal, etc.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Thanks for all the input. We have decided to stay 3 nights after our cruise, at the Fairmont Waterfront. I'm not physically able to commit to a 12 hr. tour. Would it be possible to rent a car, & visit Victoria at our own pace. I love visiting historical places. I'm definitely nostalgic at heart. Our DS(13) may get bored, so we would need the option of seeing the highlights, then catching the ferry back to Vancouver. How often does the ferry run? We would like to plan a nice restaurant & a show for each evening? Suggestions? Thanks again

 

[lilsonicfan]

I'm not sure what dates you are travelling, but I have always found www.tourismvancouver.com to be quite helpful in terms of restaurants, events, shows, etc.

I always enjoy TheatreSports down on Granville Island, but I believe it happens from Wed-Sat only. http://www.vtsl.com/mainstage/index.php

I've also heard good things about Storyeum - http://www.storyeum.com/

As for the ferry, it usually runs approximately every hour or so - there are some gaps in the schedule, but here's the schedule: http://www.bcferries.com/schedules/mainland/tssw-current.html

Restaurants I like in Vancouver:
- Montri Thai Restaurant - delicious Thai food
- Shabusen - a Japanese/Korean restaurant, all-you-can-eat, so yum
- A Kettle of Fish - great seafood, located downtown
- C Restaurant - also downtown, and great seafood

I can think of more if you would like more suggestions!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Thanks for the info. I love researching, so I would love all the ideas you have. More to look in to. We would have loved TheatreSports. Do they keep the same schedule all year long? I was hoping they would be open one of the days we'll be there this summer. BTW, we'll be there June 19th thru June 21st.

I've read some bad reviews on Storyeum, but I think we'll go there anyway. Like I said, we usually enjoying any type of show. Keep the suggestions coming!

 

[lilsonicfan]

June is a great month to be here. I highly recommend going to Bard on the Beach as well, it's one of my favourite summer activities. The shows are great even if you're not the biggest Shakespeare fan. It looks like "As You Like It" will be on June 19 and 21. Here's the website: http://www.bardonthebeach.org/2005.html

I do think Theatresports runs the same schedule all summer long... too bad!

Other places to eat: I thought Bacchus in the Wedgewood Hotel was quite lovely for a fancy sit down meal. Hon's in Chinatown has good food for a low price. Las Margaritas is a nice place too, Mexican food, on W. 4th Avenue in Kits - great area for shopping as well.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Thanks again You've been so helpful. I can tell you're as proud of you home city as I am of Tampa. Have you seen "As you like it"? What type of show is it? Would our DS(13) like it? He is advanced academically for his age, & has enjoyed other Shakespeare plays, just not the sappy love plays.

 

[katt]

Hello,

In regard to your questions about renting a car to come to Victoria. We live here, and it is a very doable trip. The ferries run every hour from 6 am to 10 pm and if you plan to spend the night you could even run up the island and catch a ferry from Nanaimo back to Vancouver the next day. Well worth the trip. The island is beautiful
Hope you have a wonderful trip )
Kat

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Katt,
Thanks for the info. I definitely want to visit Victoria. I would like to tour Craigdarroch Castle. What is the tour like? I'm also interested in having afternoon tea at the Empress Hotel. Are there ever any kids at the tea? We probably won't go to Butchart Gardens. I can't imagine our DS(13) liking that. I have been researching a little, & noticed that there's a couple dinner shows on the island. I'm not sure if we would have time to see one & make the last ferry, but if it's possible which would you recommend? Any other suggestions of "must see" attractions with a 13 yo. boy? We won't be able to spend a night on the island, because we have already booked & paid for 3 nights at the Fairmont.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

lilsonicfan,
Is it possible to get to the top of Grouse Mtn. without taking the tram? I would love to be able to go up there to see the lumberjack show, & look around. Unfortunately, I'm extremely acrophobic. How far is the tram off the ground at it's highest point? TIA

 

[lilsonicfan]

Hi again! Funny that you're travelling to Vancouver and I'm travelling to Florida!

Okay - so, I haven't seen As You Like It, but it looks like it is a romantic comedy. I have seen another Bard comedy, the Merry Wives of Windsor, and it was really quite hilarious... I think he might enjoy it even without thinking about the love storyline. The plays are really well done and there's often some physical comedy that everyone thinks is super funny, regardless of their love for Shakespeare

I haven't been to Grouse in a long time, but my recollection is that you need to take the Skyride or chairlifts to get up to the top. And, I can't recall how far it is off the ground. But, you might be able to stand in the middle of the crowd of people rather than right at the outside, so that you can't really see anything?

Have you been to the Cruise Critic message boards? You may find more information on Vancouver in the Ports of Call area!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Thanks again I have been spending a lot of time on CC lately. I used to spend all my waking hours here, now they're spent over there. Yes, as you can tell, I am an obsessive planner. Oh well, I guess there are worse addictions. You guys have been much more informative. When all else fails, I can always count on those on the DIS.

 

[katt]

The Castle tour is ok, the view is amazing if its a nice day. The musuem and the Imax theatre are beside the Empress and Beacon Hill Park just down the block with a wonderful walk to Dallas Road and the ocean. We have a 12 yearold boy and he enjoys those. You can rent bikes or mopeds or take a carriage ride, its all right there.