shoppie

Dear tjatczak:

Unfortunately I don't think you'll have enough time to make Butchart Gardens if you don't arrive until 12:30. The ferry ride to Victoria leaves from Tsawassen, which is about thirty minutes from the airport and at least forty five minutes from downtown in good traffic conditions. In addition to that, you have a nearly two hour ferry ride in each direction. You may have to plan on visiting on a future stay when you have more time. As for a Vancouver restaurant close to the Pan Pacific, I can recommend Aqua Riva just adjacent to the Pan Pacific which serves up a hearty Westcoast fare (lots of seafood - salmon, halibut etc) at a reasonable price and with an excellent view if you get a window seat. There's also Top of Vancouver revolving restaurant at the Harbour Centre Tower (5mins from PanPac) with excellent Westcoast fare and a million dollar view from waaaaay up high! Hope this helps!

*****on another note, as soon as I'm back answering questions, I'll have to be gone again...my employment with Princess has changed to the Sea Princess and I'll be leaving for London this Friday to join the SP in Southampton. Hopefully, other Vancouverites will take up the torch as they did before during my computer meltdown and offer answers to the many great questions about Vancouver!! All the best to everyone and if you ever make it onto the Sea Princess, come say hello in the duty free shops - Mike is my name ;) and I'll be happy to show you around! *****

Hi all...I'm very sorry that I haven't been online for a looooong time now. :( my computer crashed and burned and I've only just replaced it. Thanks to ell52 and others that picked up the slack on this thread for me and continued answering all of the great Vancouver questions! Unfortunately, or fortunately - depending on how you look at it - I won't be back for long, I'm heading back out to the high seas to work for Princess in late August on the Grand Princess - which will be my home for six months :) ... but until then.. fire away!

To canecruiser: My personal choice would be the Pan Pacific Hotel. While both the Sutton and the Pan are five diamond properties, the Pan has a much nicer location right on the waterfront of the city. The views are spectacular. The Sutton is a nice hotel, but its location is far less magnificent. The Sutton is closer to Robson Street by about 3 blocks, but in my opinion, the tradeoff in view is not worth it. Hope the info helps!

To p&d1996: hmmm..I'm at a loss..I really just can't see the type of crowd that goes to an alternative theatre festival gobbling up four and five star hotel rooms..but..who knows..maybe I'm completely wrong. Hotel room pricing and occupancy levels tend to be directly related, which means that the higher their occupancy, the higher they tend to charge for their remaining rooms (right up until the afternoon or evening the rooms are available..then they may drop their prices to avoid having them sit empty for a night)... Also, September is still considered 'high season' for hotels, so their base rates are increased. So..high occupancy and high season combined mean that a four star hotel would be fairly reluctant to accept 100 dollars for a room that bases at 350 plus dollars. The only other thing that I can see is that there are three ships in on Saturday (minimum 7000 ppl), three ships in on Sunday (another 7000 minimum) and one ship on Monday (2000 ppl)..and a lot of these folks will be staying a day or two either pre or post cruise. There are really no other areas that you'd want to stay for one day without a car other than downtown. Perhaps up your bid to 150 to 175 and see what happens...my guess is you'll probably get a room in that range, regardless of the reason it seems as though occupancy levels are high on the 10th and the chances of getting a 4 star for less than that is pretty remote.

to p&d1996: I believe that the festival you are referring to is the Vancouver Fringe Festival running from September 8 to 18. This is a theatre and live performance festival that will be occuring at several venues throughout the city, including Granville Island. The Fringe is a fairly popular festival and draws a good size crowd from around the country. That said, Vancouver has several thousand hotel rooms in total and I would doubt that the Fringe alone would occupy all of that space, especially on a Sunday night when you're staying. September is the start of conference season, and it's possible that there are some large conferences in town that are blocking out a portion of the hotel rooms. If you give me an idea of the type of hotel and rate range that you're willing to pay, I may be able to offer some suggestions to you.

To emcee5: Hi and thanks for your question! Welcome in advance to Vancouver, I'm sure you'll love our beautiful city! I'll take your questions one at a time here. First, the Westin Grand and surroundings. The Westin is a great property, AAA rates them at four diamonds, which is not so easy to come by. Their location at the corner of Robson and Homer Streets is an excellent homebase to tour Vancouver from. As far as safety goes, there's really only a couple of areas that I always recommend that my guests stay away from. One is the East Hastings corridor, from about East Hastings and Cambie Streets and all points east. This area is quite a ways North and East of where you are, so I wouldn't worry about it, simply get your Concierge to mark it off on a map so that you don't accidentaly wander into the abyss :) ... The other area is the southern end of Seymour Street later on at night, it's a bit seedy after dark - think ladies of the night and you'll read me loud and clear. Again, this is quite a ways from your location. Now, for the good stuff. Your hotel is right across from Vancouver's iconic public library, which, architecturally speaking, looks a lot like the Roman Colisseum (so it's an easy landmark to find your way home!). To the West, along Robson Street you'll run smack dab into the heart of the downtown core with all of the great restaurants, shopping and entertainment that you'd expect! For family meals, try Earl's, Cactus Club or my personal favorite, Red Robin (what great burgers!) all located on Robson Street. Another great restaurant experience for the family is the Top of Vancouver restaurant situated in the giant UFO shaped top of the Harbour Centre Tower. This revolving restaurant is all about experiencing dining from an exceptionally unique perspective. Entrees are in the 20 to 30 dollar range, but the view is priceless, especially after you ride to the top in a glass elevator and watch the city become small below. If you and your wife would like to escape for a meal yourselves and leave the kids with pizza and a movie at the hotel, head South towards Vancouver's trendy Yaletown district. You'll find that this is the headquarters for the city's Young Urban Professional crowd (otherwise known as yuppies). Hollywood celebrites, professional sports stars and the nouveau riche also have addresses in this desirable locale. Of course, hand in hand with this crowd comes some of Vancouver's best restaurants. Check out the Blue Water Cafe and try their 'seafood tower' (don't worry they offer financing, and it's worth every penny!), or visit Italy in style at Cioppino's. After dinner, you can sip martini's at my favorite lounge, the Bayview at the corner of Denman and Davie Street..this circular shaped space has wrap around windows and an unobstructed view of English Bay..get a table by the window and watch the sunset over the Pacific! Now, for your question about top sites in Vancouver that would also maintain a teenager's attention span. Well, one of the best ways to see the city and have the freedom to hop on and off at your leisure is the venerable Vancouver Trolley. You can pick it up at the Library Square on Homer Street, just across from your hotel, and it will take you to more than 20 stops around Vancouver from Chinatown to Gastown to Stanley Park and more. It's a great way to get a feel for the city and visit some of the most popular sites in town. Maybe take a day and do a whale watching excursion, if you've never seen an orca up close and personal, I assure you, you're missing out! Tours depart from right downtown Vancouver on the waterfront and last anywhere from three to five hours. On the NorthShore of the city, you'll find the Capilano Suspension bridge where you can conquer your fear of heights! If you don't have a rental car, you can easily take a taxi or public transit via the Seabus. Of course, teens like to shop, so make sure to wander West on Robson Street to the Pacific Centre Mall (an underground mall accessible through Sears on Robson), or check out all of the designer boutiques and brand-name stores further up along Robson.

http://www.topofvancouver.com/index.html (Top of Vancouver)

http://www.vancouvertrolley.com/ (Vancouver Trolley Co.)

http://www.whalesvancouver.com/ (Whale Watching)

http://www.capbridge.com/ (suspension bridge)

Hope all the info helps out! Have a great stay!

To grannynanny: Just up from your hotel, east, along Robson street at 1675 Robson you'll find a Caper's Community Market, a full service grocery store with a unique commitment to the environment and the community. Here you'll find a wide variety of organic produce, deli items packaged in biodegradable containers, and various 'fair-trade' products..I'm sure there are several nearby convenience and mini-mart stores in that locale also for those quick fill-ups! Public transportation downtown is ubiquitous and I'm sure there'll be a bus stop within steps of your hotel, your hotel staff should be able to assist you in determining which buses to catch and their times depending on your destination. The trolley bus is also an option..you can pick it up west about five or six blocks on Robson at the Blue Horizon Hotel or North along Denman and then cut over to the Westin Bayshore (you may like to wander the beautiful seawall promenade anyways, which can be accessed by the Westin Bayshore). The GrayLine double decker bus should stop in similar locations, although I don't remember exactly where - and GrayLine's website wasn't much help..your hotel staff will be able to give you hop on/hop off locations for the double decker I'm sure. Hope this helps!

To Cal101: Thanks for the question! there are three main options for you to consider. First, is the YVR shuttle..you can't miss it as it's a big ugly green bus that runs from the airport (http://www.yvrairporter.com for schedule) about every twenty minutes to most downtown hotels including the Renaissance. The damage is about 12 bucks per person. Your next option is a cab, which will run you about 35 dollars plus or minus depending on traffic (please pay with a credit card or canadian cash to avoid being ripped off on the exchange rate). Finally, Limojet Gold has a flat rate of 39 plus taxes and gratuity from the airport to downtown hotels (maximum six passengers for this rate)..you can pick them up at the limo stand at the arrivals level along with the airporter shuttle and taxis. Just make sure you confirm with the limo driver in advance the flat rate and don't let him take you for a ride - so to speak. Unfortunately, not unlike other cities, I've seen my fair share of Vancouver cabbies and limo drivers try to take advantage of travelers. Hope this helps!

To lssg: Thanks for your question! Breakfast with a nine year old..hmmm..well..you've got the standard Denny's which is a short 10/15 minute walk from the Sheraton at Thurlow and Davie St..always a classic..but if you'd like to try something a touch more 'Vancouver', may I suggest Sophie's Cosmic Cafe..a Vancouver institution on West 4th Avenue for many a year now. Their breakfasts are big and well priced..and the eclectic decor cannot be placed into a category, other than to say that it's..well..unique..think 50's diner done by a drunken interior designer..and will surely transfix you nearly as much as the meals themselves! A ten minute drive if you have a car, and no more than a ten dollar ride by cab if you don't. In reference to Cafe Zen recommended by the other poster..I'd agree that it's also a great breakfast restaurant in the laid-back Kits Beach area of Vancouver..but I think Sophie's might be more 'fun' and their portions are certainly larger! Hope this helps!

To GrannyNanny: I must admit I had never heard of the Times Square Suites before..but after looking at their website I know exactly where it is and have driven by the building many times. Although I can't comment on their service or hospitality, I will say that the location is a great one! Denman and Robson is in Vancouver's West End, known to locals for being the nexus of Vancouver's colourful and vibrant gay community, but the West End is really much more than that. The West End of the city is truly proof that a downtown core can still have beautiful residential neighbourhoods exist side by side with the hustle and bustle of the city. You'll be very close to some excellent restaurants and shopping along both Robson (Vancouver's answer to Rodeo Drive) and Denman Streets. Plus, you'll only be a short cab ride or a pleasant stroll from the heart of the downtown core including Pacific Centre Shopping Mall, the Vancouver Art Gallery and more. To the West of you is Stanley Park and to the South along Denman, you'll arrive at beautiful English Bay..a wonderful place to watch the sun set from a restaurant patio (may I recommend the Boathouse, if you have a penchant for seafood and an amazing patio!). I highly doubt that you'll need a/c in June..even with global warming ;) .. but then again, the need for a/c is quite subjective..one thing you'll note about Vancouver, though, is that even when it gets hot, there is very little humidity thanks to the moderating influence of the Pacific on our weather. As for your other hotel suggestions, they each cater to a bit of a different experience. The Best Western Sands is in the heart of English Bay at Denman and Davie, during the warmer months, this area of the city can get absolutely packed! so you may prefer the comparative calm of the Times location. The Renaissance is on W Hastings, just West of the financial district of the city..it's a beautiful hotel, but the location means you'll need to cab it a bit more to get to where you want to go..the financial district is fairly uneventful after five pm as you might expect! The Blue Horizon Hotel is East of the Times along Robson Street and thus is closer to the centre of the downtown core. It's an older hotel that has had some renovations done to bring its decor up to date. By luxury standards, it sits squarely in the middle of the pack..but not a bad option if you'd like to be closer to the city centre. Hope the info helps!

To TylerMan: Thanks for your questions! I think that the whale watching idea is a great one! However, because these excursions go out usually mid-day (11am or noon start time) and last anywhere between 3 to 5 hours, you should plan on making this your Saturday activity. As far as seeing whales in May..well..you might and you might not..not unlike other times of the year. From May onwards whales come in close to shore as they hunt for salmon..I should also mention that there are some 80 'resident' orcas that live year round in and around the Georgia Strait between the Mainland and Vancouver Island. That said, during the salmon runs, many more 'transient' orcas migrate in from other waters looking for food and this starts generally in May and increases towards summertime. One of the nice things, though, is that most of the whale watching companies communicate with each other whilst out in the boats and so your guide will be in constant contact with other 'eyes' should a pod of whales be sighted. In the unfortunate circumstance that you don't see any whales at all, most companies offer a lifetime guarantee meaning that you may come back at anytime and keep coming back until you see a whale. On a personal note, I have taken the whale watching tour in late May and saw a full pod of orcas! As far as Grouse Mountain goes, you could combine that with the Capilano Suspension Bridge as they are both on the North Shore of Vancouver. This might be an idea on the Friday afternoon/evening (providing that the weather is clear for the view from the top)..there are a few dining options on Grouse Mountain, your Concierge can assist with reservations, so you could make an evening of it and watch the sun go down over a good meal and bottle of wine! The ticket for the tram to the top of Grouse is a touch pricey (around $35/person if memory serves), so consider that in your plans. My suggestion for your embarkation day would be to jump on the trolley and do the circuit..it stops at many of the great sights around Vancouver such as Stanley Park aquarium, Chinatown, Gastown etc..so you can stay as long or as short as you choose with your hop on hop off priveleges. The trip from the Westin to the Canada Place cruise ship pier is no more than fifteen minutes, but be prepared for it to be PACKED! Have the taxi driver drop you off right downstairs in the terminal and don't let him do the lazy thing and leave you in front of the Pan Pacific Hotel where you'll have to haul all your luggage down. (these cabbies will try and get away with it though..and pay with credit card or canadian cash..these guys will often try to rip you off on the exchange rate)..hope the info helps!

To mringenoldus: Hi! Thanks for your question..I would agree with the other post on this thread and say that the trolley is a great way to see many sights in and around the downtown Vancouver area. For $30 for each adult..it's far more inexpensive than paying a cab to go to each location individually. Check with your hotel concierge as well because they often have coupons for a dollar or two off your fare. You'll head through Stanley Park with stops at the aquarium etc..then on to English Bay, Yaletown, Gastown, Chinatown and more. First trolley usually starts around 9am with the last one in the vicinity of 4pm. Tickets can be purchased from the driver with Canadian cash, Visa or Mastercard. Please note that the fare includes one complete circuit with hop on and hop off priveleges. Hope this helps!

Hi there..I live in Vancouver and have worked at several of the hotels in the city..and have also worked on cruise ships before, so I've done more Alaska cruises than I care to admit..I'll gladly answer any questions about the city, cruising or what have you! :)