LeftcoastBC

Sutton Place is a great hotel. Do not fret !

No, sorry. We are not interested in staying at a casino. It's one of the reasons we are taking a Disney cruise to Alaska! :)

We have stayed there and the hotel part does a great job of being separate from any casino matters and it is right on the Canada Line via a through on different level than casino.

Nice hotel and restaurants. Very calm unlike Vegas :)

machines are only options I believe in the Waterfront area. Take our money only as you surmised but you can use your credit card. Make sure you pick the "CANADA LINE" and then every other train on that line goes direct to the airport. (If you happen to get on wrong one switch at "RiverRock")

Still wearing that old hat Doug ? :D

Bob

Shoppie (or anyone that can answer): We have Thursday at noon until Saturday afternoon in Vancouver and I am having a lot of difficulty choosing the restaurants we will visit, can you help out? These are my top choices:

 

West on Granville

Chambar

L'Abattoire

Hapa Izakaya or Guu on Robson

Market by Jean-Georges

Bin 941 or 942

The Sand Bar on Granville Island

Tojos

Rodney's Oyster House

 

We love seafood but it is not mandatory that we go to a seafood restaurant. What we are looking for is great food and service. I also like a great bartender ;)

 

Thanks for any insight :)

Wow.. I have not been to any of those but it's a sure fire list from what I have read..

How long did you say you had... Good luck

As Ballantyne is only being used for overflow of ships on just several days this yr. The flow to the ship may be a bit ragged depending on Staffing proficiency and numbers available.

Check your itinerary. If you are going to be cleared by US Customs there and as I think this may be the first time the pier has/will be used since two season's ago you could expect some delays. eg. Will USA have enough people deployed to do both Piers. etc . etc.

In the past the Pier loaded similar to all other ports. Started around 11AM for us early folks.

So It's a bit up in the air. Sorry. Check with the cruise line for your "Proposed" boarding time.

If it was me. I'd go early and cross my fingers.

I'm having trouble using the POrts Metro schedule for some reason. A look there will help you decide if the pier has been used before your day this year.

http://www.portmetrovancouver.com/en/about/cruiseandtourism/cruiselineschedules.aspx

Similarly when I fly I rent..drive take my own

HINT:

Get the proper measurements and either fill out on line and then phone to confirm or phone first.

Measurements are usually bang on meaning that your shirt sleeves sometimes turn out to be the same as your jacket and are too short.

The pickers often miss that and if you put in longer sleeves they will be long indeed.

If it's not an issue for you don't worry about it.

Left Coast - what changes are in store for the Amtrak service - I thought the two trains are assured for the next couple of years.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

nothing that I know of but the way it has been I just wanted AZ girl to be aware of the situation. If you know for sure we are good for that long, great. She is talking 2012...

2012 May see changes once again in the Train schedule to Seattle so you connection to the Train South from there is one you will have to watch.

I would say that your best plan would be to take the train to Seattle and plan on an overnight until you get closer to the date unless you can wrestle a commitment out of AMTRAK directly yourself.

The trip to Seattle is very nice and I recommend Business class .for the xtra few $ is worth it.

The Route down from Seattle is neat also and get the biggest accommodation that you can afford. After a cruise you will feel like you are back onboard a rockin' and rollin' but more confined. :)

Scenic trip up through the mountains (big hills for us) and then back down along the coast.

Did the reverse trip from Oakland a few yrs back. Hope they have the plumbing fixed :(

 

The Airport Inn - which use to be the Quality Inn on Marine which used to be the Blue Boy is now apart of the Super 8 Chain - noticed it while out for a drive today so I thought that you might be interested in that news - it will be a short 100 Bus trip from the Marine Drive station on the Canada Line to the Hotel.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

That part of town doesn't realy have a thing for tourists. That hotel was known as a hang out for fences and other types.

 

I grew up about 1 mile from that hotel. Then the police used to

sweep the bar/pub for contraband and stolen goods on a weekly basis.

Thks Dennis.. will keep that in mind. People often ask about something out that way. Super 8 has a history.

DD Yup I used to put away a few there too when it was just a beer parlour :)

Things change...jeez beer was under a buck then.

Thank you, we will get the wine in Seattle, put it in ziplock bags and put it in our checked luggage on the train. Wonder if I can take a 12 pack of cokes on the train?

There is a baggage limit you better check on that. Details on their website.

The train is the train but this One runs pretty well on time all the time. There are the odd washouts in bad weather but the train is always backed up by buses at frequent times. I have travelled it recommend Business class for several reasons the best of which is boarding and dealing with Border Personnel in Canada

On that date sunset is around 8:40 PM so will give you light on the water to your left for a while after that but as PD says will be dark when you get to Vancouver.

We will be disembarking in Vancouver and flying out of Seattle. Any transportation from Vancouver to Seattle?

Thanks

Hey what's with this. .. The Super Bowl is in the 4th quarter and it's close. Lol

Search or be patient. Lol

And in the Pan Pacific there is a "regular" restaurant on the Lobby level that is very suitable to the type of meal and space you would want for a group such as yours.

I 3rd Steamworks

Cadero's I find too noisy

We are coming in on carnival spirit on wed, May 4 at 8 am. Is it possible to catch a flight that is leaving the airport at 10:30 to the US if we do a walk off with our own bags? The flight is on WestJet.

Thanks.

My smart a** answer would be yes on the 5th. Sorry.

If your ship is really timed for 8 am the answer is not very likely. International travel to USA clears at the airport here so along with security traffic getting off the ship in the first place we usually guess at about noon being the earliest for a flt at yvr. Personally I would want after 1PM

Just wanted to add don't get "Skytrain" Mixed up with the "Canada Line"

skytrain is sort of generic for all of our elevated systems but it is the "Canada line" of skytrain that goes to the airport and the hotels out that way.

Make sure if you are going to the airport that you get on a train that goes straight through to the airport or you will have to transfer later in your trip. If you are going to those hotels you also must ensure of the same thing only opposite. Every other train I think goes either way when they leave downtown Vancouver.

Also if that Hampton is in Richmond I would double check with someone on that 5 min walk from the nearest Canada Line Station. Looks further to me.

& at that transfer point.

Don't overlook the River Rock Casino Hotel for a nice hotel out that way and right on the Canada Line platform exit.

Hello all and THANK YOU for this fabulous thread!

 

We are two couples who will disembark on June 4th in Vancouver and then walk (?) to our hotel (Holiday Inn Downtown). After checking in we want to explore Vancouver...sounds like Stanley Park is something we would enjoy. Will that be an all day trip or should we plan something else? We will be on foot or public transport. Planning on an excursion to Victoria the following day (my 50th birthday!!!) via Prince of Whales...going to the Gardens then coming back via floatplane...should arrive back in Vancouver around 6:30-7pm. Looking for a restaurant to celebrate by birthday...love Mexican & Pizza, HATE fish :eek: Any ideas? ...oh, the 5th is a Sunday, if that matters...

It would appear we missed this. Sorry

Stanley Park on foot on a nice day could be as long as you want it to be. Lots to see and do on a warm June day...not so nice, you could spend a morning or afternoon still going from dry point to dry point.

Hopefully someone else can pick up on theMexican and or pizza. There are chains of course but I'm sure there must be better places :)$

I'm just an infrequent tourist myself from out in the valley. I still would not recommend either/any of these routes with anymore than a carry on and a small roller and being in good physical and mental shape.:)

Want to confuse everyone by going to the food court underground and then under the road to Canada Place ?? Completely dry.!!

Someone landing at YVR and burdened by making the cruise ship and all the thought process that goes with the trip, once into/out of the system should have a line to follow that's on the floor of the stations and street side.

Thanks Scott. I guess what I did is what every tourist would end up doing Not being familiar with the system

I'll fix my map

NOT UT but I have been wanting to try this for some time.

http://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=217449072889534043648.00048a321029e363943bc&ll=49.285346,-123.113104&spn=0.007229,0.014505&t=h&z=17

Seems to work hope that it helps. Click on the small line icon on the left side of map for the distance.

Most ships will have a tour that does exactly what you are looking for.....leave the dock and get you to the airport for a later fllight. Your luggage will go with you.

There is also storage at Canada Place if you wish to go on your own. There are hop on/off tours from the front of Canada Place.

May could be very nice and warmish or not..sorry no guarantees

Your new pier is about a km away from Canada Place. Best and only other than a transfer is a taxi. It is an industrial area with no tourist facilities at all other than at the actual terminal which are only minimal and actually this year cause it has not been used it may have even less.

Lucky you :)

I am sworn to secrecy by "The Code" :) SORRY !!

$ STORE

;) .... I guess since you will have had your share of cocktails on the way up you won't need directions to the best martini bars....eh? When the MMates sail we gt lots of attention with our flasher pins.

As you get off at Canada Place you can for sure start your day there. Go upto the main lobby of the Pan Pacific and start with a look at the day from their great bar. (coffee will be available) Weather will pretty well dictate your day so decide how it looks and go for it.

Raining. Take one of the tours from the front of the Hotel that "Does' The city. or maybe the seabus which you can see from the hotel that goes over to North Van and a touristi "Key" shopping area.... or maybe even sky train to the end of the line and back. (Not the Canada Line it takes you to the airport and mostly underground) Although the airport and the River Rock Casino might be a plan too and they are on the Canada Line. The other lines will also be able to drop you very close to Amtrak when you are ready to go.

If the sun is shining walk. Into the core after walking to the right out the door of Canada Place several blocks to see the Olympic Tourch. (not lit :( ) and along the shoreline to Stanley park. Rent Bikes ??

If you following the masses up to Cordova turn left and go to Steam Works for a restaurant . Just past parking lot down towards gas town. I think that there was a new Restaurant planned to open in the building that you exit also.

You will likely not make it to Waterfront depending on luggage/ flt time arrival etc. until after 11 AM anyways. Ride time on Skytrain is 26 mins. once you are on.

Great pics Scott. Thanks for the Granville St. exit tip. We had missed that every time so far.

have not stayed there but it does have sort of a 50/50 reputation. Not the greatest and not the best :) help any ??

If you check google maps close up you will see that the quickest way to CP is via walk ways sort of mid block. I can't remember exactly if you are able to get through there without using steps. It is a bit of a drop down to CP.

BC wines are not cheap anywhere. Sorry. But they will have a fairly good selection there but FYI I don't think it is open on Sundays