kenish

Thanks for all the suggestions, and keep them coming.

I will try to get an earlier start from Kelowna so there's more wiggle room if the trip takes longer than planned. I will also see if they have after-hours return, or I can return the car to YVR if I get delayed.

UT- I'm doing the Myra Canyon - Penticton segment (the easy direction). Monashee Tours is providing bike, equipment, and shuttle at both ends. I've contacted the Chute Lake Resort and they're expecting me for lunch. I don't have any qualms about riding 80km in a single day (since the latter part is downhill) and several locals have assured me it won't be a rushed pace. I ride 20-30km at least twice weekly on trails around here. Really excited about it.

PD- I will try to act like an obnoxious American tourist @ the ferry terminal so you will spot me in the crowds. My Vancouver friend also warned that rush hour might be bad, but hey- can't be worse than OC freeways, right?? Enjoy your cruise!

Scottbee- I will wave hello. The friend I'm visiting Bowen with lives in Burnaby. We did the Circle Farm Tour last fall and drove right past the Chilliwack Airport but didn't know about the cafe. There used to be a good "$50 Burger" website that rated airport cafes in the US and Canada but it seems to have disappeared.

Thanks again, creating a list of all the suggestions.

Sorry for this non-cruise Vancouver question...but I'm going to use my "frequent contributor" status for a hall pass :rolleyes:

I'm heading to BC over Labour Day week. The trip starts by flying to Kelowna to bike an 80km segment of the Kettle Valley Rail trail, then spending a day in the Okanagan Valley to sightsee. Any suggestions for scenic or "adventure" activities in the area, as well as good wineries and restaurants. Unique and offbeat has priority over high-end, although I don't mind a memorable meal at an expensive restaurant.

Then I'm driving to Vancouver to spend 4 days w/ a friend on Bowen Island. The plan is to be on the road by 9am and take Hwy 3, which I understand is more scenic and interesting (but slower) than Hwy 5. After Hope, the plan is to blitz into downtown Vancouver (Tuesday) since I visited the Fraser Valley recently and also have to turn in the car before the office closes at 6pm.

From the downtown rental car location the plan is to take the bus to Horseshoe Bay to the ferry...I have a car reserved but I'm starting to think it will be more pain and expense than benefit.

Anything to recommend on Bowen or enroute? After Bowen it's the ferry/bus/Skytrain to YVR for a 430pm flight.

Appreciate any comments and suggestions... TIA!!

You do get a card that is embedded with an RFID chip. Says Global Entry on top. Has your picture along with name, DOB, and expiration date.

On the back it has your ID number and ,,, interestingly enough,,, a Sentri logo and a Ready Lane logo.

 

When approved,,, CBP puts a sticker in the back of your passport. Then they mail you within a couple of days your Global Entry card. When you purchase airline tickets, there is an area listed as "Known Traveller Number". This is where you put your Gloabl Entry number. If the airline is part of the program, this number will be embedded in your boarding pass.. When you approach the TSA people who verify your ID and boarding pass, they scan your boarding pass and that is when they direct you to a special screening (or lack thereof) line.

Thanks...that's not the way the government website explains it. I actually believe you versus the website since you have firsthand experience, and the website is very poorly done. Maybe the card is an interim stage of the program, or that's what is done until the next time your passport is renewed.

I would "think" that "Last/Paternal" would be your current last name. "Maternal" would be your maiden name.

 

Nexus is only good for crossing the Mexico or Canadian border by car. ( as I understand it). There are 2 concerns though with the Nexus card.

1. The car also has to be registered in the Nexus program. (That would be each and every car you might be using)

2. Every passenger in the vehicle MUST have a Nexus card also to utilize the Nexus lane.

I think you meant Sentri and not Nexus. Sentri is for crossing to/from Mexico by car (requiring vehicle info). Nexus is to cross to/from Canada by land, sea, and air and isn't tied to a vehicle. Sentri can be used to enter the US from Canada, but not to enter Canada.

Someone mentioned "GOES card". GOES is the application and enrollment process for Global Entry, Sentri, and Nexus, not a card. If the end result is Global Entry, it's part of your passport, not a separate card.

I may be off on some of these details....the government websites are clear as mud. A nice little matrix showing the features of each would be nice :)

There's a range of opinion on the cleanliness of the lavs towards the end of a flight. Some of it depends on the nationality of the airline. For example, crews on US carriers ignore the condition of the lavs and if they get really disgusting they simply mark it "out of order". On most Asian airlines, the FA's inspect and tidy up the lavs almost hourly and they're almost always spotless.

On your flight they will probably serve a light breakfast a few hours before arrival. By the time breakfast is done there will be long lines at the lavs. Inevitably some people don't get to use them before they have to sit down for the landing. If you can take care of some or all your "freshening up" before breakfast it will be a lot easier and faster. Also, when I know there's a line for the lavs I try to make it as quick as possible. After breakfast when the long lines form, spending 5-10 minutes to change clothes and freshen up isn't a good idea.

FYI, agree on the footwear....the travel editor of a newspaper was departing ORD for HNL in the winter. The takeoff was aborted and everyone had to use the slides. She had to run through mud and stand in freezing weather for about 20 minutes. Some people were in stocking feet or were wearing shorts and t-shirts. Her lesson learned was to dress for "outside" until the plane has departed or arrived uneventfully.

Our last experience was difficult in that we were to be the last flight out of Toronto before it being hit with a major snowstorm. Standby passengers were a mile long as everyone wanted out before the storm. It is difficult to sit with an empty seat between you under these circumstances when the entire cabin knows how many people would be left behind and for who knows how long. Not a comfortable flight

There was no reason to feel uncomfortable, since you purchased the extra seat fairly. Would you feel bad that both of you were also occupying two primary seats...which displaced two standbys? No difference.

In your situation here's what I would have done if the 3rd seat was a matter of comfort and not necessity. If an empty seat were available the airline would charge the unrestricted, full Y-class fare. I would have offered to resell the third seat back to the airline at that fare. That puts it back in the airline's court. Most likely they would dismiss the offer with a laugh, but if there's a very high-value customer at stake they might go for it. A win-win for you.

+1 on Karmel. A former employer used them exclusively and I always heard good reports from colleagues. I personally got great service all the time. Once a fan belt broke on the van...the driver got on the radio and a rescue van showed up in 10 minutes to take me the rest of they way. They were highly apologetic.

Karmel is locally owned, not a national franchise like SS and PT. No, I have no financial interest in them.

The other option is a shuttle van. For the size of your party you will need 2 or even 3 vans since I assume everyone has luggage. But it will probably be exclusive use, so there won't be stops enroute to drop off or pick up other passengers. I recommend calling Karmel Shuttle...or look at other shuttle services online. FYI, there have been increasing complaints about Primetime Shuttle.

Compare the prices to the Amtrak bus....a shuttle will probably be higher cost per-person. Like almost everything else it will come down to how much your time and convenience is worth.

Drbillmc- Also check Karmel Shuttle, especially from SNA. They are locally owned instead of a franchise. I've used them a number of times and they are always great- my previous employer used them exclusively and I never heard a colleague complain or talk about a problem. I don't think you can book them online but they will take care of you if you phone.

Flyertalker- Funny photo...any explanation of the US/Aussie dogs? Are they at LAX to screen Qantas flights in both directions?

Too bad this great info is getting scattered and not focused into sections!! I'm not a SP local either, I live an hour south in Orange County but go to SP now and then.

The Grinder is a good family coffee shop / deli pretty close to the trolley station at the Maritime Museum. Not haute cuisine, just good basic food and not too expensive. http://www.grinderrestaurants.com/

One FAQ is the distinction between San Pedro and Long Beach. They form a huge harbor complex; SP is the west portion (and part of the City of LA) while LB is the east portion (LB is an independent city). With rare exceptions, *all* cruiselines and ships (except Carnival) use SP. The facility is called the LA World Cruiseport. Carnival owns the facility at LB and is the only line using it (again, with occasional exceptions). Be sure you're clear which port you're headed to!! If you get the wrong one, it's not too bad a mistake since the two facilities are about 8 miles from each other.

I sometimes see questions from non-Californians about liquor sales. In California it's sold 7 days a week. Grocery stores, drugstores (like CVS and Walgreens), mass retailers (Target), and many convenience stores (7-11, AM/PM, etc) sell liquor; we don't have government-run stores.

Sorry, as mentioned in my post we didn't ride out to Dyea, just the first 1-2 miles of the paved road as far as the overlook and shortcut back to town. Since the cycle tours have people of all abilities and I saw independent riders on trail bikes, I assume the unpaved road isn't bad. The grade is moderate but long. It was kinda fun leaving my teenage son far behind and also passing 20-ish riders! :) As long as your cycling fitness is 2-3 out of 5 you will be fine.

Someone else can answer the other questions.

Ride to the Gold Rush Cemetery, about 2 level miles each way. Lock your bikes and hike 1/2 mile to Reid Falls.

Head back towards downtown and get on the Yukon Hwy headed up White Pass. In a mile or two take the turnoff to the left to Dyea (well marked, major junction). Pedal up the long (!) grade. At the top is a view park with a deck that overlooks the city. From there you can continue on the road to Dyea...we didn't do that, I think it's about 12 miles each way and mostly level since it follows the shoreline. IIRC they have shuttle bike trips to Dyea.

Just after the previously mentioned viewing deck, there's a very fun road on the downhill side of the road with a sign saying "Grizzly Ass Trail". It's just before the pavement ends on the Dyea Rd. It's a quick downhill shortcut back into town.

Have fun!

HAL ships have a pool on the Lido and another on the aft deck. (The photo in the previous post is the aft pool on HAL). The Lido pool has a sliding roof; they do a good job of adjusting the opening so the inside air temperature is near perfect. Last year they had an Alaskan BBQ, grilled salmon and a nice chard next to the pool watching my son in the pool having the time of his life....priceless!

AddFusion- You also may not know the train station is only a 5-10 minute walk from the cruise docks. Skagway is about 2 miles long and 6 blocks wide. It's not like Juneau.

Eielson Visitor Center had re-opened less than a week before we arrived (after being demolished and rebuilt), so they may have still been adjusting the bus logistics. Not really sure. Agree with vbmom, the cost difference is so small I'd just book all the way to Wonder Lake. The mountain was out most of the morning but clouded over while we were eating lunch at EVC....combined with the skeeters there was no compelling reason for us to extend. Also we wanted to get back to HQ in time for the 4pm dog kennel tour.

We took the shuttle as far as Eielson Visitor Center. My concerns that the trip would be uncomfortable or boring (especially with a teenager) were unfounded. The trip was over before we knew it.

We stayed with the same bus all day; our driver had been doing it for 15 years and his narration and ability to spot wildlife was great. If you don't like the driver you can catch another bus at a rest stop or along the road....just be sure to tell your original driver you won't be reboarding. Also if you decide you've had enough you can get off and catch an outbound bus (nobody on our bus did that).

When we went last July anyone taking the shuttle farther than Eielson had to get off there and transfer to a different bus. Also, anyone who decided on impulse to travel farther into the park could extend their ticket for just a few dollars, either before the bus left or when they reached the original ticketed point. FYI, they did warn that Wonder Lake had killer mosquitos that day.

These are not options with the Kantishna or TWT bus...you are on the same bus for the duration.

VikkiGarcia- We are the father and son from HAL that joined your family on the tour. We totally concur with your comments and recommend DD highly.

When we arrived, Dave confirmed what we wanted to do and checked with the RR. He had us see the NPS video on the Gold Rush to put things in a historical context as well as synchronize with the train schedule. (Be sure to bring your passports, we had to go back to the ship and grab them. Not a big deal since Skagway isn't a tender port).

After joining Vikki's family we got a tour of the city, then headed to Fraser in DD's van. Returned by train. Vikki's group went gold panning; DD provided us with bikes and we rode out to the Gold Rush Cemetery, hiked to Reid Falls, then pedaled to the scenic overlook above the city.

As a long-time resident and archaeologist, DD knows a lot of facts and interesting anecdotes about the area. His prices are reasonable and you will have a much better experience than a cruiseline-booked tour can offer.

Actually PUtt the rich Alberta oil people are buying in BC and Palm Springs!!!

That explains a lot....our local airport John Wayne/Orange County is trying to fill the vacancy left by Aloha (SNA was their mainland hub). Air Canada and West Jet are both top contenders, they are both considering flying to YVR and YYC. I couldn't figure out why there was a big market between Calgary and So Cal.

At one time the hotel had some bikes for their guests to use - I also read on one of these threads that someone wasn't all that happy with Bayshore Rentals - PD is correct - Spokes has been around for a long time + there are about three other bike shops all next door to each other so you won't have any problem finding some.

 

Remember you must ride the Stanley Park seawall in a counter clock-wise direction and be sure to dismount where is says to as the Park Bike rangers have been known to issue tickets for non-compliance.

Cheers

 

Dennis

We may have been the ones who thought Bayshore was just so-so. Their prices were good and they were friendly...but they just handed us bikes and I had to ask for a park map and adjust the bikes. I thought they should have done this. The bikes were in good repair with no safety issues, though they weren't the fanciest or newest models. There are 4 or 5 bike rental places on the block south of Spokes, stroll around and go back to the one that seems best to you.

Hopefully, rangers also issue tickets to pedestrians on the bike path. There were parallel bike and foot paths, but many pedestrians didn't seem to get a clue from the many signs or the bikes whizzing past them!

We had a great time and there are many pull-offs and photo ops. It took us about an hour including stops to do the loop....since our rental was 2 hours we continued along the shore towards Granville Island and English Bay before heading back to the bike shop.

Kenish - refresh my memory - were you there while the fireworks were on - if so that would explain it as a lot of places close early on those nights.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

Hi Dennis- We were there on July 5, so just an ordinary Saturday. We wished we were there during the fireworks or Canada Day.

Tsuanmi Sushi - also upstairs in a little plaza/mall on Burrard - between Burrard and .... (she's thnking) Thurlow? They have a nice little sushi bar where the sushi goes around on boats. In water. You may have seen something like that before. Food is good. Your hotel will be able to direct you.

We ate at Tsunami last month and they were excellent. They have a hot menu (teriyaki, etc.) as well as sushi. The sushi prices depend on the color and pattern of the plate. When you're done, they just "total up" the plates! They are in a courtyard on the north side of Robson between Burrard and Thurlow. There is also a Greek place in the same courtyard that has a bigger street presence, so look for their sign. Tsunami was open later than a lot of surrounding restaurants. We were surprised a lot of restaurants were closed at 1030 on Saturday. I guess most of their business comes from the workaday office crowd.

Two comments that may have been made and I didn't see....the Airporter accepts credit cards; you can buy tickets at the info desk as you enter the exit lobby in the terminal, or just go to the curbside and buy tickets at the clearly marked podium.

Also, we didn't use a cab but I noticed they are midsized cars (Toyota Camry?) They will hold only 2-3 adults and their luggage.

Thank you both, I will call the bike shops tomorrow.

Sorry I didn't see your post sooner. I'm finally catching up on this board after some wireless router problems that let me connect to every website except this one!