Vancouver residents -- question about Hastings St.

[CowPrincess]

Which is the part of Hastings that I should avoid when looking at hotels? Thanks in advance :)

[mr green]

Which is the part of Hastings that I should avoid when looking at hotels? Thanks in advance :)

 

All of it. Try Georgia.

 

john

[notentirelynormal]

All of it. Try Georgia.

 

john

 

Too funny! True, but funny.

[CowPrincess]

Would a hotel in Gastown be considered safe for a solo woman traveller using public transit? It seems that Gastown is VERY close to Hastings.

[Rickey 88]

Today, Gastown is a very touristy area, but was once a rather seedy part of town. As you are a single lady and will use public transport, I would recommend another part of downtown.

[Urban trekker]

Mr Green in trying to be smart obviously has forgotten that the Delts suites, Marriott etc are located on Hastings.

 

As for the suggestion re Gastown - trying to think of any hotels down there that cater to the tourist crowd.

 

Give us the names of some of the hotels you are thinking and us locals with be more than happy to provide our thoughts on.

 

Cheers!

 

Dennis

[kenish]

I recall my son and I did our own walking tour and went from Chinatown to Gastown (just a few blocks). We passed through a small public square with some interesting characters. It was fine during day (and a good education for my teenager) but I wouldn't venture in the area at night. Just a block away in Gastown was fine.

[Urban trekker]

Yes that is a good summary of the area between Chinatown and Gastown - we used to call that square Pigeon Park although I believe it has been renamed now - while the area is definately seedy it is still reasonably safe - the open drug use, drinking and persistent panhandling are more of a personal living problem than a safety and security threat.

 

Cheers!

 

Dennis

[martincath]

It's still Pigeon Park UT, in popular parlance as well as on the map. The restaurant that was being picketed last year, Pidgin, even used it as inspiration for their name.

 

Several of the comments above pretty much sum up my opinion of the area too - I don't feel concerned about my own safety, just upset for some of the folks I run into that their lives are so crappy and there's not much I can do about it. You may see or hear things that make you uncomfortable, but the Granville Street drunks leaving the clubs late at night are much more annoying IMO.

 

To refocus on the OPs query - the west end of Hastings is just fine (Marriott, Rennaissance, Terminal City, even the Delta). While actually on Pender, not Hastings, the Ramada downtown is right on the verge of still-OK-but-gets-sketchy-any-further-east, especially if you take the most direct route up into Gastown through Victory Square and along Hastings. The so-far-East-it's-almost-not-Vancouver-any-more part of Hastings has a Holiday Inn Express right out by the Exhibition grounds.

 

I can't think of any other chain hotels anywhere in-between - certainly not in Gastown. The independent 'hotels' around here and especially along Hastings are almost all Single Room Occupancy housing for those on benefits or an occasional backpacker hostel. Pretty sure none of those are going to come up on a Hotwire deal!

 

Oh, I guess that The Victorian might be described as being in Gastown. It's got excellent reviews though I have no personal experience of it. That block of Homer is pretty empty, though you are on the same block as Covenant House (which aids homeless youth). Like the Ramada, it's right on the verge of sketchiness - I wouldn't recommend walking further east unless you were up on Water St or down at Dunsmuir or further south.

[lamchops]

Which is the part of Hastings that I should avoid when looking at hotels? Thanks in advance :)

 

I would not book anything on east Hastings or addresses with 0-500 west Hastings.

[CowPrincess]

Thank you ALL! :D

 

Yesterday, I looked at Vancouver hotels on the net until I was glassy-eyed, and my computer got sick ;) Hopefully today I'll have a couple to ask about.

[em-sk]

Thank you ALL! :D

 

Yesterday, I looked at Vancouver hotels on the net until I was glassy-eyed, and my computer got sick ;) Hopefully today I'll have a couple to ask about.

 

I agree downtown is the best place to be in that many attractions are within walking distance. If you are looking for something different there are other places that could save you some money and are still in nice safe neighborhoods. I stay with family when I am in Vancouver because of that I am not in a position to comment on the quality of rooms. The neighborhoods around these are quite safe.

 

 

*The River Rock is a casino hotel. If you like Vegas (and casinos) you mighty like this hotel. It is located on one of the stops on the Canada line between the airport and downtown. The rooms tend to be a bit lower cost that downtown. The general area around the hotel is more industrial than anything else. That said, its next to a skytrain station which provides access to a lot of nice places.

 

*The Granville Island hotel is in a neat location (not near a skytrain station so you will likely be doing taxi). There is a water bus that takes you to a variety of stops within false creek including Granville Island. It is a nice tourist oriented area with lots to explore (restaurants, shops, public market, marina) within walking distance.

 

* Within about three blocks of City Hall Station there are several bed and breakfast places. Some examples: Cambie Lodge Vancouver Bed and Breakfast, Windsor Guest House, Manor Guest House.

 

* About 2-3 blocks from the City Hall station is also the Holiday Inn - Vancouver Centre - Broadway (which is well, a Holiday Inn). (Lots of Shops and Restaurants up and down Broadway).

[Rhonbru]

we booked the blue horizon hotel for our stay after a cruise for 3 days, can any locals tell me if this was a good choice:confused:

[em-sk]

we booked the blue horizon hotel for our stay after a cruise for 3 days, can any locals tell me if this was a good choice:confused:

 

You are on Robson St. Robson has all the high-end top of the line designer shops. Nice and very upscale location. Good place to stay.

[scottbee]

3500+ East Hastings: (not near downtown, but very interesting residential area w/ a lot of small family owned businesses)

3500E-300W: Not recommended (although 0-300 W is improving rapidly)

300+ West Hastings. The heart of downtown, very safe.

[Langley Cruisers]

we booked the blue horizon hotel for our stay after a cruise for 3 days, can any locals tell me if this was a good choice:confused:

 

FABULOUS! We have stayed there twice on anniversary weekends! Amazing. You don't need a car, you can just walk for blocks and blocks. Great choice. You can pay more for a higher floor, which I absolutely recommend you do. The views are spectacular.

[mercedes28]

Burrard, Robson, Georgia st would be my choices if I was getting a room in Vancouver. There's decent hotels by BC Place for decent prices and not too far from skytrain. Around Robson and cambie. Or like another poster said, Broadway city hall area is nice and safe (I live right near it) and very accessible to downtown. Whatever your choice, have fun and enjoy Vancouver!