Vancouver Info if needed

[Putterdude]

We'll be in Vancouver June 22 for a couple of days post cruise and wanted to do the Eye of the Wind tour at Grouse Mountain. Heard there might still be snow at Grouse - do you think it would effect the Eye tour? Were going to do the Imax, maybe lumberjack show and spend the whole day there...worth it or should we come up with a plan B? Thanks!

 

The snow is staying late this year but a month from now I would be inclined to think you will be just fine. However it wouldn't hurt to have a plan B in the event of inclement weather. If you can't see the top of Grouse Mtn from the city then there is not much point in going up if you are going for the view.

[Neetern]

Thanks Putterdude! Have you heard anything about the Eye of the Wind tour? Good/Bad?

Also, if we are staying at the Sutton Place Hotel, where would be a good place to purchase an all day public transportation pass?

[Putterdude]

You will be able to purchase an all day transit pass at the IGA Marketplace in the 900 block of Burrard St., about a block south of your hotel. As for the Eye of the Wind, it is definitely tourist orientated, it does have an enhanced view opportunity, there is a thrill or wow factor, one of my sons has done it & enjoyed it, but frankly I would probably save the $25 pp as there are already great views from the top of the mountain....but then again I am not a tourist.

[Putterdude]

IGA Marketplace in the 900 block of Burrard St., about a block south of your hotel.

 

Make that "south" one block "NORTH" of your hotel.:o

[Urban trekker]

Actually PD I was in that IGA the other day and there was a notice on the front door that they are no longer selling transit tickets and passes - they did mentioned where else was close by - if I am by there I will make a note of where else they can be purchased.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[Putterdude]

Well there you go, the TransClunk website told a miss-truth, thanks for the update.

Until we get an update from out intrepid poster on the ground, Ut, it would appear that there are a couple of vendors in Royal Centre, about 3 block north on Burrard St.

[NSgal]

I am looking for a good place to meet some friends near the Canada Place pier. I am flying in to Vancouver to meet some friends arriving on the Millenium for the day. None of us are too familiar with the area, and I am hoping someone can recommend somewhere not too far away, and easy to find.

[Putterdude]

I would suggest that you set up to meet in the lobby of the Pan Pacific hotel which forms part of Canada Place and that way you can have your visit and then take the elevator down to your ship. In fact you could check your luggage at the pier and then go up into the hotel.

[Greyshadowfax]

Hi all!

We booked our flights yesterday! Air Canada was having a sale so we jumped on the deal. The only problem is that our flight back to the East Coast leaves Vancouver at 6 am.

 

Dave and I don't mind getting up early...it's getting to the airport in time that concerns me. We *could* stay the the Fairmont Airport, but it is a little pricey ($244.00 tax included). The big advantage is that we just have to walk down the stairs and we are on the concourse.

 

Honestly, I'm leaning toward this, just for the convenience, plus Dave would LOVE watching the planes take off and land. We've already spent A LOT on this vacation (but it is worth it!!) so what's a little more?

 

Any thoughts?

Edited May 26, 2011 by Greyshadowfax

[Putterdude]

The next closest hotel would be the Delta Airport hotel which is located on the eastern extremity of airport. They show a rate as low as $161 + tax (using their Web Saver rate) in early July and they have a shuttle starting at 4am. Sometimes if you call the hotel directly you can get even a better rate.

 

http://www.deltahotels.com/en/hotels/british-columbia/delta-vancouver-airport/

[Kaki]

We will arrive in Vancouver at the Amtrak station. I have read an old post that stated the best way to get Canadian cash is at an ATM...is there still an ATM in the station?

 

Does the ATM charge extra for exchange of US$ to CAD$? or just the usual ATM fee?

 

I don't really want to pay the 3% credit card fee so I would like to get cash to pay for our hotel, etc.

 

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

[Putterdude]

Inside the train station there is both a both a currency exchange desk and a private label ATM; as for their fees I really can't comment. If you are not spending more than a day in Vancouver I would probably just stick with $US but if you really want to get some $CDN then walk across Main St. to the VanCity Credit Union and purchase some...at least you will get a decent exchange rate.

[scottbee]

Hi all!

We booked our flights yesterday! Air Canada was having a sale so we jumped on the deal. The only problem is that our flight back to the East Coast leaves Vancouver at 6 am.

 

Dave and I don't mind getting up early...it's getting to the airport in time that concerns me. We *could* stay the the Fairmont Airport, but it is a little pricey ($244.00 tax included). The big advantage is that we just have to walk down the stairs and we are on the concourse.

 

Honestly, I'm leaning toward this, just for the convenience, plus Dave would LOVE watching the planes take off and land. We've already spent A LOT on this vacation (but it is worth it!!) so what's a little more?

 

Any thoughts?

 

How about the hotel at River Rock casino, you'll have just as good a view of the airport, and it's pretty much right there.

[Greyshadowfax]

How about the hotel at River Rock casino, you'll have just as good a view of the airport, and it's pretty much right there.

 

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! :)

[papadave]

Hi all!

We booked our flights yesterday! Air Canada was having a sale so we jumped on the deal. The only problem is that our flight back to the East Coast leaves Vancouver at 6 am.

 

Dave and I don't mind getting up early...it's getting to the airport in time that concerns me. We *could* stay the the Fairmont Airport, but it is a little pricey ($244.00 tax included). The big advantage is that we just have to walk down the stairs and we are on the concourse.

 

Honestly, I'm leaning toward this, just for the convenience, plus Dave would LOVE watching the planes take off and land. We've already spent A LOT on this vacation (but it is worth it!!) so what's a little more?

 

Any thoughts?

 

We have stayed at a B&B in Richmond, only a couple of minutes away from the airport. It was considerably cheaper than a hotel, but it was not a luxurious place. If you are price sensitive, there are moderate and even cheap B&Bs in the area.

[LiftLockCouple]

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! :)

 

Take a look at the Radisson Hotel Airport. We stayed in this hotel last May and it was a great hotel with a hot breakfast included. The hotel is accessable from downtown on the canada Line of Sky Train and A short sky train ride further and there is a good shopping center as well. The hotel is right across the street from the Sky Train stop which also has an elevator to help with luggage. When transferring between the hotel and the airport, a train change is required but is is more economical than on property hotels or the River Rock, and very close to the airport. As long as you are not lugging the luggage of a royal prince this could be an option for you. http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&q=richmond%20bc&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

[CMYK_iNK]

Be careful with the Canada Line.. depending on how early you want to get to the airport, make sure your train is running at that time. Here is the first train/last train schedule.. you are probably OK but just posting it just in case.

 

Richmond-Brighouse | YVR/Airport | Waterfront

Waterfront to YVR/Airport 4:50am 1:05am

Waterfront to Richmond-Brighouse 5:32am 1:15am

YVR/Airport to Waterfront 5:10am 12:57am

Richmond-Brighouse to Waterfront 5:05am 12:48am

 

http://tripplanning.translink.ca/hiwire?.a=iScheduleLookupSearch&LineAbbr=980

Edited May 27, 2011 by CMYK_iNK
schedule

[Greyshadowfax]

Honestly, I think I've made up my mind to bite the bullet and stay at the Fairmont. It would be so easy and convenient and I would not have to worry about making connections, timing, etc. Thanks for all your help though!

[LeftcoastBC]

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 :)

Edited May 27, 2011 by LeftcoastBC

[scottbee]

Be careful with the Canada Line.. depending on how early you want to get to the airport, make sure your train is running at that time. Here is the first train/last train schedule.. you are probably OK but just posting it just in case.

 

Waterfront to YVR/Airport 4:50am 1:05am

YVR/Airport to Waterfront 5:10am 12:57am

 

http://tripplanning.translink.ca/hiwire?.a=iScheduleLookupSearch&LineAbbr=980

 

I'm not sure this is a huge issue;

 

The only flights that arrive at YVR between 0000 and 0500 are

00:55 AC151 St. Johns/YYT

01:30 CX889 New York Kennedy/JFK

04:50 AC48 Honolulu/HNL

and AC48 would nicely put you on the 1st train

 

 

The only flights that leave YVR between 0130 and 0700 (once you account time to checkin, etc)

01:55 CI31 Taipei/TPE

02:20 BR9 Taipei/TPE

02:45 CX889 Hong Kong/HKG

06:00 UA503 San Francisco/SFO

06:20 QX2209 Seattle/SEA

06:20 AS708 Los Angeles/LAX

06:30 DL987 Minneapolis St Paul/MSP

 

So there's 4 US bound flights you would probably miss with the 1st skytrain (the Asia bound ones you would need to be at the airport before 0130 anyway)

[Kaki]

Inside the train station there is both a both a currency exchange desk and a private label ATM; as for their fees I really can't comment. If you are not spending more than a day in Vancouver I would probably just stick with $US but if you really want to get some $CDN then walk across Main St. to the VanCity Credit Union and purchase some...at least you will get a decent exchange rate.

 

Thank you! We are coming in on the late train and we will have one full day before the cruise for sightseeing. We will also have a full day after the cruise before we get back on the train to Seattle the next day. I am trying to avoid using my credit card since it has a foreign transaction fee.

Would it be better to have CAD$ since we will have 2 full days of buying meals, snacks, taxis etc.?

[the2ofus]

We are a family of 7 needing transportation from the cruise ship pier to the Vancouver airport. I know about the skytrain, but also am figuring that we will have luggage, carry-ons, coats, packages, etc. and figure a shuttle or large van would meet our needs better. Do you know of some reliable services or will we need to split up in taxis?

[Putterdude]

Thank you! We are coming in on the late train and we will have one full day before the cruise for sightseeing. We will also have a full day after the cruise before we get back on the train to Seattle the next day. I am trying to avoid using my credit card since it has a foreign transaction fee.

Would it be better to have CAD$ since we will have 2 full days of buying meals, snacks, taxis etc.?

 

If you are trying to avoid foreign transaction fees on your credit card then yes, you will be better off with $CDN however you will find that you can use $US pretty much everywhere in Vancouver except for public transit. That said you may not get a fair exchange rate from merchants with your $US.

[Putterdude]

We are a family of 7 needing transportation from the cruise ship pier to the Vancouver airport. I know about the skytrain, but also am figuring that we will have luggage, carry-ons, coats, packages, etc. and figure a shuttle or large van would meet our needs better. Do you know of some reliable services or will we need to split up in taxis?

 

Each cab will run $35 plus gratuity and there are mini-van cabs so you will not have trouble getting everyone into 2 cabs. Aerocar is a reliable limo company and have the contract with YVR for limo service. Below is a link to their website and you could get a firm price from them for 7/8 pax limo. However my guess is that 2 taxis will prove less expensive after you add 12% tax to the limo tab and a gratuity.

 

http://www.aerocar.ca/rates/flat-rates

[Pocahantas]

We have the Pan Pacific booked for two nights before our cruise (6/26-6/28) at a rate of $225 per night (2 rooms) and two nights after our cruise (7/5-7/7) at a rate of $165 per night (2 rooms). I have been watching on Hotwire to try and book it cheaper if I can. Today I am seeing what I believe to be Le Grande Residences at Sutton Place for $152 per night and another 5* with 85% recommendations which could either be Sutton or Pan for $150 for our first two nights. I am thinking we could do Sutton for our first two nights and then have the Pan Pacific (which is really my preference) for the last two nights but now I am not sure which I should try for. This would be a pretty significant savings for us for the two nights and of course the 5* for $150 could end up being the Pan Pacific. What should I do???

 

And how hard is it to get from Sutton to Canada Place for the cruise?? We are planning to be at the port between noon and 12:30.

Edited June 2, 2011 by Pocahantas