Vancouver answers from a Vancouverite

[Putterdude]

Catching the Princess shuttle from YVR .

 

Rick

 

 

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I don't know what the Princess transfer from YVR will cost this upcoming season but a cab fare from Richmond to Canada Place will run you about $35 and will be much less hassle.

[RickSt]

I don't know what the Princess transfer from YVR will cost this upcoming season but a cab fare from Richmond to Canada Place will run you about $35 and will be much less hassle.

 

We've bought the Princess transfers already in our booking .

 

Rick

 

 

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[scottbee]

Catching the Princess shuttle from YVR .

 

Rick

 

 

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From the Holiday Inn Express, I'd just walk the couple of hundred yards to Bridgeport Station, and grab Skytrain (elevated at Bridgeport, subway downtown) into town for $4/ea (which drops you three blocks from Canada Place). Likely to be 1/10th of what a cruise line would want for an airport-downtown shuttle.

[kjeanne2001]

Thanks! After reading back several pages I started researching the Blue Horizon. I could stay 2 nights there for about the price of 1 night at Pan Pacific. While I like the convenience of the Pan Pacific, how far is it to the cruise terminal from Blue Horizon. While in Vancouver I want to go to Stanley Park and possibly Grouse Mountain which looks to be close. Thanks!

[RickSt]

From the Holiday Inn Express, I'd just walk the couple of hundred yards to Bridgeport Station, and grab Skytrain (elevated at Bridgeport, subway downtown) into town for $4/ea (which drops you three blocks from Canada Place). Likely to be 1/10th of what a cruise line would want for an airport-downtown shuttle.

 

Might that be a bit awkward though with at least 3 suitcases and carry ons ?

 

Rick

 

 

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[Putterdude]

Thanks! After reading back several pages I started researching the Blue Horizon. I could stay 2 nights there for about the price of 1 night at Pan Pacific. While I like the convenience of the Pan Pacific, how far is it to the cruise terminal from Blue Horizon. While in Vancouver I want to go to Stanley Park and possibly Grouse Mountain which looks to be close. Thanks!

 

The Blue Horizon to Canada Place cruise terminal is about 11 blocks or about a $10 cab ride. If you wish to go to Grouse Mountain they operate a free shuttle to and from Canada Place from late May into early September but it is quite accessible by transit. From the hotel to the entrance to Stanley Park is about 12 blocks.

[Putterdude]

Might that be a bit awkward though with at least 3 suitcases and carry ons ?

 

Rick

 

 

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It sounds as though your mind is made up but often you can cancel those ship sponsored transfers and receive full credit for them, the exception would be a TA's perk or some kind of a package deal that you have purchased. Ship's transfers are seamless, I have used them, but they are expensive. But at the end of the day do what ever your comfort level dictates.:)

[scottbee]

Might that be a bit awkward though with at least 3 suitcases and carry ons ?

 

Rick

 

 

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That all depends. My wife and I travel with one suitcase, and one carryon each, and this sort of thing is a piece of cake. I figure if I can drag my suitcases a few hundred yards inside an airport, what's the difference. From the HIExpress to the Bridgeport Skytrain is probably 300m, basically you need to get to the other side of the costco parking lot (HIExpress is next to Costco) and then it's a block from there.

 

All that being said, if you wanted to avoid the walk, I'll pretty much guarantee that the hotel shuttle would drop you at Bridgeport Skytrain if you asked them, as it's on the way back to the airport terminal.

[RickSt]

It sounds as though your mind is made up but often you can cancel those ship sponsored transfers and receive full credit for them, the exception would be a TA's perk or some kind of a package deal that you have purchased. Ship's transfers are seamless, I have used them, but they are expensive. But at the end of the day do what ever your comfort level dictates.:)

 

We'll be gone for 2 weeks on this trip so we're probably bringing 3 suitcases plus our carry ons . Besides , she says we've already paid for the transfers. However because we get into YVR at noon , the Sky Train may be an option for us to do some sight seeing that evening .

 

Rick

 

 

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[Biffer1997]

We will be debarking in Vancouver after our Hawaii cruise in April on Carnival...anyone know if Luggage Express service will be offered to take our bags so we don't have to see them again until we land at home?

[Putterdude]

We will be debarking in Vancouver after our Hawaii cruise in April on Carnival...anyone know if Luggage Express service will be offered to take our bags so we don't have to see them again until we land at home?

Some cruise lines offer this type of service but not all and I have no idea if Carnival will. You might contact Carnival directly for the answer. There is a commercial luggage service at Canada Place that does offer a transfer service but it doesn't work that well if your flight is much before 6 pm and I am not at all sure that it will be operational in late April.

[Daisyloo]

Thinking about a cruise to Alaska from Vancouver in July. Thinking of staying the night prior to cruise at the Hampton Inn on Robson st. Is that an okay area, safe for 3 ladies on their own? Is it an area that there would be things to do nearby? Any suggestions.

I looked at an online taxi rate calculator, and it says the taxi from the airport to this hotel would be about $37.00, and from the hotel to the pier would be about $8.00. Does that sound right? Any advie would be appreciated.

[Urban trekker]

Yes it is a safe area - our downtown core is home to some 80,000 people and the area around your hotel is on the edge of both the historic Yaletown warehouse district now a lively place for the hi-tech companies and upscale condo dwellers.

 

You are also close to our civic theatres, hockey, football stadium and library.

There are lots of eateries etc in the area.

 

The costs you quoted for transport are in line.

 

Did you check and see if the Hampton has a shuttle to the port - seem to remember reading about that on one of the threads.

 

Enjoy your visit

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[Putterdude]

Yes, unless things change for this year, the Hampton Inn does offer a free shuttle from hotel to the pier at Canada Place.

[Daisyloo]

Thanks for the info. My mom who is 82 expressed an interest in an Alaskan cruise, and my sister and I thought it would be nice to take her. We want to make sure we pick an area that is safe and handy to what we need. Also I get loyalty points for the Hampton! That would be great if they have a shuttle to port. Originally I was looking at the Pan Pacific Hotel, but boy is that pricey!

Thanks again for the quick responses.:)

[SnorkelBabe]

Thinking about a cruise to Alaska from Vancouver in July. Thinking of staying the night prior to cruise at the Hampton Inn on Robson st. Is that an okay area, safe for 3 ladies on their own? Is it an area that there would be things to do nearby? Any suggestions.

I looked at an online taxi rate calculator, and it says the taxi from the airport to this hotel would be about $37.00, and from the hotel to the pier would be about $8.00. Does that sound right? Any advie would be appreciated.

I'm a little late chiming in, but we stayed at the Hampton Inn for three days before our cruise last July and loved it. The shuttle to the pier was convenient, but you do have to send one member of your party down to the lobby early in the morning to sign up the day you depart. You couldn't sign up the night before, and when I went to the lobby at the time they told me, there was already 6 or 8 parties ahead of me, waiting. We did get on a shuttle just fine, though.

 

We were a family of four, me, my husband and 10 and 15 year old daughters. We felt very safe, and found it very convenient, lots within walking distance (though maybe not for your mother), and convenient to the bus stops. We found the bus easy to use and mostly got around that way.

[vermonter16]

Not a Vancouverite but hope it's ok to interject; with a 3 night stay the price of a room without the cruise package may work out in your favor. They offer AAA and other discounts. The rate without a package is substantially less - especially since on 2 of the days you won't even have an airport taxi fare to offset the higher cost.

 

I stayed there for 2 nights a while back, but even just with one night it broke down to be less expensive to just pay cab fare from the train station to the hotel & pay for breakfast separately. Now maybe if we had to get transport from the airport - we would have broke even with the cruise package.

 

I emailed the hotel about the cruise package and they replied back with this:

 

Dear Jennifer,

 

The cruise transfer package is $179 plus taxes. The regular rate for the same room type (queen size bed) is $159.99 per night plus taxes. A king size bed will be $20 more per night. The following items are only included in the cruise transfer package and not a regular room rate:

 

1 Deluxe Queen or Two Double Beds

One-way taxi from Vancouver Airport to hotel

Wireless Internet, In-room safe, filtered water coolers on each guest room floor

Complimentary Roaring Start Hot Breakfast for 2

Complimentary transfer to the cruise- either Canada Place or Ballantyne (available 7 days, 7am – 7pm, based on availability)

 

The breakfast is served at White Spot Restaurant. You will receive Nat's Heart Breakfast which includes: two eggs any style, two sausages, two strips of bacon, hashbrown and french toast or pancakes or toast.

 

 

Now - I am really confused because it says that with their normal room rates - you get wireless internet, filtered water coolers on each guest room floor. And some say that they get the shuttle to the cruise port with or without the cruise package. I can book a 3 night stay for $145ish a night or something like that....

 

Anyone stay here without the cruise package and still get the shuttle to the pier, etc. Thanks.

Edited January 24, 2014 by vermonter16

[CanWeGoYet?]

I emailed the hotel about the cruise package and they replied back with this:

 

Dear Jennifer,

 

The cruise transfer package is $179 plus taxes. The regular rate for the same room type (queen size bed) is $159.99 per night plus taxes. A king size bed will be $20 more per night. The following items are only included in the cruise transfer package and not a regular room rate:

 

1 Deluxe Queen or Two Double Beds

One-way taxi from Vancouver Airport to hotel

Wireless Internet, In-room safe, filtered water coolers on each guest room floor

Complimentary Roaring Start Hot Breakfast for 2

Complimentary transfer to the cruise- either Canada Place or Ballantyne (available 7 days, 7am – 7pm, based on availability)

 

The breakfast is served at White Spot Restaurant. You will receive Nat's Heart Breakfast which includes: two eggs any style, two sausages, two strips of bacon, hashbrown and french toast or pancakes or toast.

 

 

Now - I am really confused because it says that with their normal room rates - you get wireless internet, filtered water coolers on each guest room floor. And some say that they get the shuttle to the cruise port with or without the cruise package. I can book a 3 night stay for $145ish a night or something like that....

 

Anyone stay here without the cruise package and still get the shuttle to the pier, etc. Thanks.

Sorry for the confusion - I did book 2 nights WITHOUT the cruise transfer package - just a AAA rate. Back then, beginning of the season it was around $104. It included shuttle transfer to the pier. No reimbursement for taxi transport to the Best Western, and no free breakfast. Free wifi, water on every floor etc.

True, you don't need the cruise package to get transport to the pier.

[cardamon]

Ian so impressed with the wealth of info here- been on this thread for 2 hours catching up. We arrive in Vancouver by cruise ship on 9/5 and only have that day and overnight in town. We want to stay near the airport because of an early flight 9/6. We want to do as much as possible in our short time.

Questions:

1. Can you recommend a moderate priced airport hotel with SkyTrain access?

2. Would you encourage checking our luggage at Priority Baggage services (Canada Place, correct?) so we can begin our tour of the city ASAP on the Trolley? ( as opposed to going to our airport hotel, then taking SkyTrain back downtown?)

3. My husband is a home brewer, loves his beer. I read good reviews for Gastown Brewery. Any other recommendations for p,aces we can reach easily from the Trolley line?

Thank you for the help. This trip. Has been the most difficult for me to plan because we have never been to Vancouver or Seattle.:confused:

[martincath]

1. Can you recommend a moderate priced airport hotel with SkyTrain access?

2. Would you encourage checking our luggage at Priority Baggage services (Canada Place, correct?) so we can begin our tour of the city ASAP on the Trolley? (as opposed to going to our airport hotel, then taking SkyTrain back downtown?)

3. My husband is a home brewer, loves his beer. I read good reviews for Gastown Brewery. Any other recommendations for p,aces we can reach easily from the Trolley line?

 

1. There are very few YVR hotels right next to Skytrain - the River Rock casino is the only one that springs to mind which might fit (and while not super-expensive, it may not fit your definition of moderate). There are however several within a relatively easy walk or dirt-chap cab fare of a station - e.g. Days Inn, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express all within less than 1000 yards of Bridgeport station. Hotel shuttles will generally be happy to drop you off at Skytrain, but I have no idea if they will come and get you there...

 

2. With such a short time frame, absolutely do not go to the hotel to drop your bags. Absolute best-case you will still waste over an hour doing this - and if you use the hotel shuttle to get to & from transit you could be wasting up to two hours.

 

3. I assume you mean Steamworks in Gastown. Steamworks is OK, but there are better - if you want places close to Trolley stops, Yaletown Brewing Co would be your best bet. It's very close to Trolley stop 23 and unlike Steamworks they have the same brewmaster they've had for years.

 

Conrad Gmoser, he who basically created the Steamworks good rep, is now running his own brewery Brassneck - the new guy (Caolan Vaughan) who took over seems plenty competent, I've enjoyed a couple of his one-off brews, but the reviews you're reading are about the Conrad years unless they are within the last year. Entirely subjectively I also feel Iain Hill at YBC is better than Conrad anyway because the type of beers he's best at suit my palate more (hoppy brews).

 

If the hubster is a big fan of stouts & porters then Conrad is your man - but the stout OR porter (they never have both on) at Steamworks is a pale imitation of the best work Conrad is capable of in that field. Steamworks regular brews are just a little too bland for me - the stout for example is basically a generic Dry Irish Guinness-type product - but the seasonal brews were always full-flavoured and Conrad's Coffee brew each year was something I looked forward to (each year a different type of coffee used and you could taste the difference).

 

If you were willing to spend the time I would be more than happy to meet you and take you up to Brassneck to sample his Inertia Imperial Stout. Honestly though if your hubbie is a homebrewer he knows the process already - I know when I travel I would rather visit one really good pub that offers a selection of well-kept local beers than even the best brewery in town because you can only sample one persons products in the latter.

 

The best range of beers is undoubtedly in the Alibi Room (incidentally Nigel Springthorpe who runs this is also Conrad's partner in Brassneck) but that's way off the trolley route. I'd say the best range of BC beers closest to a trolley stop would be in Tap & Barrel's Coal Harbour location, right on Jack Poole Plaza where you can also see the Olympic Flame and 'lego' Orca statue.

[sambamama]

I am coming to Vancouver in mid May and am staying with friends. I will be exploring Vancouver before and after my cruise. I would like to see some gorgeous scenery and would like to have a day trip driving out from the city one day. Is the Sea to Sky highway my best option? What other choices are there? I am on a pretty tight budget because I am doing a cruise to Alaska as well that I paid double occupany for. I arrive May 10, the cruise is May 14-21, and I fly home May 24.

[martincath]

I am coming to Vancouver in mid May and am staying with friends. I will be exploring Vancouver before and after my cruise. I would like to see some gorgeous scenery and would like to have a day trip driving out from the city one day. Is the Sea to Sky highway my best option? What other choices are there? I am on a pretty tight budget because I am doing a cruise to Alaska as well that I paid double occupany for. I arrive May 10, the cruise is May 14-21, and I fly home May 24.

Since the defining characteristic of scenery around Vancouver is the combination of sea and mountains, the Sea to Sky would certainly give you a very good return on your time investment. There are several 'scenic view' spots to stop at right on the road, including a nice waterfall at Shannon Falls (which should be pretty good in May as there will be plenty of snowmelt).

 

There's a very useful summary of the sights here (including info on which side of the road they're on, to make it easiest to pull in).

 

Since you have good enough friends in the area that they're letting you stay with them, I assume they know you a lot better than random strangers on the internet... I'd be asking them rather than us to recommend the best day-trip for you;-)

[sambamama]

Thanks gor your help. I will ask them ( and it's very nice that they invited me:) ), but second opinions are always good

I bought guidebooks and have been researching- I found plenty to do in Vancouver, but did not find much on day trips.

[cardamon]

Your beer advise is exactly what I needed! Our,time is so limited- I realize we will not do Vancouver justice . The day in Vancouver's best beer places is for my DH. I'm hoping to ride the Trolley to see the highlights.

I have stil not made reservations overnight- torn between staying near the airport or downtown. We could board the Trolley quicker if we stayed on Robson and took a taxi next AM to the airport. However, our flight is early. What do you advise? I'm looking at the Hampton Airport or Blue Horizon downtown because it is on the Trolley route.

Thank you so much!! Been so helpful!!

Edited January 26, 2014 by cardamon

[martincath]

I have stil not made reservations overnight- torn between staying near the airport or downtown. We could board the Trolley quicker if we stayed on Robson and took a taxi next AM to the airport. However, our flight is early. What do you advise? I'm looking at the Hampton Airport or Blue Horizon downtown because it is on the Trolley route.

Thank you so much!! Been so helpful!!

I think all the local posters would agree with me that if it's within your budget stay downtown. Blue Horizon gets a lot of love here, and is one of the best-located hotels for someone planning to use the Trolley as there's a stop right outside the hotel.

 

The Hampton would have a slight edge for me personally as it's much closer to where most of the interesting restaurants are - not that you would struggle to find somewhere good to eat near Blue Horizon, but the Hampton sits nicely between Yaletown, Gastown and Chinatown and that's where most of the new kitchens are.

 

Both hotels are almost exactly the same time and distance from YVR, c.14km/22min - cab or Skytrain early in the morning will take less than half-an-hour.

 

Back to the beer thing - I neglected Granville Island! While the HOHO stop is a little away from the island itself (you have to walk a few minutes) there are two breweries and a Sake maker. Granville Island Brewing now makes 99% of their stuff at a macro-brewery elsewhere, but the beer you sample at their original site is still brewed in-house. Also, the GI Hotel has an on-site brewery with all their beers available at the hotel bar. The sake maker is rather unique - unless you visited Japan already of course;-)

Edited January 26, 2014 by martincath
Added Beer Info