Pan Pacific Vancouver

[ninabina]

I am almost ready to book 3 nights at the Pan Pacific hotel in Vancouver. Sounds perfect for convience to ship and places to walk to. I'm finding lowest quotes of $713 with tax. Is that a good deal and is the hotel as nice as it looks?

Are there reasonable cheap eats places within walking distance?

[Gunner22aa]

They offer pre and post cruise packages but only on their web site. Also week days with a 100 dollar spa credit. For three night there in Canada's most expensive city you are getting a good rate but check direct with their site for special deals. I'm paying more than you for two nights but in an upgraded room and in high season. Beautiful place and the only place I stay when I cruise from Vancouver or visit the city. Check out the guide in your room for places to eat but I highly recommend the Irish Heather which is less than a 10 min walk from the hotel through gastown, the original city. out the front door, turn left and its about four blocks or so on a side street on your right. Very safe walk, the food is cheap and plentiful and there is a very wide selection of spirits especially draft beer and scotch. The food in the hotel is also very good but very expensive. You take the elevator right from your floor to the cruise terminal. Very handy.

[Arusha]

I stated at the Pan Pacific for 2 nights this past May, with their Alaska Cruise Package for both nights: http://www.panpacificvancouver.com/offers/alaska-cruise-package/

 

• One night luxury accommodation (additional nights may be purchased)
  
• King size or 2 double pillow top beds
  
• Breakfast for two in the Cafe Pacifica overlooking the Vancouver Harbour and Coastal Mountains (This is the full breakfast buffet, which is awesome!)
  
• Late check-out until 2pm
  
• Complimentary transfer to or from Ballantyne Pier or Canada Place Pier (Transfer to Ballantyne Pier is made by taxi voucher.)
  
• Direct elevator to Canada Place Cruise ship terminal (The hotel sits on top of the cruise terminal, so it's just a short elevator ride down from the lobby.)
  
• On-site cruise ship parking available, off site cruisepark available including over height vehicles(please visit www.vinciparkcanadaplace.ca for additional information)
  
• Hotel is wheelchair accessible
  
• Complimentary access to the fitness centre
  

[ninabina]

3 of my favorite things in a pub. Cheap, plentiful and draft beer!!! Thanks

[BCHappyGal]

As a local the Pan Pacific is my favorite hotel to stay in ... Awesome service - Awesome accomodations - awesome location - Awesome views from all rooms ... well worth the extra money!

 

Info on Vancouver from a local!

 

My favorite must do attractions are

 

1) Grouse Mountain – http://www.grousemountain.com – this is a wonderful scenic mountain only about 15 mins from downtown Vancouver. Ride the airtram to the top for lots of fun activities that include a loggers show, birds of prey show, 2 movies (1 about the Vancouver area and 1 about the 2 Grizzly Bears who make their home on Grouse Mtn) ride a chair lift higher up the mountain to visit the wind turbine that generates approximately 30% of the power required for Grouse Mountain Resort and visit with 2 live Grizzly Bears. Thrill to a 2 hour Zip Line Tour. Enjoy a meal in any of the restaurants. Caveat only spend the money to go up on a clear day.

2) Capilano Suspension Bridge – http://www.capbridge.com – this is Vancouver’s oldest tourist attraction and I still enjoy visiting it! Located on Capilano Road just before you reach the Grouse Mountain parking lot. Walk across a suspension Bridge over the Capilano Gorge, wonder the trails thru the rain forest, walk thru the treetops on the new Tree Top Adventure, traverse a Cliff Top walk, visit the trading post for a huge selection of souvenirs, watch native weavers and/or carvers at work.

3) Capilano Fish Hatchery is also located on Capilano Road and is a great place to view salmon jumping up the fish ladders to get around the Cleveland Dam. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capilano_River_Regional_Park

4) Lynn Valley Suspension Bridge – http://www.lynncanyon.ca - is also located in North Vancouver and is much less touristy than Capilano but it also is not as spectacular. The bridge is slightly higher above the water but much shorter in span. Located in a Provincial Park this bridge comes with some nice hiking trails and you will find an ecology centre in the park as well as picnic tables and a food concession outlet. Should you choose to enjoy the Lynn Valley Suspension Bridge always cross the suspension bridge first and then hike down the trail to the lower (Twin Falls wooden) bridge to cross back over the Lynn Valley River and return to your car – that way you are hiking downhill rather than uphill. It is also free to visit this suspension bridge!

5) Stanley Park – http://www.vancouver.ca/parks/parks/stanley/ - is the crown jewel of Vancouver's parks. As one of North America's largest urban parks, covering over a 1000 acres and offering an abundance of activities. Enjoy the totem pole collection near the Brockton Point Light House, hiking trails, beaches, water parks for the kids (young & old), rose gardens, miniature train, petting zoo, aquarium –http://www.vanaqua.org – many view points, and several restaurants.

6) Vancouver Aquarium – http://www.vanaqua.org – is Canada’s largest aquarium and is committed to the conservation of marine life and education. Located in Stanley Park this is a fun place for the family to visit.

7) Gas Town – the location where Vancouver originated. The name is derived from a very colorful character named Gassy Jack who was one of the first settlers in the area and a salon keeper – while in Gas Town don’t miss your photo op with the statue of Gassy Jack and by the Steam Clock.

8) At the start of Gas Town is the Harbor Centre Tower http://www.vancouverlookout.com a great spot to start your tour of Vancouver with a birds eye view of the city. Either take the elevator up to the lookout level or go to the top and enjoy a meal in the revolving restaurant.

9) China Town is only about 6 blocks over from Gas Town and is the largest China Town north of San Francisco. While in China Town enjoy a visit to the Dr Sun Yat Sen Classical Gardens http://www.vancouverchinesegarden.com and also make sure you visit the world’s thinnest building it is only 6’ wide!

10) Granville Island – http://www.granvilleisland.com – is a huge public market area which not only sells fruit & veggies but you can also buy frozen fish to be shipped to your home. Many artists make this their home and you can watch them at work in their studios – making this a great place to buy unique souvenirs. The Granville Island Brewery is also located here and you can stop in for a free tour & tastes. There are theatres for live performances and many fine restaurants. A fun way to get to Granville Island is via the Aquabus – http://www.theaquabus.com

11) Burnaby Village Museum – http://www.burnabyvillagemuseum.ca – is an open air museum with over 30 restored homes, shops, school, church and a 1912 carousel situated on 10 acres

12) Gulf of Georgia Cannery – http://www.gulfofgeorgiacannery.com – is a restored fishing cannery located in the historic fishing village of Steveston (part of Richmond). Here you see exhibits that showcase the history of the fishing industry in British Columbia. Once finished in the museum it is great fun to walk along the fishing docks and see the fishing boats which are selling their catch. There are also some excellent restaurants located here.

13) The Vancouver Maritime Museum located on the shore of English Bay is fun for the whole family with lots of hands on exhibits for the kid in all of us. Here to you will find the ship St Roch which the RCMP sailed from Vancouver to Halifax via the Northwest Passage and then completed the return journey in 1944. You actually get to tour this ship. http://www.vancouvermaritimemuseum.com

14) Queen Elizabeth Park http://www.vancouver.ca/parks/parks/queenelizabeth The 130 acre (52 hectare) park is one of the most beautifully maintained public parks in the world. Second only to Stanley Park in annual visitations, it receives nearly 6 million people a year who marvel at its superior standard of garden plantings.

The park was originally quarried for its rock which served to build Vancouver's first roadways. In 1929 the Board proceeded to acquire the property which had become an abandoned eyesore but still served as the site for two holding reservoirs for the City's drinking water. Dedicated as a park by King George VI and his consort, Queen Elizabeth (the present Queen's mother) on their much lauded visit to Vancouver in 1939.

15) Fort Langley is the restored wooden fort built by the Hudson’s Bay Company as a trading post. It is the origin of British Columbia and was the first capital. This Fort is operated by the Federal Parks Board. http://www.fortlangley.org

16) If you are a wine lover you might want to rent a car and spend a day visiting a few of the many excellent wineries located in the Fraser Valley only about a 1 hour drive from your hotel. Almost all of the wineries offer free tastes & tours. Two of the wineries have excellent restaurants on the premises. This makes for a very fun and relaxing day. Check out the Fraser Valley Wine Association web site for a map of winery locations and a brief description of each winery http://www.fvwa.ca

17) If you are a real animal lover than don’t miss “Mountain View Conservation & Breeding Centre” It is located in Fort Langley about an hour drive from downtown Vancouver. Mountain View Conservation and Breeding Centre is a leading non-profit Canadian facility that breeds endangered species in family groups for re-introduction back into their natural habitat in Canada and around the world. This facility is not a zoo their goal is to breed rare and endangered wildlife and re-introduce these animals back into their natural habitats. Presently Mountainview hosts over 50 species of the world’s most threatened animals and birds. See animals such as the spotted dog from Africa, Giraffes, and much much more. Here you do not wonder around as in a zoo rather you are given a guided tour with commentary on each animal group. Check it out at http://www.mtnviewconservation.org

18) VanDusen Botanical Garden is a scenic 55- acre garden of international renown – a living museum of plants collected from around the world and artistically displayed amidst rolling lawns, woodlands and five tranquil lakes, all in the heart of Vancouver and just 15 minutes from downtown.

Due to Vancouver’s mild climate, plants bloom at the Garden year-round. This same climate creates a unique environment where plants from varying climate regions thrive and grow – at VanDusen you will see plants from the southern hemisphere, tropical areas and the high Arctic tundra along side native species. The Elizabethan Maze (one of only six in North America) provides year-round fun.

19) UBC Botanical Garden located at the University of British Columbia covers 110 acres and includes an Alpine, Asian, Native, Food, and Japanese Gardens. http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org

20) Enjoy a FREE walking tour of Vancouver. The Gastown tour starts in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery and ends at the statue of Gassy Jack in Gastown. The Downtown tour starts at the Vancouver Art Gallery and ends at the Olympic Cauldron. The China Town tour starts at the Vancouver Art Gallery and ends at the Chinese memorial statue. All of these tours start at 11am. The Granville Island Tour starts at 3pm at the bus stop just at the entrance to Granville Island. Check these tours out at http://www.tourguys.ca

 

 

Vancouver has a bunch of hop-on hop-off buses

 

http://www.vancouverpinkbustours.com/

 

http://www.vancouvertrolley.com/tours/hop-on-hop-off

 

http://bigbus.ca/home/

[LeftcoastBC]

I am almost ready to book 3 nights at the Pan Pacific hotel in Vancouver. Sounds perfect for convience to ship and places to walk to. I'm finding lowest quotes of $713 with tax. Is that a good deal and is the hotel as nice as it looks?

Are there reasonable cheap eats places within walking distance?

 

Unfortunately that price with tax may just be a "Good" price.:cool:

Great spot.

[Keith1010]

I would book it and then watch the prices and if they go down followup to rebook at the lower price.

 

The hotel is wonderful and near lots of restaurants and in walking distance of places to visit too.

 

Keith

Edited September 22, 2013 by Keith1010

[cruisequeen3311]

About to book there myself. Looks really nice and easy access to the ship !

 

 

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[BCHappyGal]

The Pan Pacific is absolutely my favorite hotel to stay in and I am a local who has stayed in many of our downtown hotels ...

[cruisequeen3311]

That's good to know - any tips or best places ? Places to venture and see for the day in Vancouver?

 

 

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[gentlemancruiser]

It is a decent hotel and you can't beat the location for a pre-cruise hotel. The corridors and bathrooms are a bit dated but still a good 4.5 to 5 star hotel. There is also a Fairmont hotel across the street so, you might want to compare prices.

[Coral]

I have stayed at Pan Pacific and the views are great of the cruise ships. It is the most convenient when getting on a cruise ship. The hotel was pretty tired when I stayed there and I understand it was totally revamped before the Olympics (which was good as it needed it). There is a food court right next/connected to the hotel for inexpensive eating.

 

Last summer, I stayed at Fairmont Pacific Rim - this is a much nicer hotel. Not as convenient as Pan Pacific but I loved the location and loved the hotel. This hotel is probably 3 blocks or so from Canada Place. This is different from from the Fairmont (Waterfront?) across the street from the pier.

Edited October 15, 2013 by Coral

[lamchops]

It is a very nice hotel and you won't be disappointed. My DW does an annual "girlfriend Spa weekend" there, but not during cruise season!:D

[BCHappyGal]

That's good to know - any tips or best places ? Places to venture and see for the day in Vancouver?

 

 

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Lots see my posting #5 above - if you have any questions fire away and I will do my best to answer.

[cruisequeen3311]

Do you recommend holding your luggage to the pier or letting them take care of it for you ? I am just worried I will never see my luggage again and it won't make it to the ship

 

 

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[Putterdude]

Do you recommend holding your luggage to the pier or letting them take care of it for you ? I am just worried I will never see my luggage again and it won't make it to the ship

 

 

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I have never heard or read of luggage going missing between room and ship's cabin. The bell desk will have you wait in the room with your luggage until a bellman can come a pick it up...with a tip I am sure that it will make it to your cabin just fine....stiff the bellman, all bets are off.;):)

Incidentally this same transfer of luggage from room to ship is available at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel which is located immediately across the street from the Pan Pacific and Canada Place.

[LeftcoastBC]

Do you recommend holding your luggage to the pier or letting them take care of it for you ? I am just worried I will never see my luggage again and it won't make it to the ship

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I think that this would have been my concern many years ago too.

BUT

 

I have learned to relax a bit and although we all have read horror stories about airplane travel and the odd lost bags at the pier I havd overcome most my fears. :)

 

The service at the Pan and from across the road at the waterfront is good. RElax and enjoy it if you stay there.

[Putterdude]

I have learned to relax a bit and although we all have read horror stories about airplane travel and the odd lost bags at the pier I havd overcome most my fears. :)

 

 

Then there was Christmas Eve a couple of years ago in San Diego as I watched HAL drop 3 pieces of luggage in the drink, they did recover 1 of them....and then last month British Airways left DW's wheelchair in LHR while we were in Rome....they hadn't lost it, they knew exactly where it was, it just took them 3 days to get it to us in Rome.:eek: (sorry, I just couldn't resist the opportunity restore your worst fears):)

[LeftcoastBC]

All the fog up there must be getting to you. You Gave great advice two posts ago :)

 

Now I don't want to go to San Diego on HAL nor Heathrow on BA. :D

 

I have just learned that MOST of the time it will all work out and their ain't much you can do to stop it except ask for advice and then, take what you think sounds like GOOD advice.

[DaveOKC]

I just booked a room at the Pan Pacific the night before our cruise. I was wondering - do ALL of the rooms have water views? Also, any other things I should know about the place. I like the idea of the luggage pickup by the bellman - we did this at the Fairmont and it was great not having to worry about the bags.

 

DaveOKC

[Putterdude]

I just booked a room at the Pan Pacific the night before our cruise. I was wondering - do ALL of the rooms have water views? Also, any other things I should know about the place. I like the idea of the luggage pickup by the bellman - we did this at the Fairmont and it was great not having to worry about the bags.

 

DaveOKC

 

No, there are south facing rooms, which they call deluxe rooms that have views of the city. You want an east or west facing room which are deluxe harbour rooms. There are also some north facing rooms which have both mountain and harbour view but tend to be the most expensive.

Edited November 22, 2013 by Putterdude

[DaveOKC]

No, there are south facing rooms, which they call deluxe rooms that have views of the city. You want an east or west facing room which are deluxe harbour rooms. There are also some north facing rooms which have both mountain and harbour view but tend to be the most expensive.

 

Thanks Putterdude - very helpful as usual!

 

Since I am on a "free room" promotion with HAL, I get whatever they give me, likely the south facing one I bet.

 

DaveOKC

[redhot1]

You might also check out the prices at the Fairmont waterfront. Pan Pacific is a great hotel and location but Fairmont is accross the street and you can drop your luggage there and they will deliver it to the cruise terminal and you walk underground accross the street to Canada Place the cruise terminal. Either way have a great cruise.:):)

[akke29]

Any experiences at the Pan Pacific taking advantage of their POST cruise package? My plan was to arrive from the cruise, get into the hotel, spend the day/evening sightseeing around the city using a hop on hop off bus, then leaving the next afternoon after having the wonderful breakfast in the hotel that comes with the package.