Where (area and hotel recommendations) to stay in Vancouver pre-cruise

[eyern1]

We will be arriving by air in the evening a day and a half before we cruise out. Should we try to stay downtown or in some other area? We plan on sightseeing the day before we leave but I have no knowledge of the area at all. I'm looking for something economical but clean.

[CruiserBruce]

If you look around the board you will see many comments about staying right at the pier...there is a couple of hotels in the immediate area, and you can take light rail from the airport to very near the pier.

[eyern1]

I went through 10 pages before posting this and found virtually nothing of good use. I am searching kayak right now and finding that Vancouver is quite an expensive city for a hotel. Thanks Bruce.

 

Edited March 9, 2023 by eyern1

[Urban trekker]

When you are researching hotels in Vancouver are you seeing the prices in US or CAD $$$$.

If in US $$$ keep in mind that the CAD $$$ is worth about 30 -35% less than US ones. So a hotel showing as $400 CAD would be less than $300 in US dollars.

One place often recommended on these forums is the YWCA hotel - it is located in the downtown core and is a full service hotel and not a Hostel.

Hope this helps and that you enjoy you visit.

You will want to stay in the downtown core as most of the tourist attractions are accessible from there.

 

[I Love Carbs]

Hotels in downtown Vancouver are quite pricey.  You might want to consider staying at the Hampton Inn by Hilton Vancouver-Airport/Richmond Hampton Inn.  There is a airport shuttle to transport you to the hotel.  The hotel is within walking distance to the Skytrain station.  The Skytrain will bring you directly to downtown Vancouver and also to the cruise ship terminal.

https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/yvrrhhx-hampton-vancouver-airport-richmond/

 

Here are a few hotels within Richmond, BC that you might want to look at:

River Rock Casino Hotel - you can take the Skytrain directly from Vancouver airport to the hotel

https://riverrock.com/

 

Hilton Vancouver Airport Hotel - I think there is an airport shuttle for this hotel.  This hotel is about 4 blocks away from the Skytrain station.  Lots of restaurants in this area.  Also across the street from the Richmond Centre Shopping mall.

https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/yvrahhf-hilton-vancouver-airport/

 

Executive Hotel Vancouver Airport - Airport shuttle for this hotel.  Distance to the Skytrain station a bit further than the Hilton Vancouver Airport.

https://www.executivehotels.net/vancouver-airport-hotel/

 

Good luck.  Hope you'll find a hotel that works for your schedule.

[martincath]

If you're mobile enough to handle schlepping your bags up and down stairs, there are a couple of options downtown that might be even cheaper than the YWCA Hotel - the Barclay Hotel gets decent reviews within the context of 'simple but safe and clean' accommodations, no frills.

 

Realistically though a room at the Y is as good as it gets - depending on your group size, the Jack'n'Jill rooms which share a bathroom between pairs of double rooms might work out, and those are even less than the regular private bath en suite doubles/queens. A big enough group that 2 or 3 bedrooms are needed might find the 'condo hotels' a good value spend too - Sunset Inn & Suites, Rosedale on Robson, Times Square Suites - but for couples who demand a private bathroom and elevator, there's the Y... and that's about it for cheap, safe, clean and well-located.

 

Sometimes a decent airport hotel looks slightly cheaper than the Y for similar amenities, but by the time you factor in even SkyTrain costs it's often a wash in money budget and always a bigger time suck; if you are not someone comfortable using public transit then assume an extra $80-100 a day to use cabs, Uber etc. from airport area or other suburban cheap hotels to downtown (which is where we keep the pier and 90% of the tourist attractions).

 

There truly is no other good location than downtown for a short visit if you want to see and do stuff.

[KeepCalmBearOn]

I'd stay in Downtown or the adjacent areas. There are great, inexpensive places in the West End.

[Urban trekker]

I will add that I have stayed at the Barclay hotel several times over the past couple of years and will be staying there pre-cruise in April - it is easier for me to catch the very early morning bus from downtown to Seattle and the connection to the Coast Starlighter than from Surrey.

It is definitely an older hotel but well maintained - haven't found carrying the luggage up the stairs too big of task.

It's pricing is among the best in the downtown core.

As MartinCath says - staying out at the Airport/Richmond would be okay but you will have the extra expenses coming and going from there to the downtown attractions.

Hope this helps.

Dennis

[eyern1]

On 3/9/2023 at 9:25 PM, Urban trekker said:

When you are researching hotels in Vancouver are you seeing the prices in US or CAD $$$$.

If in US $$$ keep in mind that the CAD $$$ is worth about 30 -35% less than US ones. So a hotel showing as $400 CAD would be less than $300 in US dollars.

One place often recommended on these forums is the YWCA hotel - it is located in the downtown core and is a full service hotel and not a Hostel.

Hope this helps and that you enjoy you visit.

You will want to stay in the downtown core as most of the tourist attractions are accessible from there.

 

Thanks. I'm seeing prices in US$.  I had seen something about the YWCA Hotel and unfortunately it was already booked.

[eyern1]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone.  I'll check them out.

[RedbirdFLCruiser]

You might check out the Days Inn in downtown Vancouver. I got a pretty good price there and they have good reviews. 

[KeepCalmBearOn]

In the West End, my mother loves the Sylvia. There is also a very nice Best Western Plus in the West End.

[CruzCra-Z]

We're booked at the Days Inn by Wyndham Vancouver Downtown.  Have not stayed there yet but I did a lot of research with recommendations/reviews and proximity to port. We'll take the rail there from the airport and can easily walk to the ship in the morning. Might be worth checking out for you.

[Deisemum]

I've booked the Times Square Suites Hotel post cruise next month.  It's got a lot of very positive reviews.

 

 

 

On 3/9/2023 at 9:11 PM, eyern1 said:

We will be arriving by air in the evening a day and a half before we cruise out. Should we try to stay downtown or in some other area? We plan on sightseeing the day before we leave but I have no knowledge of the area at all. I'm looking for something economical but clean.

 

Edited March 13, 2023 by Deisemum

[eyern1]

Thank y'all. I'll check these out.

[Methuselah55]

On 3/12/2023 at 5:17 PM, CruzCra-Z said:

We're booked at the Days Inn by Wyndham Vancouver Downtown.  Have not stayed there yet but I did a lot of research with recommendations/reviews and proximity to port. We'll take the rail there from the airport and can easily walk to the ship in the morning. Might be worth checking out for you.

Hi

We're travelling from the UK in May 2024 and are looking at staying 3 nights at the Days Inn by Wyndham; have you stayed there yet and would you recommend or not?

Thanks

[maggiev]

Has anyone stayed at the Hampton In & then cruised?

thoughts?

[martincath]

2 hours ago, maggiev said:

Has anyone stayed at the Hampton In & then cruised?

thoughts?

A lot of folks will have - but a caveat that any pre-Covid stays would have included a free hotel shuttle which would drop guests anywhere around the downtown core, including the pier, and was very popular with cruisers. As far as I know that's the only amenity they no longer offer - and personally Hamptons are pretty much our perfect hotel chain, with quality beds, an adequate hot brekkie, but minimal fripperies we do not need although we've never stayed in this specific one.

 

The location is great - on the corner of the same block as the YWCA which I still recommend as the best option for anyone who doesn't need a bunch of fancy stuff - and a cab to the pier should be about $10; it's a smidge under a mile so would be a single digit fare if it weren't for pier traffic (sitting in a stop & go queue of vehicles is the norm unless you're among the first or last folks of the day, limited space means it's one car out, one car in).

 

If you're mobile you can walk to Chinatown, Gastown, or the pier easily (even with suitcases); you're right on the edge of Yaletown, have SkyTrain stations on both lines less than a half-mile away, a bus stop on the next block that can take you up to the West End along Davie St (006) or across Cambie bridge to Broadway (017) for various shopping/dining/sightseeing options, and even a nearby 'port' for the little watertaxis around False Creek (it's out on one of the piers in the Marina at the foot of Davie). If you enjoy walking - or rent a bike - a full circuit of the Seawall round Stanley Park is even on the cards. Multiple decent restos very close by.

 

All in all, I'd have zero hesitation recommending the Hampton to a tourist, whether it's just for the night before or an extended stay.

[eyern1]

I just realized I never followed up here after we stayed at the Hotel at the Waldorf.  I wrote a review on trip advisor or something similar so you can look for a more detailed review there.  For here, I will briefly say that it was very small and oldish but remodeled and clean, which was the biggest thing. I would stay there again.

[IIcaptain]

The Moda is an easy 11 minute downhill walk to  the port of Vancouver..

 

A cute boutique with dining and a wine store next door,

[IIcaptain]

Take the Canada Line to city centre stop....20minutes..  cheap

 

catch it by Vancouver airport baggage

[CruzCra-Z]

On 11/13/2023 at 11:39 AM, Methuselah55 said:

Hi

We're travelling from the UK in May 2024 and are looking at staying 3 nights at the Days Inn by Wyndham; have you stayed there yet and would you recommend or not?

Thanks

Sorry for the delay but, yes, we did stay there and I would stay there again. The price was good, location was excellent.  There are restaurants and a pharmacy/store within walking distance. The port was also within walking distance. It was a short walk with our rolling suitcases the morning of embarkation.

We exchanged some money at the airport and took the public transportation (Canada line) to a stop very close by the hotel. Can't remember the name of the stop off the top of my head but I have it written down somewhere. The hotel is a little older by some Americans standards but I liked it a lot. Very "comfy" and the room was clean and had everything we could possibly need. You can even leave your luggage there if you arrive before check in time. 

We loved Vancouver, so beautiful. Next time we hope to spend more time there. So much to do.

Edited November 28, 2023 by CruzCra-Z

[Methuselah55]

4 minutes ago, CruzCra-Z said:

Sorry for the delay but, yes, we did stay there and I would stay there again. The price was good, location was excellent.  There are restaurants and a pharmacy/store within walking distance. The port was also within walking distance. It was a short walk with our rolling suitcases the morning of embarkation.

We exchanged some money at the airport and took the public transportation (Canada line) to a stop very close by the hotel. Can't remember the name of the stop off the top of my head but I have it written down somewhere. The hotel is a little older by some Americans standards but I liked it a lot. Very "comfy" and the room was clean and had everything we could possibly need. You can even leave your luggage there if you arrive before check in time. 

We loved Vancouver, so beautiful. Next time we hope to spend more time there. So much to do.

That's great thank you. Coincidentally we booked the hotel earlier today so that very reassuring.

[Milhouse]

FWIW, for general reference, there's a reputable currency exchange with some of the better rates in town, down the block from the Days Inn on Pender but across the street:  Vancouver Bullion and Currency Exchange.  No hidden fees, straight exchange.  We use them regularly.