Vancouver hotel & tour suggestion

[SabrinaNP]

We will be returning from an Alaskan 7 day land tour/ 7 day southbound cruise next August, disembarking in Vancouver. Instead of rushing to the airport, we would like to spend the night in Vancouver and take in a few sights. Any suggestions for a one day stay in Vancouver?

[megr1125]

your ship will probably dock at Canada Place so I would go with the Pan Pacific which is right atop the pier.....lovely hotel, we got a special on travelzoo that was half of the regular rate, and this was booked right thru Pan Pacific so it was a cancellable reservation (unlike priceline, etc.)

 

as for tours, there are many....we were there a few years back so this time we just relaxed before our trip.....

 

i am sure others will have better tour info...i know we did one, but i can;t recall what it was......(but it was fun!)

[toprun950]

You could rent a car and may visit all tour spots below in one day such as:

North Vancouver: Both are located on the same street and not far

Grouse Mountain, Carpilano Supension Bridge

 

DownTown:

Stanley Park/Gas Town/Granville Island / Yaletown

 

More detail information is at http://www.hellobc.com/en-CA/RegionsCities/Vancouver.htm

 

Enjoy beautiful Vancouver in Summer

[driftychick]

Le Soliel Hotel is very nice and runs special pricing thruout the year. Tours are super thru Land n Sea Tours, check out their website.

[CruisinKiki]

We did the same as you are doing this September. We went cheap and stayed at the Days Inn which is just a few blocks from the pier. It was a Saturday night and very loud with young partiers -- not sure I would recommend it for that reason, but the price and location are good. We did a tour that we booked right through the hotel on the day we arrived. It went to Grouse Mountain and the Suspension Bridge, plus you take the ferry. I would recommend it -- well worth the money and a good way to see more than just the city!

[Nana4x]

Le Soliel Hotel is very nice and runs special pricing thruout the year. Tours are super thru Land n Sea Tours, check out their website.

 

Booked two nights here for Aug 2008.

How far is it from the airport? We arrive after 10:30 PM will be really tired.

Have a day and 1/2 in Vancouver before we board the Volendam for a 14 day cruise/land tour.

 

Is the port far from the hotel. I will have more time to work on what to see and do in January - my home based business will keep me hopping during the holiday season.

 

Saw this post and was wondering if you had any suggestions for Vancouver. Any suggestions for touring on our own will be appreciated. Will check out Land and Sea tours.

[driftychick]

We arrived on a Friday evening. Took us about 30 minutes to get to the Hotel, we used Limojet Gold from the airport, an excellent service.

 

Can't give you any other info on tours because we were very time challenged on this last trip. However, do have a meal or 2 at the Hotel, the restaurant is called the Copper Chimney and has excellent food, we had a dinner and a breakfast, both super service, presentation and taste! Enjoy.

[BCHappyGal]

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 and visit with 2 live Grizzly Bears. 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, 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.

4) Stanley Park – http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/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 at Brockton Point, hiking trails, beaches, water parks for the kids (young & old), rose gardens, miniature train, petting zoo, aquarium – http://www.vanaqua.org – hollow tree, many view points, and several restaurants.

5) 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.

6) 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.

7) 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.classicalchinesegarden.com and also make sure you visit the world’s thinnest building it is only 6’ wide!

8) 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. May 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

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

10) 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.

11) 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

12) Queen Elizabeth Park – http://www.greatervancouverparks.com/QEPark01.htm -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.

13) 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.

14) 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.

[GreatLakes]

We stayed at the Holiday Inn in Vancouver (on points), and it was very nice. Took a cab there from the pier; stored our luggage in a day room, and then set out for the day of touring via buses. We also had gotten theater tickets before our cruise to see Miss Saigon, which made for a very enjoyable evening following dinner.

[iluvnm65]

Your list is AWESOME!!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to add all the links. I have been looking for weeks at various sites and none of what I found compares to your list. IT IS MUCH APPRECIATED!!! :) :) :) :) :)

[australian_girl]

Thanks for the info :)

[diz148]

We also stayed at the Holiday Inn in downtown Vancouver. We took a cab ride from the pier and got to the hotel in a short time. We also stayed on points so we had a huge room, more like a suite than just a room. The upper floors were quiet, very little steet noise but I think, if you were in the lower part of the building, it would be noisy. The hop on and off bus stops right outside the Holiday Inn. We took it to the park and toured the park, the first day. We used the 2nd day and went to Chinatown. We didn't really see that much, just had a Chinese lunch. The 3rd day, we had friends that met us from Winnepeg and we went to Granville Island. We had a great time looking through the shops and snacking.

[Cruizn Mama]

Thanks BCHappyGal--

 

We're going to be in Vancouver July 2 - 4, 2008 (2 nights) and wanted some guidance. You have provided that, and more!

 

Would you (or anyone) advise a rental car if traveling with 5 people? Is parking a problem? I thought it would be easier and cheapter to travel around, such as to Vancouver Island. Is taking the ferry easy? I also wonder how much time to allow on the island (and what to see there) and any of the other items that you mention?