Vancouver answers from a Vancouverite

[Putterdude]

PD - looks like you will be arriving back in Lotus land just in time for a long playoff run by our favorite hockey team - the town and in particular the downtown bars are doing a roaring business on game nights - wonder if the Mike Keenan mindset has finally caught up to him in Calgary - it even feels like hockey weather - it is snowing as I type this post and that is no April Fools Day joke.

 

 

 

Remember you can always trade your adopted In and Out Burger for some of our own legendary Triple O's for White Spot

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

 

Yes, lets hope that the Flames have flamed out and Keenan has been tuned out. Yours is the second email plus one phone call re the snow. It is opening day for the seniors at the Sunshine Coast golf club this morning and I got an "its snowing and this is not a April Fools Day joke" from the general manager this am.:)

[CowPrincess]

Re: snow in Alberta -- it is snowing AGAIN (as of noonish). I fear I am two snowflakes away from complete psychosis.

[AkSusan]

Re: snow in Alberta -- it is snowing AGAIN (as of noonish). I fear I am two snowflakes away from complete psychosis.

Well I'm not quite part of Canada, but we are connected, but it's snowing here in Anchorage too. Mother Nature is just pulling one big April Fool's on all of us :D

 

Susan :)

[Putterdude]

It's 82* and clear skies in AZ....I am out the door to play golf.:D

Edited April 1, 2009 by Putterdude

[macmax]

Any recent reviews of the Sandman Inn Downtown Vancouver? They are offering great rates for June,09 but the reviews on other sites have not been very complimentary.

 

Thanks

Edited April 9, 2009 by macmax

[Urban trekker]

Perhaps if you could give us in a few words what the complaints were about that Sandman it would be easier for some of us to try and answer your question.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[ukbballfan]

Hey PutterDude...was that you smokin' at the Brittany Spears concert last night?????????????

[Putterdude]

Hey PutterDude...was that you smokin' at the Brittany Spears concert last night?????????????

 

Not me, I am still in AZ...who is the Brittany gal any way????;)

[Putterdude]

Any recent reviews of the Sandman Inn Downtown Vancouver? They are offering great rates for June,09 but the reviews on other sites have not been very complimentary.

 

Thanks

 

I have stayed at the property, not recently though, and am familiar with Sandman chain and have over the years stayed at a number of their hotels and motels. I would describe it as good family type accomodation. The location is a safe, fairly quiet location about 3/4 blocks east of the Hudsons Bay store and Pacific Centre, excellent transit on W. Georgia, easy walk to Gastown and Yaletown and about 8 blocks to Canada Place. A Moxie's family restaurant is on the gound floor as well as the Shark Club Bar which can get a little noisey before and after a Caunck game should they still be playing in June. I would have no reservation about staying there but if their pricing is much over $100 than there have been much better rates posted for major hotels in the downtown core by bidding on Priceline.:)

[nana1955]

My daughter booked us at the Hampton Inn & Suites on 111 Robson street. Is this a nice hotel and is it in a good location. We are cruiseing out of Canada Place. Also how far is it from the hotel to the Pier and can you recommend a good steak house in that area. Thanks

[Urban trekker]

Yes it is a nice hotel and yes it is in a safe area - around the corner from the Sandman -

 

Check out this map of downtown - will give you an idea where the Hampton is in relation to the port - I believe that they offer a shuttle to the pier.

 

http://www.hotelsbythepier.com/index2.php?pier=vancouver-canada-place

 

There are a number of eateries in adjacent Yaletown that should give you many choices of places to eat - if PD hasn't left for home he might be able to post some of his favorites otherwise I will try and get a good link for you.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[Putterdude]

The Hampton Inn is a newish property and everyone who stays there that we have heard from likes it a lot. They have a free breakfast program and a free shuttle to the cruise terminals. Without counting blocks on a map I would say the hotel is 8/9 blocks from Canada Place. The location is safe and quiet but is close to BC Place Stadium where the CFL BC Lions play and as the CFL starts in June, if it is a night that they happen to be playing it could be a bit noisey. Also, if you are staying there in late May or June and our Vancouver Canucks are still in the Stanley Cup playoffs it will also be a bit noisey as it is quite close to GM Place where they play. BC Place Stadium is where the opening and closing ceremonies for the Winter Olympics will be held so you may wish to visit it.

From a locational point of view you can walk into Gastown, trendy Yaletown and the fashionable shops of Robson and Pacific Centre. There is excellent tranist service one block to the north on Georgia St. which will take you to Stanley Park.

Steakhouses:

Gotham's on Seymour....excellent but bring money...sort of Morton's

Hys on Hornby....good and just a tad less money

Kegs....there are 2 you can walk to, more of a popular pricepoint, maybe a little more in line with Outback but I think better.

http://www.gothamsteakhouse.com/

http://www.hyssteakhouse.com/hys-vancouver.html

http://en.kegsteakhouse.com/locations/British_Columbia/Downtown_Vancouver

[Minoushka]

I know Vancouver has lots to see and to do but what is a not miss

We will be there 2 full days and a third travel day

 

I know about Stanley Park

 

Thanks

 

 

Michele

[macmax]

Putterdude: thanks for the info on the Sandman. We are looking for 4 rooms for one night pre-cruse and that hotel just might work for us but will keep looking.

 

Urban trekker: very useful link, thanks.

 

Question...can you locals recommend a post-cruise sight-seeing tour company that will pick up 8 pax at Ballantyne and deliver to downtown hotel following a city hi-lites tour?

 

Thanks.

[Putterdude]

I know Vancouver has lots to see and to do but what is a not miss

We will be there 2 full days and a third travel day

 

I know about Stanley Park

 

 

That's a difficult question as there is just so much to see and do in Vancouver. However things that I would direct you towards would be: The Capilano Suspension Bridge, the Grouse Mountain Sky Ride, Granville Island and Gastown. You may care to take a HOHO trolley or bus excursion which is a great way to see a lot of the city's sites and a ticket is good for 2 days. Here are some links for your:

www.capbridge.com/

http://www.grousemountain.com/Winter/

http://city.vancouver.bc.ca/parks/parks/stanley/

http://www.granvilleisland.com/en

http://www.gastown.org/

http://www.vancouvertrolley.com/

http://www.bigbus.ca/

[dusty1117]

We will be staying at Coast Vancouver Airport Hotel and getting in 1:30pm to the Airport on Friday. We are flying out on Sunday at 1PM. We will go to Granville as we both liked it the last time we were in Vancouver 15 years ago. What would you suggest since we have a full day. Is it easy to get on a bus from the hotel, suggest a cab or take a tour. I did order the entertainment book since it was on sale.

[scottbee]

We will be staying at Coast Vancouver Airport Hotel and getting in 1:30pm to the Airport on Friday. We are flying out on Sunday at 1PM. We will go to Granville as we both liked it the last time we were in Vancouver 15 years ago. What would you suggest since we have a full day. Is it easy to get on a bus from the hotel, suggest a cab or take a tour. I did order the entertainment book since it was on sale.

 

From the Coast Vancouver Airport, you're very close to the B-line express bus into downtown

 

http://translink.bc.ca/ has all the Vancouver transit info.

[Podie]

I'm trying to not ask too many restaurant questions because everyone has different tastes, but...we're at the Marriott Pinnacle for one night and love seafood and any type of Asian food. Suggestions? And the best street to stroll for great coffee shops?

[Hogladyrider]

I'm trying to not ask too many restaurant questions because everyone has different tastes, but...we're at the Marriott Pinnacle for one night and love seafood and any type of Asian food. Suggestions? And the best street to stroll for great coffee shops?

 

Hey Podie, I see you are located in Northern Central Florida, me too, sort of, Lake County, Howey In the Hills, about 30 minutes south of The Villages and 30 minutes north or Orlando.

 

We will be in Vancouver 5/5 for one evening, staying at Blue Horizon. We return 5/13 and with two partial days in Vancouver and being the outdoorsy type we plan on the Cap Suspension Bridge the day our ship sails and the day we return we plan on the hop on hop off trolley tour before we head to the airport for our redeye flights home.

 

We arrive in Vancouver around 7 pm on the 5th so we too will need a place for dinner and we are both avid coffee lovers.

 

We are hoping that Vancouver is relatively safe at night to walk around as well.

 

This is our first trip to Alaska and we have been waiting over a year and very excited! Hope your trip is just as exciting.:)

Susan

[Podie]

Hi, Susan, I've seen your posts many times and always wondered what part of Lake County you were in. I've been past the Mission Inn many times but after 18 years in Orlando I finally escaped to the Gainesville area, which is gorgeous. I don't need to tell you what Orlando has become!

 

We do try to go to the Yalaha German Bakery for lunch in their patio/courtyard/lawn at least a few times each year.

 

Sorry we're not on the same cruise!:mad:

[scottbee]

I'm trying to not ask too many restaurant questions because everyone has different tastes, but...we're at the Marriott Pinnacle for one night and love seafood and any type of Asian food. Suggestions? And the best street to stroll for great coffee shops?

 

For great coffee in Vancouver, Caffe Artigiano is the place to go. 744 W.Hastings (@ Howe).

 

As for great seafood or asian, I would recommend Joe Fortes (Robson & Thurlow) or the Banana Leaf (Malay) on Denman Street.

[Urban trekker]

If PD is still online he might have some more suggestions but Joe Fortes would be the first seafood place that comes to mind - the Keg while a steak house also has a seafood menu - as for coffee shops and Asian foods - there are more sushi places in downtown Vancouver than Starbucks, MCdonalds and Tim Horton's combined and there are lots of them - just walk up Thurlow from your hotel - it is the closest north south street - north is the mountains in Vancouver so it is easy to tell your travel directions - for a couple of blocks and you will find the above mentioned eateries and you will come to Robson St - the Rodeo Drive or Newbury St and you can go in either direction for shopping and food.

 

Vancouver is a safe city to walk at night - we have the usual array of street people but there are more of a nuisance than a threat - just ignore them - while they can legally stand or sit on the street if they start to harass passerbys they can be picked up and charged with being a public nuisance.

 

GO CANUCKS GO !!!!

 

edited - I see Scot was posting at the same time and his choices who also be high on my list - is that location of the Cafe opened in the evenings and weekend since it is in the financial district.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

Edited April 11, 2009 by Urban trekker
another thought

[HillbillyInBC]

Second the recommendations for Joe Fortes and Caffe Artigiano. Thai House and Tropika are my favourite Asian restaurants on Robson (both just off Thurlow very near to Joe Fortes). Rain City Grill on Denman near English Bay is my favourite seafood restaurant but it's fairly expensive. Another good option down that way is The Boathouse. Watching the sun set over English Bay from their rooftop deck can be quite sublime.

Edited April 11, 2009 by HillbillyInBC
Just cleaned up some awkward syntax that got past my internal editor.

[Putterdude]

For seafood I would suggest Aqua Riva just a 100 paces east of Canada Place and Cardero's which is an upscale marine pub style restauarant about a 6 to 8 block walk west of the Pinnacle. Both have great views of the harbour. But you can never go wrong Joe Fortes.

As for coffee I am thinking that Robson has to be the street for coffee shops.

http://www.aquariva.com/

http://www.vancouverdine.com/carderos/home.html

www.joefortes.ca/

[krogerlady]

The Vancouver coupon book has a ton of coupons for Asian restaurants. If you look at the book and something interests you, Putterdude can tell you if it is close to your hotel.

http://vancouver.entertainment.com/discount/browse.shtml