Vancouver questions.....pier? airport?

[kruzkid]

We'll be in Vancouver next summer and we have a few questions that we havent been able to find exact answers to....

 

How far is it from the airport to the pier?

 

Any good hotel recomendations?(nice but not to pricey)

 

where is the port in conjunction to the city? downtown?

 

thanks in advance,

Colby

[ludocdoc]

We'll be in Vancouver next summer and we have a few questions that we havent been able to find exact answers to....

 

How far is it from the airport to the pier?

 

Any good hotel recomendations?(nice but not to pricey)

 

where is the port in conjunction to the city? downtown?

 

thanks in advance,

Colby

 

I got the Pan Pacific on Hotwire for $175 plus tax. It's right at the terminal. It's pricey, but not that much more than sticker price for a 3 star. I don't know anything else; I'm here hunting too....

[Putterdude]

We'll be in Vancouver next summer and we have a few questions that we havent been able to find exact answers to....

 

How far is it from the airport to the pier?

 

Any good hotel recomendations?(nice but not to pricey)

 

where is the port in conjunction to the city? downtown?

 

thanks in advance,

Colby

 

Ariport to the two piers, Canada Place and Ballantyne is about 30/35 mins and your cab fare is about $35/$40. There is a shuttle service which cast $13.75 pp, I have included a link at the bottom of this post.

Canada Place is right at the north edge of the downtown business core and Ballantyne Pier is a few miles to the east in a port area and kind of a "dicey" area.

Hotels are quite expensive in the downtown area but you may want to try Priceline or Hotwire for 3* and see what you come up with. Some places where we have heard of promo rates at under $200 are the Hyatt Regency, Best Western Downtown on Drake St., Sandman Inn on W. Georgia, Hampton Inn on Robson St. and Georgian Court on Beatty St. As the above poster has said he got the Pan Pacific at $175, it is right at Canada Place and if you can get it at that rate then grab it.....you can't do better.:)

www.yvrairporter.com/

[BCHappyGal]

If you are heading to Vancouver next summer and planning your trip I am posting some of my favorite things to do in Vancouver for your information...

 

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 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. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capilano_River_Regional_Park

4) Lynn Valley Suspension Bridge 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. http://www.lynncanyonparkguide.bc.ca It is also free to visit this suspension bridge!

5) 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. During the summer months there is a free shuttle bus that you can ride around the park on.

6) 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.

7) 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.

8) 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!

9) 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

10) 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

11) 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.

12) 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

13) 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.

14) 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.pc,qc.ca/fortlangley

15) 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.

16) If you are a real animal lover than here is my latest find “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 India, 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

[YoPhilly]

I just visited Vancouver for a long weekend and had planned to take the airport bus downtown at a fare of $26. Turns out I just missed one and would have had to wait 25 minutes for the next one. So I grabbed a cab and was downtown at the Fairmont Hotel for a $24 cab ride. You can't beat that!

 

I saw a Days Inn that was very close to the cruise terminal. You may want to check them too.

 

I had dinner at Joe Forte's - it's bit pricey so I skipped appetizer and dessert and settled for the best piece of fish I ever had. No kidding. Try their sablefish - I couldn't get enough of it.

 

Across the street from the terminal, next to the Fairmont Hotel, walk down the steps and into the building where you'll find a food court with a Tim Hortons, Starbuck's, and several other places including a pretty good diner for breakfast.

[josiemartinez]

Am sailing on the Celebrity Mercury 6/7/09 and had to do a bit of "surfing" to figure out how to get from the pier to Vacouver airport without paying an expensive cab fare and possible delays to even try to get a cab. And - Eureka! Vancouver Shuttle & Charter provides this service for about $13.00/person. They have a booth (Sightline booth) at the Ballantyne Pier per their information page.

 

Here is their website: http://www.vancouvershuttle.ca

 

I am planning to arrive in Vacouver 2 days before and will stay in the downtown area. Where, I haven't figured that out yet but am also planning to use the Airtransporter service to downtown and go from there.

 

One more thing - I booked my cruise about 2 weeks ago for a fairly decent price and, good grief, the same cruise, the same deck is now about $225 more per person! If I had booked it 4 weeks ago, it would have been about $40 less but, wow, what a difference a few days make.....

 

I do love cruising!!!

 

Landlocked in NM

[i_love_to_travel]

I am also doing research into this and I found the Holiday Inn Express on Hastings Street will pick you up at the airport (you must book in advance to have them pick you up). They charge 7.50 per room for pick up, they also offer free continental breakfast and they a free shuttle to the cruise ship (which you also must make arrangements for in advance). I hear the hotel is on the edge of the dicey area of town but we are flying in late so we will not be leaving the hotel. I never stayed at this hotel, the reviews were mixed. Has anyone else reading his post ever stayed at this hotel.

[Putterdude]

Being a person from Vancouver I have never stayed at the hotel but know its location very well. It is quite away from the not so nice Downtown Eastside. It is in an neighbourhood that was a good blue collar Italian neighbourhood but now has become quite Asian. It is close to the PNE fairgrounds. The two reservations that I have about the hotel's location are that it is pretty challenged for restaurants and the fact that you have to travel through the eyesore of the Downtown Eastside to get to downtown or the cruise terminals. Having said all of that it works just fine for the way you are using it...if it was for more than a night or two I would probably discourage you.

[i_love_to_travel]

We are arriving in Vancouver at 7:00 pm the day before the cruise so all we needed was a place to sleep, eat breakfast, & then leave.

[Putterdude]

We are arriving in Vancouver at 7:00 pm the day before the cruise so all we needed was a place to sleep, eat breakfast, & then leave.

 

It will work perfectly for you.:)

[scottbee]

I am also doing research into this and I found the Holiday Inn Express on Hastings Street will pick you up at the airport (you must book in advance to have them pick you up). They charge 7.50 per room for pick up, they also offer free continental breakfast and they a free shuttle to the cruise ship (which you also must make arrangements for in advance). I hear the hotel is on the edge of the dicey area of town but we are flying in late so we will not be leaving the hotel. I never stayed at this hotel, the reviews were mixed. Has anyone else reading his post ever stayed at this hotel.

 

The Holiday Inn Express (map) is next door to the PNE complex at Renfrew & Hastings. The PNE is Vancouver's fairgrounds, horseracing track, and the old NHL ice rink. Once you're off Hastings, most of the rest of the area is older residential. I wouldn't call it 'dicey', the only part of Hastings you want to avoid is roughly although it gets that way heading west toward downtown). There's a couple of small restaurants in a strip mall nearby, but a couple of miles east on Hastings (around Gilmour) are a few really great Vancouver eateries; it will be maybe a $10 cab or the #135 SFU bus (every 15 min; $2.50 at night).

 

Antons is a great Pasta joint (always a lineup from 7-9pm) huge portions, fair price.

Next door is Bombay Bhel; one of the best Indian restauarnts in town;

and finally a place called the Pear Tree which is among the best restaurants in town.