Vancouver
Apr 14th, 2013, 06:37 AM
#1
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Vancouver
My husband and I will be visiting Vancouver for three days in July. We prefer to walk to as many sites as possible; therefore not renting a car.
Can anyone suggest a reasonable (up to $150/night) lodging with great location for walking to museums, dining and transportation to parks?
Can anyone suggest a reasonable (up to $150/night) lodging with great location for walking to museums, dining and transportation to parks?
Apr 14th, 2013, 07:26 AM
#2
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Do you need to stay in a hotel or would you also conside a b+b?
I have been searching for reasonable hotels for our family summer trip and found this b + b with prices right in your range. http://www.barclayhouse.com/index.html
It gets good reviews.
I have been searching for reasonable hotels for our family summer trip and found this b + b with prices right in your range. http://www.barclayhouse.com/index.html
It gets good reviews.
Apr 14th, 2013, 09:22 PM
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The good news is that downtown Vancouver is entirely walkable and is where the majority of hotels are, where there are hundreds of restaurants, residential areas, beaches, Stanley Park, other parks, the seawall, and the transit hub of the city. While there aren't actually many museums downtown (Vancouver isn't much of a museum city), this is where you want to be based if you're without a car.
Basically any hotel downtown, whether on Robson Street, on Granville Street, in the West End, Coal Harbour, Gastown, or Yaletown will be suitable for you.
In July, since it's peak tourist season coinciding with (usually) the best weather as well as cruise ship season, prices are at a premium. Hotels under $150 are rare. Some would recommend using a service like Hotwire and making a bid for up to $150 anywhere downtown.
You can also look at budget accommodation in the city like the YWCA Hotel on Beatty Street.
Hotels I'd look into: the Sunset Inn & Suites, the Coast Plaza Coal Harbour, the Sandman Suites on Davie, the Hampton Inn, the Blue Horizon, the Sylvia Hotel. I don't know what their rates are, but that would be my starting point.
P.S. The best museum in Vancouver is the Museum of Anthropology, located a 30 minute bus ride (followed by a 10 minute walk through UBC campus) from downtown. If there's one museum to visit, that would be it in my opinion.
Other museums are spread across the city - the Maritime Museum, the Vancouver Museum, the Britannia Shipyards/Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site, the Vancouver Police Museum, the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Bill Reid Gallery, the Beaty Biodiversity Museum. Most of these museums are quite small.
Basically any hotel downtown, whether on Robson Street, on Granville Street, in the West End, Coal Harbour, Gastown, or Yaletown will be suitable for you.
In July, since it's peak tourist season coinciding with (usually) the best weather as well as cruise ship season, prices are at a premium. Hotels under $150 are rare. Some would recommend using a service like Hotwire and making a bid for up to $150 anywhere downtown.
You can also look at budget accommodation in the city like the YWCA Hotel on Beatty Street.
Hotels I'd look into: the Sunset Inn & Suites, the Coast Plaza Coal Harbour, the Sandman Suites on Davie, the Hampton Inn, the Blue Horizon, the Sylvia Hotel. I don't know what their rates are, but that would be my starting point.
P.S. The best museum in Vancouver is the Museum of Anthropology, located a 30 minute bus ride (followed by a 10 minute walk through UBC campus) from downtown. If there's one museum to visit, that would be it in my opinion.
Other museums are spread across the city - the Maritime Museum, the Vancouver Museum, the Britannia Shipyards/Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site, the Vancouver Police Museum, the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Bill Reid Gallery, the Beaty Biodiversity Museum. Most of these museums are quite small.
Apr 15th, 2013, 02:22 PM
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I am just back from Vancouver and stayed at the Rosedale on Robson. I thought it was a great place to stay. I had a small suite which had a full kitchen - it was $156/nt plus $16 a night for parking so that puts you a little over what you want to pay. It is centrally located- easy walking to restaurants and shops and the hotel has a restaurant as well.
We ate dinner at the Flying Pig - short walk from hotel- highly recommended
We ate dinner at the Flying Pig - short walk from hotel- highly recommended
Apr 15th, 2013, 04:26 PM
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The Vancouver Art Gallery downtown is worth looking at and not just for its intricate design (washing the exterior windows requires the skill of trapeze artists.) http://vanartgallery.bc.ca/
As well, the new central library by superstar architect Moshe Safdie owes a huge debt to the Roman Colosseum. Definitely go inside to see how the building arches. https://www.vpl.ca/branches/details/central_library
I agree that the anthropology museum at the University of British Columbia is a wonderful place, with a spectacular location overlooking the approach to English Bay. http://www.moa.ubc.ca/about/
You might also consider the aquarium in Stanley Park. http://www.vanaqua.org/
Without a car you will need to learn how the bus system functions. http://www.translink.ca/en/Schedules-and-Maps.aspx
As well, the new central library by superstar architect Moshe Safdie owes a huge debt to the Roman Colosseum. Definitely go inside to see how the building arches. https://www.vpl.ca/branches/details/central_library
I agree that the anthropology museum at the University of British Columbia is a wonderful place, with a spectacular location overlooking the approach to English Bay. http://www.moa.ubc.ca/about/
You might also consider the aquarium in Stanley Park. http://www.vanaqua.org/
Without a car you will need to learn how the bus system functions. http://www.translink.ca/en/Schedules-and-Maps.aspx
Apr 17th, 2013, 05:57 PM
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For the love of god, use <b>Priceline.com</b> to book a hotel room in the <I>"Downtown Vancouver"</I> area. You can't land <I>too far</I> from anything when staying in the downtown zone. Like somebody wrote, it is all fairly flat, and compact, for it being surrounded by water on almost all sides.
<b>Your budget will thank you when it's over...</b>.
You can start bidding through Priceline as soon as your trip plans are <I>firm</I>, and you should be able to know well in advance what sort of a deal you secured. <I>"It's almost in the bag!"</I>
The weather and the bus service are quite conducive to not having a car. IF you're flying in, the Sky Train from the airport to central Vancouver is very convenient.
<b>Your budget will thank you when it's over...</b>.
You can start bidding through Priceline as soon as your trip plans are <I>firm</I>, and you should be able to know well in advance what sort of a deal you secured. <I>"It's almost in the bag!"</I>
The weather and the bus service are quite conducive to not having a car. IF you're flying in, the Sky Train from the airport to central Vancouver is very convenient.
Apr 17th, 2013, 06:07 PM
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Use any of various websites like biddingfortravel.com for a sense of what Priceline <I>bids</I> are working for the various Vancouver hotels (and to find a gen-er-al list of the <b>possibilities for actual hotel locations you <I>might land)</I></b>.
When it comes time to make your bid, first chart the number of <b>free rebid zones</b> (for a <b>4-star downtown hotel</b
... and then start bidding at a base rate near to $80 per night, and maybe be willing to go up to $120 <b>($5 at a time)</b>.
IF you are accepted at <I>(a base bid of)</I> $120 per night, your total bill should be SOMEwhere near to $150 for each night, including everything (taxes and Priceline fees). (they <b>tell you exactly</b> the sum total before you commit yourself)
The corresponding <I>rack rate</I> would probably result in a bill of more than $250 for each night.
If you attempt this bidding, and it doesn't result in your landing a room the first time... try again every couple of days until you land something (using the same $$$ amounts).
It would cost you nothing at all if they turn down your bids at prices you can afford <b>for 4-star, downtown hotels in Vancouver</b>.
Use any of various websites like biddingfortravel.com for a sense of what Priceline <I>bids</I> are working for the various Vancouver hotels (and to find a gen-er-al list of the <b>possibilities for actual hotel locations you <I>might land)</I></b>.
When it comes time to make your bid, first chart the number of <b>free rebid zones</b> (for a <b>4-star downtown hotel</b
... and then start bidding at a base rate near to $80 per night, and maybe be willing to go up to $120 <b>($5 at a time)</b>.IF you are accepted at <I>(a base bid of)</I> $120 per night, your total bill should be SOMEwhere near to $150 for each night, including everything (taxes and Priceline fees). (they <b>tell you exactly</b> the sum total before you commit yourself)
The corresponding <I>rack rate</I> would probably result in a bill of more than $250 for each night.
If you attempt this bidding, and it doesn't result in your landing a room the first time... try again every couple of days until you land something (using the same $$$ amounts).
It would cost you nothing at all if they turn down your bids at prices you can afford <b>for 4-star, downtown hotels in Vancouver</b>.
Apr 19th, 2013, 04:55 AM
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Second thoughts: My comments on the downtown Vancouver art gallery were stained by a leaky memory. The unusual modern building I recommended is actually the court house; the city art gallery adjacent to it is housed in an old and very conventional building. It is certainly worth going inside, though, thanks to the ambitious programming the gallery presents. A campaign for a new gallery is in motion.
Apr 20th, 2013, 11:01 AM
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Apr 21st, 2013, 10:35 AM
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http://www.ywcahotel.com/
Great rates and only hear good things about this hotel. The location is ideal as well, but I think you have to book early as they tend to be full!
Great rates and only hear good things about this hotel. The location is ideal as well, but I think you have to book early as they tend to be full!
