1st Visit 2 Vancouver
 

My husband and I are planning a visit to Vancouver and Seattle in September. We will have 3 days in each city, possibly 4. Any and all suggestions for places to stay (especially in Vancouver) and things to see would be appreciated. A nice room, walking distance to attractions, perhaps a decent view and or something special about the hotel is what we look for. Something a little different from your standard hotel room makes the stay memorable. I have been to Seattle and like to stay at the Mayflower Park Hotel for these reasons. We love to be able to walk to most things or take public trandsportation. We love seafood, non-tourist trap areas and good eats. not interested in the nightlife so much as a relaxing time. Thank you for any info!

If you've already been to Seattle don't spend more than two days and one night there and come and enjoy the splendours of South West BC. Spend three days in Vancouver and at least one in Victoria and Whistler if you have an extra day.<BR><BR>As for places to stay - what is your budget? Hotels in Vancouver like most things are less expensive than Seattle and for $100US you can get a pretty decent room in the downtown peninsula. I've seen remarks about amazing buys via priceline that give you some of Vancouver's top hotels for less than 4100CAN or $65US. I suggest you research the Vancouver posts for more detailed information.<BR><BR>When you say you want 'something different' in a hotel room I'm not sure if you're prepared to sacrifice high quality for originality. If you are, the Sylvia on English Bay is a real classic - if you can get a room. the Westin Bayshore or the Pan Pacific are quite pricey but their fantastic locations make them definately something different. And the rooms are far above 'standard'.<BR><BR>Downtown Vancouver is very compact and is easy and safe to walk. The harbourside hotels like the Bayshore and Pan Pacific allow you to walk the harbour and the former is quite close to Stanley Park while the latter is close to Gastown. Hotels closer to the heart of Downtown offer less in the way of views - although high rooms still offer spectacular ones - but are closer to the shopping action. There are good - even great - restaurants throughout downtown. Asian and West Coast are Vancouver's specialties and the reasonableness compared to Seattle - or anywhere in the US - will amaze you.<BR><BR>Again, check the previous posts and then get back about the particulars. I'll be happy to fill in the blanks as will other regulars.

Thanks Gary! I'll check into all that great info and the website and get back with more questions in detail. i appreciate your help. The other messages are also a terrific way to get the info!

We just returned from a trip to Vancouver. To put it nicely, we will never return. In fact, we cut our trip short by two days. Lets put it this way, this city left MUCH to be desired. We stayed downtown in one of the highly recommended hotels here on this board.<BR><BR>I just erased all I wrote as it is JMHO. However, as a seasoned traveler of major metropolitan cities all over the world, again, we will NOT return to Vancouver.

<BR>I would just like to add that I am NOT bashing CANADA! We LOVED Montreal as THAT is one CLASSY city. Toronto was also enjoyable, as were Calgary and many of the National Parks. However again, I can not stress enough how much we did NOT enjoy Vancouver.

No me, if you check all the posts on Vancouver you may find that if you are not the first Vancuver basher in a long time you are part of a very short list but...I guess that's why there's chocolate and vanilla. Chacun a son gout.

Very true. Chacun a son gout. It's funny how "not me" decided not to elaborate. How much credit do they expect to get? Not even mentioning the hotel, or what exactly they didn't enjoy. Which is fine. But can you say troll?

No Me, please say why you did not like Vancouver.

<BR>We did not like Vancouve IN COMPARISON to other major metropolitan cities. If we did NOT compare it, it would probably be adequate. I realize this may not be the best avenue for a fair comparison, however it is the most humanly natural.<BR><BR>Additionally, since is solely MY opinion, I am certain to be slammed for it. Another reason why I am a voracious reader here, but rarely post.<BR><BR>The hotel was Pacific Palisades. Definitely 'nice' in terms of amentities, and with a fun, funky flavor. The fun ends there.<BR><BR>Robson street is known for shopping. At best, it was like sojurning through a horizontal mall. Couldn't quite understand the appeal, unless you don't live near a shopping center. <BR><BR>The people were, ah, should I say, NOT the friendliest? Even tourists seemed to be grumpy. <BR><BR>In a word, the city seemed HARSH ---architecturally and personally.<BR><BR>Stanley Park; are you serious? Again, lets just say hamburger tastes great until you taste Steak.<BR><BR>Montreal, now THAT is another story. Beauty, passion, class AND some of the friendliest people I've ever met.<BR><BR>Again, just my opinon, but Simon asked.

I have never been to Vancouver before, I have booked a week there in September.<BR><BR>I hope I enjoy it more than you did as it is not the cheapest place to visit from the UK.

Simon, I'm sure you'll love it here as the vast majority of tourists do. It is always named by Conde Naste as one of the most popular tourist destinations. I'm surprised at not me's comments, particularly about Stanley Park, which is much larger and greener than Central Park in New York.

A white Vancouver Cabbie?<BR>Then it was a stolen cab!

Lynn, my reply will be boring after such colorful posters, however my husband and I visited Vancouver last year and had a wonderful time. We stayed at a beautiful bed and breakfast, The Johnson Heritage House B & B. A beautiful home with wonderful hosts. We also took a day to drive to Whistler. Well worth the trip. Took the ferry over to Victoria and spent a couple of days there - don't miss Bouchert Gardens if you get over that way. We found the people quite friendly and helpful. Vancouver was a great trip and we had a wonderful time. Hope you do too!!!

not (or no me), you are in such a minority its pathetic. vancouver is a a top-of the line world class city. all you want is weiners and beans??!! shows how your life is; you probably live in some trailer park in a town of pop. 300 and this was a major culture shock for you!! i doubt you will keep tourist away from vancouver, but nice try!!!!

<BR>Aren't we the lucky ones! We have 'not me' and 'Sue'to answer all the questions of life with such authority and wisdom. Hallelujah! I am sure they are both perfect people and know everything there is to know about everything! Especially Vancouver.<BR><BR>Lucky you! This seasoned traveler and observer IS always right. Contrary to these two know-it-alls, Vancouver is somewhere in the middle of their ignorance. <BR><BR>Vancouver has its fine points but I could never say its a world class city. It is certainly not a Montreal or New York City, nor even a Seattle, San Francisco.<BR><BR>There you have it. The final, definitive CORRECT opinion of Vancouver. Any more questions?

OK folks, now that we've had our fun (???) who has real info about Vancouver? I have a business trip there @ Labor Day for 5 days including a long weekend. My hotel is near the airport at Richmond. I called Hertz for car rentals and they seemed pricy (i/e/ $300 Canadian for a mid=size car weekly rate); any new ideas? My first instinct is to get out of town. I've heard Whistler is an interesting day trip. Any other ideas?

Hope, <BR><BR>I suggest creating a new post with a new subject title, as the trolls will probably come back and spam this post again, but they probably wouldn't touch your genuine questions if you post them seperately. Also, more people would read it that way.

Hope:<BR>A Hotel near the airport is not the best location in order to experience Vancouver. We do not have any freeways in the city and Richmond is a major suburb so travelling back and forth along Granville or Oak street to get to Richmond can be a bit slow.<BR>Don't worry about the posts by the trolls,especially "neveragain" Vancouver is a wonderful and friendly city with an outstanding physical setting and well deserving of it's international recognition as North Americas most beautiful city as well as the most "livable city" in the World ( well actually we slipped to second place this year behind Zurich by.5 )<BR><BR>The trip to Whistler is a lovely day trip and you can find information on other threads on this form.<BR><BR>For almost all the info you will need on the attractions of the city, see the Vancouver pages of www.arbutushouse.com<BR><BR>cheers, enjoy.

<BR>Just because an opinion differs from yours does not make the poster a troll. <BR><BR>Due to the seemingly total intolerance of those who don't agree, many of us choose to remain anonymous.<BR><BR>I am the original 'not me' and am not a troll. While I read her more than post, my advice here is always thanked and appreciated. And as stated earlier, I am also not a WASP.<BR><BR>While I had decided not to post again on this thread, I feel it bears repeating --- MY opinion is just as valuable as yours. YOU are not always right, nor am I. <BR><BR>I found it interesting after doing a search here on Vancouver even before I visited, Vancouver's appeal or lack thereof seems evenly divided. We decided to visit regardless and form our own opinion. And that opinion remains --- we will never visit again.<BR><BR>THAT speaks volumes.

"Wondering" or "neveragain"<BR><BR>You are certainly welcome to your own opinion but the reason most suspect you are a troll is that you are expressing sentiments that are almost unheard of. Also, you have repeatedly been asked for specifics but you offer nothing - as do most trolls.<BR>