Hi, I'm going to Vancouver for a week in mid-March for the World Figure Skating Championships. Would appreciate any tips on lodging and restaurants (French or continental). I already have reservation with the Waterfront but would like to know about the Sheraton Wall Centre. Is the Sheraton closer to GM Place? Heard about Cafe de Paris - any comments? Thanks in advance.

Terry, <BR> <BR>Both hotels you mentioned are resonably close to GM Place. I would guess about $5-7 for taxi or you could take the Skytrain for $1.75. <BR> <BR>Robson street, which what Cafe de Paris is near, has lots of great restuarants as do neighboring side streets. Be sure to check out Diva at the Met for great, but pricey, European fare. Sushi is a Vancouver speciality and Miko's on Robson is amoung the best. I live here so feel free to email.

I just talked a friend into staying at the Wall Centre for 2 reasons: it was in an area that was convenient to where they needed to be and the hotel offered a complimentary limousine service to anywhere downtown. You,too, could probably take advantage of that. I know there are hotels closer to GM Place <BR>that are discussed in other questions in Travel Talk and in the Fodor's Guide. <BR>If you like to be near the water then, of course, any hotel near the Pan Pacific would be great (including The Waterfront Hotel). You must go to Yaletown for dinner- casual as in the Yaletown Brewing Co. or more upscale. Sorry, I don't know upscale there. You <BR>should go to Seasons Restaurant in Queen Elizabeth Park. Forget French and go west coast, beautiful view, amazing food. It was where Clinton & Yeltsin held their dinner meeting. Hope this helps. Have fun!

Thanks for your advice, Josh & Bonnie. I've done more research on hotels over the weekend and found a good deal at the Sutton Place - which is comparable to what I got for the Waterfront. The Sutton Place seems to have a more central location. I'd be paying 10 CAD more for the Waterfront (a harbor view room however). <BR> <BR>Thought about the limo service offered by Sheraton Wall Centre. But the concierge said it's subject to availability. So, I doubt I'd be able to take advantage of that during a busy week. <BR> <BR>Diva at the Met sounds great! I'll try to talk my friends into going. <BR> <BR>Any opinions on a Chinese restaurant called the Sun Shui Wah? The last time I went (11/99), it was still quite good. <BR> <BR>

Hi, <BR> <BR>I don't know Sun Shui Wah but what I suggest is that you walk up to it, check out the outside menu and maybe take a peak inside. There are so many good "Asian" food restaurants that you can avoid reservations and thus add some flexibility. I eat downtown all the time and hae hardly been burned. <BR> <BR>Bure sure to check out Chin Chin's on Robson for some more European fare -- I was there last night and it was great. <BR> <BR>Vancouver's free weekly entertainment magazine, The Georgia Straight, is known for its quality restaurant reviews so be sure to pick one up (in any corner store) and read the weeks reviews. Thier website is www.straight.com although thier reviews are not archived. Be sure to check out the governments www.hellobc.com for an unbiased tourism portal.

I agree with Josh - pick up that free Georgia Straight when you get here. They're everywhere, and they have pages upon pages of restaurant information. <BR> <BR>My favourite place online for Vancouver restaurant information is the Vancouver Magazine website. They're sort of a trendy magazine where they do features on local upscale restaurants, events, and many other stories. They always have an restaurant guide online with pictures, menu examples and mini reviews of all types of restaurants in Vancouver. It's definitely worth checking out, even if you just want to quickly skim through it: <BR> <BR>http://www.vanmag.com is their full website <BR> <BR>http://www.vanmag.com/diningout/westcoast.html is their "mini review" of what are probably the best restaurants in Vancouver. <BR> <BR>ps. my personal favourite restaurants that I've been to recently: <BR> <BR>Cardero's (classy west coast/lodge style restaurant on the water at Coal Harbour. extremely scenic, trendy) <BR> <BR>The Fish House in Stanley Park - classy seafood restaurant, very cozy inside, nice views of Stanley Park <BR> <BR>Cafe De Paris - Very cute, Parisian bistro style restaurant... very cheerful and warm setting, excellent service, authentically French <BR>