If you are starting in Seattle, you could take the ferry to Victoria from there and then take public transport to the ferry from Victoria and continue on with that public transport until downtown Vancouver. Your hotel in Victoria would advise you on this. Or you could rent the car, drive to Vancouver, do the Victoria trip while in Vancouver, and have the use of a car which could be quite convenient. Lots of options from the sounds of it. You certainly don't need the car in Seattle or Victoria as those cities are quite walkable...as is Vancouver for that part. The car might offer some convenience in getting to some of these places though.
cheers,
CC

Thanks CC

for a spectacular day/overnight trip.. drive to whistler.. the views following the fjord up to the mountain town are postcard material.

also spectacular furry creek golf course/club worth a stop for lunch or 18 holes.

and whistler is top class all the way.
great food, hotels, etc.
we have vacationed there and the b.c. area for several summers and are always glad to go back.

for upscale delicious dinner, try LA RUA.
or CARAMBA for more informal, but tasty dining.
a nice selection of hotels there , also, as it is a ski resort and we found the lodging good value for money.

great info, thank you!

You can't go wrong for views if you get a room at the Pan Pacific at Canada Place. Be sure to INSIST on a mountain view or you will end up looking at buildings. This hotel is steps from the seabus to the north shore, and steps from Gastown, and right in the heart of Vancouver for walking and shopping.

The Westin is lovely but too far from the centre of downtown I think.

You can always take the bus to explore Stanley Park on your own, or book a tour if you prefer. I guess it all depends on your priorities.

I think the Pan Pacific looks marvelous!

Hi Azheat

My partner and I stayed at the Wedgewood in Oct/Nov 2004 and we loved it. If you like oak-panelled walls, excellent service, a great bar,and a generally up-scale feel then this may be the place for you. We stayed in one of the wedgewood suites and we had a balcony, jacuzzi tub, two bathrooms, and it felt like a nice home away from home. It's nice and central and within easy walking distance of great shopping. One of the best hotels we've ever stayed in.

Hi

the choices given onsite are "harbour/mountain view" in one panel.

and the "details" say harbour view when you click for description.

are they one and the same? or should I keep searching for mountainview specifically?

I would say they are the same as the mountains are viewed from the harbour, but you could always call a 1-800 number to confirm.

thank you Sohara, I clicked around and I believe they are one and the same. I may actually stay here, it looks divine. I don't plan to have a car while in Vancouver (only a few days) so I'll have to ascertain its general location vis a vis everything else. then again, I may get a car even for Vancouver b/c I've been advised to get up to Whistler one day.

I'm really getting excited about this trip, I can't believe it's taken me so long to make a visit out there. it looks stunning!

The Pan Pacific is terrific! And while not in the heart of downtown it is only a few steps from the Skytrain Station and Gastown as well as in an easily walked distance from the heart as wellas Stanley Park. A touch more expensive than the Bayshore but also a five Diamond as compared to a Four Diamond.

We stayed at the Coast Plaza Suites last August during the International Fireworks display. If you are going to be there at that time, you could not choose a better located hotel. It was a couple of blocks from the beach and easy to walk to and from the fireworks. The hotel is not new, was apparently once an apartment building so the rooms are large and in a nice residential area, but close to lots of restaurants and Stanley Park. It was clean and the folks there were very friendly, but the place is not luxurious.
We also stayed at the Fairmont Waterfront 3 nights and I would have to say, it is without a doubt one of best experiences of my life. We had a family suite with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the harbor. You could watch the seaplanes land and the cruise ships come and go. It was well situated to Gastown, the Skytrain and everything. The visitors bureau is just next door and the trolley picks up just outside the hotel. Underneath the hotel was a food court with local and chain restaurants for an inexpensive alternative for breakfast. I've travelled all over Europe, and in Hong Kong, etc. and this is my all time favorite hotel.

Pan Pacific or Fairmont, auugh! which will it be?

Azheat, sorry to hijack your thread!

If I had a choice, altho I havent stayed at the Fairmont, I would pick the Pan Pacific as there is nothing obstructing the harbour/mountain views. (There is an underground walkway connecting these two hotels, with a small mall inside).

I don't know if it's been mentioned yet, but the Empire Landmark is a nice hotel at a good value. You could spend considerably less than your stated budget, AzHeat, and, I think, enjoy the experience. I had a room facing west and I could see English Bay, Stanley Park, Burrard Inlet, and some other spots.

It's the tallest hotel in Vancouver and it's on Robson Street, so get a high floor and you can't go wrong. It doesn't have the best amenities, but then again, I don't use hotel amenities a lot when I travel. I did not see a pool, a hotel restaurant, though one is connected to the hotel, or a lot of other things that one would usually find, but it was a very tasteful hotel. Put it this way, I was pleasantly surprised.

Also, it has balconies that you can access and you can see the sunset over English Bay and some of the city lights. Just make sure that you aren't afraid of heights.