I don't know what I was thinking. I have reservations for 2 rooms at Listel our family with 2 older teens. We arrive late on Friday, and leave early on Monday. We have a car. The rooms are $199 each for the first two nights and $169 each for the last night. Plus taxes. That's over $1200 for 3 nights and only 2 days.

We have a car. I think it would make much more sense to stay farther out (reasonable distance) and use the savings for shopping, etc.

However, I don't know the area. I'm looking at hotels in Burnaby and North Vancouver. I'm thinking I don't have to be too concerned with traffic since it's a weekend.

Would these locations be reasonable to drive into Vancouver proper for sightseeing, shopping, restaurants? Sat. morning we're touring UBC and Monday morning we need to be back at the airport.

Assistance would be greatly appreciated!

I don't know any hotels in North Vancouver or Burnaby, so have no recommendations on that front. But from an aesthetic point of view, I'd prefer North Vancouver. It's on the mountain slopes and from most angles you can get water views and views of Vancouver's skyline.

During rush hours, the two bridges from North Vancouver into Vancouver (Lion's Gate Bridge and Second Narrows/Ironworkers' Memorial Bridge) are packed, but you say you won't be driving in rush hour, so that shouldn't be a problem.

Burnaby would be all right if ambience were not particularly important for you.

What time do you need to be at the airport on Monday morning?

11:30 am flight to San Francisco...should be at the airport by 8:30am to return car.

If you are trying to save money, then in North Van I would suggest one of the motels around Marine Drive and Capilano Road like the Comfort Inn. You'll defintely not have much to walk to and will have to drive in the city but would save money.

Burnaby would be another option, although I'd take North Van instead any day. You could also try Richmond, although that might result in a longer drive to anywhere except the airport.

But, just to throw another idea at you....If you have 4 people, you might want to take a look at getting a 2 bedroom suite at the Carmana Plaza hotel (www.carmanaplaza.com). The rate for this weekend is $274/night which would save you almost $400 over 3 days. Plus, you'd have a kitchen and living room. I've stayed there recently for business and it is just fine - very nice condos and a good location within a couple of blocks of the Listel and right in the middle of things.

Another suggestion would be to return your car early. You really don't usually need one in Vancouver.

Have you considered using Priceline? We have secured a room at the Sheraton Wall Centre in September for $76/night, and last August we got the Hyatt Regency Vancouver for $65/night. You might be pleasantly surprised.

I tried Priceline, but apparently since I'm trying to use a Canadian MasterCard, I cannot register or make an offer. It has to have a US billing address! Does this sound right?

Oh, that's disappointing. I don't know, really. You might try contacting them. I'll look for an answer; maybe someone reading this would know?

Ok, I did it! You have to fool around with the address to bypass the system. I've never used Priceline before, and it took 3 bids to get it, and was I nervous! However, I did manage to get 2 rooms at the Hyatt Regency at $100US ($120CDN) per night which will save us about $500 in total, once I factor in the parking fees at both properties. I've already spoken to the Hyatt to request non smoking, bed types, high floor, yada yada yada. The lowest price Hyatt was offering for those dates was $269CDN per room per night!

I've used Priceline several times using a Canadian Mastercard. You just have to know how to do it. When signing up in Priceline, I put my town and Province in the town spot and CA in the state spot and a zip code of 99999. It works just fine. Here is a link that explains how Canadians have used priceline with no problems.
http://www.betterbidding.com/index.p...amp;t=503&

I would also suggest the betterbidding.com website to see a list of hotels won in the various Vancouver zones and bids that have been accepted. Here's a URL that will give you the Canadian info.
http://www.betterbidding.com/index.p...amp;f=162&
You can get some awesome deals. The prices are in US$ and there is a small service charge for priceline...but you can do much much better than what you already have. Good luck. Post again if you have any problems and I'll be glad to try to help you.

JM, that's excellent! I did check at biddingfortravel.com, and $100 seems to be the best bid right now for a 4* property in Vancouver. We were very pleased with the Hyatt Regency, and hope you will have a wonderful time! Post a trip report when you get back.

The Listel is wonderful I stayed there last wk and it was a great location

The Listel did sound nice, but I have to tell you that it's also nice to have the $500 that I'm saving for restaurants and shopping......

I wish I had had the nerve to try it for LA and San Francisco, but there were possible hotels at the 4* level that I would have been very unhappy with. Priceline does not guarantee that they will not give you a hotel that is undergoing MAJOR renovations....like the Sofitel in LA.

Plan B We also spent the last 3 nights at the Bosmans hotel on Howe It sure was cheaper $115-- a good value but, not fancy at all. Clean quiet--a basic room--free parking and in and out ---A lot more central than Listel you'll have to keep an eye on your kids though----as the next street over-----which is easily avoided-----is Granville St----at night that street turns into a version of NYC's 42nd street
www.bosmanshotel.com/intro.html