Mom & teen daughter spending 4 days in late July downtown (at the Residence Inn), 2 days in Whistler, then have one night in Vancouver after the drive down from Whistler..should we stay downtown for this last night or should we stay nearer the Airport for a 9 am flight...any place special?

If you are returning to Vancouver late that last night, staying at an airport hotel would make sense since you have put in another full day at Whistler and then driven south.

But if you're planning on returning late that morning or in the early afternoon, I'd suggest splurging on a waterfront Vancouver hotel (perhaps the Westin Bayshore or Pan Pacific) and having a last fine meal (need not be expensive and perhaps one of the ethnicities you haven't tried yet) and city stroll.

You can rest on the plane home!

Cheers,

L

We arrive at the Residence Inn on June 20 for 4 nights. Plan on a 2 day trip to Whistler and then back to Vancouver for one night then the Pacific Coach lines trip to Victoria. Would like a hotel for the last night where PCL picks up that is not to expensive -less than $150CDN. Any suggestions?

It depends on how late you plan to arrive in Vancouver during your last night. In July, the sun stays out quite late, and the city has a fair share of pedestrians well into the night. In other words, stores will still be open, there will be things to do and restaurants to visit late into the night - if you decide to do such a thing.

If you plan to arrive late in Vancouver (ie: 10pm onward), just to sleep in the hotel, I would suggest staying nearby the airport. My suggestion would be the Fairmont Airport hotel for a splurge. They have a great restaurant (Globe) by their lobby, and you'll literally be at the airport when you wake up, giving you a bit more time before you have to board your flight.

Note that a drive between downtown Vancouver and the airport will take about half an hour, and if you're bound for an international flight, you'll be expected to show up about 2 hours before boarding, which means you should be leaving downtown before 7am.

I agree with Linda about the last night. If it is a late arrival back to Vancouver then staying at the airport makes sense and I've heard great things about the airport Fairmont although there are other hotels a short distance away. But if you have a full afternoon and evening then staying in Vancouver is more attractive as there are more things to do and restaurants to choose from. An early a.m. taxi ride to the airport should be no problem as traffic flows in the opposite direction.