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Trip Reports

Dan, AJK here and here , Chapshnell, UshDadude, sam28, YudiG, Tzfas, mochada, jagstangz, Neil, dpk4588, BKYW, tzifanya54, stever, mordechain, nafnaf12, SLMYRCB, Friars500


Flight Options (as of 04/18)

Cathay Pacific flies directly to/from JFK (777-300ER).         

Final date for this route, 02/23/20

Economy:
12.5K BA OW
17.5K AS OW
20K CX OW (30K RT)

Premium Economy:
25K BA OW
20K AS OW
24K CX OW (36K RT)

Business Class:
37.5K BA OW
25K AS OW
25K CX OW (50K RT)

First Class:
50K BA OW
35K AS OW
40K CX OW (70K RT)
Air Canada flies directly to/from EWR (787-800).
Economy:
12.5K SQ, UA, AC OW

Premium Economy:
20K AC OW

Business Class:
20K SQ OW
25K UA, AC OW

There is also a Delta flight direct to/from JFK in the summer months (prices vary as expected from Delta).   

DP01 (07/13): CX availability becomes better closer to the flight. (MEIR613)
DP02 (04/18): CX availability disappears 3-5 days out on BA and AS. (SLMYRCB)
DP03 (08/18): CX availability can only show up on BA or AS if there is more than 1 seat remaining, if it's only 1 seat, it will only be available on CX.com Use CX.com to see actual # of seats available. (@Yehuda)


Food - BC Kosher List

Cafe Forty One (dairy - cholov yisrael) formerly Shuk Eat/Play
5750 Oak Street
Vancouver, BC
V6M 2V9, Canada
Tel: 604-563-4141
Delivery Service via Skip The Dishes (Fairmont Pacific Rim is not within the deliverable area)
"Really great, everything tasty good value, best Caesar Salad ever, and order pizza in advance for good "camp" like homemade yummyness." (shiframeir)
"Nice selection of pastries in addition to their dairy menu. The pizzas and sandwiches are very good." (SLMYRCB)

Nava Creative Cusine (dairy/pareve - non cholov yisrael)
950 West 41st Avenue
Vancouver, BC
Tel: (604) 676-7579
Located at the JCC - right around corner from Cafe Forty One

Omnitsky's Kosher (meat)
5775 Oak Street,
Vancouver, BC
Tel: (604) 321-1818
Just across the street from Cafe Forty One

Sabra Bakery (meat)
3844 Oak Street
Vancouver, BC
Tel: (604) 733-4912
Two miles down Oak Street near the Sharei Tzedek Shul

Maple Grill (meat)
1967 W Broadway
Vancouver, BC
V6J 1Z3, Canada
Tel: (604) 568-4885

Mount Royal Bagels - North Vancouver
701 Queensbury Ave
North Vancouver, BC
V7L 3V9, Canada
Tel: (604) 904-1116

Real Canadian Superstore
Marine Drive
Has kosher products

Kosher Food Warehouse
612 Kingsway (rear)
Vancouver, BC
Tel: (604) 709-9889


Shabbos

Chabad Downtown - walkable from many hotels, no Eruv, Shacharis on Shabbos followed by Kiddush, Friday night Minyan last weekend each month.
TheKollel - in the community, yes Eruv, Holiday Inn Vancouver Centre only points hotel in the Eruv, Airbnb options, all Minyanim, free Shabbos meals. Some hotels downtown (outside the Eruv) are about an hour walk.
Eruv - https://goo.gl/maps/D2oLBC39GT72


Activities

Stanley park - trolley, rent bikes at Bayshore Bike/Spokes/lots of other places (Westin Bayshore provides 2 hours of free bikes), playground/water are, 9 o'clock gun
Aquarium in Stanley Park
Capilano suspension bridge - also tree walk and cliff walk
Capilano Salmon Hatchery
Lynn Canyon suspension bridge and hikes (Twin Falls, 30 Foot Pool) - free
Grouse Mountain - gondola up, can take chairlift even higher, then an elevator to top of windmill, view of Vancouver, ziplining, parasailing, lumberjack show, see grizzly bears, Grouse Grind - way to hike up the mountain instead
Granville island - market, street performers, kayaking, stand up paddleboat, false creek ferries, brewery tour, kids play area, rent a boat, can bike to here
Seaplane around Vancouver harbor or to Whistler -  http://www.harbour-air.com/index.php 
Whale watching
Victoria Island - ferry to the island/back, Butchart Gardens (expensive, underwhelming), Miniature World, Fisherman's Wharf, oldest Synagogue in Canada. Victoria seems to be very expensive, ferry $30, to bring a car $100, gardens $30.
Bowen Island
Seabus - cheap ferry across harbor and back
Deep Cove kayaking
UBC Garden - Greenheart TreeWalk (look for Groupon)
Zoo
Harbor boat tours - boatrent.ca, Harbor Cruises was terrible - dpk4588
Sea wall
Watch sea planes
Cypress Mountain
Seymour Mountain
Art Museum
Science center imax
Pacific Center Mall
See Olympic torch
"Tour Guys" free walking tour
Rivers to see salmon spawn (swim upstream)
Robson street
Denman street
Vancouver Convention Center - Olympics memorabilia
Kitsilano Beach
Kids Bowl Free
Takaya golf centre
Poets cove
Elizabeth gardens
Van dusen gardens - better than Elizabeth gardens
Canada Place - fly over canada ride experience
Brittania Mine Museum
Vancouver Lookout
Gastown - steam clock
Chinatown
Yaletown
http://scenicrush.com/ - exotic car drive up the Sea to sky highway
Dr SunYatSen Chinese Garden (Dan and a DDFer said not worth it)
Free Chinese Garden
Lighthouse park
Safari Eco Boat Tour and Seaplane flight  Sewellsmarina.com

On the way to Whistler: (see Whistler Master Thread)
Sea to sky highway
Sea to sky gondola in Squamish, can hike up and take gondola down
River rafting in Squamish
Shannon Falls
Brandywine Falls
Panorama Ridge Hike in Lake Garibaldi in between Squamish and Whistler

« Last edited by pointer on February 16, 2020, 11:32:24 PM »

Author Topic: Vancouver Master Thread  (Read 274629 times)

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1020 on: July 24, 2018, 01:31:25 PM »
Definitely wouldn't swap. When would you go to Whistler? In the middle of the night Wednesday? Or Thursday morning and then have to come back right before shabbos?
Fair point. The long drive from Whistler to the airport is what made me just double check that it's the right option, but maybe we can stop in Vancouver for dinner on the way to the airport to help break up the drive.

Offline tzifanya54

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1021 on: July 24, 2018, 02:05:22 PM »
Below are the following activities I’m looking to do in Vancouver & whistler, any recommendations tips, & input will be  greatly appreciated:

In Vancouver:
whale watching on a Zodiac from Vancouver (not Victoria).

In whistler:
1- class 4 rafting
2- Zip Line
3- atv
4- seaplane tour
5- glacier climbing
6- rock climbing


Thank you!
Why don’t you do the seaplane tour of downtown Vancouver. This way you have one less thing to do. In whistler. I did it, and it was great, never did the Whistler one though...

ETA IIRC it was cheaper as well.

Offline ludmila

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1022 on: July 24, 2018, 05:56:44 PM »
Why don’t you do the seaplane tour of downtown Vancouver. This way you have one less thing to do. In whistler. I did it, and it was great, never did the Whistler one though...

ETA IIRC it was cheaper as well.
The seaplane tour is nice and fun.
I was the Best,still the Best, and will always be the Best.
Pele Good,Maradona Better, George Best.

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1023 on: July 25, 2018, 02:24:57 PM »
Hmm... any help?

0 Fairmont Rooms available at any Fairmont.
No points availability at any SPG, HR, Marriott other than 80k at Douglas Autograph Collection.

Suggestions of use Amex FHR and other sites are drawing blanks as prices for these hotels are still over $400.

Offline tzifanya54

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1024 on: July 25, 2018, 02:50:47 PM »
Hmm... any help?

0 Fairmont Rooms available at any Fairmont.
No points availability at any SPG, HR, Marriott other than 80k at Douglas Autograph Collection.

Suggestions of use Amex FHR and other sites are drawing blanks as prices for these hotels are still over $400.
Which nights? I may have an extra points reservation 8/23-8/26.

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1025 on: July 25, 2018, 02:54:26 PM »
Which nights? I may have an extra points reservation 8/23-8/26.
Week before that, but thank you for the kind offer.

Offline 12HRS

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1026 on: July 25, 2018, 04:14:55 PM »
Week before that, but thank you for the kind offer.

check airbnb?

Offline wonderlust

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1027 on: July 26, 2018, 04:19:59 PM »
Hmm... any help?

0 Fairmont Rooms available at any Fairmont.
No points availability at any SPG, HR, Marriott other than 80k at Douglas Autograph Collection.

Suggestions of use Amex FHR and other sites are drawing blanks as prices for these hotels are still over $400.
Whistler is half that price, but for Vancouver I am using Spg 50% off rack rate which ends up at 375 usd all in Plus Getting 60 Back from amex offers..

Offline wonderlust

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1028 on: July 26, 2018, 04:21:25 PM »
Why don’t you do the seaplane tour of downtown Vancouver. This way you have one less thing to do. In whistler. I did it, and it was great, never did the Whistler one though...

ETA IIRC it was cheaper as well.
Thanks, but think I rather whistler

Offline emak

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1029 on: July 26, 2018, 04:57:48 PM »
Hmm... any help?

0 Fairmont Rooms available at any Fairmont.
No points availability at any SPG, HR, Marriott other than 80k at Douglas Autograph Collection.

Suggestions of use Amex FHR and other sites are drawing blanks as prices for these hotels are still over $400.
I got a good rate at the Four Seasons Vancouver. PM me if you'd like info of the guy who helped me.

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1030 on: July 26, 2018, 09:48:42 PM »
Whistler is half that price, but for Vancouver I am using Spg 50% off rack rate which ends up at 375 usd all in Plus Getting 60 Back from amex offers..
How do you get 50% off SPG?

Offline ludmila

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1031 on: July 26, 2018, 10:52:39 PM »
I was the Best,still the Best, and will always be the Best.
Pele Good,Maradona Better, George Best.

Offline Dan

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1032 on: July 26, 2018, 11:03:20 PM »
SPG50 of course.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1033 on: July 26, 2018, 11:20:17 PM »
Thanks. No SPG50 available for my dates. Fortunately found room at the Sheraton on points (had to search 1 night at a time...) and at the Douglas autograph collection. 16k spg vs. 13k spg. But it's a mistake to stay on that side of town right? I want to rather be on the Vancouver Harbor side of town?

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1034 on: July 26, 2018, 11:23:32 PM »
SPG50 of course.
Another thing to say bye to in August...
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Offline ludmila

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1035 on: July 26, 2018, 11:24:24 PM »
Another thing to say bye to in August...
SPG was great while it lasted :)
I was the Best,still the Best, and will always be the Best.
Pele Good,Maradona Better, George Best.

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1036 on: July 26, 2018, 11:25:55 PM »
Why are Aug 14-16 blackout dates at FPR? Something so exciting happening in Vancouver that week?

Offline Suz

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1037 on: July 27, 2018, 12:24:05 AM »
Why are Aug 14-16 blackout dates at FPR? Something so exciting happening in Vancouver that week?

It’s blacked out Aug 13-16.  Probably due to big conferences at the convention center.  Guessing this one:     https://s2018.siggraph.org/conference/

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1038 on: July 27, 2018, 07:21:42 AM »
It’s blacked out Aug 13-16.  Probably due to big conferences at the convention center.  Guessing this one:     https://s2018.siggraph.org/conference/
Thanks, that's a much better answer than the guy at the hotel - you'd have to call corporate headquarters to find out why it's blacked out. ???
« Last Edit: July 27, 2018, 07:44:42 AM by @Yehuda »

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1039 on: July 27, 2018, 11:45:28 AM »
Thanks. No SPG50 available for my dates. Fortunately found room at the Sheraton on points (had to search 1 night at a time...) and at the Douglas autograph collection. 16k spg vs. 13k spg. But it's a mistake to stay on that side of town right? I want to rather be on the Vancouver Harbor side of town?
the sheraton wall centre is great (esp if u can convince them to give u club access if maybe u reserved with your bus spg now before the changes). try to get a high floor and u can see everything.
I got a good rate at the Four Seasons Vancouver. PM me if you'd like info of the guy who helped me.
note there is also an amex offer for four seasons i think...