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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 332582 times)

Offline DTM

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1120 on: December 23, 2018, 03:21:48 PM »
I see that the Kollel offers free Shabbos meals. Any reviews or comments?

Offline tzifanya54

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1121 on: December 23, 2018, 06:31:47 PM »
I see that the Kollel offers free Shabbos meals. Any reviews or comments?
It depends on your preference do you want a full ready meal for a set price or would you rather pick your items?

Offline DTM

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1122 on: December 23, 2018, 08:47:21 PM »
It depends on your preference do you want a full ready meal for a set price or would you rather pick your items?
The main thing is that we would prefer not to eat the Friday night Shabbos Seuda alone in our hotel room, nicer to be served in a dining room setting. Also candle lighting in Hotel room might also be an issue.

Offline BKYW

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1123 on: December 23, 2018, 09:49:53 PM »
The main thing is that we would prefer not to eat the Friday night Shabbos Seuda alone in our hotel room, nicer to be served in a dining room setting. Also candle lighting in Hotel room might also be an issue.

I was in Vancouver several years ago in June. The Kollel had nice big meals but I didn’t eat there. A lot of locals with all levels of observance.  Would I call it a dining room setting ? It’s a Chabad house, not exactly the Same in my book. But if you want company it’s great.

Online shiframeir

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1124 on: December 23, 2018, 11:54:40 PM »
I see that the Kollel offers free Shabbos meals. Any reviews or comments?
search upthread many of us have eaten there. i loved it (of course u should give a nice donation)...

Offline tzifanya54

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1125 on: December 24, 2018, 09:04:58 AM »
It depends on your preference do you want a full ready meal for a set price or would you rather pick your items?
Just realized you were asking about the free meals not buying food from Maple Grill. Never mind my response.

Offline DTM

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1126 on: December 24, 2018, 09:31:42 AM »
Just realized you were asking about the free meals not buying food from Maple Grill. Never mind my response.
I definitely want and plan to pay, whether directly or via a donation. was just looking for a nice Shabbos meal experience for my wife and I, rather than take-out in the hotel room. Thanks all for your responses. I will skim the many pages on this thread for more, but thus far the Kolel seems best choice for us. It seems that Holiday Inn would be nicest hotel within the eruv, and will probably move  from a better downtown Hotel for Shabbos.

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1127 on: December 25, 2018, 07:39:30 AM »
I definitely want and plan to pay, whether directly or via a donation. was just looking for a nice Shabbos meal experience for my wife and I, rather than take-out in the hotel room. Thanks all for your responses. I will skim the many pages on this thread for more, but thus far the Kolel seems best choice for us. It seems that Holiday Inn would be nicest hotel within the eruv, and will probably move  from a better downtown Hotel for Shabbos.
TR to come.... but that's what I did - moved from Westin Bayshore to Holiday Inn, ate both meals by Chabad. It was fine food, but not so much of it. Self-serve from buffet - not a waiter/restaurant sort of meal. You find seats at a random table with people, etc. as can be expected by a Chabad.

Offline DTM

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1128 on: December 25, 2018, 09:49:44 AM »
TR to come.... but that's what I did - moved from Westin Bayshore to Holiday Inn, ate both meals by Chabad. It was fine food, but not so much of it. Self-serve from buffet - not a waiter/restaurant sort of meal. You find seats at a random table with people, etc. as can be expected by a Chabad.
Thanks! They seem to call it the Kolel, but I asssume it’s also Chabad or similar? A few follow up questions, please: Is davening also at the same location? Place to light candles? Was Holiday Inn Shabbos friendly, such as helping you get into your room? Do you use Hilton points for Holiday Inn and Marriot or SPG for the Westin Bayshore?

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1129 on: December 25, 2018, 08:07:33 PM »
Thanks! They seem to call it the Kolel, but I asssume it’s also Chabad or similar? A few follow up questions, please: Is davening also at the same location? Place to light candles? Was Holiday Inn Shabbos friendly, such as helping you get into your room? Do you use Hilton points for Holiday Inn and Marriot or SPG for the Westin Bayshore?
- Yes, same place. There is an actual Chabad center a few minutes away, although I don't know if it has Minyanim or meals. This place started as a Kollel run by a Chabad Rabbi. The Kollel didn't work out due to the insane cost of living in YVR (Rabbi is happy to share the longer story), so it retains that name, but now acts more as a Kiruv program.
- Davening is in same place.
- They have candle lighting, although AYLOR about lighting where you sleep vs. eat.
- Holiday Inn is slightly tricky for Shabbos, but doable. The only stairwell leads to the outside of the building on the street, so the door is locked from the outside. Exiting is easy, as you can leave from your floor and get deposited outside. However to get in, you need someone at the front desk to come outside and open the door for you as well as let you onto your floor. (One time someone walked up with us, the other time, he let us into the stairwell, then took the elevator and met us on the floor.) The lobby door is automatic, and front desk can't see you at the door, so getting someone's attention isn't easy. One option is that the restaurant next door has a manual door you can enter, and is attached to the lobby through a manual door as well. However, the restaurant may not be open at all the times you need to enter. The other option is if you're comfortable following someone through the automatic doors, you can run in behind them. Of course, that could mean waiting some time until someone else enters/exits. The lowest floor for rooms is the 6th floor IIRC, which is what we were on.
- IHG points for the Holiday Inn, and you're correct for the Westin.

Offline DTM

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1130 on: December 25, 2018, 08:48:36 PM »
Thanks!

Online shiframeir

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1131 on: December 26, 2018, 02:03:12 AM »
there are also a few airbnbs around thekollel and in the eruv if u choose to go that way instead of the holiday inn. i found a really cheap one nearby but it looks like it isnt available anymore.

Offline ungar17@yahoo.com

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1132 on: May 20, 2019, 09:02:33 PM »
My wife and I will be in Vancouver for 2 days and one night. Any suggestions of what to do in that short time? We will be with our 9 month old baby. Also, what would be the cheapest way of getting around?

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1133 on: May 21, 2019, 07:21:44 AM »
My wife and I will be in Vancouver for 2 days and one night. Any suggestions of what to do in that short time? We will be with our 9 month old baby. Also, what would be the cheapest way of getting around?
Bike Stanley Park
Aquarium (it’s in the park)
UBC TreeWalk
YVR is a car city - need it to get to the restaurants and many activities. If you stay at Weston bayshore youcan walk to the park which would cover 2 of the activities I listed.

Offline ungar17@yahoo.com

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1134 on: May 24, 2019, 10:53:58 AM »
Bike Stanley Park
Aquarium (it’s in the park)
UBC TreeWalk
YVR is a car city - need it to get to the restaurants and many activities. If you stay at Weston bayshore youcan walk to the park which would cover 2 of the activities I listed.
Thanks! Don't see the Westin Bayshore on the Marriott website. Just Westin Grand and Westin Wall Center

Offline sam28

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1135 on: May 24, 2019, 12:02:26 PM »
My wife and I will be in Vancouver for 2 days and one night. Any suggestions of what to do in that short time? We will be with our 9 month old baby. Also, what would be the cheapest way of getting around?
Check out my TR it should help

Offline @Yehuda

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1136 on: May 24, 2019, 02:28:38 PM »
Thanks! Don't see the Westin Bayshore on the Marriott website. Just Westin Grand and Westin Wall Center
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/yvrwi-the-westin-bayshore-vancouver/

Offline rileywiles23

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1137 on: June 11, 2019, 10:31:21 PM »
Wil be heading to vancouver for 6 days in july. Landing there friday morning and leaving late wednesday night. Trying to figure out the best way to maximize my time. Will have 1.5 yr. old an a 4 year old.
Friday we dont plan on doing much and just relaxing and getting ready for shabbos.
Is it worth it to drive to Whistler with the limited amoint of time we have?
Any other suggestions for activities that we should do that will work with kids?
Life is as good as you make it...

Offline mordechain

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1138 on: June 11, 2019, 11:56:27 PM »
I would rent a bike with trailers for babies just outside of Stanley park ( we used spokes) and bike the path. Just beautiful,and relaxing.

Offline Friars500

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #1139 on: June 12, 2019, 02:13:37 PM »
Wil be heading to vancouver for 6 days in july. Landing there friday morning and leaving late wednesday night. Trying to figure out the best way to maximize my time. Will have 1.5 yr. old an a 4 year old.
Friday we dont plan on doing much and just relaxing and getting ready for shabbos.
Is it worth it to drive to Whistler with the limited amoint of time we have?
Any other suggestions for activities that we should do that will work with kids?

Check out my TR - had a similar schedule and a 1.75 year old