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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 316614 times)

Offline Tzfas

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #200 on: June 04, 2013, 11:47:25 AM »
Hoe much do shabbos meals cost at the Kollel? Do I need a reservation? is it food from the restaurant? Can I being my car before shabbos and park there?
Yes the food is from Maple grill you actually eat in the restaurant, they have a parking lot in the back. Call the restaurant they have all the info about shabbos food etc. Just remember it’s about an hour walk from the HR.

Offline Ergel

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #201 on: June 04, 2013, 12:06:48 PM »
Yes the food is from Maple grill you actually eat in the restaurant, they have a parking lot in the back. Call the restaurant they have all the info about shabbos food etc. Just remember it’s about an hour walk from the HR.
According to google maps it's 2.2 miles. Should be closer to forty minutes, no?
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Online eliteflyer

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #202 on: June 04, 2013, 02:17:09 PM »
Are there showers in yvr of flying cx business? How about first?
There are no showers available for F or J CX passengers. The rep in the lounge advised us to go to the PP lounge downstairs if we wanted a shower.

Offline Ergel

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #203 on: June 04, 2013, 02:20:38 PM »
There are no showers available for F or J CX passengers. The rep in the lounge advised us to go to the PP lounge downstairs if we wanted a shower.
But you need to provide your own access, correct?
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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #204 on: June 04, 2013, 03:03:48 PM »
But you need to provide your own access, correct?
Correct

Offline Tzfas

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #205 on: June 04, 2013, 07:10:21 PM »
According to google maps it's 2.2 miles. Should be closer to forty minutes, no?
Your right but it’s still a nice walk over a bridge till the place, and it will be pretty late Fri night if you’re going in the summer.
Check out Chabad of Downtown very nice and helpful young rav he could use some help with the minyan Shabbos morning, you can daven there it’s about halfway to the Kollel and then walk to Maple grill if you’d like for lunch.


Offline Ergel

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #206 on: June 06, 2013, 11:11:42 AM »
Requested a kosher meal in the BA lounge from cx and they said they don't have access to make that request.
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Offline Ergel

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #207 on: June 06, 2013, 02:08:47 PM »
Grouse Mountain: alpine package? Peak package (adds chairlift to the peak)? Ultimate package (adds viewing from the wind turbine)?
Any reason to buy in advance?
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Offline PlatinumGuy

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #208 on: June 06, 2013, 02:20:46 PM »
Requested a kosher meal in the BA lounge from cx and they said they don't have access to make that request.
They have them in stock, just walk over and ask nicely.
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline Ergel

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #209 on: June 06, 2013, 07:56:39 PM »
Called maple grill. They said they don't have shabbos meals. Does anyone have contact info for the Kollel?
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Offline Shkop

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #210 on: June 07, 2013, 12:36:29 AM »
Anyone been to the Four Points by Sheraton - Vancouver Airport Hotel? Whats it like? How far from kosher eateries?

Also, I am considering flying into Seattle (due to airline miles considerations) then driving to Vancouver. Perhaps spend last day or two of trip doing Seattle. Do car rentals make an issue about going into Canada?

Thanks guys!
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Offline Tzfas

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #211 on: June 07, 2013, 02:55:10 PM »
Called maple grill. They said they don't have shabbos meals. Does anyone have contact info for the Kollel?
This is the info for the Kollel, http://www.godaven.com/detail.asp?Id=3355&Name=vancouver.

Offline Ergel

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #212 on: June 07, 2013, 03:16:02 PM »
This is the info for the Kollel, http://www.godaven.com/detail.asp?Id=3355&Name=vancouver.
Thanks. I emailed. Will report back
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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #213 on: June 07, 2013, 04:11:42 PM »
Anyone ever been to Mount Royal Bagels, in north vancouver? What hashgacha are they under?

Offline MEIR613

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #214 on: June 08, 2013, 10:37:02 PM »
If anyone plans on being in YVR 8/21-8/23, I might be able to get you a cheap hotel.

PM me for detail.
« Last Edit: June 08, 2013, 11:40:52 PM by MEIR613 »

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #215 on: June 09, 2013, 06:55:12 AM »
From the Kollel:
You are welcome to join us for Friday night. There is no cost and no need to reserve for less than 5 people. 
I read Shma before davening to be safe ... I am there at 9:30 so you are welcome to come earlier as well. 
I think Schara Tzedek is a little earlier than us. 
Gut Voch. 

I'm not sure they make sof zman tefila
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Offline MEIR613

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #216 on: June 10, 2013, 10:27:22 PM »
Is it me or is there a ton more award availability CX F YVR-JFK then CX F JFK-YVR and why is that?

Offline AJK

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #217 on: June 10, 2013, 11:08:24 PM »

Is it me or is there a ton more award availability CX F YVR-JFK then CX F JFK-YVR and why is that?

It's been the exact opposite IME.
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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #218 on: June 17, 2013, 04:17:39 PM »
@ajk (our anyone else) did you go to chabad of downtown on shabbos? What time do they get to shmoneh esreh for shacharis?
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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #219 on: June 17, 2013, 04:20:49 PM »
@ajk (our anyone else) did you go to chabad of downtown on shabbos? What time do they get to shmoneh esreh for shacharis?

Didn't go.
2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper