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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 331562 times)

Offline Dan

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #360 on: March 18, 2014, 12:00:59 PM »
Map out what you want to do in YVR and you'll have your answer.
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 myb821

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #361 on: March 18, 2014, 12:03:54 PM »
Map out what you want to do in YVR and you'll have your answer.
Yea im getting there. Right now i'm having trouble with the hyatt they have C+P availability for thur fri and sun but not sat. So I asked to book those nights and then book sat as revenue but they said they cant because the hotel has a minimum stay so saturday night doesnt have options to book by itself. I tried contacting in house reservations and they wouldnt help. I just emailed the inventory manager or whatever its called and will see what she says.

EDIT: right after I wrote this i received an email back and she is willing to book it for me.

Offline Ergel

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #362 on: March 18, 2014, 12:08:35 PM »
Yea im getting there. Right now i'm having trouble with the hyatt they have C+P availability for thur fri and sun but not sat. So I asked to book those nights and then book sat as revenue but they said they cant because the hotel has a minimum stay so saturday night doesnt have options to book by itself. I tried contacting in house reservations and they wouldnt help. I just emailed the inventory manager or whatever its called and will see what she says.

EDIT: right after I wrote this i received an email back and she is willing to book it for me.
For future reference. Just book Saturday and Sunday as revenue and then cancel Sunday
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline Dan

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #363 on: March 18, 2014, 12:12:52 PM »
For future reference. Just book Saturday and Sunday as revenue and then cancel Sunday
Yup, Hyatt is excellent about that.  Also works when a weekend may have lower nightly pricing than one night, YEMV.

SPG is much tougher, needs hotel approval.
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 Marco Polo

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #364 on: March 18, 2014, 12:17:47 PM »
Yea im getting there. Right now i'm having trouble with the hyatt they have C+P availability for thur fri and sun but not sat. So I asked to book those nights and then book sat as revenue but they said they cant because the hotel has a minimum stay so saturday night doesnt have options to book by itself. I tried contacting in house reservations and they wouldnt help. I just emailed the inventory manager or whatever its called and will see what she says.

EDIT: right after I wrote this i received an email back and she is willing to book it for me.
If you have suite upgrades, i was able to get confirmed suite for the nights not on C&P.
Quaerite et Invenietis.

Offline myb821

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #365 on: March 18, 2014, 12:26:02 PM »
For future reference. Just book Saturday and Sunday as revenue and then cancel Sunday
The problem was I wanted to use my anniversary night.

Offline myb821

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #366 on: March 19, 2014, 12:22:38 PM »
I saw it in a comment on ur TR my bad. But then there was a clarifying comment http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/24056#comment-267116. So seems like it could be ok. Will check rates and see if its worth applying for Fairmount Visa
Wish i could get that commenter's contact info so I can find out who he talked to.

Offline smart brit

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #367 on: March 20, 2014, 08:43:01 PM »
I'm planning a trip with the wife and kids to YVR in the summer.
Read through the whole thread, and setting up my plans accordingly.
Arriving Sunday and spending time in Vancouver until Tuesday /Wednesday then driving down to Whistler and flying back to NYC Thursday night.
My question is about accommodation.
1) in Vancouver should I choose the Fairmont? Hyatt? Or spg?
2) in Whistler should I go with westin? Fairmont? Or four seasons?
Thanks for all the input

Offline Ergel

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #368 on: March 20, 2014, 11:57:14 PM »
Hilton is in an amazing location in whistle. Can get very cheap rates during the summer
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline smart brit

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #369 on: March 21, 2014, 12:47:09 AM »
Hilton is in an amazing location in whistle. Can get very cheap rates during the summer
Thanks!
How does it compare to Fairmont? Or the westin?
Should I prefer any because I will be taking along my kids?

Offline tzifanya54

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #370 on: March 27, 2014, 01:42:31 PM »
Anybody fly Cathay to yvr with an infant using Ba miles, without paying an additional fare. If yes in what class, and was there a fee at all?

Offline YudiG

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #371 on: April 02, 2014, 07:59:19 PM »
any places in yvr similar to a dave and busters or the like?


Offline myb821

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #372 on: April 30, 2014, 01:27:23 PM »
Anyone who stayed in the fairmont pacific rim able to get kosher breakfast from them? I have the free breakfast certs from the fairmont card and was wondering if anyone had success.

Offline Dan

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #373 on: April 30, 2014, 01:28:14 PM »
I'll be really surprised if you get kosher from a Fairmont.
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 AI-TRAVEL

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #374 on: May 11, 2014, 03:14:19 AM »
Thinking about going to yvr this summer. Was hoping to stay in fairmont pacific rim , turns out my stay is in middle of blackout dates to use certs. The room is $500 a night. Any other way to stay there?

Offline @jack123

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #375 on: May 12, 2014, 11:35:45 AM »
maybe try amex FHR


Offline PlatinumGuy

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #376 on: May 12, 2014, 11:36:26 AM »
PM Superflyer...
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline @jack123

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #377 on: May 12, 2014, 11:39:32 AM »
anyone stay in fairmont chateau whistler resort and have thoughts on if worth staying there instead of hilton? thanks

Offline @jack123

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #378 on: May 13, 2014, 11:25:08 AM »
anyone stay in fairmont chateau whistler resort and have thoughts on if worth staying there instead of hilton? thanks
bump


also the fairmont says they can order kosher which they get from nava catering in vancouver. anyone know if thats 1) good? and 2) reliable hechsher? (doesnt say on website who's hasgacha, and no answer on phone yet). Thanks

Offline Tzfas

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #379 on: May 13, 2014, 12:33:17 PM »
Ok food but not cholov Yisroel they did have some parev cake when I was there.