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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 331719 times)

Offline casualchurner

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #520 on: May 12, 2015, 09:52:40 AM »
Updated wiki to reflect new rates on CX.
Feel free to correct if I'm off.

Offline Suz

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #521 on: May 14, 2015, 07:26:29 PM »
Availability keeps changing. I'm hoping to go in June and there is availability but it keeps changing. :( kinda annoying

Highly recommend the Fairmont Pacific Rim.  Two people each get the Chase Fairmont card for two free nights each including $25pp towards breakfast. 

Offline Feivish

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #522 on: May 14, 2015, 07:43:13 PM »
Highly recommend the Fairmont Pacific Rim.  Two people each get the Chase Fairmont card for two free nights each including $25pp towards breakfast.
I'm assuming there is no kosher option for that!?

Offline Suz

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #523 on: May 14, 2015, 07:47:26 PM »
I'm assuming there is no kosher option for that!?

Dan stayed and managed. 

Offline dpk4588

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #524 on: May 15, 2015, 02:52:49 PM »
The difference is only 4500 more Avios if you got them with the 40% deal.
I forgot that with the Barclays AAdvantage Aviator (formerly USAir) I get a 10% bonus on AAdvantage miles redeemed, so the 32.5k turned out to only be 29,250, so the difference gets a little bigger.
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.
-Albert Einstein

Offline dpk4588

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #525 on: May 15, 2015, 03:10:04 PM »
From what I see on the YVR website there are 4 lounges, AC, CX, BA, & Plaza Premium. How would I get into one of these lounges (and which would be the best) if I'm not flying CX ex-YVR?
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.
-Albert Einstein

Offline Super Speed

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #526 on: May 17, 2015, 06:10:21 PM »
What's the weather like in the beginning of August?

Offline Suz

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #527 on: May 17, 2015, 06:18:18 PM »
What's the weather like in the beginning of August?

Excellent.  I come to Vancouver from May thru the end of September to escape the Florida heat. 
Of course, weather is unpredictable. 
http://www.accuweather.com/en/ca/vancouver/v5y/august-weather/53286?monyr=8/1/2015&view=table
Shows average high of 73 degrees.  To me that's perfect. 

Offline Super Speed

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #528 on: May 17, 2015, 06:57:23 PM »
Any nice Marriott properties?

Offline Suz

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #529 on: May 17, 2015, 07:07:54 PM »
Any nice Marriott properties?

There is the Marriott Pinnacle Downtown and the Residence Inn but I haven't stayed at either. 
I love the Fairmont Pacific Rim. 

Offline Feivish

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #530 on: May 17, 2015, 07:31:07 PM »

Highly recommend the Fairmont Pacific Rim.  Two people each get the Chase Fairmont card for two free nights each including $25pp towards breakfast. 

I'm assuming there is no kosher option for that!?
Dan stayed and managed.
@Dan, I will be staying there in the summer.
Please advise what it took to get a kosher breakfast?

Offline casualchurner

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #531 on: May 18, 2015, 01:56:22 PM »
Just realized that my trip at the end of June/beg July coincides with Canada Day on July 1.  >:(
http://www.statutoryholidays.com/canadaday.php "Canada Day is a national statutory holiday celebrated in all provinces and territories and it is a day off for most businesses."
Sounds like things are gonna be closed!
Anyone have experience with this? Any Canadians that can clarify?

Offline Ergel

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #532 on: May 18, 2015, 01:58:15 PM »
Just realized that my trip at the end of June/beg July coincides with Canada Day on July 1.  >:(
http://www.statutoryholidays.com/canadaday.php "Canada Day is a national statutory holiday celebrated in all provinces and territories and it is a day off for most businesses."
Sounds like things are gonna be closed!
Anyone have experience with this? Any Canadians that can clarify?
Supermarkets and the like will all be closed. But tourist attractions should all be open.
What exactly are you worried about?
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline casualchurner

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #533 on: May 18, 2015, 02:02:22 PM »
Supermarkets and the like will all be closed. But tourist attractions should all be open.
What exactly are you worried about?
That. But I guess there's nothing to worry about.
Thanks for clarifying!

Restaurants? Omnitzky's?

Offline Ergel

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #534 on: May 18, 2015, 02:06:56 PM »
Maple Grill - "We are Open Tomorrow Victoria Day 4:00pm-10:00pm"
I assume Canada Day will be similar
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #535 on: May 18, 2015, 02:09:34 PM »
Alright great thanks!

Offline Feivish

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #536 on: May 18, 2015, 06:24:56 PM »
Anyone have experience with getting kosher breakfast at the Fairmont Pacific Rim?

Offline tzifanya54

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #537 on: May 18, 2015, 08:55:10 PM »
What's the weather like in the beginning of August?
Amazing! And absolutely bug free (coming from the tri state, no pesky bugs or flies at night was amazing)

Offline tzifanya54

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #538 on: May 18, 2015, 08:58:40 PM »
Any nice Marriott properties?
The residence inn downtown is pretty nice... But if your looking for a nice upscale hotel just not that expensive (points wise, ie not fairmonts) then the Westin grand is really nice, all suite property and they gave me a double upgrade even though I am just spg gold.

Offline ushdadude

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #539 on: May 18, 2015, 09:26:38 PM »
The residence inn downtown is pretty nice... But if your looking for a nice upscale hotel just not that expensive (points wise, ie not fairmonts) then the Westin grand is really nice, all suite property and they gave me a double upgrade even though I am just spg gold.

i'm staying at the westin bayshore. nothing available at westin grand