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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 316366 times)

Offline shmebeble

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #720 on: April 04, 2016, 04:48:39 PM »
Is it worth going to Grouse Mountain to see the lumberjack show and the cable ride up and down. Any other idea of not strenuous or adventurous activities on it (sightseeing, other shows etc) if I will not be doing any hiking or ziplining?

Any thoughts on bringing up lunch and picnicking on top of mountain?
I liked the cable car in Squamish a lot.
https://www.seatoskygondola.com/
Beautiful and def. worth the drive and great place to have  a bbq. there's an outdoor fireplace and some small, easy hikes once on top.

Offline SrulyP

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #721 on: April 04, 2016, 04:49:32 PM »
I liked the cable car in Squamish a lot.
https://www.seatoskygondola.com/
Beautiful and def. worth the drive and great place to have  a bbq. there's an outdoor fireplace and some small, easy hikes once on top.

Just to confirm, this would be instead of Grouse Mtn?

Offline shmebeble

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #722 on: April 04, 2016, 04:52:30 PM »
Just to confirm, this would be instead of Grouse Mtn?
They are different views. I climbed Grouse ( has more activities on top) and took the cable car for the other one.
Don't know about replacement. But the best part of Grouse was the hike, not the view.

Offline tzifanya54

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #723 on: April 04, 2016, 05:27:28 PM »
Is it worth going to Grouse Mountain to see the lumberjack show and the cable ride up and down. Any other idea of not strenuous or adventurous activities on it (sightseeing, other shows etc) if I will not be doing any hiking or ziplining?

Any thoughts on bringing up lunch and picnicking on top of mountain?
I think it is. The views are pretty good too. There are a few shows, but the main thing is the lumberjack show. It's more kid oriented though.

Offline Suz

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #724 on: April 04, 2016, 09:09:00 PM »
Where is the best place to rent bikes inside Stanley Park, it seems that when I google bike rentals there are all located "minutes" away...

Denman & Alberni Streets. Two blocks from the park

Offline Ysturmwind

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #725 on: April 13, 2016, 05:13:05 PM »
Has anyone gone whale watching in Vancouver? Is it worth it to do? We have 3 days in Vancouver including shabbas and we are trying to decide what we want to do.

Offline emak

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #726 on: April 13, 2016, 05:14:07 PM »
be careful, there was an accident earlier this year

Offline Ysturmwind

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #727 on: April 13, 2016, 06:20:03 PM »
I read about that a while ago and is definitely something to consider. I am trying to decide if its worth it to spend the time on our trip doing it. The trips start around 9am and can be anywhere from 3-5 hours, which seems like a pretty large portion of time.

Also, has anyone recently spent shabbas downtown and stayed HR? Any reviews from that or advice?

TIA

Offline tzifanya54

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #728 on: April 13, 2016, 08:33:28 PM »
I read about that a while ago and is definitely something to consider. I am trying to decide if its worth it to spend the time on our trip doing it. The trips start around 9am and can be anywhere from 3-5 hours, which seems like a pretty large portion of time.

Also, has anyone recently spent shabbas downtown and stayed HR? Any reviews from that or advice?

TIA
Chabad downtown will only have a shachris minyan. Sometimes they will have mincha and maariv on shabbos day. Almost for sure no minyan Friday night.

Offline asks

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #729 on: April 13, 2016, 08:34:54 PM »
Chabad downtown will only have a shachris minyan. Sometimes they will have mincha and maariv on shabbos day. Almost for sure no minyan Friday night.
how about community Kollel or the pti yeshiva?

Offline tzifanya54

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #730 on: April 13, 2016, 08:38:46 PM »
how about community Kollel or the pti yeshiva?
Depends where your staying. Don't know about the yeshiva but I think the Kollel is about 2 miles from the hotels.

Offline Ergel

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #731 on: April 13, 2016, 08:39:15 PM »
We davened (and ate) at the kollel Friday night and davened at Chabad shabbos day and are takeout in our room shabbos day. They poor is on a low floor upon request for shabbos. I remember it being somewhat of a hassle to get someone to open the stairs but don't recall more than that
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline asks

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #732 on: April 13, 2016, 08:59:45 PM »
We davened (and ate) at the kollel Friday night and davened at Chabad shabbos day and are takeout in our room shabbos day. They poor is on a low floor upon request for shabbos. I remember it being somewhat of a hassle to get someone to open the stairs but don't recall more than that
which hotel?

Offline Ergel

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #733 on: April 13, 2016, 10:08:55 PM »
Hyatt
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline Ysturmwind

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #734 on: April 14, 2016, 09:32:38 AM »
We davened (and ate) at the kollel Friday night and davened at Chabad shabbos day and are takeout in our room shabbos day. They poor is on a low floor upon request for shabbos. I remember it being somewhat of a hassle to get someone to open the stairs but don't recall more than that

We are planning to stay at the Hyatt for shabbas as well. How far was the walk to the Kollel? What did you do about the keys to the room on shabbas? Where did you get food from?

Offline sky121

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #735 on: April 18, 2016, 06:39:53 PM »
Anyone have any thoughts on the Sheraton vs Westin Bayshore?
"Not all who wander are lost"

Offline Feivish

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #736 on: April 18, 2016, 08:18:56 PM »
Location location location.

Westin is water front with amazing views.

Offline sky121

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #737 on: April 18, 2016, 09:15:12 PM »
Any benefits to the Sheraton? Right now Westin isn't available with C and P. Hoping it will open up.
"Not all who wander are lost"

Offline tzifanya54

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #738 on: April 18, 2016, 09:39:50 PM »
Any benefits to the Sheraton? Right now Westin isn't available with C and P. Hoping it will open up.
Nope, very standard hotel... I would try for westin grand, it's definitely a better choice.

Offline sky121

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #739 on: April 18, 2016, 09:40:59 PM »
Any chance c + p opens up? Anyone ever have luck getting them to book it c + p when award nights are available?
"Not all who wander are lost"