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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 323024 times)

Offline Super Speed

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #540 on: May 19, 2015, 11:46:46 AM »
Amazing! And absolutely bug free (coming from the tri state, no pesky bugs or flies at night was amazing)

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.
Thanks! I may sell some points and go to the Fairmont.

Offline tzifanya54

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #541 on: May 20, 2015, 12:26:08 AM »
Thanks! I may sell some points and go to the Fairmont.
My pleasure! I just did this whole trip last year, so I did a ton of research feel free to PM me if you need more info. BTW where you able to get CX F or J?

Offline tzifanya54

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #542 on: May 20, 2015, 12:30:21 AM »
i'm staying at the westin bayshore. nothing available at westin grand
Did research on that property as well, really good reviews there as well and its actually newer than the westin grand. It was a toss up between the 2 places. I was traveling with 2 kids so ultimately the westin grand (being an all suite property) won out.

Offline dpk4588

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #543 on: May 21, 2015, 01:43:01 PM »
Flying CX in F, booked with AA, who do I contact about Kosher food?

Also there have been mixed reports I was wondering if there was an update. Is there Kosher food available in the BA First Class lounge?
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.
-Albert Einstein

Offline Ergel

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #544 on: May 21, 2015, 05:12:35 PM »
Is there Kosher food available in the BA First Class lounge?
You are not officially entitled. Mixed reports (mostly failures) as to whether you can get them to accommodate you.
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline dpk4588

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #545 on: May 21, 2015, 05:14:37 PM »
You are not officially entitled. Mixed reports (mostly failures) as to whether you can get them to accommodate you.
I know its technically for BA metal passengers only, I was wondering if anyone had any recent success in getting them to accommodate.
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 #546 on: May 29, 2015, 06:27:36 PM »
Is the four seasons hotel nicer than the FPR?

Offline Suz

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #547 on: May 29, 2015, 06:30:07 PM »
Is the four seasons hotel nicer than the FPR?

No

Offline Super Speed

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #548 on: May 29, 2015, 06:31:14 PM »
No
How much worse, I can get it for under $200 for the dates I'm going...

Offline Suz

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #549 on: May 29, 2015, 06:34:19 PM »
How much worse, I can get it for under $200 for the dates I'm going...

There's nothing wrong with the FS.  I prefer the FPR.  Get the Chase Fairmont card for 2 free nights with breakfast. 
$200 a night for the FS is a great rate....even better if its $200CAD

Offline PlatinumGuy

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #550 on: May 29, 2015, 08:03:32 PM »
Flying CX in F, booked with AA, who do I contact about Kosher food?

Also there have been mixed reports I was wondering if there was an update. Is there Kosher food available in the BA First Class lounge?
Call CX. The BA food is regular Bornstein meals so not particularly exciting. It will be the same thing you get on the plane. Note the biz class lounge has better snacks than the FCL.
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline amm543

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #551 on: June 02, 2015, 10:35:46 PM »
Anyone have an undated lists of kosher restaurants in Vancouver? It appears that some mentioned in the forum are now closed. Also does anyone know if any kosher restaurants are open on motzei shabbos this time of year (when shabbos ends after 10:00pm in Vancouver)?

Any ideas on something to do for a frum couple on a motzei shabbos in the spring/summer?


Offline Chapshnell

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #552 on: June 02, 2015, 10:50:09 PM »
Anyone have an undated lists of kosher restaurants in Vancouver? It appears that some mentioned in the forum are now closed. Also does anyone know if any kosher restaurants are open on motzei shabbos this time of year (when shabbos ends after 10:00pm in Vancouver)?

Any ideas on something to do for a frum couple on a motzei shabbos in the spring/summer?

read my TR..
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=49911.0

motzai Shabbos just walk around the city? not much "to do" technically

Offline amm543

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #553 on: June 02, 2015, 10:58:54 PM »
You only went to Maple Grill? I will be there Friday - Sunday night so I wanted to see which restaurants are around besides Maple Grill. If Cafe 41 good for breakfast or lunch one day?

Offline Chapshnell

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #554 on: June 02, 2015, 11:01:30 PM »
You only went to Maple Grill? I will be there Friday - Sunday night so I wanted to see which restaurants are around besides Maple Grill. If Cafe 41 good for breakfast or lunch one day?

"Sunday AM we checked out & went to eat at a kosher cafe called "Cafe Forty One" tasty, great service & a very nice presentation as well.
Its a nice looking place. If you want to park the car in their basement parking lot you can do so. You just need to call out one of the workers to enter the pin code for you so the gates will open."

Offline amm543

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #555 on: June 03, 2015, 10:20:58 AM »
Any1 ever go on those free walking tours in Vancouver "Tour Guys"? Worth doing? Is a tour bus worth going on?


Offline reed

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #556 on: June 10, 2015, 08:16:14 PM »
Can cathy pacific be booked With AA miles? If so how does one go about doing that? All I'm seeing on AA are American flights

Offline efflpetzel

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #557 on: June 10, 2015, 08:33:19 PM »

Can cathy pacific be booked With AA miles? If so how does one go about doing that? All I'm seeing on AA are American flights
you need to call in, for availability check ba.com

Offline ddfried

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #558 on: June 10, 2015, 11:36:23 PM »
I have been checking in for award availability on Cathay for 5 seats and there's nothing available in August for the past 2-3 weeks. What's the possibility rate to get it closer to the date??

Offline Suz

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #559 on: June 10, 2015, 11:46:05 PM »
I have been checking in for award availability on Cathay for 5 seats and there's nothing available in August for the past 2-3 weeks. What's the possibility rate to get it closer to the date??

Very high.  I find seats open as it gets closer (week to 10 days).  Economy, business of first?  I have always been able to upgrade to first from business for 2 seats.   Hopefully you are looking for an assortment of all classes of service.