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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 274610 times)

Offline Fan of Dan

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #40 on: August 02, 2011, 10:22:40 PM »
for lunch why not try sabras and for dinner head to maple grill...in between you can do a hike or go to the suspension bridge..do you have a car?
Yeah I do, you should know that by now! Lol! What's this bridge thing? Also any ideas on a hike?

Offline YudiG

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #41 on: August 03, 2011, 03:48:53 AM »
true, i conceed the point :)

it's something like capilano suspension bridge...however google around as the real one costs a heck of a lot of change...i went to the free one which is just as good and obviously alot of other people who were there thought so too. its in middle of the most beautiful nature and there are hiking trails there so it should keep you busy for a couple hours...

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #42 on: August 03, 2011, 09:47:51 AM »
Sounds great thanks for the idea

Offline YudiG

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #43 on: August 10, 2011, 01:21:39 AM »
anyone got any tips for a day trip in nature but no too exerting?

Offline YudiG

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #44 on: August 11, 2011, 12:44:12 AM »
well, granville island was a great choice...nice place to walk around and window shop and even pick up a couple interesting things

on the food perspective, falafel plus just went from dairy to fleishig and serves up shwarma and does quite a decent job at it too...great service though prices are bit high but still considerably lower than sabra restaurant across town...would highly recommend it

Offline YudiG

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #45 on: August 18, 2011, 08:32:30 PM »
Here are some trip notes on my recent swing through YVR. I hope they are helpful!

Rental Car: Went with Enterprise on SW Marine Drive for a 2 day rental ($50 per day). Got the $10 underage (>25) waived thanks to LKWD corp. They don't charge a fee when taking the car to the US unlike budget which charges $10 per day.

Officially, the local Budget only rents to 25 and older but with USAA corp, I had no trouble. They are open on Sunday and at $54 after taxes, it was half of Enterprise. They don't pickup like Enterprise though :(

Service at both locations is great. 

Food: Much has been posted in the thread about it, but a quick recap. Falafel Plus went Meaty from Dairy/Pareve and makes a solid shwarma and falafel. Sabra is overpriced but the falafel and baked goods are great.

Nava's Cafe @ the JCC - it ain't Cholov Yisroel - aside from the Pizza or anything that has exclusively mozzarella cheese, mind the keilim and ask your LOR - nice variety of sandwiches, salads, baked goods and wraps - service is great - pricing is fair. 

Omnitsky's  - it's the local kosher mini-market. Full deli takeout counter. Pricing is a bit high. Amazing sandwiches such as the Smoked Montreal Beef. They make their own hot dogs and their potato salad is one of the better ones around. Service is rather fast and nice. Personally, I think it gets the highest all around grade.

Garden City Bakery - located in Richmond, small and not much of a selection but not to bad though.

Maple Grill: Had heard a tremendous boatload about it and had high hopes...service time rivals that of Summer Grill down in SD but takes a close second with ETA of 1 hour. Food was OK.

Went with Spring Rolls, Maple Burger, Tortilla Salad, Onion Rings, Chocolate brownie, 'Milk'shake. The dessert and drink stood out but am afraid to say the others were average. Pricing is decent depending where you come from. They seemed under staffed having 3 waiters for the 30-40 folks inside.

Activities:

Kayaking at Granville Island is great. You can even do stand up paddling if you wish. Don't go for more than 2 hours as it's overkill. It's nice to browse around all the stores there and they had a couple great street entertainers that put on great magic/tricks.

Grouse Mountain offers a gondola ride up to breathtaking peaks as well as a ski lift to get down. You can hike as well. There are many activities to do at the top such as ziplining, parasailing and more. They have a couple cute shows atop the mountain as well. It's a must do.

Enjoy!


Offline YudiG

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #46 on: December 29, 2011, 11:38:31 AM »
Looking for ideas for a nice, relaxing and fun 2-4 day trip from Vancouver to somewhere interesting in Canada after Pesach....TIA!

Offline PlatinumGuy

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #47 on: April 01, 2012, 04:19:43 PM »
Im"h doing Vancouver and Seattle April 15-19. Where are the right locations for hotels?
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline YudiG

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #48 on: April 01, 2012, 09:55:48 PM »
Im"h doing Vancouver and Seattle April 15-19. Where are the right locations for hotels?

For Seattle try something near Pike's Place market in downtown....in Vancouver there are a couple Fairmonts...

Offline PlatinumGuy

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #49 on: April 01, 2012, 09:57:16 PM »
I'm looking for something serene and relaxing. Still recommend center of town?
And I have no affiliation with fairmont.
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline YudiG

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #50 on: April 01, 2012, 10:06:35 PM »
I'm looking for something serene and relaxing. Still recommend center of town?
And I have no affiliation with fairmont.

for seattle that's likely the most interesting part....you could try the marriott on the waterfront...was at a wedding there years back and it was pretty nice...for vancouver can you make it out to whistler? you could try something on vancouver/victoria island...groupon/living social has had some deals recently..

Offline YudiG

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #51 on: April 03, 2012, 12:18:15 AM »
@PlatinumGuy...perhaps look into Squamish BC...its about an hour from Vancouver and is scenic and there are some great hikes in the area..check out Executive suites (girabaldi) there was a groupon for it last week that might still be around..had a great time there..

i'll hope to be in vancouver the same dates as you should you require any 'roadside assistance/concierge services' :)

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #52 on: April 05, 2012, 10:08:24 PM »
If anyone will be here for pesach, we can try to setup a do

Offline PlatinumGuy

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #53 on: April 06, 2012, 04:27:36 AM »
@PlatinumGuy...perhaps look into Squamish BC...its about an hour from Vancouver and is scenic and there are some great hikes in the area..check out Executive suites (girabaldi) there was a groupon for it last week that might still be around..had a great time there..

i'll hope to be in vancouver the same dates as you should you require any 'roadside assistance/concierge services' :)
Trip fell through, have to do Paris instead.... But another time.
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline YudiG

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #54 on: April 28, 2012, 04:23:13 PM »
I'm going to add a couple tidbits to this thread...

Thanks to Groupon, I discovered this place called Cowboy and Angels where you can paint your own pottery. Same idea as Color Me Mine in the US (do they exist outside LA?). Prices were very reasonable and the service was amazing...great way to spend an afternoon.

There is a new falafel shop in downtown called Zatar Hummus Bar that is open until 3 am (!!!) every night. The two Israelis running it are really nice and make great food too. Always good to have a place to run to in a pinch..all the city needs now is a normal pizza shop..

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #55 on: June 02, 2012, 11:18:46 PM »
Any way to get from YVR to SEA w/o paying an exorbitnat amount for a hertz one way rental?
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline YudiG

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #56 on: June 03, 2012, 02:04:01 PM »
Any way to get from YVR to SEA w/o paying an exorbitnat amount for a hertz one way rental?

that's a tough one

Offline aussiebochur

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #57 on: June 03, 2012, 02:14:56 PM »
Any way to get from YVR to SEA w/o paying an exorbitnat amount for a hertz one way rental?
AS with BA miles?

Offline YudiG

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #58 on: June 03, 2012, 02:24:47 PM »
AS with BA miles?

ba.com says that they/partners dont fly that route

Offline Dan

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #59 on: June 03, 2012, 03:40:39 PM »
PUTPAC
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.