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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 275881 times)

Offline wonderlust

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #920 on: May 02, 2017, 09:51:55 AM »
anyone stay at Marriott's Delta Hotel in whistler? how does it compare to the westin?

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #921 on: May 02, 2017, 12:55:00 PM »
is sunday thru Thursday enough time for Vancouver and Whistler?

Offline sam28

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #922 on: May 02, 2017, 08:56:36 PM »
is sunday thru Thursday enough time for Vancouver and Whistler?

yes I did it with kids for the same amount of time .  but I would for sure go back one day it was amazing .

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #923 on: May 03, 2017, 12:14:42 AM »
Looking to go early Sunday till late Thur night, how long is travel time from Vancouver to whistler? Thinking 3 nights in whistler & 1 in Vancouver, is that enough time for Vancouver?

Offline sam28

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #924 on: May 03, 2017, 09:34:15 AM »
Looking to go early Sunday till late Thur night, how long is travel time from Vancouver to whistler? Thinking 3 nights in whistler & 1 in Vancouver, is that enough time for Vancouver?

rather stay more nights in Vancouver . I think u don't need more then 1 day in whistler the way to whistler can take a full day if u stop by all the places on the way . if u don't stop on the way its about 1 hour in 35 min .

Offline aarony

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #925 on: May 03, 2017, 09:42:46 AM »
I am flying into Vancouver on a wed night.  My plan is to spend thurs and Friday (and shabbos) in Vancouver.  Drive the sea to sky highway on Sunday. Sleep in whistler Sunday night and spend Monday in whistler before we continue on towards jasper. 

Should I skip whistler and just head towards jasper earlier? The activities in whistler that appealed to me are the peak to peak gondola, kayaking the river of golden dreams and perhaps zipline for the teens.

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #926 on: May 03, 2017, 12:03:26 PM »
I am flying into Vancouver on a wed night.  My plan is to spend thurs and Friday (and shabbos) in Vancouver.  Drive the sea to sky highway on Sunday. Sleep in whistler Sunday night and spend Monday in whistler before we continue on towards jasper. 

Should I skip whistler and just head towards jasper earlier? The activities in whistler that appealed to me are the peak to peak gondola, kayaking the river of golden dreams and perhaps zipline for the teens.

whistler is a must to do . on the way u can stop by a place called Britannia Mine Museum they have tours every hour it was quite interesting .

Offline Dan

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #927 on: May 03, 2017, 12:08:30 PM »
Can also do the Sea to Sky Gondola without going all the way to Whistler.
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.

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #928 on: May 03, 2017, 12:17:14 PM »
how does the 4 seasons compare to Westin and Fairmont?

Offline Dan

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #929 on: May 03, 2017, 12:20:02 PM »
how does the 4 seasons compare to Westin and Fairmont?
Much nicer obviously.
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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #930 on: May 03, 2017, 02:09:18 PM »
Much nicer obviously.
It's only 200$..

Offline Dan

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #931 on: May 03, 2017, 02:09:54 PM »
Joys of off season travel.
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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #932 on: May 03, 2017, 02:21:25 PM »
considerably cheaper than Fairmont and basically same price as Westin.. question is to get standard/deluxe room in 4 seasons or go to Westin with plat status...hmmm

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #933 on: May 03, 2017, 02:25:25 PM »
When are you ever going to find a 4S for the same price as a Westin in the future?
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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #934 on: May 03, 2017, 02:50:46 PM »
When are you ever going to find a 4S for the same price as a Westin in the future?

Agreed, so theoretically you think your better off with a standard room in 4 seasons vs suite in westin?

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #935 on: May 03, 2017, 02:57:58 PM »
Agreed, so theoretically you think your better off with a standard room in 4 seasons vs suite in westin?
For how many travelers?
Does the Westin allow same day cancel?
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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #936 on: May 03, 2017, 03:19:57 PM »
For how many travelers?
Does the Westin allow same day cancel?
2, I wouldn't receive status if I used a 3rd party for booking at the Westin, right? Assuming not so would use points

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #937 on: May 03, 2017, 03:21:03 PM »
Why do 2 pax need a suite?
Go for the 4S.
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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #938 on: May 03, 2017, 03:23:37 PM »
Why do 2 pax need a suite?
Go for the 4S.
true dat. thanks

Offline emak

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #939 on: May 03, 2017, 03:27:57 PM »
2, I wouldn't receive status if I used a 3rd party for booking at the Westin, right? Assuming not so would use points
I booked at that Westin with only Gold status and got upgraded to a nice bi-level suite. And this was in the summer