Topic Wiki

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 275910 times)

Offline aarony

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2010
  • Posts: 530
  • Total likes: 31
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #940 on: May 03, 2017, 03:36:19 PM »
Can also do the Sea to Sky Gondola without going all the way to Whistler. 
We plan on hiking up the chief and coming down with the gondola

That is why I was not sure if Whistler was still a must especially considering that we will be spending a week in the Rockies from jasper to Canmore

Offline shiframeir

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jan 2012
  • Posts: 1761
  • Total likes: 145
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 7
    • View Profile
  • Programs: spg gold. nothing else. sigh.
Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #941 on: May 03, 2017, 03:39:54 PM »
I booked at that Westin with only Gold status and got upgraded to a nice bi-level suite. And this was in the summer
which westin?

Offline emak

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: May 2013
  • Posts: 1471
  • Total likes: 23
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 9
    • View Profile
Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #942 on: May 03, 2017, 08:20:44 PM »

Offline Srsy

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: May 2014
  • Posts: 258
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: New York
Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #943 on: May 09, 2017, 11:07:56 PM »
We would like to go to Seattle & Vancouver in the summer.  How many days should we spend in each place?  Where am I better off spending Shabbos?  We want to Daven with a minyan.
Should I fly into Seattle and leave from Vancouver or visa versa?  Or just fly into one airport and drive back and forth?
Is there an issue renting a car from one location and dropping off in another location?  Any surcharges to leave the country?

Online tzifanya54

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jan 2012
  • Posts: 5629
  • Total likes: 233
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #944 on: May 09, 2017, 11:47:05 PM »
We would like to go to Seattle & Vancouver in the summer.  How many days should we spend in each place?  Where am I better off spending Shabbos?  We want to Daven with a minyan.
Should I fly into Seattle and leave from Vancouver or visa versa?  Or just fly into one airport and drive back and forth?
Is there an issue renting a car from one location and dropping off in another location?  Any surcharges to leave the country?
1) I think 4 days in Vancouver/whistler 2-3 days Seattle
2)Have stayed in both for shabbos I prefer Vancouver (obviously depends which hotel etc..)
3)can daven with a minyan in both
4)either way
5) it will be a cheaper rental to pick up and drop off in same place
6)no
7)no

Offline Srsy

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: May 2014
  • Posts: 258
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: New York
Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #945 on: May 09, 2017, 11:57:53 PM »
1) I think 4 days in Vancouver/whistler 2-3 days Seattle
2)Have stayed in both for shabbos I prefer Vancouver (obviously depends which hotel etc..)
Where do you recommend staying in Vancouver for Shabbos?

Online tzifanya54

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jan 2012
  • Posts: 5629
  • Total likes: 233
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #946 on: May 09, 2017, 11:59:04 PM »
Where do you recommend staying in Vancouver for Shabbos?
How many people? Any kids?

Offline Srsy

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: May 2014
  • Posts: 258
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: New York
Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #947 on: May 10, 2017, 12:02:19 AM »
How many people? Any kids?
No kids just adults

Online tzifanya54

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jan 2012
  • Posts: 5629
  • Total likes: 233
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #948 on: May 10, 2017, 12:06:11 AM »
No kids just adults
If you want a some sort of kitchen for shabbos. I would go with residence inn downtown. Chabad downtown is right there. Should have shabbos shachris mincha/marriv and some weeks kabalas Shabbos. If you are looking for fancier there are many options walking distance to chabad downtown.

Offline aarony

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2010
  • Posts: 530
  • Total likes: 31
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #949 on: May 10, 2017, 12:11:24 AM »
When are you going to whistler?  I am scheduled to be there sun afternoon aug 6 to Monday evening aug 7 before we head off to the Rockies.  Hoping to have a minyan...

Offline aarony

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2010
  • Posts: 530
  • Total likes: 31
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #950 on: May 25, 2017, 07:52:31 PM »
Does hertz in Vancouver airport also stay open past midnight if you call them?   So far I have not been able to reach them on the telephone.   My reservation is for August so I have time but I need to know if they will be around when I land after my flight from JFK on Cathay Pacific  Or if I should change the reservation to pick up in the morning once they are open.

It is very difficult to get a decent price on a one-way minivan from Vancouver to Calgary in the summer. so I want to make sure I don't somehow lose this reservation if they close before I get there

Offline Srsy

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: May 2014
  • Posts: 258
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: New York
Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #951 on: June 09, 2017, 01:29:47 PM »
Is it better to stay in a Downtown Vancouver for Shabbos or stay near the Kollel?  Or should I go to Victoria for Shabbos and stay in the Comfort Inn? 
 How is the Sheraton Vancouver Wall?
« Last Edit: June 09, 2017, 01:45:18 PM by Srsy »

Offline sam leese

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Apr 2015
  • Posts: 9
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: brooklyn
Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #952 on: June 15, 2017, 12:57:23 AM »
I would go with residence inn downtown. Chabad downtown is right there. Should have shabbos shachris mincha/marriv and some weeks kabalas Shabbos. If you are looking for fancier there are many options walking distance to chabad downtown.
does this hotel have sensors on the doors?

Offline FJA

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Feb 2015
  • Posts: 5
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: United States
Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #953 on: June 22, 2017, 12:38:22 PM »
We are deciding between the Hyatt Regency and Sheraton Wall Centre using 12k/night UR and SPG, respectively.  Which hotel is nicer for a weekday stay?

Offline normathej

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Nov 2014
  • Posts: 1024
  • Total likes: 67
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 14
    • View Profile
Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #954 on: July 11, 2017, 12:17:56 PM »
CX J or AC J, which makes for a better trip?

Offline efflpetzel

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Aug 2012
  • Posts: 2836
  • Total likes: 133
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #955 on: July 12, 2017, 12:03:40 PM »
CX J or AC J, which makes for a better trip?
CX J.

Offline normathej

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Nov 2014
  • Posts: 1024
  • Total likes: 67
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 14
    • View Profile
Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #956 on: July 12, 2017, 12:08:48 PM »
CX J.

Does CX F often open up closer to date of flight, or if i'm 3 weeks out just throw in the towel and book J?

Offline sam28

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jun 2010
  • Posts: 1876
  • Total likes: 137
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #957 on: July 12, 2017, 02:17:10 PM »
Can someone help me how to put a link of my Vancouver TR in the wiki ?

Offline normathej

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Nov 2014
  • Posts: 1024
  • Total likes: 67
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 14
    • View Profile
Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #958 on: July 17, 2017, 11:49:19 AM »
I'm going to use SPG points for hotels - which Westin is the best choice - Bayshore, Wall Centre, or Grand?

Offline PlatinumGuy

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Apr 2011
  • Posts: 14958
  • Total likes: 2421
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 11
    • View Profile
Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #959 on: July 17, 2017, 11:50:07 AM »
Does CX F often open up closer to date of flight, or if i'm 3 weeks out just throw in the towel and book J?
Yes, nearly 100% of the time 24-72h before the flight
But probably worth booking J and changing later in case F is sold out.
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים