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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 275856 times)

Offline tov hashem

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #960 on: July 19, 2017, 01:15:54 AM »
Planing to be there August 7-10. So far I grabbed 1 seat CX F (1A). hope it will open another seat booked with BA. Looking for a rentel with a private pool in the area any recomandations? (maybe at the Vancouver island)

Offline normathej

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #961 on: July 20, 2017, 11:48:48 AM »
Sea to Sky Gondola or Peak to Peak in Whistler?

Shannon Falls or Brandywine Falls?

Offline PlatinumGuy

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #962 on: July 20, 2017, 05:03:09 PM »
Anybody been to the Lighthouse park?
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline emak

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #963 on: July 20, 2017, 05:15:54 PM »
Sea to Sky Gondola or Peak to Peak in Whistler?
We enjoyed Peak to Peak, not sure if that helps

Offline jmz

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #964 on: July 20, 2017, 07:07:55 PM »
Planing to be there August 7-10. So far I grabbed 1 seat CX F (1A). hope it will open another seat booked with BA. Looking for a rentel with a private pool in the area any recomandations? (maybe at the Vancouver island)
I've been looking for the same type of lodging for the following week. If you have any luck maybe you can share.
Thanks

Offline tov hashem

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #965 on: July 20, 2017, 08:08:55 PM »
I've been looking for the same type of lodging for the following week. If you have any luck maybe you can share.
Thanks
I booked 2 nights at fairmont pacific rim and for one night I would like to stay at AIRBNB kind

Offline Alexsei

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #966 on: July 23, 2017, 10:04:19 PM »
Vancouver, Canada to Los Angeles, USA for only $180 CAD roundtrip
http://ift.tt/2tstWrZ
Jews ≠ Zionists
Palestinians ≠ Hamas
Satmar ≠ SatmarHQ

Offline elya

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #967 on: July 24, 2017, 05:27:19 PM »
Was it someone here that just snagged the last 2 CX F seats JFK-YVR on 8/6, while I was on the phone with a BA agent processing the upgrade?!?

Offline Dan

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #968 on: July 24, 2017, 05:37:03 PM »
Vancouver, Canada to Los Angeles, USA for only $180 CAD roundtrip
http://ift.tt/2tstWrZ
Airfare deals belong in "Up In The Air"
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.

Offline tov hashem

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #969 on: July 24, 2017, 08:48:15 PM »
Was it someone here that just snagged the last 2 CX F seats JFK-YVR on 8/6, while I was on the phone with a BA agent processing the upgrade?!?
im actually trying to get 8/7. Does it mean that tomorrow will 8/7 become avail.?

Offline normathej

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #970 on: August 04, 2017, 10:40:52 AM »
Flying J on CX 889.  How much before the flight do you need to be at the airport?  Is there a separate security line for business?

Offline shiframeir

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #971 on: August 27, 2017, 06:00:57 AM »
Visiting YVR for the first time now, what a beautiful place. staying for the week. so far weather is amazing, whale watching was really cool, and shabbos at theKollel (above maple grill) was very chilled and nice and the food was good too. I think i would live here if they didn't have such foolish alcohol policies (seems u can only get at liquor stores, and they have pretty strange selections and like a 12% tax on top of everything).

Offline smaxber

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #972 on: October 01, 2017, 03:19:24 PM »
Using awardhacker.com
JFK-YVR
I see that flying on SQ is better mileage than Cathay.
Any special business/first class opportunities on SQ like Dan writes about Cathay?

Offline nobiggy

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #973 on: October 01, 2017, 03:23:24 PM »
Using awardhacker.com
JFK-YVR
I see that flying on SQ is better mileage than Cathay.
Any special business/first class opportunities on SQ like Dan writes about Cathay?
The only thing you can begin to compare would be on AC from EWR which is lie flat non-stop.

Then again who would choose AC over CX in J and especially if you want F.

Offline lifetimedeals

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #974 on: December 27, 2017, 06:43:30 PM »
What is there to do in Victoria? Is Vancouver nicer to visit?
Sounds like there aren't any kosher restaurants, is it interesting just to visit Victoria?
« Last Edit: December 27, 2017, 08:53:24 PM by lifetimedeals »

Offline skyguy918

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #975 on: December 27, 2017, 11:40:48 PM »
What is there to do in Victoria? Is Vancouver nicer to visit?
Sounds like there aren't any kosher restaurants, is it interesting just to visit Victoria?
Same question. Mainly because it seems like a royal pain to fly in to YYJ if you're planning on spending all your time in Vancouver. Have to decide whether to keep my tickets from today's deal, and soon.

Offline lifetimedeals

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #976 on: December 28, 2017, 12:03:42 AM »
Same question. Mainly because it seems like a royal pain to fly in to YYJ if you're planning on spending all your time in Vancouver. Have to decide whether to keep my tickets from today's deal, and soon.
will delta compensate if i decide to cancel?

Offline shauly

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #977 on: December 29, 2017, 07:35:47 AM »
I have a business trip to Vancouver at the end of January, I'll either be there for two or three days. I'm probably going to be renting an Air BnB. Any suggestions on areas to stay in?

Offline Suz

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #978 on: December 29, 2017, 07:41:34 AM »
I have a business trip to Vancouver at the end of January, I'll either be there for two or three days. I'm probably going to be renting an Air BnB. Any suggestions on areas to stay in?

Downtown. Coal Harbour. 
If Hotel: Fairmont Pacific Rim

Offline SLMYRCB

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #979 on: April 12, 2018, 01:23:12 AM »
Just returned from YVR.
I definitely recommend Cafe FortyOne. As a NYer (w/ plenty pizza options), their pizza is still something to very much enjoy. Pastries are great too. FYI they use a delivery service called "Skip the Dishes" which sets delivery radiuses and does not include the Pacific Rim. A real Pity.
On that note, I was not crazy about the Pacific Rim (blasphemous, I know). I think, they think, they are the best in the west. I do agree that their amenities (higher quality robes and slippers, bathroom TV, Nespresso machine etc) and design (subjective) is something of wow. But they believe it about themselves which makes the whole service aspect a bit ostentatious (garbage).
Next.
Omnitsky Kosher has unbelievable deli sandwiches. Unbelievable! Really. They make their own delis and have this Canadian Smoked Meat which is great. Bit salty but very very good. Beware, they close at 6pm on weeknights, 8pm on Thursdays.

Overall, the kosher scene is not lacking in quality. Quantity? Yes, but no ones expecting that. Anyways, quality counts. Give me one great meal 10 times rather than ten separate lousy meals. Duh.

Cathay Pacific? As good as always.