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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 274692 times)

Offline Moishebatchy

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #100 on: February 26, 2013, 03:12:55 PM »
Westin Bayshore is on the water and a nice hotel.

Hyatt Regency was also nice and very modern, but its in the heart of downtown.

Which did you stay at?

Offline AJK

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #101 on: February 26, 2013, 03:22:12 PM »
2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper

Offline Moishebatchy

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #102 on: February 26, 2013, 06:02:26 PM »

Offline AJK

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #103 on: February 26, 2013, 06:25:58 PM »
Care to elaborate a bit?

On?

I'd be happy to answer any specific questions.
2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper

Offline Moishebatchy

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #104 on: February 26, 2013, 08:39:15 PM »
On?

I'd be happy to answer any specific questions.

How long were you at each hotel? Did you stay anywhere else as well? If you had to choose only one, which? What was outstanding (good and bad) about each property?

Offline AJK

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #105 on: February 26, 2013, 08:47:27 PM »
How long were you at each hotel? Did you stay anywhere else as well? If you had to choose only one, which? What was outstanding (good and bad) about each property?

One night at Hyatt Regency (after arriving late in YVR). Very modern and upscale property. Only spent a combined total of maybe 6 hours in the room as we were up and about early am.

2 nights in Westin Bayshore. Not as modern, but property is on the water and overlooks mountains and Vancouver Bay where you can see the Water Airport and seaplanes taking off all day (ask for a room that faces that way). We were upgraded to a suite, so we had a larger room than at the Hyatt.

I'd probably go with the Westin for its location.
2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper

Offline Moishebatchy

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #106 on: March 05, 2013, 12:57:29 PM »
Okay... The wife would really like to do some whale-watching. Here at the Westin Bayshore, there's some in-house office called Prince of Whales that's offering packages consisting of a half-hour seaplane ride to Voctoria, and a 3 hour boad ride, for ~$350/pp plus tax.

1) Is that even a good offer? Can anyone recommend anything better?

2) Is there a better method of whale watching from Vancouver than this seaplane+boat thing?

3) Is this a bad time of year for whale watching? Or should we go for it?

Offline Dan

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #107 on: March 05, 2013, 01:00:15 PM »
Meh. Wait until you're in Maui and it will cost just $20, take just an hour, and be far more enjoyable due to the pleasant weather.
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 Moishebatchy

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #108 on: March 06, 2013, 12:36:47 PM »
Meh. Wait until you're in Maui and it will cost just $20, take just an hour, and be far more enjoyable due to the pleasant weather.

Point taken. But is there any whale watching in the summer, or will it be "out of season" by then?

More importantly, for right now... any recommendations (you, or anyone else) for a nice seaplane or helicopter tour of any sort? I know you didn't have time for it while you were here, but were there any options you looked into at the time that would be of interest?

Offline Dan

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #109 on: March 06, 2013, 01:00:35 PM »
There were some of interest. Head to the seaplane terminal to chat with them.
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 Tzfas

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #110 on: April 15, 2013, 09:46:27 PM »
Can anyone recommend an hotel to stay in over shabbos? I have enough Hyatt points wondering if someplace else is nicer
without shabbos issues.
Also where to get food for Fri night Chabad only has shabbos lunch.

And any more ideas or recommendations about activities I should know about even after reading Dans TR.
Yes 1 booked in Cathay first, other in business hoping it will open up.

Thanks all

Offline AJK

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #111 on: April 15, 2013, 11:39:09 PM »
Can anyone recommend an hotel to stay in over shabbos? I have enough Hyatt points wondering if someplace else is nicer
without shabbos issues.
Also where to get food for Fri night Chabad only has shabbos lunch.

And any more ideas or recommendations about activities I should know about even after reading Dans TR.
Yes 1 booked in Cathay first, other in business hoping it will open up.

Thanks all

I can highly recommend the Westin Bayshore. It's on the water, and no problem with shabbas.

We bought food at the Kosher Deli there on Friday afternoon and we were set for shabbas.
2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper

Offline Tzfas

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #112 on: April 17, 2013, 01:22:36 PM »
Is a car necessary in Vancouver? Or traffic and parking is so bad I should just rely on public transportation.

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #113 on: April 17, 2013, 01:26:39 PM »
I was fine w a car, no traffic or problems parking
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline Moishebatchy

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #114 on: April 17, 2013, 01:34:50 PM »
I was fine w a car, no traffic or problems parking

+1

Parking can be expensive, though.

Offline Tzfas

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #115 on: April 17, 2013, 01:41:08 PM »
I was fine w a car, no traffic or problems parking
Thanks. Any more tips for an itinerary you can share or what you did when you stayed there?

Offline yuneeq

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #116 on: April 22, 2013, 12:21:24 AM »
I can highly recommend the Westin Bayshore. It's on the water, and no problem with shabbas.

We bought food at the Kosher Deli there on Friday afternoon and we were set for shabbas.

What about places to daven - is the westin close to any shuls?
Visibly Jewish

Offline ajs625

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #117 on: May 12, 2013, 02:07:21 PM »
Im planning to spend a few days this coming summer in Vancouver and looking for things to do. Does anyone have any recommendations of places to go and things to see? If you have an itinerary to share PM me.

Offline MEIR613

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #118 on: May 12, 2013, 02:41:44 PM »
Im planning to spend a few days this coming summer in Vancouver and looking for things to do. Does anyone have any recommendations of places to go and things to see? If you have an itinerary to share PM me.
I am also planning to go this summer. If I may ask.

Who are you going with? How old? How long do you plan on staying?

Offline ajs625

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #119 on: May 12, 2013, 04:53:27 PM »
I am also planning to go this summer. If I may ask.

Who are you going with? How old? How long do you plan on staying?

For A few days with my wife