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 275830 times)

Offline esther gee

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #260 on: June 25, 2013, 05:19:52 PM »
I would do Whistler Wed-Thu and Vancouver Fri-Monday, and if you are very outdoorsy, I would even do Wed-Fri in Whistler
Is the general consensus Whistler over Vancouver Island or Victoria-
I'm thinking that it is better as I can go to Vanouver Island/Victoria on a trip to Seatlle-

Offline esther gee

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #261 on: June 25, 2013, 05:20:58 PM »
For anyone wishing to go to Stanley Park on Shabbos, once you enter the park, there is no Yishuv any more.  therefore you would only be able to walk 2,000 Amos.  If you made an eruv Techumin, you would be able to walk an additional 2000 Amos. 
I am going to be in the Vancouver Fairmont Pacific Rim next week from July 3rd to July 7th.  Anyone on this forum going to be there ?
I will be there next week, I haven't settled on a hotel yet- what will you do about an eruv techumin? Thank you for your point

Offline Ergel

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #262 on: June 25, 2013, 06:00:54 PM »
Is the general consensus Whistler over Vancouver Island or Victoria-
I'm thinking that it is better as I can go to Vanouver Island/Victoria on a trip to Seatlle-
When we were in whistler we meet people from Victoria who told us do whistler before Victoria
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline Ergel

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #263 on: June 25, 2013, 06:04:03 PM »
For anyone wishing to go to Stanley Park on Shabbos, once you enter the park, there is no Yishuv any more.  therefore you would only be able to walk 2,000 Amos.  If you made an eruv Techumin, you would be able to walk an additional 2000 Amos.
Not sure you're right about that. north Vancouver which is contiguous to Vancouver is north of Stanley park. May all be inside the tchum. Ask a competent posek
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline mochada

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #264 on: June 27, 2013, 02:09:42 PM »
Any suggestions for a Verizon Galaxy S4 in Vancouver? Anyway to use data without paying an insane amount (about $2/megabyte)?  I would prefer to use my phone as a GPS, if possible.  I have an old Garmin which may not work.
« Last Edit: June 27, 2013, 02:41:41 PM by jagstangx »

Offline esther gee

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #265 on: June 28, 2013, 12:12:20 PM »
Okay so far this is my plans-
Stay overnight at the airport hotel when we land
Drive up to Whistler the next morning and stay overnight there- got the Pan Pacific on Hotwire
Staying in the Four Seasons (from Hotwire) once we get back to Vancouver-
Has anyone ever stayed in the Four Seasons over Shabbos- anything specific I need to know
Now I need to figure out exactly what activities we should do

Offline AJK

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #266 on: June 28, 2013, 12:30:45 PM »
Now I need to figure out exactly what activities we should do

TA
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 snagger

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #267 on: June 28, 2013, 12:51:48 PM »
Any suggestions for a Verizon Galaxy S4 in Vancouver? Anyway to use data without paying an insane amount (about $2/megabyte)?  I would prefer to use my phone as a GPS, if possible.  I have an old Garmin which may not work.
you can call verizon b4 you go and add intl. data.. cost is $25 for 100mb's should be enough if u only use it sparingly.. if you use 101 mb's they'lle add another $25/100 mb's.

Offline Dan

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #268 on: June 28, 2013, 01:40:06 PM »
you can call verizon b4 you go and add intl. data.. cost is $25 for 100mb's should be enough if u only use it sparingly.. if you use 101 mb's they'lle add another $25/100 mb's.
Doesn't quite work like that.
The first 100MB are pro-rated according to how many dates you have it on your plan.
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 Elchay

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #269 on: June 30, 2013, 02:06:38 AM »
The rov at the lubavitch in downtown I spoke to thought there were no techum issues but ask your LOR

At any rate there are plenty nice walks to do even without Stanley Park

Offline esther gee

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #270 on: June 30, 2013, 11:04:26 AM »
Does anyone know of a coupon code, or a way to get a discount with the fairmont pacific rim?

Offline esther gee

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #271 on: June 30, 2013, 11:48:08 AM »
Where is the better place for zippline- Whistler or Grouse Mt? Has anyone done either?

Offline Elchay

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #272 on: June 30, 2013, 12:04:46 PM »
i did whistler a couple years ago was fun. Just saw grouse mountains ziplines and they look pretty cool too

Offline esther gee

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #273 on: June 30, 2013, 12:40:42 PM »
@tzfas What sea plane tour did you do, to see what?

Offline mochada

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #274 on: July 01, 2013, 03:55:19 PM »
Parking-
What did you do for overnight parking? On street or at the hotel?
What about during the day? Did everywhere you went charge for parking? How much was street parking in downtown/Stanley Park, etc?

Here's a list of what I plan on doing (I will have 2-3 days and travelling with a 1 yr old):
1) Lynn Canyon suspension bridge (Park Rd, North Vancouver)
2) Vancouver Acquarium (845, Avison Way, Vancouver)/ Stanley Park Seawall/9 o'clock gun
3) Dr SunYatSen Chinese Garden (578 Carrall St Vancouver)/Chinatown
4) Gastown/Steam Clock (328 Water St., Vancouver)
5) Grouse Mountain (6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Vancouver)- Gondola Ride/Skyride/Girzzley Bears/ Lumberjack Show (45-minute shows at 12:00pm, 2:30pm and 4:30pm)
6) Granville Island- Public Market
7) Granville Island Brewery (last tour at 5:30pm)- open till 9 PM\

Any other recommendations?

TIA!
« Last Edit: July 01, 2013, 05:54:12 PM by jagstangx »

Offline AJK

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #275 on: July 01, 2013, 06:07:45 PM »
Parking was included in my rate with the hotel (so I guess I paid).

Most places charge, some don't. Parking wasn't too bad on public streets IIRC.

No 9 o'clock cannot anymore AFAIK (unless they just didn't shoot it when we were there.
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 mochada

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #276 on: July 01, 2013, 06:11:39 PM »
No 9 o'clock cannot anymore AFAIK (unless they just didn't shoot it when we were there.)

Wasn't planning on waiting around to hear it- more of going to see it in the park...or skip it?
According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9_O'Clock_Gun), supposedly it is sounded every night.
« Last Edit: July 01, 2013, 06:16:18 PM by jagstangx »

Offline AJK

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #277 on: July 01, 2013, 06:23:59 PM »
Wasn't planning on waiting around to hear it- more of going to see it in the park...or skip it?
According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9_O'Clock_Gun), supposedly it is sounded every night.

If you're walking in the park, sure, stop by. But if you're making a special trip for it, don't.

Maybe we just missed it? We were on the water in the Westin, so not sure how that could've happened, but anything is possible.
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Offline MEIR613

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #278 on: July 01, 2013, 07:07:19 PM »
I need some help for the hotels.

I'm going from Sunday night to Thursday night.

I plan on doing 2 full days in Vancouver, then the next morning drive to Whistler, stay the night in Whistler and head back some time the next day.

I have right now Sunday and Monday night in The WB, but the hotel is sold out the following night.

Is it worth it to change hotels for the one night or hope a room will open up (right now there is no rooms available at all) or stay at the Regency all 3 nights.

Offline MEIR613

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #279 on: July 01, 2013, 07:24:34 PM »
This thread desperately needs a wiki.

I will try to take a crack at it.