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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 275858 times)

Offline Dan

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #400 on: May 27, 2014, 11:56:31 PM »
They stay open for you.
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 #401 on: May 28, 2014, 11:11:20 AM »
They stay open for you.
If you’re not by the Avis counter by 1AM they close unless you call them when you land to stay open which they will till 2:15 (We learnt the hard way and ended up taking a taxi in to downtown which Avis reimbursed us for the next day).

Offline Dan

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #402 on: May 28, 2014, 12:18:14 PM »
Did you give them your flight info when you made the res?
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 dealer

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #403 on: May 28, 2014, 05:13:02 PM »
Does anyone know if you can buy cholov Yisroel milk in Vancouver?
i think they have :
 Kosher Food Warehouse
612 Kingsway (rear), Vancouver, BC
Tel: (604) 709-9889

Offline sillypainter

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #404 on: May 28, 2014, 08:38:04 PM »
I just came back from a 24 hr. Vancouver trip.

I booked my car with Alamo, which had the cheapest rates, and you get an additional 10% off by being an "insider". And it looks like they're officially open till 2am. I didn't need to call them. Don't forget to not confuse your dates and times.

We stayed at the Four Points YVR hotel, which is a Cat2 SPG hotel, it was only 4K points, and they just completed renovation (as a side note, don't forget to book your hotel from the prior day on because you arrive mid night but the reservation for the hotel must be made for the date before your arrival. When I first came to the hotel, he said he can't find me, so he said maybe my reservation was another Sheraton down the block, drove there saw it's an actual Sheraton, so I called SPG to verify, and they told me that I was previously at the right hotel, but the agent that made my reservation made the mistake, he sees the note about the 1am arrival, so he asked me to drive back, he will talk to front desk, he stayed on the phone and BH settled it nicely with the front desk).

I went to Stanley park, rented a bike, there is a nice bike path around the park next to the water.

Then rented a boat (boatrent.ca was about $120 after all is said and done). Was great. This lasted an hour.

Then we went up Grouse mountain, which is actually VERY expensive ($44 p/p). I missed all the shows like the wood carving, but saw the bears.

Flight there was in F. Back was in C. Was a great CX experience after being a *A flyer for so long. I still prefer LH F over CX.

Food we bought at Evergreen in Monsey, we asked the stewardess to give us ice in 2 shopping bags, so food was kept cold. I didn't visit any local food establishments, wanted to "see" omnitzkys but it looks like they lost their lease on their retail store, so they were closed.

I just did it to try CX and it was a good thing, Vancouver weather and air is very nice, and really liked it.

I don't think I would go again, but it's definitely a nice place to visit.

I used 62.5K avios for the trip plus $99 in taxes.

Car was like $58.

Gas was $20. Everything in Vancouver is very close by and traffic wasn't bad.

OT: I saw heimishe people on both of my flights in economy, I'm sure some travel agent ripped them off with cash, and booked on miles ;-)

Ask away if you need more info.
« Last Edit: May 28, 2014, 08:45:14 PM by sillypainter »

Offline Tzfas

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #405 on: May 28, 2014, 09:38:32 PM »
Tx for the TR ! Where did CX get their kosher food from on the way to NY? My return was with  Air Canada and the food was catered by Omnitzkys.

Offline sillypainter

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #406 on: May 28, 2014, 10:32:10 PM »
Tx for the TR ! Where did CX get their kosher food from on the way to NY? My return was with  Air Canada and the food was catered by Omnitzkys.

Yup, forgot to include that.

Way there was Regal (Volova Chasidish hechsher). Food tasted old and not fresh. Regal on LH always felt fresher. Not sure what it is. It looked like a regular economy meal. Potatoes, chicken IIRC, Matabucha, orange juice, little cake, and roll.

Way back was from Omnitzky, I didn't touch it, because it looked bad. I think they need to use better packaging, not sure what made it look bad. I didn't even wait for the hot meal, I was ZZzzzzz'ing away.

Offline MEIR613

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #407 on: May 28, 2014, 10:43:40 PM »
OT: I saw heimishe people on both of my flights in economy, I'm sure some travel agent ripped them off with cash, and booked on miles ;-)
I know many people who use their owm BA miles to fly to YVR in Y.

Not everyone needs J or F.

Also, did you get kosher food in the BA lounge in JFK.

Offline sillypainter

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #408 on: May 28, 2014, 10:54:01 PM »
I know many people who use their owm BA miles to fly to YVR in Y.

Not everyone needs J or F.

Also, did you get kosher food in the BA lounge in JFK.

I didn't ask for Kosher in the lounge.

Btw, it's my first time flying out from terminal 7, I really liked it, it's a tiny terminal with very little walking needed.

Offline Super Speed

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #409 on: May 29, 2014, 02:27:48 AM »
I see there is almost no Saver award availability on United to Vancouver for the next 3 months. What are my options?

Offline PlatinumGuy

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #410 on: May 29, 2014, 06:01:06 AM »
I see there is almost no Saver award availability on United to Vancouver for the next 3 months. What are my options?
The only reason people here know Vancouver exists is because CX flies there.
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline Super Speed

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #411 on: May 29, 2014, 10:06:41 AM »
Can I use US Airways miles on CX?

Offline Dan

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #412 on: May 29, 2014, 10:22:44 AM »
I just came back from a 24 hr. Vancouver trip.

I booked my car with Alamo, which had the cheapest rates, and you get an additional 10% off by being an "insider". And it looks like they're officially open till 2am. I didn't need to call them. Don't forget to not confuse your dates and times.

We stayed at the Four Points YVR hotel, which is a Cat2 SPG hotel, it was only 4K points, and they just completed renovation (as a side note, don't forget to book your hotel from the prior day on because you arrive mid night but the reservation for the hotel must be made for the date before your arrival. When I first came to the hotel, he said he can't find me, so he said maybe my reservation was another Sheraton down the block, drove there saw it's an actual Sheraton, so I called SPG to verify, and they told me that I was previously at the right hotel, but the agent that made my reservation made the mistake, he sees the note about the 1am arrival, so he asked me to drive back, he will talk to front desk, he stayed on the phone and BH settled it nicely with the front desk).

I went to Stanley park, rented a bike, there is a nice bike path around the park next to the water.

Then rented a boat (boatrent.ca was about $120 after all is said and done). Was great. This lasted an hour.

Then we went up Grouse mountain, which is actually VERY expensive ($44 p/p). I missed all the shows like the wood carving, but saw the bears.

Flight there was in F. Back was in C. Was a great CX experience after being a *A flyer for so long. I still prefer LH F over CX.

Food we bought at Evergreen in Monsey, we asked the stewardess to give us ice in 2 shopping bags, so food was kept cold. I didn't visit any local food establishments, wanted to "see" omnitzkys but it looks like they lost their lease on their retail store, so they were closed.

I just did it to try CX and it was a good thing, Vancouver weather and air is very nice, and really liked it.

I don't think I would go again, but it's definitely a nice place to visit.

I used 62.5K avios for the trip plus $99 in taxes.

Car was like $58.

Gas was $20. Everything in Vancouver is very close by and traffic wasn't bad.

OT: I saw heimishe people on both of my flights in economy, I'm sure some travel agent ripped them off with cash, and booked on miles ;-)

Ask away if you need more info.
-Only point of Grouse mountain is the shows, why didn't you check the times?

-Gadlus of CX F is the best bed comfort in the skies.  Hard to take advantage of that without going to HKG.

-No Maple Grill?
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 Dan

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #413 on: May 29, 2014, 10:30:00 AM »
Can I use US Airways miles on CX?
Of course.
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 Super Speed

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #414 on: May 29, 2014, 10:44:34 AM »
Sorry. I only recently started redeeming miles for flights! :D

Offline tzifanya54

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #415 on: May 29, 2014, 04:25:14 PM »
Does anyone know if you can buy cholov Yisroel milk in Vancouver?
To answer my question (in case anyone else wants to know) cholov Yisroel milk is available for preorder from the food warehouse for $4.89 a bottle (2 liter) or off the shelf in sabra's for $5.99 a bottle.

Offline edjack

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #416 on: May 29, 2014, 07:39:08 PM »
Probably frozen from Seattle!!!

Offline tzifanya54

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #417 on: May 30, 2014, 01:57:57 AM »
Probably frozen from Seattle!!!
Dunno but sabras claims it's fresh...

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #418 on: May 30, 2014, 07:26:29 AM »
It is definitely more convenient than frozen milk from NY!!

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Re: Vancouver Master Thread
« Reply #419 on: May 30, 2014, 05:29:42 PM »
Any nice Hyatts/Hiltons worth burning my certs on? Any nice Marriotts to book with points?
BUMP