CITY
Vancouver
PROVINCE
British Columbia
COUNTRY
Canada
CONTINENT
North America
LANGUAGE
English
CURRENCY
Canadian Dollar
BEST TIME TO VISIT
April to October
NEAREST RAILWAY STATION
Pacific Central Station, Vancouver
NEAREST AIRPORT
Vancouver International Airport(YVR)
EMERGENCY HELPLINE NUMBER
911
INTERNET ACCESS
Most Vancouver hotels provide in-room wi-fi or (less often) high-speed cable internet services for guests. It’s usually free but check with your hotel when booking. The wi-fi icon used throughout the listings in this book indicates where free wi-fi is available. The computer icon shows where computers are offered for guests to use.
If you’re toting your hardware around town and it’s time to update your blog, drop into one of the many branches of Blenz (www.blenz.com), Take 5 (www.take5cafe.ca) or Waves (www.wavescoffee.com) coffee shops for free wi-fi. The Vancouver Public Library also offers free wi-fi and internet-enabled computers. You’ll need an Internet Access card to use these but you can get this with one piece of ID. The City of Vancouver has also created free wi-fi services at several local community centers, including the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre. If you don’t have your computer with you, check your email for free in the Apple Store in downtown’s Pacific Centre mall.
VISA
Not required for visitors from the US, the Commonwealth and most of Western Europe for stays up to 180 days. Required by those from more than 130 other countries. However, visa-exempt foreign nationals flying to Canada now require an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). This excludes US citizens and those who already have a valid Canadian visa. For more information on the eTA, see www.canada.ca/eta. For visa information, visit the Canada Border Services Agency website.
HOTEL
Canada’s largest port city attracts hipsters and traditionalists alike to a majestic perch set on a peninsula protruding into the Strait of Georgia. The city is surrounded by the snow-capped Coast Mountains to the north and Vancouver Island Mountains to the west, and the salty waters of the Pacific Ocean meet the mighty Fraser River on an enthralling delta. Whether visiting with the family or for romance the best place to stay in Vancouver isdowntown. From here, you’ll have immediate access to the top sightseeing at English Bay, Stanley Park, Granville Island, and Gastown. Vancouver is the third largest city in Canada, highlighted by an active multi-ethnic populace, with more than 33,000 hotel rooms ready for tourists to experience the immense menu of outdoor activities and breathtaking sights of this West Coast jewel.
LUXURY
The Wedgewood Hotel & Spa
Fairmont Pacific Rim
Rosewood Hotel Georgia
MID-RANGE
The Burrard
St. Regis Hotel
Holiday Inn Vancouver-Centre Broadway
BUDGET
Buchan Hotel
Sylvia Hotel
Sandman Suites Vancouver – Davie Street
COST OF LIVING
Vancouver is often voted the most livable city in the world, and after your first trip you’ll find out why. In addition to being very scenic, it’s clean, well-organized, friendly, and with plenty to do.
From a visitor’s perspective Vancouver can be on the pricey side, at least as long as the Canadian dollar is in the same neighborhood as the US dollar. Hotels and hostels, especially those with good locations, are not exactly cheap. There are plenty of free things to do, but many of the main attractions are surprisingly expensive, so choose wisely.
Vancouver hotels generally have their high season running from May through September, right along with the pleasant weather. It’s sometimes possible to get good deals on weekends during this period, but generally you’ll need to come from January through March to find the lowest rates.
The city is one of the finest restaurant towns in North America, and fortunately the competition helps keep bargains available, even in some of the more exotic fare. Drink specials are not hard to find around happy hour, so those who plan ahead can keep costs low while having a great time.