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Vancouver
is Situated Between the Coast and Mountains1 |
Situated between British Columbia's
Coast Mountain Range and the Pacific Ocean, people flock to the Greater
Vancouver area like seagulls to fast food, creating one of Canada's largest
metropolitan areas. Both business and leisure travellers find their way here,
and fortunately there is no shortage of places that can accommodate in accordance
to needs and budget, ranging from grand corporate hotels to intimate country inns.
For whatever reason travellers find themselves visiting the Vancouver
area, this WorldWeb.com Travel
Guide article can help with making an informed accommodation choice along with
three important information pages:
1) Accommodation
Directory - This is a complete accommodation directory containing detailed
information about hotels, B&Bs, luxury resorts, campgrounds and more. With
links to accommodation websites and interactive maps, this directory is designed
to help visitors find the right place to stay based on their personal preferences.
2) Secure Room
Reservations - A convenient online room search and reservation page.
This link allows the user to check for room availability and then make
a secure online room reservation for participating properties. Although this
is a useful feature anytime of year, the online Secure Room Reservations page
is particularly helpful in the peak seasons when finding accommodation in popular
properties can be difficult.
3) Maps
- The Vancouver map can assist visitors in choosing where to stay by not only
indicating where accommodations are located, but also where they are in relation
to attractions, restaurants, shops, tours and transportation.
VANCOUVER AREAS
There are several areas to choose from in the Vancouver area, the most popular
being the downtown core. To the north of downtown, across the Lions Gate Bridge,
are the exclusive communities of North and West Vancouver. Richmond, to the
south, offers hotels that are conveniently located to the Vancouver International
Airport. There is also a surrounding network of suburbs that stretch across
the Lower Mainland offering a large variety of lower priced accommodations within
easy access of the big city.
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| Inside
a Restaurant at the Hyatt in Downtown Vancouver2 |
|
Downtown Core & Business District
Downtown proper is located
on a peninsula and is characterized by main areas such as Robson
Street, Chinatown,
Gastown
and Granville
Island—all of which are tourist attractions in their own right.
The core is also known as the city's business district, with many office towers
and conference centres located here. Top-name corporate hotels are all found
here—such as Sheraton,
Hyatt
and Marriott—as
well as a few less expensive hotels. B&Bs
make use of restored, historic buildings here, offering an alternative to the
lack of personality of some hotels, and numerous hostels offer price-reduced
accommodation, making stays downtown more affordable. Condos and apartments,
equipped with all the amenities of home, are also available, many in enviable,
prime real estate locations. These vacation
home rentals, either privately or company owned, are great for longer
stays for either business or pleasure.
Stanely
Park, a city treasure, is within walking distance of most downtown accommodations.
Other main attractions include a plethora of shops
and restaurants,
and Vancouver's
Canada Place. When downtown, West Hastings is a particularly affluent
area, but be careful of wandering into East Hastings, the city's most infamous
neighbourhood. Nearly every city has a dodgy downtown area, and this is Vancouver's.
Situated between Gastown and Chinatown, it is advisable to take a cab or transit
between the two areas and avoid East Hastings.
Just Out of the Core
Granville Island is easily accessible from downtown accommodations. The aptly-named
Granville
Island Hotel is located here, and is the only accommodation on the island—and
luxury, boutique-style accommodation at that.
Just east of downtown is Grandview-Woodland, which is well-known for its ironically
named Commercial
Drive offering an alternative to such commercial streets as Robson,
which is known as Canada's Rodeo Drive. Here, chain businesses are replaced
with eclectic shops and diverse restaurants as well as some B&Bs and homestays.
Getting Around
Staying downtown has its benefits transportation-wise. While many attractions
are walking distance (Canada Place, Granville Island, Gastown, Chinatown, Stanley
Park, Yaletown, B.C.
Place, English Bay, galleries
and museums),
downtown is laden with transportation
options. Taxis
are plentiful and easy to hail, and the downtown is the pick-up point for cruises
departing from Vancouver. Those who want to see the city in style can cruise
around in a limo.
Many limousine companies offer set rates for trips to surrounding areas like
Whistler or the airport for prices that are comparable to taxis.
The city has the most efficient public transportation in Canada,
just about all of which end up downtown at some point. Translink
is Vancouver's transportation authority and offers extensive information on
all their services which includes the SeaBus
(a ferry to North Vancouver from downtown), Express Coach (direct bus
service between downtown and surrounding suburbs), community shuttle buses for
within-neighbourhood transit, plus several other bus services on regular buses
or emission-free trolley buses. Buses generally come every four to 10 minutes
depending on the route.
Well-known and well-used, the SkyTrain
is a popular transportation option. There are two lines—the Millennium
and Expo—both of which travel through downtown. The SkyTrain runs every
two to eight minutes and is accessible for those with disabilities, as well
as being bike friendly. For tourists, Vancouver transit has devised several
routes for visiting main attraction areas based on tourist interest.
Those travelling with their own vehicles may find accommodation downtown a
nuisance. While most hotels have parking, it is not unusual to charge extra
for this service. Street parking in downtown Vancouver may also be a challenge
and expensive.
Useful Accommodation Links:
1) Vancouver Downtown
Accommodation Directory
2) Vancouver
Area Room Search & Online Reservations
3) Downtown
Vancouver Map
NORTH AND WEST VANCOUVER
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North
Vancouver Market3 |
Only minutes from Downtown Vancouver, yet far enough away to offer a residential
appeal for visitors, is the North Shore. Comprised of North
and West Vancouver,
this area is located just across English Bay and Burrard Inlet. When choosing
accommodation, it is important to note that Vancouver proper also has a west
side and a West
End that should not be confused with West Vancouver.
West Vancouver
West Vancouver is known for its affluence, and while it has little in the way
of attractions, its claim is that it is an attraction in and of itself. Visitors
to West Van, as it is known, feel more like locals, albeit of the posh variety.
In keeping with West Van culture, visit a quaint coffee shop for a croissant
and a perusal of the paper, and then do some shopping on Bellevue Street, or
Dundarave Village and Ambleside Village along Marine Drive. Or just go for a
stroll along the seawall. While visitors should check with accommodations beforehand,
West Van itself is largely dog-friendly. There is a separate dog run along the
seawall, for example, and Lighthouse
Park in the area allows dogs on the trails.
Accommodations here are few in terms of chain hotels,
instead opting for intimate country-style inns and B&Bs
that resemble something from the pages of a lifestyle magazine. However, there
is a surprising selection of budget and mid-range properties from which to choose.
North Vancouver
North Vancouver, just east of West Vancouver, is home to working shipyards and
as such offers a vibrant hustle and bustle atmosphere, namely waterfront parks
and a public
market. And with some of the best views of Vancouver's skyline, there's
no shortage of quaint bistros
on the waterfront to take it all in. North Vancouver's Grouse
Mountain backdrop provides a setting for a gondola Skyride affording
a more grand vantage point. Capilano
Suspension Bridge, also found here, crosses a canyon for a very different
view for those brave of heart.
While North Vancouver is comprised of five villages, most accommodations and
attractions are found in Capilano, known for its aforementioned bridge, and
Lonsdale, popular for its dining, shopping and waterfront location. The other
villages—Deep Cove, Edgemont
and Lynn Valley—are more residential areas and offer little or no accommodation
options.
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| Ocean
Breeze B&B in the heart of North Vancouver4 |
|
There are fewer chain hotels
in North Vancouver, but they do exist. More popular are B&Bs
in cottages—such as Ocean Breeze Executive Bed & Breakfast— or
Tudor Revival homes that are found throughout North Vancouver. One accommodation
of note is the Lonsdale
Quay, a boutique hotel on the waterfront with a market, restaurant and
lounge.
There is one campground
in North Vancouver where tenting is also available. This is also the closest
campground to Downtown Vancouver.
Getting Around
The North Shore is connected to Vancouver's downtown by way of the SeaBus,
a passenger ferry with regular service throughout the day that traverses the
Burrard Inlet between two terminals: the Waterfront in downtown Vancouver and
Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver—in 12 minutes flat! Once in North Vancouver,
bus
connections to popular tourist attractions are available. Those travelling
by car can get to the North Shore on the Lions
Gate Bridge, which leads to West Vancouver.
As with West Vancouver, North Vancouver is well-positioned for visiting Whistler
via the Sea
to Sky Highway, or Vancouver
Island via Horseshoe
Bay to Nanaimo.
West Vancouver is connected to the downtown by the Lions Gate Bridge and is
en route to Whistler or the Horseshoe Bay Ferry terminal that is destined for
Vancouver Island.
All the regular transport amenities are available in North and West Vancouver,
including taxis, car rentals and public transit. Water taxis are also an efficient
mode of travel, operating much like a regular taxi, only over water in powerboats.
Useful Accommodation Links:
1) North
Vancouver | West
Vancouver Accommodation Directory
2) North
Vancouver Map | West
Vancouver Map
RICHMOND & AIRPORT
Home to the Vancouver
International Airport, Richmond
offers convenient accommodation for those arriving by air, and is only 13 km
(8 mi) south of downtown Vancouver. Due to increasing trade and tourism within
the Pacific Rim, the airport is a major North American gateway. Richmond markets
itself as more than just a portal for visiting other places, and is indeed an
attractive city in its own right. Comprised of a group of islands within the
Fraser River, its attractive backdrop is further enhanced by over 90 parks,
of note is the Richmond
Nature Park. Richmond's history as a fishing and canning centre is preserved
at Steveston, an historic fishing village within the city that is today known
more for its boardwalk of shops. Richmond is also home to many of the larger
shopping centres in the Greater Vancouver area, mainly popular Asian malls and
markets. The
Golden Village features a concentration of these malls plus bakeries,
shops, restaurants and the Kuan
Yin Buddhist Temple. A large Cantonese population in Richmond warrants
many street and shop signs to appear in both English and Chinese.
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Fairmont
Hotel in Richmond by the Airport5 |
The bulk of Richmond's accommodations are major hotel
chains surrounding the perimeter of the airport on Hwy 99 and Bridgeport Road.
Many of these also cater to the convention crowd with meeting
facilities and business centres. And because there are plenty of options,
pricing and amenities are competitive with many hotels offering spa services,
restaurants, lounges, fitness facilities and more. B&Bs
are found in more homey neighbourhoods near Steveston or the centre of the city.
Highway 99 leads up from the USA-Canada border, passing through White
Rock, a waterside community that has a number of accommodation
options in a quieter (and quainter) environment than Richmond itself. B&Bs
comprise the majority of places to stay, and many are near the water. Instead
of chain hotels,
there are a few privately owned hotels, such as the Ocean
Promenade Hotel which, as the name suggests, is on the waterfront affording
ocean views. Such accommodations make White Rock a place to visit in its own
right.
Farther along Hwy 99 along the water's edge toward Richmond, a fork in the
road leads instead to New
Westminster on Hwy 91, which ends up just east of Richmond. British
inspired, it is no surprise that B&Bs are popular here. There are also a
few heritage hotels in character buildings. New Westminister is accessible on
Vancouver's SkyTrain.
Getting Around
A number of taxis
and limos
serve the airport and there is rarely difficulty in catching one. Many offer
special rates as part of an airport
shuttle service, but visitors should inquire in advance. Car
rentals are also easy to come by at the airport with all major companies
represented.
Bus
transportation is extensive through Greater Vancouver, and Richmond
is no exception with regular service available to downtown Vancouver from the
airport or downtown Richmond. The year 2009 will see an extension to the existing
rapid transit network (SkyTrain) with the opening of the Canada Line, which
will link downtown Richmond with the airport, and Vancouver's downtown and waterfront.
Several coach companies offer direct transportation to surrounding attractions
that are a little farther afield, such as Whistler or Grouse Mountain. The ferry
service for Victoria (Swartz
Bay) leaves from Delta just south of Richmond. There is also a ferry
service between Richmond and the Tsawwassen
Ferry Terminal, or the Horseshoe
Bay Ferry Terminal—and it's just a 30-minute drive from here to
the United States southbound
on Highway 99.
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Vancouver BC to... |
Distance
km |
Distance
mi |
| North
Vancouver |
10 km |
6
mi |
| West
Vancouver |
10
km |
6
mi |
| Burnaby |
10
km |
6
mi |
| Squamish |
52
km |
32
mi |
| Surrey |
30
km |
19
mi |
| White
Rock |
48
km |
30
mi |
| Langley |
47
km |
29
mi |
| Whister |
123
km |
76
mi |
|
Coquitlam |
26
km |
16
mi |
| Mission
|
69
km |
43
mi |
| New
Westminister |
25
km |
16
mi |
| Delta |
27
km |
17
mi |
| Port
Coquitlam |
31
km |
19
mi |
| Port
Moody |
22
km |
14
mi |
| Richmond |
10
km |
6
mi |
| Chilliwack
|
103
km |
64
mi |
| Maple
Ridge |
45
km |
28
mi |
| Pitt
Meadows |
38
km |
28
mi |
|
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Downtown
Vancouver Distance Table |
Useful Accommodation Links:
1) Richmond (Intl.
Airport)
2 ) Richmond
Map
GREATER VANCOUVER & LOWER MAINLAND
For many people, staying in Vancouver's surrounding communities is ideal,
far from the hustle and bustle of the city, parking woes and traffic snarls.
There is good public transportation to enable visitors to get to the sights
and attractions of downtown Vancouver without stress. The suburbs are also great
for mall shopping.
Langley
The Trans Canada, or Hwy 1, leads directly into Vancouver, and there are many
communities en route. Langley
is just south of the Trans Canada and is known as a centre for conferences,
being about 45 minutes from downtown Vancouver. The
Best Western Langely Inn and The
Coast Hotel Convention Centre both have extensive convention facilities.
Surrey
The city of Surrey is also
located just south of the Trans Canada, 30 km (19 mi) from downtown Vancouver.
Many hotels and motels
are located here, a good number of them just off the highway for easy access
such as the Guildford
Inn & Suites Surrey, Ramada
Surrey Guildford, Sheraton
Vancouver Guildford Hotel Surrey, Sandman
Extended Stay Suites Guildford. Other accommodation is concentrated
within the inner city, near the Surrey Memorial Hosptial. The King George Highway
leads to the city centre, and where visitors can also find the Linda
Vista Motel. Surrey's residential districts hold a number of bed
and breakfasts. The city is far enough from Vancouver to also have enough
space for campgrounds.
Coquitlam
North of the Trans Canada, Coquitlam
is 26 km (16 mi) from Vancouver. Accommodations mainly caters to the Vancouver-bound
crowd so the concentration of hotels
are located just off the highway, such as the Best
Western Chelsea Inn and the Ramada
Inn. And with a name like The
Best Western Coquitlam Inn Convention Centre, it is obvious this hotel
caters to business folk, but with many amenities that can make many a vacationer
happy.
Burnaby
Burnaby is only 10 km
(6 mi) from Vancouver proper, and straddles the Trans Canada Highway. The bulk
of popular hotels are located on Highway 1A (or Kingsway) south of the Trans
Canada and which leads through town and eventually to into downtown Vancouver.
Holiday Inn Express
Burnaby (Metrotown) is on said highway and is connected to the areas
largest shopping centre, and connected to the SkyTrain also leading to the big
city. Best Western
Kings Inn is also located along this route. Along with the Burnaby
Mountain Golf Course, is Accent
Inns is located north of the Trans Canada—a convenient location
within easy access to North Vancouver. Bed
and Breakfasts dot the area in scenic locations.
New Westminster
New Westminster
is located just south of Burnaby, its location affording convenience and beauty,
situated along the Fraser River. Popular accommodation choices here include
the Inn at Westminster
Quay.
Campgrounds & Recreational Vehicles
There are no RV sites within Vancouver, not to mention that densely populated
streets make navigating through the city in an RV difficult if not impossible.
Campgrounds
are available, however, in Vancouver's surrounding areas, most catering to the
recreational vehicle (RV) crowd and offering full facilities.
RV
rentals are available as well, which are particularly useful for those
who are interested in travelling around the region. While campgrounds in the
area are hardly rustic, RV parks provide a community of visitors who are generally
friendly and willing to offer tips and swap travel stories.
Useful Camping Link:
1) Greater
Vancouver Campgrounds
Getting Around
Regular bus
transportation is available from all surrounding communities of Vancouver,
as are taxis
and car
rentals. Vancouver's SkyTrain outreaches to some of these areas, namely
Burnaby, New Westminster and Surrey.
Useful Accommodation Links:
1) Burnaby
| Coquitlam |
Surrey | New
Westminster | Langley
Accommodation Directory
2) Greater
Vancouver Room Search & Online Reservations
3) Greater
Vancouver Maps
SOMETHING DIFFERENT
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| Canada
Place Sees the Departure of Many Cruise Lines6 |
|
Cruise Lines & Yacht Charters
Offering a specific type of vacation, yacht
charters and cruises
can form a whole holiday or one aspect of it while onthe west coast. Downtown
Vancouver's Canada
Place sees the departure of many cruise lines from its docks, visiting
such destinations as Alaska
and Hawaii. Many cruise
lines have packages that include multi-day stays in hotels in Vancouver at special
rates as well as shore excursion tours.
Also on the end of luxury, sailboat and yacht charters are a bit more low key
than a cruise. While many private charters are available on an hourly basis,
multi-day offerings are common, complete with a skipper so the only navigating
visitors need to do is deciding where to go. Because these tours are chartered,
destinations can be arranged with the provider based on personal interest. Larger
yachts normally have several cabins for sleeping but stays off the boat at varying
ports can also be arranged. Yacht charters also provide their own activities,
including kayaking, swimming, hiking and fishing.
Useful Links:
1) Cruises
2) Yacht
Charters
Vacation Packages and Multi-day Adventures
Vacation
planners create packages combining accommodations with activities for
an all-in-one holiday. The services companies offer vary, but can generally be
created in accordance to the holiday maker's preferences for a made-to-order vacation.
There are also tour companies that specialise in multi-day excursions with camping
and backpacking, kayaking,
motorcoach
sightseeing, skiing,
train
travel and more—with a focus on packaged trips that include accommodation.
For those whose main objective for visiting is fishing,
there are many trips available that depart from Vancouver and fly into remote,
fly-in only locations along the coast, Vancouver
Island, Sunshine
Coast, Central BC
and the Queen Charlotte
Islands. Trips are generally inclusive of transportation, lodging, meals
and excursions.
Useful Links:
1) Vacation
Packages
2) Tour Companies: Camping
& Backpacking, Kayaking,
Motorcoaches,
Ski
Packages, Rail
Tours
3) Fishing
Tours
PHOTOS COURTESY OF:
- Vancouver is Situated Between the Coast and the Mountains; Vancouver,
B.C., Canada
- The Hyatt; Inside a Restaurant at the Hyatt in Downtown Vancouver; Vancouver,
B.C., Canada
- North Vancouver Market; North Vancouver, B.C., Canada
- Ocean Breeze Bed & Breakfast; Ocean Breeze Bed & Breakfast in
the Heart of North Vancouver, North Vancouver, B.C., Canada
- Fairmont Hotels; Canada Fairmont Hotel in Richmond by the Airport; Vancouver,
B.C., Canada
- Canada Place Sees the Departure of Many Cruise Lines; Vancouver, B.C.,
Canada
