grouchy

Great price-but you know you are nowhere near downtown Vancouver right?

I booked two nights in October a few weeks ago. I don't think it is too early at all-I like to get stuff done and over with. I got the Doubletree Oceanfront in Fort Lauderdale for $52.00 per night. It was so easy that I was dissapointed! I wanted to barter some more- my 2nd bid was accepted!

Vancouver is the largest city in British Columbia and the 3rd largest city in Canada. It is surrounded by water on three sides and lays at the foot of the Coast Mountain Range. Vancouver is home to spectacular natural scenery and a bustling metropolitan core,and boasts one of the mildest climates in Canada. One word describes Vancouve weather-unpredictable! It does tend to rain a lot here in vancouver- we are called "The Wet Coast". We tend to be a little touchy about the rain,some of us are evasive and some just lie about it. So be prepared.

The best months to visit are generally May to September. The last two weeks in June are unsettled and anything can happen weather wise. Even on the hottest day of the year,you will probably need a light jacket for the evenings.

The best and most convenient place to stay is the downtown core. Most people get around by transit (www.translink.bc.ca),taxi or on foot. Unless you leraving the downtown car a car will not be necessary. Greater Vancouver has more that 18,000 hotel rooms and 10,000 of those are downtown. The average rate is $100CDN per night,rooms can go as low as $60 and up to $1000 per night. Vancouver's three 5 Diamond hotels are the Pan Pacific,Sutton Place and the Four Seasons. Other good hotels are The Hyatt,Westin Bayshore(a few blocks outside the downtown core),Fairmont Vancouver Hotel,Wall Centre Hotel,The Listel,Pacific Palisades and the Metropoplitan Hotel. There are also a number of restored Heritage homes that have been turned into bed and breakfasts. You will find a place to stay for every budget.

Vancouverites are friendly bunch and are more than willing to help out tourists. Feel free to stop and ask for directions and help- just avoid talking about the rain!

Robson Street is a favorite shopping mecca with any store you can think of and lots of places to eat and have a drink. There are two Starbucks right across the street from each other. Pacific Centre is a huge underground mall anchored at either end by a department store-The Bay and Sears. Also in that area is a large drug store-London Drugs.

For medical problems there is a clinic under The Hyatt called Royal Centre Medical-604-682-6886.

Greyline Tours is the best way to see the sights of Vancouver and the surrounding area-604-879-3363

On Priceline-bid on hotels in the "Downtown" area.

Have a good visit!