I need a bit of help! :)

I plan on going to Vancouver in the coming December/January/February for some skiing, snowboarding and skating! Am very excited, though I haven't booked my tickets or accommodation yet (Vancouver isn't the only place I'm going to... so it makes it a bit hard). So I am just wondering, where is the best place in Vancouver to stay? More specifically, which hotel? Is there a website which is a guide to hotels? My preference would be that I'm close to everything, as I won't be driving etc.


Also, what do you recommend doing in Vancouver? Where's the best place to ski? skate? Where is the best place to go shopping? Sightseeing? :D.

Sorry to bombard you with so many questions! Any and all advice is greatly appreciated.

downtown would be the best place - many hotels from cheapish to luxury

skiing - whistler - 2 hours away though so you might stay there
- locally cypress is the most popular choice i think of the 3 - they being cypress, grouse and seymour

grouse is more tourist oriented too - has a gondola to the top, a new viewing wind turbine thing, ice skating and other attractions that the other local mountains don't have

shopping - robson street, pacific centre, south granville, west 4th, main street, oakridge mall << canada line to get there, Metrotown << Expo line to get there - metro currently has some store that aren't anywhere else but most shops are the same in the malls, aberdeen centre << Canada line, cool asian mall next to parker place another asian mall its surrounded by asian malls so u can walk the area... gastown is a little more hipster

sightseeing - capilano suspension bridge is popular has this tree adventure thing too but is kinda pricey - there is a free suspension bridge at lynn valley if u want to cross a suspension bridge, kits beach, english bay, granville island << most popular tourist destination locals love it too, stanley park, the vancouver aquarium, the seawall, the vag

lots to see downtown - davie street aka davie village is the "gay" area - commercial drive is also cool - lesbian area though doesn't really feel gay

Technically, of course, this should be in the BC forums, but I am glad you put it here. With the spotlight on Vancouver just now, I am sure there are loads of people all over who are considering a visit there.
I'd make time for a day trip, or an overnight trip to Victoria if you have time. Very pretty over there!

Thanks spongeg! I was hoping for your reply. Very detailed, I like!

Whats the shopping like in Vancouver? Does it have all the big brands? Bear in mind I'll be going to New York before Toronto/Vancouver, so should I just buy before I get to Vancouver?
Am also tossing up whether or not to bring my skates with me. Does Grouse have skate hire, if so, are they good?

Will also look into all the other stuff you suggested too! Thanks

Thanks T,B for your reply too. Will look into Victoria.

vancouver has some labels

Holt Renfrew (http://www.holtrenfrew.com/holts/en/home/) is like barneys/bloomingdales/saks 5th avenue - its owned by the same people who own Selfridges... Chanel, armani, dior, gucci, prada, LV, Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs, Paul Smith, DSquared, Polo Ralph Lauren etc.
Leone (http://www.leone.ca/) has Versace, Dolce & Gabanna, D&G, Iceberg, Dior, Burberry, Emporio Armani etc.
L2 (http://www.l2leone.ca/) is below Leone - carries "younger" labels like Diesel, Rock & Republic, Y-3 etc.
there ars stand alone stores for Gucci, LV, Hermes, Coach, Burberry, Salvatore Feragamo, Energie, Tiffany & Co, Brooks Brothers
other labels like Peak Performance (http://www.peakperformance.com/), Roots, American Apparel, Crocs, Guess, Buffalo, Adidas, Puma, DKNY, Michael Kors
stores like H&M, Forever 21, Sephora, Urban Outfitters, Zara, benetton, J Lindeberg, Kiehls, Lacoste, stussy, john fluevog, Armani Xchange, FCUK, Lululemon, gap, old navy, pottery barn, restoration hardware, lucky brand jeans, Mavi Jeans, Aldo etc.

you will probably find more labels in Toronto and obviously new york

stores you might wanna check here are J2 (http://www.j2clothing.com/) Boys Co (http://boysco.com/) - local chain stores on robson, oakridge mall etc. also Zebra Club (http://www.zebraclub.com/) elkartel (http://www.elkartel.com/) gravity pope shoes (http://www.gravitypope.com/) gravity pope tailored goods (http://www.gravitypope.com/gravity-pope-tailored-goods-vancouver.php)

so much else I'm not sure but downtown is compact enough to find them concentrated - robson, alberni, burrard home to most stores - gucci, LV, tiffany, hermes, brooks bros etc, Pacific Centre/Granville street just near robson, west hastings is home to leone, chanel, roche bobois, cartier, plaza escada

west 4th is a little more "indie" like gravity pope is there

south granville is where zebra club is, pottery barn, mavi jeans, lucky jeans

main street is really indie kind of hip but some shops that sell labels and local designers

Might be better to shop in the states as prices are lower when you consider exchange rates.

Try Tripadvisor for hotel reviews. Priceline to book hotels, I generally save around 30% or more off posted rates although with priceline you can't chose which hotel only area and star rating.

^^Thanks, I had a quick look at Trip Advisor, and Priceline for hotels in Vancouver. Great to see that there's no shortage of Hotels in Vancouver. Am so excited! I really do appreciate your help, guys.

PS. How much does the average pair of Mission/ITECH/Bauer/Graf or Nike skates go for in Canada/USA? I already have two pair here, but I don't really want to bring them with me.

To be very honest I think most people find it cheaper to shop in New York, and the variety there simply cannot be matched anywhere in Canada. However, our cities do have some different stores that might be worth checking out! :)

Be sure to grab a pair of Ginch Gonch underwear! :)

You should also go to the Look Out obsevation deck up on the top of the Harbour Centre.
It offers 360 degree panoramic view of the city. It also has a revolving restaurant above the deck, the food there is so so but the view is excellent.

Chinatown, gastown and yaletown are also interesting places to visit and they are all within the walking distance from downtown hotels

There used to be a most EXCELLENT chip shop specialising in poutine... run by a Belgian man from Montreal. The BEST fries I have eaten in Canada, bar none. Wonder if it is still there? Off Granville, near downtown.... but that is not very specific I suppose.

davie and granville?

its there and has lineups on weekends when teh bars are busy

Dime you might want to take a stroll along Hastings Street, I always end up there... for some reason when I visit Vancouver. :|9N3EePNcIRE

^^:lol: that video. She's a bit of a weirdo hey.

Question, the legal drinking age in BC = 19 yeah? :(

& thanks for the suggestions.

^^:lol: that video. She's a bit of a weirdo hey.

Question, the legal drinking age in BC = 19 yeah? :(

& thanks for the suggestions.

She's a crackwhore....and I think the legal age is 18. :cheers2:

in BC the legal age is 19

some clubs have a +21 policy on weekends

and most clubs will scan your ID so you need to bring it with you

Should I risk using a fake Australian ID? Tough consequences if caught? lol

If you go to Quebec, the legal age is 18.

Should I risk using a fake Australian ID? Tough consequences if caught? lol

they might not accept it - they are pretty strict

they scan my drivers license every weekend its annoying

not all clubs or bars do but most of them do it now

so you might be okay depending on where u go - there isn't that much here anyway in terms of gay bars

Bars and Clubs in downtown Vancouver.

Gay dance club.
The Odeyssey

Mostly from 20 to 30 something.can be a very snobs group of people.you will like it.http://theodysseynightclub.com/

Celebrity(biggest gay club in town)
mixed gay and straight
http://www.clubzone.com/c/Vancouver/Gay_Club/Celebrities_Night_Club.html?gclid=CMCP1eS0gqACFQkcawodTXabmQ

Tonic.

straight but fun on friday night.

http://www.clubzone.com/c/Vancouver/Nightclub/Tonic_Nightclub.html?gclid=CNq-u7m1gqACFSgtawodv24blw

ginger 62

casual bar and dance club.
http://www.clubzone.com/c/Vancouver/Lounge_Bar/Ginger62_Cocktail_Den_and_Kitchen.html

Bar None.

http://www.clubzone.com/c/Vancouver/Lounge_Bar/Bar_None.html?gclid=CIatuJm2gqACFRcdawodrB35lw

Au bar

http://maps.google.com/maps/place?q=-&fb=1&cid=2387171759134912241

Go in the summer instead. :)

The fines for waiters serving underaged people in Canada are ENORMOUS, and unless you really look over 19, they might turn you down.

^^That's why I use my fake ID which at the time would say I'm 19. :lol:

Go in the summer instead. :)

I live in a 24/7 summer :cheers:. I'd rather not, besides I went to Canada in summer of '08.

Should I risk using a fake Australian ID? Tough consequences if caught? lol

Just go to Montreal,

Legal drinking age = 18
Real drinking age = 14

how old are you?

vancouver is pretty strict - they id guys who look 50 - thanks to some club shootings stabbings etc they have this bar watch program

Am currently 17, though I'll be 18 at the time. I can get in clubs without ID here sometimes, but they're quite strict here too (drinking age 18 here).

@Mexi, people drink here 13-14-15 years too. :D

you might have a tough time here

plus some clubs have a +21 policy on weekends to weed out the younger ones who annoy the older people

you can go to the after hours since they are "alchohol" free and they let in 15 year olds much to the displeasure of a lot of people they open late though like 2 am i think and close around 8 am

the one on granville is pretty much all gay people i forget the name but its like $35 to get in now its always referred to as the world by old timers

I hate to say this but you'll probably have less hassle smoking a joint than you would attempting to get a beer underage. I also think there might be asome obscure law that allows you to consume alcohol in your hotel room if you match the legal drinking age of your home jurisdiction. Not as fun as going to a bar or club, however.

But being 18 is not the same as being 15. Some places might "id" you while others won't. I never had a problem at 18 but they might be stricter now and I know that gay bars are waaaaay stricter about underage drinkers (and pretty much id everyone under 70), so they aren't really an option.

You'll probably have better luck trying to get into a gay bar than a straight one. I've never beed carded trying to get into a gay bar/clubs in Toronto (and I look quite young for my age), but have when I've gone to straight clubs.

You'll probably have better luck trying to get into a gay bar than a straight one. I've never beed carded trying to get into a gay bar/clubs in Toronto (and I look quite young for my age), but have when I've gone to straight clubs.

In Ontario you can go into many licensed establishments if you are underage, as long as you don't drink alcohol. Some clubs choose to have a policy to bar underage people from entering just to make sure.
If you are 17, expect problems getting served alcohol.... the servers are pretty wise to the look of a person's age.

Just go to Montreal,


Real drinking age = 14

LOL! You must go to much different bars than I do! hehe.... I've seen people carded in Montreal. The fine there for serving underage is also very strict, as it is everywhere in Canada. I don't know about straight bars, but the history of police and gay bars in Montreal has historically been a troubled one, with many raids. The largest mass arrest in Canada of people in peace time was in the old KOX bar on Ste Catherine (Postal Station C). Things seem to be calmer now than they used to be, but I have been in bars in the past that were "visited" by police and it was creepy.

A bartender/waiter can be fined up to $200,000 in some jurisdictions, and the company up to $500,000 for serving minors. There are countries where it is fairly easy to drink at a young age, but I don't think Canada is one of them. I think they are much laxer in the UK than Canada.


Ironically, you can serve alcohol in some provinces when you are younger than the legal drinking age. In Ontario an 18 year old can serve alcohol, but not drink it till he/she is 19.

^^

I had a lot of problems in Ontario when I was 18 and wanted to go out and have a few beers, they wouldn't even let me sample wine at Fortino's :( But in Montreal I think I got ID'ed twice, and some places were very aggressive in the way they would lure people. One time I was just walking by with a few friends and this bouncer at a strip club (Dominican, spoke Spanish) just literally pushed us in, and the only thing he asked me was "Are you 18?" and I was like "yeah" We got out immediately though, as we weren't looking to get into one, but still. Oh and a place where I never got ID'ed to get in was St. Sulpice bar on St. Denis. :)

and I thought Australia was strict :(

^^

I had a lot of problems in Ontario when I was 18 and wanted to go out and have a few beers, they wouldn't even let me sample wine at Fortino's :( But in Montreal I think I got ID'ed twice, and some places were very aggressive in the way they would lure people. One time I was just walking by with a few friends and this bouncer at a strip club (Dominican, spoke Spanish) just literally pushed us in, and the only thing he asked me was "Are you 18?" and I was like "yeah" We got out immediately though, as we weren't looking to get into one, but still. Oh and a place where I never got ID'ed to get in was St. Sulpice bar on St. Denis. :)

There is a one year difference between the age allowed in Quebec and Ont, and it is possible that they are stricter in Ontario but I have never seen underage looking people drinking at the bars I go to in Montreal (which is not to say it is that way for all bars). I have a pretty sharp eye for that sort of thing. But then, we used to have a member here who claimed everyone drinks on the sidewalk in Montreal, and I never saw that, either, aside from St Patricks Day, Pride Day and drunken rubbies swigging beer from a bag! :lol:
There is a bar on Spadina Avenue here( I won't mention its well known name) that is famous for allowing underage kids in. They take a huge chance doing so, for if the s*** hits the fan they are totally screwed.
I was lucky when I was young as I was tall and looked older than I was.

most of the gay bars here in vancouver id

some that probably don't
pump jacks - older leather/bear crowd
1181 - lounge - younger crowd
celebrities - str8 crowd most nights

other than that odyssey - the most popular always ID's << will probably also be closed or moved by the time you get here
and numbers scans your ID

alberta the drinking age is also 18

^^woo. I can go to Banff then :D

and I thought Australia was strict :(

In many place in Canada, drugs are easier to come by than beer. It's also cheaper. It's no mystery why a lot of kids just by pass alcohol altogether and go straight for the drugs. It was like that in my high school.

Beer was a major hassle and ordeal, while a wide variety of drugs could be sourced within an hour.

and I thought Australia was strict :(

It is in other ways. ie censorship

We're not censored ... yet. Though I find it almost funny how the government wants to spend $40 billion on speeding up our internet, yet block us from accessing half the internet's content.

As it's been mentioned the drinking age in Ontario is 19; although you might be able to get into some bars at 18 (just grow some scruffiness).

I noticed you're going to Toronto, amazing city of course. If however you're interested in a day trip while in Ontario, may I suggest popping by Kitchener-Waterloo (approx. an hour west of T-dot)? Although it will feel much much smaller than your other destinations, it is Canada's 10th largest city. Most importantly though I'm on the local pride committee, so if I know you're going to be in town I can organize an event, like Pride Poker (below), Gay-opoloy, or something else that would be all-ages so you could attend.

I had an awesome time when I visited Australia, so it's nice to return the favour and make sure Auzzie's have a good time up here.

http://i576.photobucket.com/albums/ss203/UrbanWaterloo/Misc/Poker1.jpg

That sounds like it could be fun :D. I'd either be staying in Toronto with my cousin, or near Waterloo in Cambridge with my aunt. Will know more as it comes closer, I'm still pretty much in the early planning stages and I'm horrible at it :lol:

True it's still 10 months away. PM me with your msn or facebook and we can stay in touch.

As things get closer just let me know what kind of event you'd want us to plan: putting on a fashion show could be another fun opportunity, or having a singles charity auction (if you're at your aunt's for a few days) whereby people bid for the right to go on a date. Mention you're from Australia and I'm sure you'd get a really high bid!

Again you won't find near the kind of amenities as there are in Toronto or NYC, however there are still some. For example the majority of clothes I wear in the Post Your Photo thread was bought in Waterloo; so there are a few boutiques to check out.