Vancouver
Vancouver is alive with energy in this busy, metropolitan city that it is. Visit their botanical gardens or one of their many parks for a low-cost day; eat at one of their many restaurants; snowboard down Grouse Mountain and see what all the fuss is about. Vancouver is also ripe with history, mild weather and cheaper fares when you travel in the springtime. There are few places I’d live in the world but Vancouver is one of them. You can be in a big city with all the options of a big city and then in the mountains enjoying nature moments later.
Daily Costs in Vancouver
- Hostel Prices: Expect to pay about $30 CAD a night for a dorm room.
- Budget Hotel Prices: Budget hotels range from $30-60 CAD depending on how close to the city center you are.
- Average Cost of Food: Most inexpensive restaurants will cost you around $15 CAD for a meal, more if you include drinks, less if it is fast food. Vancouver has a lot of really nice Asian and Japanese restaurants- indulge yourself and expect to pay around $30 USD. If you are going to cook your own food, expect to pay between $50 to 75 CAD per week.
- Cost of Internet: Most internet cafes charge $5 CAD per hour. However, most hostels, cafes, and McDonalds have free wi-fi.
- Transportation Costs: A monthly pass will allow you to ride busses, the SkyTrain and the SeaBus. Adult fares for travel within the city of Vancouver cost $2.50 cad. Travel from Vancouver to nearby places like North Vancouver, Burnaby and Richmond costs between $3.75-$5 CAD depending on the time of day and number of transit zones you cross. The ticket you receive is valid for 1.5 hours from the time of purchase and can be used to transfer to any bus, SkyTrain or the SeaBus during that time. A more convenient option for the traveler may be the Daypass, which offers unlimited travel for a single day at the cost of $9.
Things to Do in Vancouver
- Grouse Mountain. For anyone who loves the outdoors, this is probably Vancouver’s number one attraction. Take the SkyRide gondola where you can see a fantastic view of the mountain, then go skiing or snowboarding, or walk one of the forest trails during the summer months.
- Watch a local sporting event. Vancouver is full of sporting events, and whatever your taste there is something here for you. If you like football try to stop by for a BC Lions game, but watch out; they can get pretty rowdy. However, Canada is hockey country and if you really want to see what Canadians love, visit a hockey game.
- Take a day trip to Granville Island. Granville island has great food. The island offer a full day of shopping and eating, and a market for buying delicious, fresh groceries. Most of the food is local. Consider stopping by at Granville Island Brewing Company. They are British Colombia’s oldest brewery. I can spend a day watching the street performers and sampling farm fresh food.
- Lynn Canyon Park. With impressive waterfalls a beautiful bridge, this park is not only a great half-day trip, but it’s free. Consider walking to Lynn Creek (a great hike too) and watch the cascading waterfalls.
- Go whale watching. If you’re looking to spend money on something, consider this and watch Orca whales. A tour typically costs $94 CAD for a day trip. You get a lot of whales coming up the inside passage so chances of seeing them are very high. If you don’t, most companies will give you a voucher for another trip.
- Stroll down Robson Street. This is a great main street for dining in and window shopping. During lunch, it’s also a good place to people watch. Moreover, it’s also not too far away visit the Vancouver Art Gallery which showcases more than 9,000 pieces of art.
- Stanly Park. Located right in the city center, this park is a great escape from the hustle and bustle of downtown. It has beautiful trail, a waterfront path for hiking, and from here you wouldn’t even notice you are in a city. It’s a true gem.
- Capilano Suspension Bridge. This 440 ft long suspension over the Capilano River is not for anyone who is afraid of heights. Located outside Vancouver, this bridge and surrounding trails and scenery, makes for a good daytrip.
Budget Tips for Vancouver
- Take Public Transportation. A monthly transit pass will allow you unlimited transport on public transportation.
- Free Parks and Gardens. If you want to spend the day outside but not spend a lot of money, walk around the many parks and gardens the city has to offer.
