Walter, glad you came to our city man. Keep up the good work. Vancouver is a great place to live and visit. I was born and raised in Vancouver and the surrounding area, and I live here to this day East van, it can be a sketchy area, DEPENDING on where you are. The trouble area people are talking about is about a 3 block radius on a single street, east Hastings. If you walk 1-2 blocks away from that area you hit some of the richest areas in Vancouver, including gastown. If your visiting Vancouver, be aware of this, and don’t let it stop you from visiting all the clubs, bars, restaurants, stores, and event centres that rub shoulders with that area. It’s perfectly safe The shoe thing is the exception not the rule. Most people are perfectly fine with shoes on in the home. A lot of people and local restaurants go to Granville island for fresh produce, meat, and beer brewed right on the island. I’d recommend seeing show while your there. We have an art college on Granville island so there’s often unique shows that happen there. Last year while I was down there buying some locally raised pork belly from the market I saw a one man Batman show for example. It is not just for tourists I’d say the only place that is strictly touristy is gastown. Want to enjoy Canada’s cultural mosaic? Hit china town, or the Richmond nightmarket Vancouver island a ferry ride away and worth seeing. I’d rent a vehicle when you get onto the island and spending a day in tofino. Tofino is a fishing and surfing community and is well worth the visit. Of course there is also Victoria, British Columbia’s capital. Lots to see here, manors (which tourism will tell you are castles), gardens, amazing food, high tea at the empress hotel, whale watching, fishing, clubs, pubs, LOTS of shopping. It’s worth 2-3 nights for sure. Kelowna It’s a 4-5 hour drive through the mountains from Vancouver. It’s a stunning drive that can be hazardous in the winter. In the summer the roads are fine. Take the coquihalla highway. There are places to stop and get out along the way to stretch your legs and enjoy the sights. Eventually rainforests will give way to a much drier climate. Once there, Kelowna has some of the nicest lakeside beaches in B.C. It’s a much smaller community than Vancouver but because of that it has a little more charm (that does not mean that is is a small city). There is lots of shopping and food but the beaches and the water sports are the main show here. Go parasailing, hit a casino, take in a show. Lots to do in Kelowna. I make the drive about 4 times a year. My grandparents moved there after they found the lack of moisture (read less rain) helped with their arthritis. Everyone has access to tripadvisor so I’m just gonna make a few personal recommendations off the top of my head: koberestaurant.com/kobe-reservations/ moosesdownunder.com www.cactusclubcafe.com www.redwagoncafe.com www.kegsteakhouse.com blarneystone.ca riobraziliansteakhouse.ca/locations/coquitlam/ Any falafel, donair, japadog, or poutine shop. Food trucks are big in Vancouver and are always worth a gander www.commodoreballroom.com vancouvercivictheatres.com/venues/queen-elizabeth-theatre/ vancouvercivictheatres.com/venues/orpheum/ yukyuks.com/vancouver www.guiltandcompany.com www.roxyvan.com vancouver.dubhlinngate.com www.elephantcastle.com www.stormcrowtavern.com riotheatre.ca bardonthebeach.org www.vtsl.com richmondnightmarket.com www.bcplace.com rogersarena.com That’s just the very tip of the iceberg. I’d suggest looking at ticket master and stub hub before you come to get a better idea what shows are being put on at the big theatres and concert halls.
You absolutely do NOT need to taxi to UBC. Most of the Westbound bus lines end at UBC, and if you're coming from downtown, you can take the 44 (on weekdays) or the 4 or 14, or if you're closer to the Canada Line, you can take it to Olympic Village and take the 84, or to Broadway (one of the East/West main arteries) and take the 99. Once you're on the campus, if you're trying to get to The Museum of Anthropology (and you don't want to walk), just grab a C18/C20 (bus fare lasts for 90 min) and it'll drop you off right in front. There are also, like 4 other museums on the campus, not to mention beautiful gardens and other things to explore, so I would absolutely take some time to do it on foot.
THIS!! it's not that far from downtown! and there's the biodiversity museum, the rose garden, nitobe and botanical plus the architecture at ubc is pretty cool too! every building looks different!
YES! I'm from Alberta and have always wanted to visit the East Coast but it is cheaper to fly to Europe than to Nova Scotia... Even the 1 hour flight from Calgary to Vancouver can reach close to $500 depending on the time of year.
acchaladka wow arrogant much? No one owes me cheap airfare, but I find it unfortunate that it costs me more to travel within my own country than to fly to Europe.
smegheadtacos it’s crazy eh?! For instance, a bus ticket from Montréal to Québec City is about 110$ for adults. For 20$ more, you can take the greyhound to NYC, a trip which takes about 7-8 hours. From Montréal to Québec it’s about 3 hours.
Don’t get in the way of the cyclists. When a grown man shaves his entire body, then wears a full body spandex suit to cut a half second off his 10km ride. They get really angry if you make them slow down. Especially on the Lions Gate Bridge...
@@Scotford_Maconochie I mean unfortunately that's what this city has deemed "average" and "affordable". It was an official statement that $2350 is affordable for a 1br...I can't afford to live by myself because that's almost guaranteed to be $1800+ if I wanna stay in the city. My family is lucky enough to have found an apartment years and years ago that can't up its apartment rentals on us so we pay a much less to occupy two apartments.
I rent a nice 2-bedroom downtown Vancouver for $2000 in 2019 (not horrible - good actually). Lived in Ontario cities that were cheaper, but even them now are on par with Van (2020).
Madeleine Gustavson Lynn Canyon is free and pleasant enough but Capilano Suspension Bridge offers a much longer/higher bridge and a broader range of experiences. Both destinations have something worthwhile to offer.
since when do you have to pay for the capilano suspension bridge???? my family lives very close but i haven't been my self for a few years living in Montreal now
Je Suis Hulk you've had to pay for decades....I've heard that the residents who live within maybe a couple blocks of the park do get free admission whenever as a consolation to the parking issues at peak times of the year
Happy to see you addressed some of the transit issues. I drive the buses and what you said, spot on. There’s always another bus. One thing I would have added, which if your a visitor you wouldn’t even think about, is if your bus is leaving the stop, DONT RUN AFTER IT! You can, and this has happened, fall and fall right into the back wheels. To put it into perspective, there is about a 5 inch gap between the wheelwell and he wheel it’s self.. you can fit in there.. you won’t be alive, but you can fit in there. So yes, please don’t run after the bus.. we don’t want to do the paperwork, our crews don’t want to scrape your carcass out of the wheel well. Also, don’t be afraid to ask the driver for help. If you explain your out of town usually we will accommodate you. Sometimes we’re grumpy, but that goes with the job ;) Anywho, cheers and happy travelling.
As a resident of Trail BC, when I visited Vancouver I was amazed how easy it was to get basically anywhere with the buses and skytrain. Here in Trail we barely have a dozen buses and you can wait well over an hour or two between buses, even on the busy routes, still handy when you need it though
I step in and parent other peoples children when I’m downtown all the time. Hey kid stand 4 feet back from the road instead of toes over top of the edge of the curb 😬 jeez The buses can be inches from the lip of the sidewalk
@@matgood6231 for a point of maths, the roads in Vancouver (proper) are on average about 10ft wide (larger in some areas smaller in others… like 4th ave for example) the average width of a bus is 8ft plus about a foot and a half for the mirrors. So, that means we drive a 9 1/2ft wide vehicle down a 10ft road. Food for thought.
My daughter studying ubc.Am mauritian....my daughter got a first class BA English.She doing MA English.Everyday am discovering life overthere.So peaceful and beautiful.
Hey Mark, I wanted to be sure to comeback and say Thank you! My family and I just got back from a trip to Vancouver and this video helped us out greatly.
I'm genuinely surprised to hear that taking off your shoes when you come indoors is considered "Canadian". People in other places just walk around the house in their outdoor shoes??
Yes, that's NORMAL for Us and a great Number of Countries and Nations don't do it, are You that IGNORANT. What makes you think that other people do things EXACTLY how you do them in your country??
Don't rent a car at the airport if your staying downtown. Take Skytrain from airport to downtown. Save at least $50-60 bucks. Also stay near a Skytrain station. Hotels will be cheaper and you will get to downtown faster than driving.
Saves you almost that much in parking. Not everything in Vancouver is super expensive, but parking definitely is. Unless you are going to Whistler, Okanagan Valley or the Sunshine Coast I would say don't rent a car at all.
tarny11 -- Adults: $9.10 peak $7.85 off peak (evenings and weekends) Children/Seniors: $7.80 peak $6.80 off peak Normally you can get around the city for $2.85 adults, $1.80 children but there is a $5 add fare coming from the airport and it is two zones. www.translink.ca/Fares-and-Passes/Fare-Pricing.aspx I usually take Skytrain, but with the add fare a taxi which drops you right off at your hotel starts to look pretty reasonable for a family of 4.
I was just there, and I appreciated the wide streets and bike lanes. Stanley Park was gorgeous, and I loved that I could transition from high rise buildings to being on the water or in the forest quite easily. It was strange for me how late it gets dark in the summer. I spent quite a lot of time by the new convention center and the seaplane terminal was really quite unique. I appreciated the green efforts of the city, many of which are far ahead the states. I had a really great experience!
As someone who has gown up and lived in Vancouver all their life all I can say is that every single piece of advice you gave was spot on. Perfect in fact. Good job. The only thing I would say is that locals love going to Granville Island. I go all the time with my kids. Again. Sound advice. Nailed it.
Vancouver is my home town. I’ve lived here and in the suburbs around Vancouver my whole life. I have to say, you absolutely did an amazing job capturing Vancouver and the amazing sights to be seen here. So many people make videos about Vancouver and get so much so wrong. But you did spectacularly. Props to you!
Transit tips: if taking buses and trains often, do get a compass card and load some money on it. Don't pay for the bus fare with bills - exact change only. If you're transferring from bus to sky train , compass card has the best deal. Otherwise you need to pay for the bus AND train. They've just added tap credit card payment as of May 22, 2018. So that may be more convenient. Do take off your backpack and move to the back of the bus!
Using credit or debit cards directly though is far more expensive and you can't load things like day passes. Stick to the Compass card. ... Pretty sure you can even return them for the deposit if you're feeling like penny-pinching for some reason.
Every parent should tour the Downtown Eastside with your kids. Educate yourselves now. They will never quit school or do drugs. Never. You are welcome.
My parents did this with me several times when I was a kid growing up in the suburbs of Vancouver. Because of it, I am the only one out of all my friends who has a deep respect for homeless, mentally ill, and drug addicted people. They are just like you and me. They woke up in cartoon pajamas on Christmas morning too. Also, partly because of these tours I am 23 and have never drank alcohol at all, never smoked, and never done drugs.
You need to remember that things aren't quite that easy. The majority of those homeless people have untreated mental health issues. They use alcohol and drugs to self-medicate. No normal, sane person chooses to become an alcoholic or druggie; people do those things to try and get away from their problems -- be it physical, emotional, or both. My neighbour is a social worker and former homeless person. I have learned so much from her experiences. She became homeless after being RAPED almost daily by her brother since she was a child (ran away at 12). Became addicted to drugs because it was better to be high than to think about being raped daily. Her parents knew fyi and never stopped it. So that'll also mess ya up. She eventually went back and got her highschool diploma and became a social worker to help kids in her situation. Things aren't black and white like we want them to be; Homelessness and addiction are not black & white.
@@sarahb7795 Absolutely. My mom was a social worker on the downtown east side and explained all of these things to us too. She explained that the majority of the people there do have mental health issues, and that they got there from self medicating. But there is also a percentage of people there because the party never stopped for them. She made the point of these trips about realizing that we could end up there just as easily as these people have, so we must never self medicate and never abuse substances. The point of the trips were to see these people the way we see ourselves. We never know when we could develop mental illness, we never know when life may kick us down. Everyone there deserves the same respect we give our sisters, brothers, parents, friends, teachers, neighbours etc... because they ARE our sisters, brothers, parents, friends, teachers, neighbours
As someone who has lived in Vancouver my entire life. You’ve done a great job explaining the do’s and don’ts of our gorgeous city. Everything is 100% accurate.
Missed the Marine Building. Who cares though Vancouver is young and there’s plenty of art and other visuals to scratch the itch. Not much from here to Quebec. Uber is here so most of these Mr. Don’t RU-vid channels didn’t age well.
@@hikerbq henis right 100% because for the third largest city in the second largest country in the world it's definitely not enough. There are a few great buildings here but these few don't make difference. It's a culturally robbed place.
I agree tourists, and most anyone else, should avoid E. Hastings St, and the surrounding neighborhood. If things start looking bad, you've walked too far. Turn around and go back to Gastown. Hotels can get very expensive. An exception is if you don't mind traveling in the off season. Instead of Summer, go in the Fall. The hotels will be cheaper. It will rain more, but that is what umbrellas are far. As you get farther into Fall, there are less tours, so you'll need to plan on doing things on your own, but still doable. As far as snow, I spent several days in Vancouver last December. It did snow, and it stuck around for almost all my visit. It wasn't a huge amount, but it can snow some. Come late Fall into the Winter it can get cold, but not frigid. Last December the temperatures did dip below 0C most mornings. If you bring a decent coat and some gloves, you should be fine.
Thank you, Vancouver is my home and I absolutely love this city. Like every large city there are good things and bad things, so thanks for highlighting the best of Vancouver.
You’ve done a great job explaining the do’s and don’ts of the gorgeous city ,Walter. It was interesting to hear what a tourist would find noteworthy or distinct about Vancouver , cheers and happy travelling.
Don't be poor eh? To qualify for a home in Vancouver you need to be making $205,000 a year with 20% down just to even qualify for a 30 year mortgage... that is only the top 1.5% of income earners in the province. There are many many non "poor" as you say who can't buy. What an ignorant uneducated comment 😂
Whats considered "Rude" in Vancouver: not acting, talking, walking, dressing, behaving, having identical mannerisms, and the exact same beliefs as the locals. If you can master this, you'll get along fine. If you choose to be your individual self and like to keep it real and genuine, then your very existence including your breathing will be "rude" to locals.
As a former retail employee at the RCSS, my favorite customers were tourists, or from the east coast. The regulars were these entitled, mean, and rude people who refused to speak english
while it does rain....mostly in the winter...it is that misty type stuff. In the summer tho both Vancouver and Victoria are the sunniest cities in Canada in summer. As for the downtown east side...yeah its a bit gritty but not dangerous. Incidence of theft or criminal behaviour is very, very low. Its not like American cities. You can pretty much walk anywhere at any time. The architecture is perhaps a bit similar but thats because Vancouver is a very new city in its building especially around False Creek...most of that is new, clean and modern.
Tracy Z ....thanks...I wasn't aware there was a city called Okanagan. Actually Calgary is the sunniest city but the point is...in summer....Vancouver is very sunny so no need to bring rain gear unless one is visiting in winter and even then...it's just drizzling. ..rarely does it actually rain hard here like it does in the Maritimes or on the prairies. While I love Walters reviews it's a bit misleading. If we want to get technical... Whitehorse gets most hours of summer sun because it's so close to the Arctic circle ...
Oh my! I watch so many travel vlogs and just found yours through the rhythms. Thank you for showcasing Vancouver in such a positive way!! You nailed it.
Great video. Grew up in vancouver, agree with everything for the most part. I appreciate you mentioning transit etiquette ; nothing frustrates me more than when I'm trying to exit a bus/train/elevator and some tourist walks right into me, then pretends I'M in the wrong. You'd think common courtesy would be more... common. Another point worth mentioning is that it could help to learn a few words & phrases in Mandarin, because Mandarin & Cantonese are the most popular second languages in Vancouver (French doesn't even come close). Especially if you plan on visiting Chinatown. P.'s. The skyscrapers don't have any cool architecture, but Gastown has a lot of old, cobbled streets & buildings reminiscent of Victorian London. After all, Gastown is the oldest part of Vancouver, and was a British settlement in the 1880s.
@@yodaydyxz1752 Piss off. Vancouver has had a heroin problem longer than any of us has been alive. It has nothing to do with Asians. A certain biker gang I will not name brings in heroin,most particularly crank and meth. Not an Asian in the lot. Are they the only source ? Not at all. Indirect Mafia connections from Montreal,and others. No Asians there,either. Do some Asians bring in heroin ? Yes. The majority of the stuff has nothing to do with them. Peddle your hate somewhere else.
I am a Vancouverite, lived here the majority of my life, I still like to visit the tourists places, pretending to be a tourist, its fun city. You are spot on about Vancouver. I am still trying to figure out how people afford a house here too. LOL
Years ago the Canadian dollar was on-par with the American dollar... That's no longer the case with 1US$ worth about 1.30 Can$ so I'd imagine it wouldn't be too hard on tourists pockets... (granted, the prices in Can$ may be hiked to match the old US$ equivalent, but not necessarily...)
I would define summer for tourists as May 1 to Sept 30. You might get some drizzle during those months but generally, it will be bright and dry. July 10 to Aug 31 is usually bone dry.
Hi Wolter - another tip in Stanley Park, if it says get off your bike and walk - which it does at certain spots - make sure you do - because a police officer on a horse (or bike) will give you a very expensive ticket if they catch you. Another great suspension bridge that is free on the N. Shore is the Lynn Canyon Suspension bridge, up in Lynn Canyon. It's gorgeous up there and not touristy. Also the most reasonable food cost wise to get in Vancouver is sushi which is everywhere and there a lots of Freshii kind of places that are also affordable. Cheers!!
Museum of Anthropology is AWESOME!! So is the Art Gallery! I was born in Seattle in 1973, where I grew up. Japanese-American. Since 2012, Vancouver BC is my favorite place to visit.
From a local, good job on this. Also don’t walk at a snails pace in the middle of Robson Street. Most people are in a rush and tend to get a bit uppity with all of the tourist congestion.
Currently on my 3rd day here. I love the place. Happy hour has been great and I'm going on a whale watching trip tomorrow. These videos were the reason I decided here over other cities.
I was born and raised in Vancouver. I have never, ever, heard anyone call Grouse Mountain, Gross Mountain. You are the only person I have ever heard say it wrong. Just sayin'
I've lived in Vancouver for 33+ years and I can say I agree with pretty much everything on the list. I do have a couple additions or slight amendments that came to mind but overall I say he did a great job. ◦About the weather, if you come in July and August you may encounter a heat wave of 30ºC - 34ºC every day for weeks on end which can be brutal and actually dangerous. We get a lot of winds being on the coast that can cause folks to feel cooler than they really are and they overexposed to the sun getting heat exhaustion. It even happens to local every heat wave so be conscious of your sun intake and stay cool in the shade periodically. Also, BC gets ravaged by forest fires every summer, all summer just like California. Most of BC is wilderness full of thick forests so the fuel for the fire never runs out and we lose thousands of acres every summer. If you have plans to camp while here in BC be prepared not to have a campfire because it's almost guaranteed to be a campfire ban if the forests are super dry and the forest fires are out of control. With fire, come smoke and with our string winds, we have had periods where the air quality in Vancouver was very poor. Not only can you smell the smoke in the air but a thick haze can be seen during these periods and the air quality is very poor. The elderly and young children are the most at risk during these periods, especially if they have other health issues already. If you have health issues you may want to check about the air quality and fire status ahead of time before leaving to come here in the months of July and August especially. ◦He is right about Uber and Lyft. As of April 22, 2019, that hasn't changed. However, we do have an abundance of rideshare companies like Car2go and Evo. If you need a ride for a day or a couple of hours they are all over Vancouver these days and a great idea to check out things outside the DT core that you can't reach by Skytrain. ◦Whistler and Victoria are great but I wouldn't call them both day trips. Whistler can be done and not a bad idea in the summer. It's a beautiful 2-hour drive with no traffic and because the sun rises at 5am and sets after 9pm, if you leave early enough you'll have plenty of time to get there, check it out for a few hours, and get back into town in time for a Spanish Banks sunset. Victoria, on the other hand, I wouldn't do in a day. At the very least stay overnight, and if you can, stay 2 or 3. ◦Wolter didn't really mention our beaches. While Stanley park is home to 3 beaches which are great for site seeing, we do have English Bay in the west end of the city plus Kits Beach, Jericho Beach and Spanish Banks directly across the bay from the west end in Kitsilano/Point Grey and approaching the UBC residences which are a 10-20 minute drive across the Burrard Bridge depending to which beach you go. Those 4 beaches are sandy unlike the majority of the Stanley park beaches. In the summer they are packed with people playing volleyball, frisbee and soaking up the sun. The bay isn't known for its swimming and it's wise to check in on whether or not it's advisable to go in or not, but the beaches are still a happening place in Vancouver in the summer months and a great place to go for a walk, bike or rollerblade. In fact, you can go from the Lost Lagoon in Coal Harbor DT and follow the bike path through Stanley Park and come out into English Bay as a wonderful way to spend a day. ◦ My last addition is regarding the food. I know he focused on the Asian cuisine and he is absolutely right about that. The sushi, Koren BBQ, Thai and Indian cuisine is off the charts and I feel blessed to live in a city with so many diverse options that are world class, no joke. I just want to mention the seafood as we are on the west coast. We have Prawns, several types of salmon and rainbow trout just to name a few west coast's seafood options. If you're a seafood lover then I suggest you take an afternoon and head out to Steveston Harbor in Richmond, which is actually the part of Greater Vancouver the airport is located. If you head the opposite direction of DT Vancouver from the airport you'll be heading south to Steveston Harbor where they have the fish market. Fishing vessels dock in the harbour and sell their catches directly off their boats. You can just walk along the docks checking out all the great fresh seafood and buy some if you have an AirB&B to cook it or you can just eat at one of the several establishments located in Steveston harbour. They have everything from fine dining to pub fare to take out fish & chips, my personal favourite. I feel Steveston is a commonly overlooked gem in Greater Vancouver so I always tell my friends from out of town to check it out or I take them there myself because I love it there.
@@grapogracYou're the one that read it all. It could have been twice as long but I left out the vapour lounge, the bar/club scene, the underground rave scene, the fentanyl-laced heroin, the Seymour Street escorts and the strip clubs with the overpriced alcohol, but I thought I'd keep it PG. Also, I've been clean for years now so it's not necessarily the parts of the city I care to promote atm. FTR, meth wasn't really my thing, but if it was I highly doubt a RU-vid comment section writing blog-length comments is where you'd find me lol.
If you want to go to Richmond, 3 Road, where there are Chinese shopping malls etc dont drive. Take the Skytrain. Horrible drivers in Richmond and the lower mainland. Plus traffic congestion
It's not just Richmond. I've noticed so many drivers that don't bother to follow the rules nowadays. I usually only had to look out for crazy pick up truck drivers before.
Great video! All I’d add is that you don’t need a compass card now for buses or sky train, you can just tap in with your contactless debit or credit card. It was super convenient for me! Made getting around a lot easier.
Speaking as a local, Wolter is on point. Talk to the locals, we're pretty friendly. Hit the breweries, most of which are localized in the area you'll be in. Everything is pretty accessible via transit (which isn't the greatest) and be wary about the frequency of taxis on weekends. Enjoy!!
As a Vancouverite, I will say that was a very good job. I was especially impressed that you narrated this video from the Museum of Anthropology, which is also my favourite museum in Vancouver. It's amazing. I was thrown off by the shoes thing. I didn't know that some people wore shoes in other people's houses. And, I wasn't sure about the architectural thing. I did 4 or 5 architectural walks in Vancouver, for the price of a tip to the guide, and they were really interesting. There is a lot of unique architecture in Vancouver, including all of the covered balconies due to the rain, the buildings in Chinatown that disguise the amount of floors that they really have, to avoid higher taxes. The thinnest building in the world. There's a beautiful church downtown with a really nice wooden interior. The Marine Building is a great example of Art Deco architecture. Also, I wouldn't write off the entire east end of Vancouver. What about Commercial Drive? It's a hipster's paradise. The only warning for the east side would be to avoid the intersection of Main and Hastings, and just in general stay clear of Hastings between Main up until about Victoria. There's nothing really to see there anyway.
you never hear of tourists being robbed even in east end the people won't bother you just don't take pictures of drug addicts they get a little upset and don't forget nude beach no cameras there either
Living in Copenhagen currently, having moved from Vancouver for exchange, THIS VIDEO is just so nostalgic. URRGH the number of times I was like "OMG Vancouver
Allan Ashby I've lived here for 49 years, I take the ferries several times a year and have never seen whales from the ferry. I've heard the whale watching trips are more successful if you want to see whales.
WOW! That was a pretty bang on video for Vancouver. I am born and raised East Vancouver. I would like to mention Chinatown even though it borders Hastings Street and Is part of the downtown eastside it should not be forgotten. Chinatown does have a lot of good eats and cocktail bars, as well as, the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden.
Born and raised in Vancouver. 52 years and going strong. Quite accurate. Rent a bikes are quite popular here as well as car shares. A very good way to get around town on you own. Air bnb is now legal here. If you are here for more than a week you’ll get a bit bored.
reefready big talk for someone whos probably too big of a piece of shit to make eye contact with someone when they tell them they don't have change to give them.
I’m from the Vancouver area and this video is pretty accurate. However, the bus system in Vancouver is excellent so you really should not have to taxi unless you really want to get places quickly. And Vancouver does have ~some~ nice architecture especially in the main downtown area. I’ve definitely been to far plainer cities so people definitely shouldn’t expect an ugly place. The beach areas in Vancouver are also quite nice to visit.
Wolter is being nice when he talks about the Downtown Eastside. I lived near Vancouver and that place is disgusting, needles everywhere, people passed out, not a nice place.
They aren't aggressive though. I just got back from Inglewood, Ca last week and almost had to knock a homeless guy out my first night there because he started following and yelling obscenities at me when I was with two girls. Downtown Eastside isn't pretty, but it's safe unless you're involved.
I live IN Vancouver, and sure its not the nicest place but those people need help. I take walks through that area all the time day or night. Talk to people and see whats happening. A lot of mental health issues and poverty issues that can be helped little by little if people care. For example, you can offer simple things to them such as offering to buy a meal, get a haircut, donate old (but not worn out) clothing, or for women - lack sanitary products at times are a big issue and they gladly accept those items. Treat them like the humans they are. And its completely possible one or two may be aggressive (again, many with mental health issues and no support) but if you respect them and be aware of your surroundings you will have little to no issue. If any one is worried about needles, there are hotlines one can call and text and people will come by to clean them. I have a number saved in my phone for that, 604-657-6561. Everyone can do their part to help keep our city a cleaner and safer place.
I'm born and raised in Vancouver and this is some pretty good travel advice except for the shoe thing. I hate when people take their shoes off so it's best to ask what the host or hostess would prefer. If heading over to Victoria, you will need to stay overnight. There is a float plane airport downtown (Harbour Air) that can fly you there on a small plane in about fourty minutes and it is a beautiful trip and then take the ferry back. You'll love it.
One of my favourite city’s in the world!!! So much to do and see! Awesome food! Sushi Nanaimo was great! Don’t be too scared on the bus going down Hastings. Also go see the Canucks!!! May not be going the greatest at the moment but is a great atmosphere to be in the stadium
don't bother seeing a Canucks game unless you like surrounding yourself with whiney tantrum throwing babies. Worst fans in the NHL. Hands down. Advice from a British Columbian.
That's right our Provence is being running by those dirty criminals and those useless politicians, bankers and realestate a*holes who know about the problem and still enabled them to do this.
If you go to ubc or the museum of anthropology don’t take a cab, take the bus!!! Literally every bus ends at ubc and it’s a 10 min walk from the station to anywhere at ubc!!
Well, there is.. get a Seaplane trip to Victoria directly.. or if you're lucky, Catch the early EXPRESS ferry from Vancouver's Coal Harbour's terminal. (its the red, white flame decal filled ferry, it only makes 2 trips a day.. and depending on the date.. it goes out of Vancouver either at 6:00 am OR at 1:00pm straight to Victoria)
Can’t wait to go this June ! Traveling all the way from Scotland so I can’t wait to enjoy all the Canadian culture and food ! Also these do/don’t are very useful I know that I am definitely going to do whale watching think that looks just amazing!!
Food not to miss: - Nanaimo bars - butter tarts - poutine - fresh seafood (but I pay $9 for a piece of halibut at my fave fish'n'chips place here in Victoria).
Love Vancouver,Love B.C Vancouver is often cited as being in the top 5 best cities in the world to live and has topped the list in recent years. Like all major cities it has its problems BUT compared to most large cities its many Pluses outweigh it's few minuses ,not many cities can boast mountains on one side and the Pacific on the other.Stunning. Love from the U.K
I have absolutely no idea why i’m watching this when I literally live in Vancouver but oh well! Thanks for sharing these tips man. Locals absolutely hate when tourists get the transit rules wrong so thanks for sharing these!
The architecture is uninspiring... as he uses one of Arthur Erikson's works as his backdrop. True, most of the architecture is uninspiring, but that's the case of any North American city outside of LA/New York. You just have to do your research ahead of time. Just as an FYI, Vancouver is home to a number of great Canadian architects such as Arthur Erikson, Bing Thom, and Patkau and many of their works can be seen both within and outside downtown. There's a number of instances of international works as well, both complete and in progress.
The "uninspiring architecture" comment was the only part of the video that seemed out of place. Perhaps even disagreeable. When I was last in Vancouver, about a week ago, my son and I took a day to tour around photographing the various architecture. Granted it's not historically magnificent, but there is a lot of neat modern architecture to see. Especially some of the buildings and facades that went up around the '86 Expo era.
i live in vancouver and you're so spot on about everything! do you ask locals for advice? this video makes me trust you so much more with your other travel videos! thank you for everything you do!
We do a lot of research. We reach out to locals before we come. We then ask locals while we are there if they have any advice. And we experience the city for ourselves. Sometimes the research we find before we go isn't actually very good so we don't just repeat stuff we try to go and experience itvfor ourselves so we have a more personal experience. I filmed this at the end of the trio as I wanted to make sure I had my own feel for the city. I'm glad we did a good job. Vancouver is a really cool city. I would be even fatter if I lived there. You have so many great places to eat (and drink) :)
Yes, this lifetime Vancouverite agrees that this video is definitely one of the most honest, accurate and helpful videos for tourists visiting Vancouver. Exceptionally well done! Thanks!
Vancouver is my favorite city on the Earth. It’s beautiful and so much to do and see. We stayed in a B&B on our first trip. The hosts were so sweet and gave us lots of advice. It’s a wonderful city!
You should come to Newfoundland sometime. One of the more unique cultures in Canada with its own dialect, food, traditions as well as having great scenery and architecture as well! Would love to see you here. :-)
This channel is just amazing!! What a lovely little family, including great parents who expose their children to so much culture and variety! That’s goals for me and my fam!!
Austin Walsh I’m from Québec, but never visites Newfoundland. Newfies are such friendly folks, I’ve worked with them in Ottawa. It’s on my bucket list!! I have been to Halifax and Moncton though. Newfoundland and PEI are on my list!
I am a long time resident of Vancouver, originally for the souther states, I agree with everything you have said here except Uber has arrived since this vid was made.
Stay in North Vancouver, closer to all the outdoor activities. Staying in an airbnb next weekend. It's 1 block from Lonsdale ave, just off of highway 1, and best of all 1 block from White Spot!
That's so Vancouver of you.... He's probably telling you that because most Vancouverites can't bear to hear anything bad said about their precious city. Other than the Vancouver Public Library, there really isn't shit as far as architecture that holds a candle to most European cities, or the bigger American cities, that's just a fact. (and I've lived here over 20 years, and just got back from Europe -> California -> Vancouver a week ago)
If you are looking for affordable housing, MOST universities rent out their residence halls from May-August ... and occasionally include breakfast free.
Im from Vancouver.....I dont know why im watching this hahaha. Welcome to anyone coming in! Hope you have a great time! Also amazing advice with the shoes my dude. Respect.
DTES (Downtown Eastside) is not that bad, looks bad and such, but even the homeless and druggies are are not mean people and wont bother you, but you probably will find it a bit scary. It is healthy to see how society has neglected some people. I have been there at midnight at past it, and it has been no problems. If you try to take a taxi from DTES, you are in bad luck, they dont risk it. If you dont want to spend a fortune on going to the capilano bridge, just go to Lynn Canyon, it is equally pretty and free
I agree with you about the people. I’ve gotten a cab when coming out of a show on the DTES no problem(downtown east side for those that are confused) Cabs are not allowed to refuse a pick up unless they feel like they are in danger. If a cab refused to even go to the DTES, they would get in a lot of trouble
What I mean with the cabs is that if you call them and you are in that area, you won't get a response, atleast from my experience. Most mentally unstable and druggies are busy with themselves and their drugs and addictions and dont bother others. Some of these poor souls can be quite friendly
I’m from Vancouver.. I just smoked weed, then I watched your video... it was the best choice I’ve made in 2-3 years. Not only are you spot on, your dos & don’ts are hilariously true. Man, you must have staid for a year in order to grab that intel.
We went to Vancouver a few years ago. It was AMAZING. I want to go back and I can agree with may things on this list. Eat out when you can and take advantage of happy hour.
You will know when you wander into the east side. There are some cool shops and bars there, but a little sketchy for sure. Central Surrey, also sketchy.
One thing I would have added - don't visit between November-March. October is nice with the changing colours of the leaves if there are some sunny days. April can be nice too if it's a warm spring... but you are better off sticking with May-September if you are planning trip to Vancouver.
