Vancouver is a vibrant and beautiful city located on the mainland of North America to the southwestern corner of British Columbia. It is a city surrounded by an ample amount of natural beauty, from oceans to mountains. This city has it all. Canadians are famous for their friendly gestures, and Vancouverites take pride in being true Canadians. With 25,000+ guest rooms, Vancouver has a vast range of accommodations suitable for all budget travellers. In the year 2010, the city has welcomed the world while hosting the Winter Olympic Games. Although the city looks fancy, glittery and luxurious, the prices for the same are quite affordable by all. In fact, you can enjoy the luxurious services in Vancouver at very affordable rates.
How to travel on a low budget in Vancouver?
Vancouver boasts an accessible and affordable public transit system. Almost all the major tourist attractions in Vancouver are reachable via transit. From Sea bus, sky train, public buses and rental bicycle the city has planned services for all.
Bus Connectivity –
Vancouver has a huge network of buses operational from 5:00 a.m. To 1:00a.m. With limited buses operational at night. Few buses in downtown transit through Granville Street, Burrard Street and Georgia Street. Each bus is given a specified number based on its operational routes. For example, #2 runs along Burrard Street from Skytrain station, take the #2 MacDonald over the bridge to Kitsilano for the Museum of Vancouver and other attractions, Bard on the Beach and a day on the beach, #19 Stanely Park will take you to the Stanely Park along Peder Street and starting from the west Georgia street outside the bay department store the #250 Horshoe Bay or #257 Horseshoe Bay Express head north-west through West Vancouver to reach the BC Ferries terminal.
Sky Train Connectivity –
Vancouver has the longest fully automated light metro system in the world, offering the fastest efficient service between downtown and suburbs. There are three metro lines in the city –
- The Expo Line which runs south-east from downtown Vancouver, out to Burnaby, New Westminster and Surrey. There are four downtown stations – Waterfront, Burrard, Granville and Stadium-Chinatown. To visit Science world one has to take this line. Train runs with a gap of every 2-3 minutes.
- The Canada Line runs from downtown Vancouver, before splitting with one extension going to Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and the other heading further south into Richmond. There are three downtown stations – Waterfront, Vancouver City Centre and Yaletown. Along with getting to the airport, take this line to visit the Olympic Village neighborhood, Queen Elizabeth Park, River Rock Casino Resort, and Aberdeen Centre shopping mall, and the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet centre. Train runs with a gap of every 4-5 minutes.
- The Millennium Line runs east from Vancouver, starting at VCC-Clark station and continuing through Burnaby, Port Moody and Coquitlam, where it links with the Westcoast Express commuter train. There are no downtown stations on this line, but the route connects with the Expo Line at Commercial-Broadway station, with trains that run every two to five minutes.
SeaBus/AquaBus/ Ferry Connectivity –
Seabus is a unique transit system and an attraction in itself. Its routes cover the scenic beauty of the sea, city and mountains. It is wheelchair friendly ferry service that connects downtown Vancouver’s waterfront station to Lonsdale Quay on the North Shore. The ferry operates every 15 minutes during the day, which extends to 30 minutes at night, with the last ferry from Lonsdale at 1:00 a.m. (11:00 a.m. on Sundays)
Two companies operate small passenger ferries that cross back and forth over False Creek, the body of water that runs to the south of the downtown peninsula. For young and old alike, these little ferries are a charming way to see Vancouver from the water, as well as being a convenient option for getting to some of the city’s most popular attractions. They also offer short sightseeing cruises of the area. Both Aquabus and False Creek Ferries offer regular service up and down the inlet, with stops including Yaletown, Granville Island, Olympic Village (close to Science World), and the foot of Hornby Street in the West End.
Fare Rules –
Greater Vancouver is divided into three fare zones for SkyTrain and SeaBus, while bus journeys are charged at a one-zone rate regardless of the distance. Tickets are valid for travel for up to 90 minutes and allow you to transfer across different modes of transit, as long as travel is within the zone(s) that you originally paid for. The exception is cash fares paid on the bus, which allow you to transfer to other buses, but not to SkyTrain or SeaBus services. Concession fares are available for children 5 – 13 years, children 14 – 19 years with a valid Translink GoCard, and seniors 65+ with proof of age. Children under four years ride free.
The payment can be made in three modes –
- Cash in Exact change – Applicable only in Buses.
- Single use compass tickets which can be purchased at vending machines. Machines accept cash, debit and credit card.
- Refillable Compass Card, which acts rechargeable cards which holds credit that is deducted from each journey.
What to see in Vancouver?
As mentioned earlier, Vancouver is a city framed by mountains and the ocean. It is home to performing arts and a haven of natural adventures. It offers amazing water sports opportunities and has well-maintained green gardens across the city. Some of the most tourist sites of the city are
Stanely Park
Stanley Park is loved by all. It is also awarded as the best park in the world by Tripadvisors. It has walking routes, cycling paths, an aquarium, beaches, Water Park, restaurants, cultural and historical landmarks. Yes! This is all inside a single park.
Granville Island
Another favourite site in the city is this Island. A hub for shopping Granville Island was once an industrial wasteland. There are no entry fees to this Island, and other expenses are dependent on you. It has shopping streets, markets, theatres, restaurants, hotels and more. You can grab a coffee, enjoy street art for free and do window shopping.
Aquabus
Aquabus is a mode of transport in Vancouver which has a well-defined scenic route with few stops in between. Its journey in itself is an attraction. A ride in aquabus will cost you CA $10.
Lynn canyon suspension bridge and Hiking
Although there are two suspension bridges on the north shore of Vancouver, Capilano and Lynn canyon, if you are travelling on budget Lynn Canyon Park is free. It has scenic views and perilous paths at the height of 50m, and you surely cannot afford to miss this adventure.
Public art on local streets
Biennale is an amazing cultural Vancouver on a budget activity for all. It’s a bi-annual public art exhibit that brings sculptures, new media, and performance works but celebrated and emerging international artists. Often the pieces are donated or purchased and remain in the city.
Check out the Top 10 amazing things to do in Vancouver http://www.travelwhisky.com/
Where to stay in Vancouver on a budget?
For the people looking for budget-friendly accommodation but do not want to compromise on the quality of service, we have plenty of options to meet your demands. Concepts like bed and breakfast, backpacking, youth hostels, homestays are very common in Vancouver. Youth hostels not only provide you with the quality of service worth your price but it also provides an ambience a tourist wishes to have, you can cook according to your taste, meet travellers from around the world, make new friends and have a completely different experience of living. Stay in Vancouver shall cost you around CA $180 on double occupancy private rooms (per day), whereas in youth hostels, you can select your bed for around CA $70 (per day).
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Where to grab the tastiest meal?
Vancouver has a feast of options to dine in. The city knows well where to grab the freshly prepared plate of fish or where to grab the best sushi. From Irish bars to the Chic lounge this city has it all. However, the city’s culture can be best defined through its street food. Vancouver has many fancy street food trucks found every 10 steps. Some amongst the most famous ones are – Japadog famous for their hot dogs (their experimented ice cream bun sandwiches are not to be missed); Le Tigre a food truck who played with Asian cuisines and twisted the names like Kick-Ass Rice, Don’t order this chicken and Crack Salad interesting isn’t it? If you find this interesting check out “Say Hello Sweets” a food truck that offers sweets without dairy products. Excited? Well! Its story of a startup is even more exciting. Owner Naomi Arnaut launched her ice cream biz as a way to fund medical care for her dog baby cups. Today, they are famous for their innovative flavours like café no-lait.
Best time to visit Vancouver
Vancouver welcomes all year round. It has something unique to offer in all seasons. Talking about the best suitable time I would suggest the summers. You can enjoy warm and cozy sunny summers in Vancouver. However, summer attracts a maximum of tourists and hence the prices are hiked up. Winters are a big no to visit Vancouver due to its extreme cold and harsh conditions. For budget travellers the best suitable time shall be the shoulder season i.e. the period before and after the summer season, they may not be as reliable as summers but the prices offered are much affordable.
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