Vancouver Trip - Dec. 2013 - Itinerary ideas / info ?

Duffers-2013

Hi - visiting Vancouver & the area for ca. 10 days at the end of Dec. (17 - 28), with 2 adults daughters, and wanted to ask if anyone had any advise ? especially as it's not exactly peak tourist season, and 'xmas is right in the middle !

- suggested itinerary ideas for this time of year ? I understand some things likely to be closed. How long in Vancouver ? where else ? is Seattle worth a couple of days ? etc....
- areas to stay / avoid ? - we're thinking of a hotel or motel downtown for the first few days, but considering an apartment over Xmas itself - lodge or chalet - mountains / snow / outdoors activity, but no skiing. Ideas ? We'd prefer to move about a bit, but not every day.
- Any unmissable sights ? absolute must-do's ?
- Which car rental companies are preferred these days ? (preferably that will accept drivers aged 20 - 24 as well).

I'm sure there's lots more questions, but any & all advice appreciated - it's very much a clean slate at the moment.
Thanks you.

richardw

I'd do 4 days in the city and 6 in the lakes/mountains.

jackieblack

We stayed here in Vancouver http://www.sunsetinn.com/ and would recommend.

ailuro2

Go the Whistler, it'll be busy and open!

Alan_Bowen

Whistler is very expensive so unless you want to actually ski, I would give it a miss. Four days should be enough to 'do' Vancouver itself, if you do not want to cross the Rockies, the idea of Christmas in Jasper in a log cabin appeals to me, then I suggest going to Victoria on Vancouver Island which should have self catering apartments available. There are plenty of small towns to explore in the north of the island, a car would be handy here, but you do not need one at all in Vancouver itself which has a good public transport system. I always use Avis in Canada and pick up the car the night before leaving Vancouver

Duffers-2013

Whistler would have been interesting, but I'm no longer allowed to ski, and the girls anyway are taking another week for skiing after I leave - so I think that part's sorted.
Thanks Alan - the extra info on Vancouver & the Island is very useful, and something for us to check into a bit more. I'm having some problems with Avis (CH) at the moment, but I agree, they're usually good - will be sure to check their rates.
Anyone else ?

caruza05

Check out the online car rental in USA to make your travel more interesting and adventurous.

Alan_Bowen

Pointless mentioning car hire in the USA if they are travelling to Canada. Don't waste time going to Seattle, has the worst and most depressing weather in the US, no wonder they drink coffee by the bucket load.

travellerboy

Alan_Bowen wrote: »

Pointless mentioning car hire in the USA if they are travelling to Canada. Don't waste time going to Seattle, has the worst and most depressing weather in the US, no wonder they drink coffee by the bucket load.

Agree weather is poor, seems too have almost permanent sea mist. But car hire is significantly cheaper in Seattle than in Vancouver by almost 50%. We used Budget Car Hire, had a minor accident - no problem at all, unlike some companies.

wondercollie

Most rental agencies will not rent to drivers under 25. If they do drive on your policy I believe it can be voided if discovered.

I grew up in Vancouver and December can be a horrible month. I remember some truly wet and miserable winters.

So here goes, Christmas lunch/dinner at the Hotel Vancouver used to always be great. There are events at Canada Place. The shops can be pretty and that's about it.

Unless you have family there it's not a great time to go there. If you do go to the island, afternoon tea the Empress and Butchard Gardens are must do.

Canadians tend to do family stuff at over the Christmas period. Well apart from the Boxing Day sales. If you decide to go that route, MetroTown in Burnaby is pretty much a one stop shopping extravangza.

I just came back from three days in Whistler. A friend has a condo there. I don't ski, there isn't snow pack yet, and all there really is to do is hiking, spas or people watching. I was held up in Jasper Park on the west side for nearly an hour by a rock slide and the need to clear the road.

Jasper and Whistler are probably already booked up for this time due to school holidays and what is available won't be cheap. Jasper is about a 13 hour drive from Vancouver and unless your rental has snow tyres and is equipped with chains, it won't be a good drive. Some parts of the highway tell you unless you have the tyres and chain you will be fined. They are mountain roads and are not for beginners when it comes to winter drivers. Over the years, I've been held up for hours due to rock falls and the need for avalanche shots (basically the government shoots down large, potentially dangerous snow hangs).

I just have to ask, why did you pick this time of year to go?

Duffers-2013

Thanks Wondercollie - appreciate the extra info.

One of my daughters will be finishing a 6 month exchange program at HEC (Montreal) mid December, so I'm taking a week in Montreal / Quebec area with her first, then we're flying on to Vancouver to meet up with the other daughter (coming in from Switzerland), for another 10 days or so - they'll go skiing and back to Montreal afterwards, but we wanted to at least see a bit of Vancouver / BC while we're all there. Given the choice, I'd have gone in the summer, but it was too convenient an opportunity to miss....even with the winter weather.

Winter driving's no problem (I lived in Switzerland for 12 years), and we'll probably have a rental for the period outside of Vancouver, but Jasper's too far this time - they'll probably take a bus to Jasper for skiing after I leave anyway.

Any thought's about Vancouver Island (particular areas ?) in Dec. ? we'd like to get a bit of hiking in and see some of the country if the weather's at all decent, so not continuous rain.

I suspect we'll also get caught in the after 'xmas sales (2 daughters.....), but hopefully not too much.