We will start a new series of posts called “Saving money”. The first city will be Vancouver, Canada. Saving Money in Vancouver will describe some options to improve your stay in this city that connects the contemporary with nature. This post was written from a tourist perspective.
Vancouver is a city located at British Columbia, Canada. The downtown concentrates the most of the big buildings and it’s primary a business district. If you are at Downtown, you should take a look at Gastown, Yaletown and Chinatown. There are other areas around downtown such as Richmond, North Vancouver, Granville Island and the Sea Island.
1 – Transport
Basically, saving money in transport means public transportation. The compass card is a smart card that allows you to use the public transit in Vancouver. You can get a compass card at the airport (extra fee), London Drugs stores across Metro Vancouver, compass card retailers, online or in a vending machine located at some stations. Check the official website https://www.compasscard.ca for more information. For short stays, I would recommend you to get a day pass because it will allow to transfer across the 3 Fare Zones and you can use the SkyTrain, Bus and SeaBus. Be aware that the DayPass expires at the end of the service. So, you should avoid to start using it at night because you will have few hours to use the public transport. You should always have a stored value in the card to guarantee that you have a pass for an emergency.
If you are planning to arrive at the Vancouver International Airport (YVR), you should know that it is not close to Downtown. To use the public transportation from there, you could follow these steps:
- When you are ready to leave the airport, you should look for a sign showing the SkyTrain direction
- After you got there, buy a compass card in the vending machine
- Tap your card and check the SkyTrain map to see where is your stop
- Make sure to get the right train. Check the train final destination
For an one night stay, The Richmond neighborhood good be a good choice. It isn’t far from the airport and you could hang out for a while.
2 – Accommodation
There are a plenty of options in Vancouver. If you want a private stay, you should look for an AirBnb, Hotel or a Hostel with a private room. This list below can be applied to any city that you want to save money and stay in a good place. Usually, the prices are higher in downtown and cheaper in the surroundings.
- Search on more than one website
- Read the reviews
- Look for accommodations with at least 4.5 stars from 5
- Try to search at least one month earlier because it can be cheaper
When you are in Vancouver, you can stay at a district close to the main attractions that you must see during the trip. You will save money with transportation doing that. There are my personal recommendations for each main purpose.
| Purpose | Neighborhood |
|---|---|
| Nature | North Vancouver |
| Close to the airport | Richmond |
| Nightlife | Downtown/Yaletown |
3 – Food
Eating in Vancouver is not that cheap but you can get good deals with you search a bit. Supermarkets are one of the best options to save money and avoid fast food. When you have a day trip, it will be easier to eat fast food to save money. However, if you will stay more than 1 day, I would recommend to go to a nearby supermarket. As you have more options, you can grab what is convenient for you.
4 – Activities
The Capilano Suspension Bridge Park has the most famous Suspension Bridge in Vancouver. The tickets can be higher than $40. But, there is also the Lynn Canyon Park at North Vancouver and it is free! The Lynn Canyon Park also has a suspension bridge and several hiking trails.
The Granville Island Public Market is a place that you should see in Vancouver. If you want to save money, it’s possible to go by walk from Downtown because there are bridges connecting to it.
One of the most remarkable places in Vancouver is the Steam Clock at Gastown. It exhales steam and make noise every 15 minutes. Be prepared to make a video and/or take pictures.
Don’t forget to have a time to visit Stanley Park. It’s the largest urban park in Vancouver.
5 – Saving money in Vancouver Tips
- Start to use a compass card DayPass on the morning
- Use the Seabus to go to North Vancouver, you will be able to admire the sightseeing
- Visit the Lynn Canyon Park and its suspension bridge, it’s free!
- Add $5 stored value in your compass card, it can save you if your pass is over
- Your single fare allows transferring up to 90 minutes counting when you first tap your card. It is great when you are leaving to the airport. You can transfer across the bus and Skytrain using only a single fare
- If you have Canadian Dollar bills with a high value (e.g. $100) ask politely in an exchange money balcony to change for smaller bills. The airport is a good place to do it
- Yaletown concentrates so many bars and restaurants. It’s an area to hangout with friends
Saving money in Vancouver useful websites:
These observations are based on my own experiences. If you have other tips, feel free to comment below.
