Looking for value for money places merely for storing the luggage and a comfy bed, away from noisy or seedy areas (for bigger cities etc). Only staying 2 nights in most cases. Looking to use money saved on more constructive things like fun activities. Recommendations from more knowledgeable people (than I) keenly sought.
Cheers
Mike
Not a lot of cheap accomodation in places like Whistler/Jaasper/Banff.
Why not rent a camper or bring a tent, and stay outdoors. If you go in the summer (suggested) nothing better than staying in some of the National Parks.
I haven’t been to the west coast in quite some time but if you’re going off ski season there are deals to be had in the resort towns, though I was never able to get a good deal in Banff. In Vancouver I mostly stayed at a low 3 or 4 story hotel about 2 blocks away from the museum, cheap and decent but I can’t remember the name maybe something like the Boatman’s Hotel but that’s a google fail.
What time of year? In July/August in Vancouver it’s very difficult to get a good deal.
Also, do you need parking? Next to impossible to get it free downtown so factor that in if you have a car.
Do you want to be in walking distance to attractions? Do you mind taking transit?
In Vancouver the downtown core is the most expensive so probably best to look elsewhere. There are a couple of hotels on Broadway, close to Vancouver General Hospital, that are generally a decent price: the Holiday Inn Vancouver Centre and the Park Inn & Suites Vancouver. The Plaza 500 at Cambie & 12 should be reasonable too. They’re outside of downtown but close to the Canada Line (subway) as well as the major East/West bus route on Broadway. Lots of restaurants, from greasy spoons to the top sushi restaurant in the city, and a bit of shopping in the area. There are four or five bike shops about 6 blocks to the East, if that’s any draw at all! If you don’t mind a decent walk, Granville Island isn’t too far away. The seawall is also close for running.
I can’t help you out with the other cities however. Except that, with the exception of Whistler, July & August will be high season as well so deals will be few and far between.
Thanks for the suggestions. Yes we’re travelling in late July, early August. My family are continuing through to Toronto leaving my mate and I to drive through the ROckies. We don’t necessarily need to pick up the car in Vancouver straight away so could possibly avoid the parking costs. It’s not like we’re on a shoestring budget but trying to avoid unnecessary expenses. Don’t mind taking transit (part of the experience I guess) assuming there aren’t times to avoid from a safety perspective. We land in Vancouver (family flies on) then after the 2 days there grab a car and head on over to Victoria, then back and through the Rockies to the other places. I suppose in the bigger places we just want to be close enough to see all the main sights with relative ease.
Campers? I suppose you save on the accommodation but thought they cost more than you saved? Plus I have these dumb tourist thoughts about getting savaged by bears! lol Would also be a hassle to drive through that terrain I would have thought (fuel and speed).
Not much of a threat of bears in Vancouver at that time of year! Just stay away from garbage dumps.
See what hotels offer for parking, downtown/gastown/yaletown are easy by transit while parking is expensive and hard to find so you could get away without a car for a day.
Not sure where’d you’d camp in Vancouver/Victoria but there are tons of places on the way to the Rockies, as well as in Jasper & Banff. For the latter two I’d check out if you need reservations for the National Parks. Bears are present in Banff/Jasper but if you follow the guidelines the parks will give you and don’t do anything dumb like feed them or chase them to get a good photo you should be fine
An hour or so past Kamloops is Shuswap Lake - lots of camping there and it’s lovely to swim in. Lots of small campsite operators, some good and some lousy, go with Provincial Parks as they have decent standards for cleanliness and quiet. It’s massive with several “arms”, make sure you camp somewhere not too far off the #1 Hwy or it could be quite the detour. Not many bears in Shuswap area, wasps and drunk power boaters are bigger threats.
Finally, August 2nd is a national holiday so hotels and campsites will be booked and expensive, reserve ahead for that weekend at least.