Backpacking Vancouver

[Welshlad23]

Hi,
I'm a 23 year old teacher who wants to go to Canada (Vancouver) backpacking for 3 / 6 weeks in the Summer of 2005. I'm thinking of going alone can anybody give me some advice of

1. Places to stay
2. How is the best way to travel
3. How much is my trip going to cost me?

Anybody who's been there could you please get in touch with me? I really would like to go to British Columbia and any advice would be gratefully appreciated.

Many thanks

Meilir

[senior tour guide]

I would suggest checking out Moose Network. It is a transportation (bus) system designed for singles and small groups of backpackers all over western Canada, I believe from Calagary to Vancouver and back in a loop. You pay a flat fee and can get on and off whenever you want. Each place it stops has hostels. (I think it might be affiliated with HI?) I have a friend who did it and she said it was great! Met lots of people and felt safe by herself.
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www.naturepark.com/audiotur.htm
Nanaimo, BC Canada

[Welshlad23]

Hi,
Many thanks, I've contacted moose travel and had a really good response, looks great. Thanks once again.

[Trailers]

What are you planning on doing while you are here? If you like music festivals and are here in July you should go see the Meritt Mountain Music Festival. It is a country music festival, but even if your not a country music fan it is still a great time. It is about 100,000-150,00 people camping/ partying for 4 days about 4 hours outside of vancouver by Bus. Here is the site link if you are interested http://www.mountainfest.com/
Bring sunscreen though usually it is over 30 C and sunny all day

[Welshlad23]

Hi,
Would like to go Snowboarding in August while I'm backpacking! How much do they cost for lessons, renting the gear, overnight stay would like to go for a couple of days etc. I'll be based in Vancouver, where is the best place to go snowboarding from Vancouver? Many thanks!

[Trailers]

the only place that I can think of that has Summer skiing is Whistler(this is where the 2010 winter Olympics are going to be). The summer skiing there is on a glaicier so the conditions aren't going to a good as in the winter and I wouldn't expect much fresh powder. I've never gone in the summer so I can't tell you how good it would be. Here is the link to whislters web page it has prices for lift and info about the mountian. http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/tickets/tickets/summer.htm
it looks like the lift tickets are $45 a day and cheaper if you get multiple days

[laurainparis]

Hi I am from Vancouver.

-Cheap but seedy motels are available
-Anything called a "hostel" is just a cheap but seedy motel (however there is a YMCA, never been there but check it out)
-I'm guessing 20 CDN a night, maybe less
-Otherwise, hotels are NOT cheap

ONE WEEK IN VAN (but it REALLY depends what you want to do!)
120 accomodation
100 food
100 entertainment
20 transport
= about 350 CDN

Make sure you get a place to stay right IN the city.. otherwise you;ll be screwed in terms of gettting back late at night.

Bars and clubs close at 2, OCCASIONALLY at 4

Many bars offer cheap beer but it's very dilluted, be careful

In summer are the Folk Music Festival and the Jazz Music Festival, also numerous all night / 3 day long dances just outside of Van.


If you like, email me and tell me what you are looking for, i can recommend sights, restaurants, festivals, side trips whatever. esl_henry@yahoo.com