Experience

Vancouver & Whistler 2023

Posted by Timothy on

In May and June 2023, we travelled from east to west across Canada. From Halifax in Nova Scotia to Montreal in Quebec, to Toronto in Ontario, to Vancouver and Whistler in British Columbia. Along the way some night trains and commuter trains, the Niagara Falls and – imagine this – a bus journey. A true Trans-Canada Train Trek.

We arrived on a Thursday morning in Vancouver and stayed one night. We then moved to the resort municipality of Whistler, for one night. And we returned to Vancouver for one night. We flew home on Sunday. Why did we complicate things?

As mentioned before, hotel rates where to weep at. So Danny looked outside the box. Another motivation was Danny and I felt we had seen the landmarks of Vancouver in 2016 and we didn’t know if we could entertain the others four days. 

In hindsight, I don’t know if I regret or not staying more days in Vancouver. 

Vancouver.

Top livable city

Vancouver ranked fifth in the 2022 Economist Intelligence Global Liveability Index after Vienna in Austria on 1, Copenhagen in Denmark on 2 and Zurich in Switzerland and Calgary in Canada on a shared 3rd spot.

As CTV News points out, such an index doesn’t say much on reality.  Vancouver scored a perfect 100 in the education, culture and environment, and health care categories. But affordable housing is a nightmare in the city and Canada suffers, as many other first world countries, a health care availability crisis. 

But Vancouver has a mild climate, has lots of green spots and people seem to enjoy themselves.

The city has also a lively queer scene, which I did not sample this time. That was a bit hard to organise. Also, Claus and Eamonn weren’t there to act as guides. So I missed a ‘push’ to go and discover Davie Street and other areas.

Flag of Canada and Rainbow Progress flag.

A place to be

So yes, Vancouver may lack unmissable landmarks to fill four days for quick-travelling people, but it certainly is a city inviting to just enjoy. A bit like Melbourne in Australia. 

But Whistler?

Whistler was an interesting excursion, as it is a bit famous. It is a resort in the entertainment sense pf the world. A crossing between Disneyland and a cruise ship on land. The hotel room was very welcoming and aimed at a longer stay. But then again, we are no mountainbikers.

Whistler.

So?

I think the conclusion is: Vancouver warrants a third visit, maybe focusing on city life instead of sightseeing. 

2023 Trans-Canada Train Trek

  1. REVIEW | Brussels Airlines Brussels to Munich in Economy.
  2. REVIEW | Lufthansa Premium Economy Munich to Montreal.
  3. REVIEW | Air Canada Economy Montreal to Halifax.
  4. Flying Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa and Air Canada Brussels – Munich – Montreal – Halifax in minimal economy.
  5. HALIFAX | Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21.
  6. REVIEW | The Westin Nova Scotian Halifax.
  7. NOVA SCOTIA | Sampling Halifax.
  8. REVIEW | VIA Rail Canada night train 15 ‘The Ocean’ from Halifax to Montreal.
  9. QUEBEC | Meandering Montreal.
  10. REVIEW | InterContinental Montreal.
  11. FORMULA 1 CANADIAN GRAND PRIX | Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal track walk.
  12. MONTREAL | Dining solo at Monarque felt like being part of a tv show.
  13. MONTREAL | Exporail – Canadian Railway Museum in Saint-Constant.
  14. REVIEW | VIA Rail train Montreal to Toronto in business class.
  15. ONTARIO | Touring Toronto.
  16. REVIEW | Little Canada museum in Toronto.
  17. TORONTO | CN Tower.
  18. REVIEW | Residence Inn by Marriott Toronto Downtown / Entertainment District.
  19. CANADA | Train excursion to Niagara Falls.
  20. THE CANADIAN | Day 1: boarding in Toronto and crossing Ontario.
  21. THE CANADIAN | Days 2 & 3: Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
  22. THE CANADIAN | From Jasper via the Rocky Mountains to Kamloops and Vancouver.
  23. Life on board VIA Rail’s The Canadian: eating, sleeping, showering and keeping busy.
  24. Is the four-day The Canadian night train journey something for you?.
  25. REVIEW | VIA Rail’s The Canadian four-day night train from Toronto to Vancouver.
  26. Discovering Vancouver.
  27. REVIEW | Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront Vancouver.
  28. BRITISH COLUMBIA | Introduction to Whistler.
  29. REVIEW | Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre.
  30. VANCOUVER | Granville Island.
  31. VANCOUVER | St. Lawrence Restaurant.
  32. REVIEW | Hotel Belmont M Gallery Vancouver.