Vancouver help, flights etc.

[little brit]

Hi there,

Heading off for a month to Vancouver by myself. Thinking of a possible move there.

AC and Westjet seem about the same price. Anyone fly both, which do you like best? and I am presuming you can take clubs on both. AC if you call in advance.

I will likely try out the little par 3 in Stanley Park and UBC golf club, but by myself may not go tooo far.

Any tips and advice for my trip would be welcome

[big mac]

You can't leave us Maureen--you just can't! I'm trying to remember the members name that goes to school in Vancover or Victoria--he might have some good info for you. Hopefully others have a better memory than me

We played yesterday-- 75 degrees--alligators starting to come out Diane freaking out

[Nat Williams]

You can't leave us Maureen--you just can't! I'm trying to remember the members name that goes to school in Vancover or Victoria--he might have some good info for you. Hopefully others have a better memory than me

Are you thinking of jonf?

[little brit]

You can't leave us Maureen--you just can't! I'm trying to remember the members name that goes to school in Vancover or Victoria--he might have some good info for you. Hopefully others have a better memory than me

We played yesterday-- 75 degrees--alligators starting to come out Diane freaking out

Hey big mac, I would certainly miss all you guys for sure. I would still be online though Up in the air at the moment.

I think it is Jon you are thinking of? maybe??

I hope Diane gets plenty of pic of you running helter skelter away from the gators

[jonf]

I did go to school in Victoria. I can't tell you anything about golf in Vancouver, but I would certainly recommend Westjet over Air Canada, particularly if there is not much of a price difference. I had some flights with Air Canada that were badly delayed for no particular reason, and also had my luggage arrive 3 days after I got to Victoria. You also can't do better than Westjet in terms of customer service. I'm fairly certain that I took my golf clubs with both companies at various points, and was never charged extra...it just counts as one of your carry ons. I would double check this, as it has been a couple of years.

[little brit]

I did go to school in Victoria. I can't tell you anything about golf in Vancouver, but I would certainly recommend Westjet over Air Canada, particularly if there is not much of a price difference. I had some flights with Air Canada that were badly delayed for no particular reason, and also had my luggage arrive 3 days after I got to Victoria. You also can't do better than Westjet in terms of customer service. I'm fairly certain that I took my golf clubs with both companies at various points, and was never charged extra...it just counts as one of your carry ons. I would double check this, as it has been a couple of years.

Great, thanks Jonf,

The prices are both around 500 round trip at the moment. The only problem I see with West Jet is that it looks like it flies to Victoria first and you have to change. AC I can still go direct. I may just book one going and one coming so I can spend a few days in Victoria too.

[jonf]

March is a really nice time to be in Victoria if you have the opportunity. The other thing is, flying direct with Air Canada should limit the possibility of any foulups. The time they lost my luggage I was on a later flight, and transferred in Vancouver to a small plane for the hop to Victoria. My bags didn't get on that flight, probably because of weight issues, and then missed the last one too. What I could not understand was why it took so long for them to fix the situation.

To be fair to Air Canada, they have been much better the last couple times I flew with them. My flight back from Paris on Christmas Eve was delayed for 6 hours because of the weather. They were very helpful in getting me on connections to make sure I got home, and were very courteous to everyone. The airports were packed with people trying to make connections and deal with children, and I felt their staff did a pretty good job under the circumstances.

[little brit]

March is a really nice time to be in Victoria if you have the opportunity. The other thing is, flying direct with Air Canada should limit the possibility of any foulups.

Yes I think the problems mostly occur with the short hops, they don't have much time to transfer, I have used AC for loads of flights and have rarely had much problem, but I have never used WestJet. I will just go with the one with the better flight times and convenience then.

I will definitely visit Victoria probably for 3 or 4 days to get a good feel for it.

[jeffc]

AC has more flights so if you get delayed you have a lot more options to get back. I fly AC since I am Elite and get some privilidges with it.

[The Saint]

So when's the garage sale?

[Indio]

Oh Brit, why waste your money! The pace of life out there is so laid back and slow it will drive a lady like you that is always on the go, crazy!!! After a month or 2 you will be chomping at the bit to get back the the fast paced civilization and all your loving golf friends back here

[little brit]

AC has more flights so if you get delayed you have a lot more options to get back. I fly AC since I am Elite and get some privilidges with it.

Thanks for the info

[little brit]

So when's the garage sale?

That, I think I may have to start very soon. So much stuff, if I move to a condo I will have to sell loads. It will feel really cleansing to completely de-clutter down to the essentials though. The rest of the family are the ones to keep everything. I like to get rid of it.

[little brit]

Oh Brit, why waste your money! The pace of life out there is so laid back and slow it will drive a lady like you that is always on the go, crazy!!! After a month or 2 you will be chomping at the bit to get back the the fast paced civilization and all your loving golf friends back here

Well I am going to try it for a month, so we shall see

My wonderful golfing buddies, I would really miss though

[justsomeguy]

I flew there in November with Westjet and it was fine. I've also flown there with Air Canada and they were fine too. Most of the flights seem to go through Calgary although both had direct flights from Ottawa. Go with the best deal and/or the most convenient.

Travelling with golf clubs is not a problem on either. As long as it is under the weight limit, your golf bag will simply count as a piece of luggage and they waive the oversize fee. That leaves you with one more bag to check in and two bags as carry-ons before you have to pay extra.

Golf in Vancouver is EXPENSIVE - almost as bad as the GTA. Most of the courses are open year-round, but they're usually sopping wet between November and March. I used to travel there in late January every year for a week and it rained every day. The last two years I went in early November for a week and it rained every day. They say people move there for the climate and leave because of the weather. Bring an umbrella or two and lots of rain gear.

[little brit]

I flew there in November with Westjet and it was fine. I've also flown there with Air Canada and they were fine too. Most of the flights seem to go through Calgary although both had direct flights from Ottawa. Go with the best deal and/or the most convenient.

Travelling with golf clubs is not a problem on either. As long as it is under the weight limit, your golf bag will simply count as a piece of luggage and they waive the oversize fee. That leaves you with one more bag to check in and two bags as carry-ons before you have to pay extra.

Golf in Vancouver is EXPENSIVE - almost as bad as the GTA. Most of the courses are open year-round, but they're usually sopping wet between November and March. I used to travel there in late January every year for a week and it rained every day. The last two years I went in early November for a week and it rained every day. They say people move there for the climate and leave because of the weather. Bring an umbrella or two and lots of rain gear.

Thanks for all your tips I am familiar with very rainy weather, being English I don't mind the rain, but I hate the extreme cold.

[jeffc]

check out northlands golf in North Van. very reasonable as its municpally owned and drains well since its rather hilly (and a good walk at that)!

[Kiwi]

If you are flying into the Vancouver area my choice of airline would be WestJet. They fly into Abbotsford, which is up the valley about an hour out of downtown Vancouver. If you are staying in the Vancouver area then go with the airline that will take you closest to downtown. If you are out east of the Fraser River like in White Rock, Langley or Surrey then Abbotsford is the best bet. Smaller, less crowded and I have had no issues with the West Jet service. My son & his wife live in Langely and they also use West Jet to come here. Not sure you will find many golf courses of the quality we have here for the same price. I'd say from my experience the $35 courses here are $50-60 there, but the bonus is that you may play 12 months of the year. I used to live in the LMD and am sorry I ever left. The traffic is horrible, but the climate is great for the better part of the year. All the best.

[little brit]

check out northlands golf in North Van. very reasonable as its municpally owned and drains well since its rather hilly (and a good walk at that)!

Not sure how far I want to go just yet, on my own, but I will keep that one in mind

[little brit]

If you are flying into the Vancouver area my choice of airline would be WestJet. They fly into Abbotsford, which is up the valley about an hour out of downtown Vancouver. If you are staying in the Vancouver area then go with the airline that will take you closest to downtown. If you are out east of the Fraser River like in White Rock, Langley or Surrey then Abbotsford is the best bet. Smaller, less crowded and I have had no issues with the West Jet service. My son & his wife live in Langely and they also use West Jet to come here. Not sure you will find many golf courses of the quality we have here for the same price. I'd say from my experience the $35 courses here are $50-60 there, but the bonus is that you may play 12 months of the year. I used to live in the LMD and am sorry I ever left. The traffic is horrible, but the climate is great for the better part of the year. All the best.

I am staying right downtown, that is the area I would prob. move too also. Apt in Yaletown. So AC may be closer in that case I think.

Thanks Kiwi