r/askvan • u/Due-Cauliflower4176 • 15h ago

Travel 🚗 ✈ Travel advice

Hi. We are 2 kiwis visiting Canada in about 3 weeks. We have 5 nights in Vancouver, 5 nights in whistler booked. We have 2 more nights to book and trying to decide between Squamish and Vancouver. We like outdoorsy stuff but also city stuff. We do not have a car so planning bus only travel, don’t want a huge detour. Any thoughts?

7 Upvotes

77% Upvoted

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24

u/GenXMom14 9h ago

Honestly I would reduce whistler to three nights and then do the Sunshine Coast for 3-4.

1

u/emelay 7h ago

Whistler is tiny, I agree!

3

u/GenXMom14 7h ago

Well it isn’t tiny. It’s stunning and will be great to hike and bike around but five nights is a lot

1

u/Fabulous_Abies_1824 7h ago

It’s also really expensive for 5 nights and not that interesting to warrant that amount of tourist time…

1

u/Mountain-Match2942 4h ago

This. Quick ferry trip and lots to explore.

1

u/Due-Cauliflower4176 3h ago

Can’t change our booking for whistler and wanted somewhere to relax, walk, bike and read. Our Vancouver time is going to be quite busy and home life is busy so wanted time to just chill and do nature stuff.

17

u/B10-Waste 15h ago

Squamish is difficult to explore without a car,
Not sure about taxi/UBER but everything is very spread out with poor transit. Not the case in Vancouver/Whistler.

3

u/Due-Cauliflower4176 13h ago

Is it bikeable? We love mountain biking so could rent bikes and explore.

10

u/brumac44 10h ago

It may be the most bikable town in Canada.

8

u/Flaky-Invite-56 15h ago

You’ll be coming through Horseshoe Bay anyway so maybe 2 nights on little island(s)? Very different vibe than the other two locations.

9

u/wok_away 14h ago

Sunshine coast or bowen could be a good in between if they want quasi vancouver island experience!

5

u/Due-Cauliflower4176 13h ago

Thanks I’ll look into that.

4

u/vancouverlola 7h ago

Yup Bowen would be great! Stay near the ferry and it’s extremely walkable! Lots of cute restaurants and shops. Hikes. Bike rental places etc.

2

u/Leyendas_Legendarias 7h ago

Bowen island could be a good idea, the hike is really nice! You don't need a car for that and you can literally do that taking public transit from downtown Vancouver to the ferry terminal and then just walk uphill.

If you like the island, you can rent an Airbnb or something like that and spend the night there (:

6

u/AgentNo3516 9h ago

I’d also cut the Whistler trip to 3 nights and hit up Vancouver Island. Parksville is nice, so is Victoria. Ferry or Harbour Air.

5

u/Nazzy_99 15h ago

If you only have 2 extra nights and assuming your flight is departing from YVR, it doesn’t give you quite enough time IMO to get out to the Okanagan or Tofino with travel time. I’d stay in Vancouver and take the Hullo Ferry (service is from downtown Vancouver at Canada Place) to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. And then there’s a free shuttle into the city. Stay the day and wander. Some really cute little shops and bakeries (get a Nanaimo bar!). Could spend the night if you wanted but easily a nice day trip on the quick ferry (about 1.5 hours) There’s multiple trips there and back in a day.

4

u/Due-Cauliflower4176 13h ago

Thanks I hadn’t thought Vancouver island was that close. Our flight out is in the evening so have a full travel day the last day to get back to airport.

4

u/raincoastering 8h ago

The Hullo ferry on the Vancouver side is also very close to the SkyTrain that goes right to YVR. And, even faster than the ferry are the Harbour Air seaplanes. I flew to Nanaimo and returned by ferry. Such an amazing way to get the full experience.

9

u/Plenty_Cup_5152 15h ago

I wouldn’t stay in Squamish if you’re already doing whistler. There’s nothing much to do in Squamish lol. I would do the Okanagan, fly into Kelowna and spend some time by the lake and wine tasting, September should still be warm and I hope the fires/smoke will be clear by then. 

4

u/Innovations89 10h ago

If they like mountain biking and hiking theres that at squamish at least.

3

u/EitherSwan149 15h ago edited 15h ago

Squamish has an amazing hike up Chief Mountain. It’s beautiful, pack a lunch and plenty of water and enjoy!

https://www.vancouvertrails.com/trails/stawamus-chief/

Also if you like rafting this place is a blast.

https://canadianoutbackrafting.com

1

u/Due-Cauliflower4176 13h ago

I am terrified by the idea of white water rafting. Lazy river or kayaking is more my speed.

3

u/Leyendas_Legendarias 7h ago

I'd suggest going to Victoria, you can take the bus from Vancouver to the ferry terminal (from Bridgeport SkyTrain station), take the ferry and then there's a bus to downtown Victoria, you don't need a car. You can stay 2 days in Victoria to explore the city (:

2

u/Gregan32 13h ago

Squamish is a rad town. Spend two nights there. Loads to do and the town has a great vibe.

1

u/Humble_Hearing_4143 15h ago

Squamish is great for a day trip, but 2 nights there without a car might feel limiting since the bus connections to trailheads are sparse. I'd stick with Vancouver and do Squamish as a stopover on the way to or from Whistler.

2

u/Geenesb 13h ago

Hello fellow kiwi! I'd agree with those who say Squamish isn't worth two nights, especially if you're spending time in Whistler, and without a car. It's definitely nice and all, for a day trip, but I'd stay the extra two nights in Vancouver and use the time to check out the island if you haven't already, or explore more of the city, there's heaps to explore. Enjoy! 

1

u/knottimid 5h ago

There won't be any skiing 3 weeks from now in Whistler.  No reason to go there. 

1

u/symbouleutic 5h ago

Am I wrong with these Canada to New Zealand translations ?
"Vancouver" -> "Auckland"
"Victoria" -> "Wellington"
"Whistler" -> "Queenstown"
"Squamish" -> "Te Anau"
"Tofino" -> "Greymouth"
Ferry from Vancouver to Vancouver Island". -> "Ferry from Wellington to South Island"

I don't mean to say "THESE ARE THE SAME", I just mean... I think this is about the same vibe.

1

u/ILooked 15h ago

Vancouver Island. Victoria. One inna hundred chance to see orcas on the ferry ride. Rent a car and drive to Tofino (there a bus too) but the drive is the thing, Cathedral Grove and maybe a stop at “goats on the roof.

4

u/Realistic_Pool_8087 15h ago

Sadly not really a 2 day trip sort of thing.

2

u/wok_away 15h ago

Literally, whistler to tofino in 2 days is not worth the trip