One poster, missot, stayed at the YWCA in Downtown Vancouver. She was impressed. Room rates from $56.00 per night.

Another poster, I think it was Yoong, recommended the Cambie hostel. Their rates start at $24.00 per night but with shared bathrooms. The hostel in Seymour street is above a pub which is great for socializing, but not necessarily good for sleeping.

I would take a bit of care in selecting budget accommodation in Vancouver. Hostels, and even some hotels, can be downright seedy. They are aimed more at itinerants and people on housing benefits. If you see something that looks good and cheap it might be worth asking on here before booking. If you budget runs to $95.00 a night the Sylvia Hotel is something special.

The Best Western "Uptown" is just outside downtown and has rooms from $68.00. I suspect this is as cheap as you will find a chain hotel. Otherwise, don't be shy about asking if there are any promotions or special rates - it is not exactly high season!

Hi JonBoyE!!

Thanks for the messages and information. I am just after a place (safe place) to rest my head - I am happy to stay at YMCA's and Hostels so will look into the suggested sites.

Thanks for your help and suggestions!

B

Hi Robin!

Hope the decs are looking good!!!

It is alot to fit in, and in an ideal world I'd spend longer there, but as you know it was a struggle getting the 2 weeks off! And Brother unable to leave USA just at the mo as his Green Card or Permit or something, is being processed so he won't be home for christmas .

Think I know where I want to live but I may be wrong - will have to wait and see!

B

Hi all,

just to let you know I was posting between decorating the hall,stairs and landing, finishing the bathroon and getting the tree down from loft for Trace and the kids to decorate

Hi wallace, hope you are ok? We all can't wait to get back there. been on ebay, looking for thermals, coats, hats and gloves, good job christmas is coming. We will give you a bell closer to the time.

Bandit, just try and fit as much as you can into your research trip and then maybe decide to go back to your preferred place?

Are you seeing your brother at the start of the trip or middle or end? If it's at the end, you can chill out a bit before coming back.

Hope you are all keep warm and well, x

Hi back!!!

I am seeing brother slap bang in the middle of my trip as it is alot cheaper to fly from canada to houston and back, than from canada to houston and back home to the UK - that had been my preference - !!! Hopefully I will be able to know which city I prefer and again - If i can move across the Ocean to a new place, moving provinces will seem like a piece of p*ss!!!

hope the decs in your house are looking good too!

B

Hi wallace, hope you are ok? We all can't wait to get back there. been on ebay, looking for thermals, coats, hats and gloves, good job christmas is coming. We will give you a bell closer to the time.

Gibbos - TK Maxx is the place for warm stuff - got all our thermals, ski stuff there in the sale after Christmas - bargain!

Bandit,

we have been thinking the same as you, easier to move once your there
at least you can chill in the middle of all the research, then clear your head for the second half Trip sounds great all ways.

Sharon,
you know I forgot about TK Max, we have one near us to. Will keep this in mind for the coats. We have had some conflicting info about the coats, some say, usual ones with extra layer, another says skiing gear is best, then someone said Duckdown????? We will have to have a look around.

For here we have ski stuff and that's plenty warm enough so far. TKMaxx had good thermals discounted last year - worth a go. Good for branded fleeces for adults and kids. I'd recommend it. OH bought a North Face serious weather parka thing which cost a fortune from Blacks in the UK. Wore it once here and almost had to be revived - far tooooo hot!

hi Sharon,

Oh s**te, so that one was to hot??? I think we will just get something in between and see how we handle it, then if they are no good, go around the shops over there and have a look? Do you think ii would be cheaper here or there? Again, mixed views?

Just been having a look at some boots. Trace and I have some old hiking boots, back in the day we used to do hill ( mountain) walking, but mine are a bit knackered now and have cracked. Kids have some older snow boots, but only do about an hour in our snow, so don't think they will last over there

I used to have a sheepskin hat that came down over your ears, brill bit of kit, but had it nicked when we were stopping at a hostel in the lake district, buggers:curse:

I am quite enjoying the searching, Trace keeps me level heading and stops me buying everything I fancy

Hi Gibbos
Difficult to say whether it would be cheaper to buy over here, than in the UK. Gut feel says it would be cheaper in Canada, but looking back, the gear we got from TK Maxx was good quality and a steal.....(I don't work for them, honest!)


Don't pretend to be an expert, but I think Calgary is colder than here, so I would get yourself some gear - personal choice would be ski jackets. Jen manages fine with hers in all weathers. Thermals are a God-send too..enables you to enjoy the big outdoors.

Say hi to the kids and Tracey.

Sharon

There are a few days in Calgary's winter when one really does need a serious parka, all the more so if one has to spend some time outdoors, e.g., at a bus stop. As Sharon said, the winters in the Okanagan tend to be milder and shorter than Calgary's winters.

Given that you'll be visiting the Calgary area in March / April, I think that's a good idea. It is much less likely that you will encounter really, really cold weather at that time of year.

It is unlikely that coats that you buy in the UK will be inadequate for Calgary's March / April weather.

I've never lived in the UK, and I don't know the answer to this question. I've heard from members of this forum (and it has been confirmed by my glances at UK clothing websites) that Canadian stores have a much better selection and larger range of outdoor clothing for true winter weather (the kind of weather that you would be more likely to encounter in Calgary in January - February). But, since you'll be visiting the area in March / April, it's less likely to be an issue.

It would pay you to replace your hiking boots.

I don't understand what you're saying. Do you really expect your kids to be out in the snow for more than an hour at a time while you're in the Calgary area? If they already have snow boots, and if those snow boots still fit them, the boots probably will be fine.

If your kids do need additional gear during your recce trip, you might try Value Village, which is a secondhand store. I don't see the point of investing a lot of money in the kids for a trip that lasts a couple of weeks. My reason for saying this is not that I believe that kids deserve less quality, etc., than adults deserve, but rather that kids outgrow stuff, so it can get expensive to kit them out.

Whatever gear you invest in, whether you invest in it in the UK or in Calgary, eventually will come in usefully if you end up living in the Calgary area. Keep in mind that, over the course of a year, you can experience a tremendous range of temperatures in Calgary. In an ideal world, you'll gradually acquire a variety of coats, parkas and jackets to take you through different situations. You'll probably have a down parka (or synthetic equivalent) for very cold weather. You'll have a more lightly insulated jacket for in-between weather. You'll have a waterproof shell to keep out rain and wind in the summer months. So whatever clothing you bring with you for the recce trip (or whatever clothing you buy here during the recce trip) eventually will be part of the varied and wide-ranging wardrobe that you'll accumulate when you live here.

Kids are a bit more of a challenge, because they outgrow stuff. You can hand clothes down from one sibling to another. If you have close friends, your kids and their kids can hand clothes down to each other as the kids grow. As I said before, you can buy secondhand clothes from places like Value Village. But, as you settle in, outdoor winter clothing for your kids probably will be something that you get used to budgeting for.

Hope that helps.

Hi Gibbos
As usual Judy is full of common sense - and lives in Calgary!
Hope you get sorted and we see you in Kelowna soon...how's the vol redundancy going?

Carl - the kids boots will be fine, if they still fit. We came over last February 06 (& December) and all they brought with them were some trainers and some Millets specials !! The pink ones with the fluffy tops. More than fine. Apart from the one day we did the dog-sled thingie, and it was -23 and our littlest one, and her toes, were not happy bunnies !! But are you likely to be out in -23 for hours at a time, on a recce? - not really. You'll be in and out of that car, house and mall hunting, eating in and out, and possibly fitting in some late season ski-ing.

I treated myself to some fur-lined Timberlands. I'd only brought some suede 'fashionable' boots on the trip. But again, in reality, I only wore my new ones twice - there wasn't much snow on the ground at all. That's Calgary for you. Expect 3 feet of snow and there will be nothing. Dress for 'spring' and you'll be wading through a snow storm !!

Invest in the decent footwear when you get here for good. Then you'll have more choice, and not have to lug it around for a two-week holiday !

Ahh you are all very wise and wonderful, loads of info and suggestions, many thanks we appreciate it.

Judy,
what I meant with the kids boots, they were a cheap pair that said they were waterproof, but when they were playing in the snow last year, their feet were soaked in about 10-15 mins. we have been looking at some kids light weight walking boots. Not sure if we should wait until we get there and not have the hassle of packing them? Will keep on having a think
Many thanks for your help,
regards,
carl