Hi all,

Ok,

We have the chance to move to Vancouver BC in the next 2 months (with my work). We are both in our early to mid 20’s in Australia.

We have heard very bad things about Vancouver and good things, We’ve heard it rains all the time, the people are rude, there are homeless people everywhere, it’s full of junkies, full of drugs, corrupt police, boring, bad transport, expensive.

We have never been to Vancouver, or Canada at all, and I have no idea what the place is like or if anything I have heard is true, so thought I’d come here and ask the people who know best – people who have lived/still live there.

So, can you tell me what Vancouver is really like?

Also, I was kind of hoping for warm summers and snowy winters, does Vancouver get that? What is the average cost of a house in the suburbs or apartment in the city (to rent). It would just be me and my partner moving, so we would want to have a 1 bedroom apartment in the city or a small to med size house in the suburbs, what is transport like? Nightlife? Social? People? Things to do? Etc.

What is Canada like compared to the USA, I don’t mean politics wise, I mean the look and feel. You know how the USA is big and open, nice big wooden houses, proper seasons etc.

We just want to get an idea of what Vancouver is like before we jump in and move there.

We want to hear all sides good and bad, everyone’s opinion is important (no arguments though).

Hope someone can help.

Thanks

The same but colder.

All of that and more. But c'mon, it can hardly be boring can it ?

R.

The bad points are no worse than any other North American city and don't seem to have much impact on my day to day life. Property, booze and car insurance are expensive, other things are fairly standard. The crack whores and junkies tend to stick to a fairly defined part of town which is easily avoided. It rains quite a lot between November and May, but the summers tend to be quite dry and warm.

Winters aren't snowy, they're wet. But there's plenty of snow on the mountains which are close by. Renting an apartment downtown suitable for two people will set you back upwards of $1200 per month. We pay $1500 for something nice but quite small. Public transport is okay; it's mostly buses and an underdeveloped monorail system. Driving can be slow due to the number of bridges and lack of freeways. Cycling may be an option depending on commuting distances and your level of fitness.

Restaurants are varied, plentiful and well priced. Nightlife and cultural opportunities are limited, but outdoor pursuits are pretty much limitless. A decent pub is pretty much impossible to find.

Oh my god what a boringly sensible answer from Bazzzz. I can't believe the big cheeses have whipped you, say it ain't so !

I forgot to mention the best thing about Vancouver is that it's largely free of boorish, obnoxious ozzies.

Ahhhhh, that's my boy.

It's 'orrible!

Except that's not even true. Most of ski instructors last year were called Bruce. Strewth!

Don't you like Aussies ?

All the fellas I've met have been sound as a pound, guvnor.

Of course, we didn't talk cricket or rugby or anything as stuffy as that.

R.

Apart from a few drongos, they're bonza, mate. And you've gotta love their no-nonsense approach:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...late-town.html

Interesting that the first response was from someone who lives on the other side of the country from Vancouver, so must be an expert, right? So here's my opinion, as a "local", for what it's worth.

Vancouver is, IMHO, the most scenic city in the world. But if you are looking for snowy winters, forget it. It rains nearly all winter but on the bright side, you don't have to shovel it. And, the snow is on the mountains where it belongs, not too far to go for skiing and snowboarding etc. We get a spring, summer and fall, as well as winter. Summers range from warm to very hot. We complain about the heat. Then it rains for a day or so and we start complaining about the rain.

We have people from just about every nation in the world living here. You will likely hear a dozen different languages walking down Robson St.

Drugs and homeless people - yes, in a particular part of the city, like most cities everywhere. Crime - no more than any other major city.

I find people are friendly, much more so than in the UK.
Also, great restaurants in Vancouver, lots of variety.

My son lives in a very nice 1 bdrm apartment in the west end, less than $1,000/mo. I live in the burbs, and transit could be better. Rush hour into and out of Vancouver, by car, can be a nightmare. By train and skytrain, much more efficient.

As for the rest, it's all subjective, you'll have to come and find out for yourself.

Thanks to everyone who replied.

We still haven’t decided, we have until next Wednesday to make the decision.

Can anyone recommend websites that have rental listings? And, if we made the move – what are the areas to live in and what are the areas to avoid. Would prefer an apartment in the city, but don’t mind a house in the suburbs.

Thanks.

Couldn't agree more Considering Bazz lives on the same subdivision (he must be an olden) - must live on the old part