Vancouver Accommodation and Money Savings Tips

Visiting Vancouver, the beautiful coastal city of British Columbia?

Surrounded by water and mountains, along with one of the mildest climates in Canada, Vancouver is a popular vacation destination.

Vacationing typically means spending money, but no need to spend more than necessary by following these 9 money saving tips.

Tip #1 - Book Your Flight Early

Start scouring the web for the best deal on your flight the minute you’ve picked your dates. The sooner you book your flight the better, contrary to the myth that last minute scoops are the way to go.

The reality is that it is always better to book as early as possible. Also be sure to keep an eye out for mid-week flights, and you can save even more money.

Tip #2 – Book Your Vancouver Accommodation Directly with Homeowners

Make sure you browse our Vancouver lodging listings. It’s here you’ll find the best accommodation deals, since you’re booking direct with the owner.

Layers of middle-agent fees and service charges are avoided, while you can stay in a fully furnished, beautiful home, with all the amenities included. And as an added perk, most owners have free parking, whereas rental managers and hotels can charge additional nightly parking fees (often in excess of $25/day).

Tip #3 – Invite More Friends And Share The Cost of Your Vancouver Accommodation

Wonder why that advertised hotel rate seems a little too good to be true? That’s because many hotels promote a per-person rate, rather than the amount you’ll pay for an entire room.

In contrast, booking your Vancouver property owner-direct means you pay a single rate for the whole thing. The more friends you invite (up to the properties maximum capacity) the less you each have to pay!

Tip #4 - Half-price, Last-minute Event Tickets for Tonight

Tickets Tonight sells select last minute event tickets at half price, when purchased in-person at the Tourism Vancouver Visitor Centre, downtown Vancouver.

Tip #5 - Dining, Shopping and Spa Savings

Find up to 50 special offerings and get great savings while visiting Vancouver. Get your discount coupons at Visa Perks and use your Visa to save money from restaurants to bistros to art galleries to shopping to spas.

Tip #6 – Free Summer Fireworks

The Celebration of Light is a free musical fireworks performance which takes place in English Bay, Vancouver. There are 4 evenings over a 2 week period (Wednesday, Saturday, Wednesday and Saturday), typically in the last two weeks of July. The fireworks start at 10pm. The city starts buzzing with people staking out their perching place in the mid-to-late afternoon reserving the best viewing spots.

Tip #7 - Discounted Grouse Mountain Skyride Ticket

Hike up Grouse Mountain, one of Vancouver's local mountains, only 20 minutes from downtown. Get a workout and a rewarding city view upon your hike completion. The hike is free and the ride down the SkyRide tram is a deal at only $5 vs. the $35 for a round trip.

Tip #8 - Free Salmon Spawning Run Viewing

Watch the amazing event of salmon spawning. All at once millions of salmon depart the ocean and return to the fresh water rivers of their birth place to spawn and then die. The annual salmon run is a spectacular natural phenomenon that is unparalleled. View the full brillance of this colourful event at the Capilano Salmon Hatchery for free.

Tip #9 - Discounted Restaurant Meals - Dine Out Vancouver

Get a taste of the town and sample special three-course meals of Vancouver's culinary riches at discounted fixed prices. Approximately 193 restaurants participate in the Dine Out Vancouver event in January each year. Get Dine Out updated information.

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Find Your Vancouver Accommodation Now!

If you haven't booked your Vancouver accommodation yet, start your research on our direct reservation site, featuring Vancouver vacation homes. Our reservation system is fun, friendly, easy and fast. View the exact Vancouver property you will stay in before you book it online (as opposed to a "example" of what you might get!). Try a search at the top of this page.