Canada & Pacific NW Epic Road Trip – Sept. 2022 (Report now completed in 1 thread)

[jocat]

Oh my word, this sounds fantastic. 🤩 It’s trip reports like yours that give me ideas for future holidays! I can then suggest them to Martin and he thinks I’ve come up with the idea on my own. 😂 Actually, i do send him links to trip reports on here, but I’m not sure he ever reads them.

Really looking forward to reading all about it.

[smithlane]

I am SO excited for this one Anji! Ooh I'm so jealous of you going to Vancouver and Vancouver Island . Remember Joeys on Burrard St, LIFT bar and grill and The Keg Steakhouse for food! So good!
I can't wait to hear all about it

[wdw-wanderer]

I’ve stayed at the Mayflower in Seattle pre-Covid. It’s very well located and walkable to Pike Place Market and close to public transport. It’s quite traditional, but not ‘faded glories’ if you know what I mean.

[anji]

Originally Posted by jocat

Oh my word, this sounds fantastic. 🤩 It’s trip reports like yours that give me ideas for future holidays! I can then suggest them to Martin and he thinks I’ve come up with the idea on my own. 😂 Actually, i do send him links to trip reports on here, but I’m not sure he ever reads them.

Really looking forward to reading all about it.

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Glad to provide some inspiration. I hope he's read them and got some ideas ... maybe he's planning a surprise trip even

Originally Posted by smithlane

I am SO excited for this one Anji! Ooh I'm so jealous of you going to Vancouver and Vancouver Island . Remember Joeys on Burrard St, LIFT bar and grill and The Keg Steakhouse for food! So good!
I can't wait to hear all about it

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I have lots of notes from your trippie! There's a Joey's Bentall One too, which is really near our hotel.

Originally Posted by wdw-wanderer

I’ve stayed at the Mayflower in Seattle pre-Covid. It’s very well located and walkable to Pike Place Market and close to public transport. It’s quite traditional, but not ‘faded glories’ if you know what I mean.

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That's good to hear. Seems several Dibbers are going there. It's right by our car drop-off too, the Westlake Centre and the monorail

[landandword17]

Stealing some of these ideas for our own trip next week! We're also staying at the Mayflower Park, Sonesta, and the Auberge. Great minds 😁

Edited to say we started booking in Nov 2021 and had all booked by late Jan and phew because nothing dropped in price. Have watched all hotels weekly and they only went up.

[anji]

Originally Posted by landandword17

Stealing some of these ideas for our own trip next week! We're also staying at the Mayflower Park, Sonesta, and the Auberge. Great minds 😁

Edited to say we started booking in Nov 2021 and had all booked by late Jan and phew because nothing dropped in price. Have watched all hotels weekly and they only went up.

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Absolutely! I booked in October and prices have risen steeply since then. I looked today and the Auberge is £301 night with what they have left for our dates 😮

Great minds indeed! Have a fab time and pass on any good tips 😎

[landandword17]

Hello from the Auberge. Stunning hotel, fab location.

[anji]

Originally Posted by landandword17

Hello from the Auberge. Stunning hotel, fab location.

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Oooooh how exciting! Glad you love it 2 weeks today ...

[landandword17]

Leaving Portland today - Vancouver, Seattle and Portland done. We were first timers to this part of the country and can only say that it’s stunning and our only regret is that we don’t have more time to go explore outside of the cities. I’m sure you’ll do these places justice in your report but thought I’d add that we felt very comfortable and safe in Seattle, Portland and Vancouver. All have a “reputation” and if you do much googling you could be put off. Yes, we saw homeless people in all and Vancouver does have tents to the east of Gastown (but just away from the places you would visit as a tourist) and Portland has them in Old town. We used public transit in all cities, walked lots (inc my solo morning walk) and never felt unsafe. Amtrak was comfortable, on time, scenic and a great way to get between these cities if, like us, you just want to hit the cities on your first trip. Crossing the land border was easy, through in 10 minutes and the border agents friendly. Some of the folks on our bus (trains not back just yet) needed to fill out the I-94 (non ESTA countries) and they looked at it but never lifted a pen. They would have been eaten alive in an airport but the agents at the land border were patient.

All hotels excellent. The Auberge in particular beats the nearby competition if you prefer a hotel that’s not a zoo in the lobby (Fairmonts) or barren and corporate (Pan Pacific).

I’ve noticed that Hawaii has suddenly become very popular on the Dibb. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Alaska cruise + the Pacific Northwest becomes very popular in the future. Have a great time Anji, looking forward to your report!

[anji]

Originally Posted by landandword17

Leaving Portland today - Vancouver, Seattle and Portland done. We were first timers to this part of the country and can only say that it’s stunning and our only regret is that we don’t have more time to go explore outside of the cities. I’m sure you’ll do these places justice in your report but thought I’d add that we felt very comfortable and safe in Seattle, Portland and Vancouver. All have a “reputation” and if you do much googling you could be put off. Yes, we saw homeless people in all and Vancouver does have tents to the east of Gastown (but just away from the places you would visit as a tourist) and Portland has them in Old town. We used public transit in all cities, walked lots (inc my solo morning walk) and never felt unsafe. Amtrak was comfortable, on time, scenic and a great way to get between these cities if, like us, you just want to hit the cities on your first trip. Crossing the land border was easy, through in 10 minutes and the border agents friendly. Some of the folks on our bus (trains not back just yet) needed to fill out the I-94 (non ESTA countries) and they looked at it but never lifted a pen. They would have been eaten alive in an airport but the agents at the land border were patient.

All hotels excellent. The Auberge in particular beats the nearby competition if you prefer a hotel that’s not a zoo in the lobby (Fairmonts) or barren and corporate (Pan Pacific).

I’ve noticed that Hawaii has suddenly become very popular on the Dibb. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Alaska cruise + the Pacific Northwest becomes very popular in the future. Have a great time Anji, looking forward to your report!

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So happy you had a good time and thanks for the tips. Washington and Oregon are just the most beautiful states - so green and the air is totally different to breathe. One week to go

We loved Seattle and Portland previously and I'm sure we will again. Sadly there are homeless people everywhere, including Southampton. I think San Francisco was the most we've ever seen. We've never felt threatened anywhere we've been to though.

Good to know about the bus and border crossing. Hopefully the train bookings will resume soon as they're due in September, but we are booked on the bus back to Vancouver for now. I know they're doing test runs at the moment. They've certainly been slow in completing the Cascades route following the pandemic!

Hawaii is certainly somewhere I'd love to go to. Alaska (and the fjords) would be where I'd go on a cruise - so maybe one day! Thanks again for taking the time to write