Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Left
Georgia Street rotunda, Pacific Centre
Right
Backpackers Shop
Shopping Tips
Store Hours
Most shops are open
10am to 6pm, Monday to
Saturday (often later on
Thursday). Department
stores and shops in malls
and retail districts may
stay open to 9pm, Mon-
day to Saturday, and open
Sunday from 11am or
noon to 5pm. Many shops
close January 1, July 1,
Labour Day, Thanksgiving
and December 25.
Vancouver
•
Map K3
•
The
Bay: 1150 Douglas St,
Victoria
•
Map P2
Shopping Malls
The largest downtown
mall is Pacific Centre
(see
p55)
. Other malls include
Sinclair Centre
(see p54),
and Metrotown
(see p55)
.
Victoria's Bay Centre has
over 80 shops. Market
Square's shops are in
heritage buildings.
d
Bay
Centre: 1150 Douglas St
•
Map P2
•
Market Square:
560 Johnson St
•
Map P2
Music
A&B Sound may have
the lowest prices in town.
Classical and jazz lovers
should head to the Magic
Flute. For vinyl, try Nep-
toon Records. Lyle's Place
in Victoria sells new and
used CDs, from jazz to
punk rock.
d
A&B Sound:
556 Seymour St
•
Map K3
•
Magic Flute: 2203 W 4th
Ave
•
Map B2
•
Neptoon
Records: 3561 Main St
•
Map B2
•
Lyle's Place:
770 Yates St
•
Map Q2
Books
Chapters and Book
Warehouse have good
selections and several
locations. Used-book sell-
er MacLeod's specializes
in Canadiana and history.
Visit Duthie Books for
contemporary literature,
and Kidsbooks for chil-
dren's titles. Munro's of
Victoria sells a range of
titles.
d
Book Warehouse:
550 Granville St
•
Map K3
•
Chapters: 788 Robson St
•
Map K4
•
Duthie Books:
2239 W 4th Ave
•
Map B2
•
Kidsbooks: 3083 W Broad-
way
•
Map A2
•
MacLeod's:
455 W Pender St
•
Map L3
•
Munro's: 1108 Govern-
ment St
•
Map P2
Alcohol
Alcohol sales are
restricted to BC govern-
ment Liquor Stores (wine,
spirits, and beer), private
wine sellers, Vintners
Quality Assurance (VQA)
outlets (specializing in BC
wines), and Cold Beer
Stores. d
Liquor Store:
1120 Alberni St
•
Map J3
•
Village VQA Wines: 3536
W 41st Ave
•
Map A2
•
Wine Barrel: 644 Brough-
ton St, Victoria
•
Map P3
Convenience
Stores
Small shops selling
cigarettes, toiletries, cold
drinks, snacks, and lottery
tickets are ubiquitous in
Vancouver and Victoria.
Some also sell public
transit tickets.
Payment
MasterCard, American
Express, and Visa credit
cards are widely accepted,
Diner's Club and Discov-
ery less so. Debit cards
compatible with Plus,
Interac, or Cirrus systems
are also widely accepted.
You will need your PIN.
Sales & Returns
Excellent savings are
to be had on Boxing Day
(December 26). Sale items
and sometimes those at
full price may not be
refundable, or exchange-
able only. Be sure to ask
about the return policy.
Tax Refunds
Books and groceries
are exempt from the 7
percent provincial sales
tax; most other items
are subject to up to 14
percent sales tax
(see
p110).
International visi-
tors who spent over
$200 may be entitled to
a refund of the 7 percent
GST (goods and services
tax), excluding GST on
restaurant meals, drinks,
tobacco, and transport.
Save the receipts.
d
Visitor Rebate Program:
1 800 668 4748
Department
Stores
Vancouver's two depart-
ment store chains, Sears
and The Bay, carry practi-
cally everything. Holt
Renfrew sells high-end
clothing and accessories.
The Bay also anchors Vic-
toria's Bay Centre.
d
Holt
Renfrew: Pacific Centre,
633 Granville St
•
Map K3
•
Sears: Pacific Centre,
701 Granville St
•
Map K3
•
The Bay: 647 Granville St,
BC specialities include Okanagan wines, ice wine, smoked
salmon, and First Nations art and jewelry
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