VANCOUVER - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 94

UBC Bookstore (University of British Columbia, 6200 University Blvd. at Westbrook
Mall, 604/822-2665, 9:30am-5pm Mon.-Fri., 11am-5pm Sat.) has almost 100,000 titles on
its shelves.
Vancouver has three excellent bookstores specializing in travel-related literature. Wan-
derlust (west of Cypress St. at 1929 W. 4th Ave., Kitsilano, 604/739-2182,
www.wanderlustore.com , 10am-7pm Mon.-Fri., 10am-6pm Sat.) stocks general travel
guides, maps, atlases, and a range of travel accessories. Farther west is The Travel Bug
(3065 W. Broadway, 604/737-1122, www.travelbugbooks.ca , 10am-6pm Mon.-Sat.,
noon-5pm Sun.), with an equally impressive collection of travel guides as well as more re-
gional titles than you ever imagined existed. If you like maps, you'll love International
Travel Maps and Books (12300 Bridgeport Rd., Richmond, 604/273-1400,
www.itmb.com , 9:30am-5pm Mon.-Sat.), one of the world's most prolific cartography com-
panies, whose title list includes over 400 maps covering offbeat destinations.
Accommodations
Whether you're looking for a luxurious room in a high-rise hotel or a downtown dorm, Van-
couver has accommodations to suit all budgets, many of which were renovated prior to the
2010 Winter Olympic Games. Downtown hotel room rates fluctuate greatly depending on
supply and demand, much more so than bed-and-breakfasts and motels in suburban loca-
tions. In Vancouver, demand is highest in summer and on weekdays, so if you're looking to
save a few bucks, plan on being in town in the cooler months (May and September are my
favorite times to be in Vancouver), or stay at a business hotel as part of a weekend package.
One word of warning: If you plan to have a vehicle, prepare yourself for parking fees up to
$35 per day in the downtown area. Ask if weekend rates include free parking—they often
do.
The following recommendations reflect my favorites in various price categories
throughout the city. You won't find every downtown hotel mentioned here, and outside of
downtown only convenient and good-value choices are included.