Hoping for Vancouver advice! We're (with a toddler) going next month and would love to know which areas of downtown to avoid staying in. Essentially I don't want to stay in the equivalent of Dundas and Jarvis/Parliament in Toronto.
We've narrowed down some hotels in Coal Harbour or near English Bay Beach.
Any help/advice/tips appreciated!

Always stay at Sylvia hotel on english bay and get a room with kichen overlooking the water

Yes stay at the Sylvia, sadly rundown hotels around the English Bay Beach other than The Sylvia.

We stayed on Robsen Street when we went in August. Perfect location for walking to many stores/restaurants, harbour and short drive to Stanley Park. We loved the Hotel Blue.

We also had a toddler

Avoid Granville st downtown. Its like yonge st in toronto dirty and smells of weed and pis. North Vanc is nice.

Jadzia Jrh thank you for tip!!

East Hastings used to be the street to avoid.

Lynn it still definately is

Lynn thank you! This is exactly the type of advice I was hoping to get

North van is a great option and an easy Seabus across. Very safe and friendly.

Avoid gastown
Do not leave any items, even plastic bottles, in your car.

Check out Sunset inn. They have suites. Stayed there 20 years ago so no idea what it’s like today but great location and I think you can have a kitchen. Downtown east side is sketchy but I’ve been there 2 in the morning and felt safe. Sadly, the locals live a rough life but they seldom harm others. But no reason to go. Gastown is safe but there can be thefts.

Jon stayed here in October and it was great for us. However the hotel across the street is being used as a shelter and we saw quite a few drugs and people on drugs along David (one block over)

I lived in Downtown Vancouver and my son was born there. I wouldn’t stay in either of those areas as a tourist. Visit them for a nice walk yes, but not stay there.
What do you plan to do while you are there? Share your list!

Coal Harbour would be the most convenient out of the two. Close to everything and sidewalks are easy with a toddler. Right by the water and also more quiet

If the science Center is open make sure to go there. And take a water taxi to get there from downtown. You might just get to see some sea otters or seals swimming in the water.

Talal Ijaz Khan following! We are also planning to go to Vancouver with a toddler

I lived in Gastown and west Vancouver. Having worked in Toronto in the subsidy system, I’m very well acquainted with sketchy areas so here are my recommendations for Vancouver where you can walk everywhere and avoid seeing the most severe homeless issues….
Coal harbour and downtown near the art gallery are good safe neighborhoods. Robson and burrard is also good. Easy to walk everywhere.
Don’t do Robson near the main library. I walked pass there couple times a week and always saw people shooting up outside the library.
Yaletown and false creek by English bay and denman is also good. Near Granville island and south Granville is nice but not as accessible. Olympic village still may have you walking through the east side which can be sketchy if you don’t know the area. Gastown is lovely and quaint but full of homeless who beg. Before covid, it wasn’t that bad but since covid and no cruise ships, they are desperate. I’ve worked in Jane and finch and regent park without being scared but Gastown during covid had my heckles up and we are a family who use to pack lunches and hand out to the homeless on the lower east side. Covid did a number on Vancouver’s homeless. If you can get a deal, any of the fairmont hotels are good. The pan pacific is also good.
I wouldn’t recommend the north shore because it’s a shitshow to get an uber or taxi. Taking the seabus will take you to Gastown and the homeless around waterfront station is something you may want to avoid with a toddler. My sister and her friends had their purse picked outside of waterfront station.
Hope that helps.

Pauline - wished there was someone like you in every city around the world as a guide!

Katherin dm me if you want recommendations. Depending on how long you stay, I can recommend a lot for you to do

Pauline wow thank you so much! Thank you for taking the time to answer my question so thoughtfully
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I'm going to do some research based on your suggestions!
Any suggestions for the best seafood ??

Andrea I have lots but what is your budget? Dm if you want suggestions

Pauline we’re thinking of booking the Loden hotel on Melville, do you know if that’s a good hotel/area?

Bonnie one of my fav. They have a nice restaurant downstairs Tableau. Small and chic hotel with great service. Nice neighbourhood because it’s very central. Close to Stanley park, the gallery and Robson and burrard. Not far from Yaletown either

great! Thank you

Get an airbnb

Personally I would grab an airbnb or vrbo rental in the Kitsilano Beach area!! You won’t regret it! Everything is at your fingertips and super safe. Take the bus downtown if you want to go….you will want to go to Granville and you can walk…coal harbour is basically the “financial district”. Or Sylvia Hotel but you won’t have the food/grocery/beverage options etc as Kits beach. Feel free to PM me if you need more idea or questions etc

Lisa oh thank you for the tips! I had no idea it was the financial district!

Stay away from East Vancouver - Hastings Street area. And you can walk right into it trying to get to Gastown and Chinatown so be careful. When I lived there I had to drive through it to get to my office and I locked the car doors. English Bay area is nice and Kitsilano Beach as Lisa said.

Barbra True, it's a tough area, the poorest census district in the country. However,, It was a good silent drive through to smarten up a young privileged nephew who was going nowhere fast

Wes true. the police down there, called the Beat, would bring classes of students through the area and there would be some people hooked on drugs who volunteered to talk to the kids and tell them not to end up like them. Very powerful.

https://www.pinnacleharbourfronthotel.com/
PINNACLEHARBOURFRONTHOTEL.COM
Downtown Vancouver Hotel | Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront

You could also try Kitsilano area. Large beach, playground, lots of walking available.. Great food. Easy to bus or skytrain to downtown.

Avoid china town and east hastings there were lots of sketchy individuals and we walked quickly by. We loved granville and nelson. There were lots of homeless after 9pm but honestly it was convenient, had lots of restaurants and was close to everything. The homeless never bothered us, and i would return to the area.

We just went to Vancouver last week! Avoid the East side of the downtown core (Japantown essentially and the east side of Gastown). Hastings Street is the worst part of it. A waitress basically told us to stay on the west side of the steam clock. Tried to even explore Crab Park just for the views and realized very quickly it’s tent city there

I’m from Toronto but I live in Vancouver now. With a toddler I’d highly recommend staying around Kits or Point Grey rather than trying to be downtown. It’s easy to get downtown if you want to go, but Kits is fabulous with tons to do for toddlers. You could spend a whole day or two at Kits Beach as there are awesome walking paths, a big playground, and of course the actual beach. Lots of shopping and food along West 4th or, if you walk a bit further up, West Broadway. Lots of cute airbnbs around there too.
Get yourself an Evo membership so you can use the car-share system here if you’re not renting a car. Or rent a car!
The north shore is great to visit, lots of awesome hikes and parks. The Lynn Canyon conservation area has a suspension bridge that’s just as good as Capilano but free and less crowded, and lovely easy hiking paths in the forest plus a river walk. Lots of playgrounds around there too. I love Lighthouse Park near the Horseshoe Bay ferry, it’s an easy, family-friendly walk. And if you drive a bit up the Sea to Sky Highway, the Britannia Mine Museum has lots of activities for little kids.
If you do want to stay at a hotel here, depending on your budget, the Sutton Place, Hotel Georgia and Fairmont Pacific Rim are faves of ours. Hotel Sans Soleil is a more budget friendly option but is actually amazing, I love it.

Would highly recommend staying in the mount pleasant neighbourhood

You won’t regret Coal Harbour - amazing views of the water and Stanley Park and close to the seawall to walk around by the water.
Go to Granville Island Kids Market while you visit. Also check out Random Acts of Pastel on Instagram, she posts all kinds of things to do around Vancouver that are toddler friendly.
https://kidsmarket.ca/m/#welcome
Also go to Highview Lookout for an amazing city view - just a drive, so you don’t have to hike if you don’t want with your little one.

I stayed in the Westin Bayshore Coal Harbour & it was much nicer than the average Westin. Upon check in they upgraded our room & asked if we wanted a late check out. When does that ever happen? We didn't even ask for this! They had a whole new tower & we felt like we had the place to ourselves.

Keep in mind, if renting a car and you intend on going on the sea to sky highway, rent a car with winter tires. Winter tires are mandatory to drive the sea to sky highway from October to March!

Just avoid the downtown east side. Everywhere else you'll be good

Ok, you're fine if you avoid the downtown eastside, and none of the major hotels are there anyways. The Fairmonts are a great option and both are in great areas where you can walk to most places. Bring waterproof stuff! Commercial Drive is a must that has authentic restaurants and great shops. Its a break from the yuppiness of central Vancouver. Victoria is really pretty if you can all take the ferry there for a day. The Aquarium is a good option with a little one.

https://www.capbridge.com/
CAPBRIDGE.COM
Vancouver Attractions | Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

I stayed at the Listel hotel for 3 weeks last fall. Great access to everything. I don't like travelling to get places. Walk to Stanley, downtown waterfront. Lots of cafe's

I stayed at the Pinnacle Harbourfront on the water recently. It was fantastic.

Stay near kitsilano beach very family-friendly, nice for strolls, easy to access to the rest of the city and water taxis.