How to explore Vancouver (and Whistler) on a budget
Posted on October 9, 2017 • 7 minutes • 1283 words
Table of contents
Vancouver is the port of entry for many backpackers visiting Canada. It’s no wonder, with a simple to use transit system, nearby destinations including Vancouver Island, Whistler, and even Seattle, there’s plenty to keep you occupied. Vancouver though, despite being beautiful, is notoriously expensive. Not only to live, but also to travel. Between the high costs of food, and the locals unique ability to encourage you to do every tour. It all adds up to a shrinking wallet. So to help you save some money I wanted to share some budgeting tips, specifically for Vancouver and Whistler. 
1. Save money on accommodations
Vancouver may have some of the nicest hotels in Canada, but if you’re trying to extend your stay in the west coast of Canada, consider checking out a local backpackers / hostel. They average around $35 CAD per night for dorms, and up to $75 per night for private rooms. If you compare that to hotel costs of $130 per night for a very basic room, you’re looking at almost $100 in savings per day. If you’re not squeamish about meeting new people, and can justify the savings as really, you’re traveling to explore, not to hang out in a fancy room. Then the hostel life is for you. Consider checking out Samesun Backpackers in Vancouver, which has a great little bar and is nice and centrally located. Or don’t forget about the St Clair Hotel-Hostel, a nautical themed hostel in a historic building, located in the heart of downtown Vancouver. 
2. Group up for day trips in Vancouver
There are a ton of amazing day trips from Vancouver, such as a ton of trips to waterfalls - see Norvan Falls, Kennedy Falls, Granite Falls, Silver Falls, or Shannon Falls, my personal favourite stop on the way to Whistler. Of course Whistler makes a perfect long weekend trip, as does Vancouver Island, and there’s also Lynn Canyon, and countless hikes around Vancouver. Check out my Vancouver Guide
for more amazing things to do in Vancouver. The problem with this many great things to check out nearby, is that it can get costly between car rentals, bus tickets, or uber fair. Group up, split an uber, split a car rental, find a trustworthy backpacker who bought a van (do your homework here, don’t trust total strangers please). By traveling in groups you save money on transportation, food, and often times splitting a case of beer ends up being much cheaper than buying your own six. On top of that you end up making some amazing friends and have people to push you out of your comfort zone to discover parts of Canada you might have been too afraid to pursue on your own. 
3. Avoid shopping
Vancouver has a ton of great shopping. But if you’re trying to save money, and have already complained about your backpack seeming a bit heavy, avoid the shopping districts all together. Unless you plan on mailing things home, or have a ton of extra room in your bag and can justify the extra weight in your bag, it’s best to play it smart. Why tempt yourself. Or if you must shop, consider simply replacing an item of clothing with a new item. Did you find that t-shirt you packed fits funny, toss it and replace it with something else. But look for sales! Or hit up thrift stores to save money. 
4. Find cheap flights to Vancouver
Finding cheap flights to Vancouver is surprisingly easy. As it’s such a popular fly in destination for visitors, there are often countless seat sales going on at once across several different airlines. Do your homework, consider checking out flight comparison apps such as Kayak, but realize they often miss some sales. So shop around. Setup a flight alert on apps like Hopper. Call your local travel agent, and ask their competitors what kind of deal they can offer. I always give Nanak Flights a call whenever I’m looking for cheap flights to Vancouver
, then I compare that with online, as well as other agents. Stalk Google Flights for flights to nearby airports. I’ve heard of some people choosing to fly in to Kelowna versus Vancouver as there are sometimes better seat sales there. Weigh out the pros and cons of that though, getting from Kelowna to Vancouver can be expensive if you don’t have transportation already lined up. Big savings for flights to Vancouver do exist, but you’ll have to spend an evening snooping around and checking all your options. I recommend setting up a spreadsheet with links, prices, and companies so you can keep track of the best deals on the best days. 
5. Dine-in, and drink in
Going out can be one of the most costly parts of a visit to Vancouver. A simple pub style meal in Vancouver - we’re talking Burger, Fries, Beer - will run you around $22, keep in mind Canadian waitresses do expect a tip of 15%, 20% if they’re astounding. That brings the price up to $27. That’s nearly a whole night at a hostel, or a case of beer, or a bottle of rum. For that same amount you could stock up a small shelf in your hostel fridge with sandwich meats, fresh veg, pasta, bread, and more. Plan accordingly and there is huge savings to be had. Like I mentioned in my budget saving tips for Calgary (and Banff)
post, live by the 80/20 rule when it comes to eating out. 80% eat in, 20% dine out. 80% drink in, 20% drink out. Don’t forget beer is notoriously expensive in Canada as it’s heavily taxed by our audacious “sin-taxes”. A beer at a pub will cost you anywhere from $6.50 - $8.50, and that can climb even higher if you go after the craft beer. A six pack of beer in Canada will run you around $16 CAD, and a 12 pack will be somewhere around $32 CAD. Bang for buck you still save by purchasing beer and drinking at your hostel, plus you get to meet more travellers this way. But if there was ever a country to cut back on your drinking and choose to go for a soda instead, it’s Canada. 
6. Budget tips for Whistler
Whistler is like a rich persons Banff. It’s a fairly quick drive from Vancouver, meaning the locals with money to spare end up there often, keeping prices considerably more high than other Ski / Mountain biking destinations such as Banff. You will find though that there are sales to be had. If you’re looking to Ski or Snowboard Whistler during the winter, watch online for at least 5-6 weeks, just like you would a flight and watch for promotions. You’ll also find that ticket prices will change based on the season, date, and there’s also several ongoing promotions for “Stay and Ski” packages. If you can get a big enough group together this can end up saving you money. Watch for sales and coupons on places like Bargain Moose, and consider calling up the hostel you’re going to stay at to see if they do group trips to Whistler. The same can be applied for mountain biking. Many people also opt to rent from within Vancouver versus renting gear from right on the mountain, as there is often a bit of savings to be had. But depending on how you’re getting to Whistler, it could cause more headaches than the small savings are worth.
