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Vancouver on a Budget

Feeling frugal? Vancouver can be bliss for the budget traveller.

You can eat cheap, sleep cheap, walk-til-you-drop or perambulate on public transit. And there are always plenty of deals and discounts to be had–you just need to know where to look.

Here’s a round-up of helpful posts to get your ledger sheet in order:


Getting to Vancouver on a budget

“Cheap” is a relative term when it comes to flights to Canada in general, but a little strategy and advance planning can save a lot of green. Have a look at these helpful links and then use the booking tool below to check for deep-discount fares:

Getting around Vancouver on a budget

Three words to the wise: walk, bike, transit. Rent a bike and take advantage of the city’s new dedicated bike lanes or buy a TransLink day-pass and criss-cross town by bus, SkyTrain or SeaBus. (Hint: you can carry a bike on public transit.)

Sleep cheap in Vancouver

Option 1: Couch-surf with friends. Or, if you haven’t had the good sense to make friends with a Vancouverite, you could try bunking with a stranger through sites such as Couchsurfing and Global Freeloaders.

Option 2: If you have a home of your own, consider a house swap. Canadians–and Vancouverites in particular–are keen on the concept of home exchange. (I’ve done it twice; here are my Top 10 Tips for a Successful Home Exchange.)

Option 3: Check out the links below and then use the search tool on this page to find the best rates on Vancouver hotels and hostels.

Eat cheap in Vancouver

Light wallet? No worries. You will not go hungry in Vancouver, home to some of the best budget eateries in North America thanks to its diverse ethnic mix.

Deals and discounts in Vancouver

Resources for the budget-minded