Your Vancouver Olympics Game Plan

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For those who plan on attending the Vancouver Olympics in February (2010), there are a few things you should know in order to make the most of your time.

It’s not too late; but act soon before it is if you haven’t bought your tickets or booked your hotel for the 2010 Olympic Games.

A little pre-planning can make the difference in your Vancouver experience when booking your Vancouver accommodation.

Try to find one of the hotels in Vancouver that is close to the part of town where your events will be taking place.

While the Vancouver transit system is well designed and adequate to get you nearly anywhere you need to go, it will be crowded and difficult at times to get around.

Also keep in mind that spectator parking is not allowed at any of the venues, so you'll have to rely on buses, the seabus, skytrain, bicycles, or good old-fashioned walking to get you where you need to go.

Your first step is to find a good downtown Vancouver map to help orient you on where your events will be held.

The Vancouver Olympics will be taking place in four main locations in and around Vancouver. Here are where the different events will take place:

Downtown Vancouver:

• figure skating, curling, hockey, short track speed skating, and the opening and closing ceremonies as well as many of the victory ceremonies.

Richmond (a suburb of Vancouver, where the Vancouver BC airport is located):

• speed skating

Cypress Mountain (West Vancouver):

• freestyle skiing and snowboard events.

Whistler (approximately 2 hours from Vancouver):

• all other outdoor events, including alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, bobsleigh, luge, and biathlon.

Obviously, if you are attending any events held in Vancouver, it would be easiest to stay in one of the downtown Vancouver hotels.

While this might not be the cheapest option, there is something to be said for accessibility.

Also keep in mind that you won’t be watching the games the entire time; and downtown Vancouver has endless options for you to see and do in your spare time.

When the events you plan to attend are going to any of the other three locations, research which hotels are close to various modes of transportation.

For example, if you plan on going to Whistler for your Vancouver Olympics games but want to stay in Vancouver, then it helps to know how you’re getting there before deciding which part of town to stay in.

The Whistler Mountaineer train leaves from North Vancouver and bus transfers leave from either the airport or select major hotels throughout the city.

The Whistler and Valley Express (WAVE) connect the towns of Pemberton and Squamish to Whistler, which offers some alternatives to staying downtown.

Of course, there will be plenty of additional transportation options during the Vancouver Olympics, so be sure to check the official 2010 Olympic Games website at http://www.vancouver2010.com for more information.

Vancouver Olympic Stories

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