Is anyone going to the olympics in Vancouver? [Archive]

mrzeigler

10-23-2009, 04:14 PM

I'm gonna be there also. How did you find a place to stay. All the hotels are just crazy expensive. Its too bad money doesn't grow on trees.

I searched for budget hotels that wouldn't get snatched up by the IOC, and I made reservations in March. I was able to get 7 of the 8 nights that I'll be in Vancouver for about $720 USD total at Buchan Hotel (which got a good budget review from the NY Times a couple weeks ago — unfortunately it's fully booked).

I then was spinning my wheels for months trying to land an accommodation for my first night in town (cheapest hotel room was listed at $600 a night for a room that normally goes for $60).

Eventually, I just posted an ad on the Vancouver Craiglists, saying I'd be willing to pay $300 CAN or give 2 tix to a freestyle ski event (which conflicted with hockey tix I had) for someone to pick up me & my wife at the airport late at night, provide a room & bed for 5-6 hours and then drive us to our hotel in the morning.

I got about 14-18 responses to that ad, and about 12 of them appeared to be very responsible, serious people. I eventually got a person who was willing to pick us up, give us a bed and drive us to our hotel for our tix and $50 CAN.

So, for under $800USD and $160-worth of tix that I'd unload anyway, I have 8 nights in metro Vancouver during the games.

Given the number of people who jumped at the $300 CAN offer for one night, I suspect people might be willing to set up a similar homestay deal (esp. for a week or so) at a lower rate, say, maybe $175-225 CAN. I posted high simply because I didn't want to dither with the final element of our plans.


	HFBoards > Hockey Talk by Country > International Tournaments > Is anyone going to the olympics in Vancouver? PDA Is anyone going to the olympics in Vancouver? ad on ice 10-20-2009, 04:42 PM I'll be in Vancouver, wanna know how many others are going there Sentinel 10-20-2009, 05:10 PM I considered, but it's just TOO. DAMN. EXPENSIVE! mrzeigler 10-21-2009, 12:42 AM I'm going — I have tix to five of the quarter/semifinals hockey games. ad on ice 10-21-2009, 10:40 AM I'm gonna be there also. How did you find a place to stay. All the hotels are just crazy expensive. Its too bad money doesn't grow on trees. TheCrosbyShow91 10-21-2009, 04:27 PM To ****ing expensive elriz 10-21-2009, 04:29 PM i took the two weeks off work! mrzeigler 10-23-2009, 04:14 PM I'm gonna be there also. How did you find a place to stay. All the hotels are just crazy expensive. Its too bad money doesn't grow on trees. I searched for budget hotels that wouldn't get snatched up by the IOC, and I made reservations in March. I was able to get 7 of the 8 nights that I'll be in Vancouver for about $720 USD total at Buchan Hotel (which got a good budget review from the NY Times a couple weeks ago — unfortunately it's fully booked). I then was spinning my wheels for months trying to land an accommodation for my first night in town (cheapest hotel room was listed at $600 a night for a room that normally goes for $60). Eventually, I just posted an ad on the Vancouver Craiglists, saying I'd be willing to pay $300 CAN or give 2 tix to a freestyle ski event (which conflicted with hockey tix I had) for someone to pick up me & my wife at the airport late at night, provide a room & bed for 5-6 hours and then drive us to our hotel in the morning. I got about 14-18 responses to that ad, and about 12 of them appeared to be very responsible, serious people. I eventually got a person who was willing to pick us up, give us a bed and drive us to our hotel for our tix and $50 CAN. So, for under $800USD and $160-worth of tix that I'd unload anyway, I have 8 nights in metro Vancouver during the games. Given the number of people who jumped at the $300 CAN offer for one night, I suspect people might be willing to set up a similar homestay deal (esp. for a week or so) at a lower rate, say, maybe $175-225 CAN. I posted high simply because I didn't want to dither with the final element of our plans.