Weather    Currency    Tipping    Taxation

Founded in 1886, Vancouver is located in the southwest corner of British Columbia, at about 49° Latitude and 123° Longitude, next to the Pacific Ocean. With a population of about 500,000, Vancouver lies in a region of more than 2 million people, making it Canada's 3rd largest city. It is also Canada's largest port on the West Coast.

Vancouver was named for Captain George Vancouver, who in 1792, fourteen years after sailing here under Captain Cook, returned to the area in 1792, and spent the next two years exploring the area in search of the western end of the "Northwest Passage".

(Captain George Vancouver's ancestors came from the town of Coeverden in northeast Holland. His grandfather was John Jasper van Coeverden. In Dutch, Coeverden means 'cow crossing'.)

Vancouver has been selected as the host city for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games .

Vancouver is an exciting and lively city, boasting an impressive number of activities and attractions for both the one-time visitor and the everyday resident. Enjoy the variety of festivals and events Vancouver has to offer. Visit the widely known and not-so-widely known Vancouver attractions yourself, or go on an organized tour with a knowledgeable guide. Experience recreational activities both exhilarating and relaxing. Finish off your day with a night out on the town, featuring some of the best dining and nightlife in Canada.

Weather:

Daytime temperatures and night-time temperatures are fairly consistent because of the moderating influence of the sea. Vancouver is sheltered from the worst of Pacific Ocean weather systems by Vancouver Island. In the summer time, you can generally expect hot and sunny weather, with only occasional precipitation. In the fall, winter, and spring time, expect rain more often than not ... after all, there's a reason the grass and tree-leaves are green year-round. Always carry an umbrella with you in case of rain.

Average daily high temperatures are:

Currency:

The Canadian dollar is worth about two-thirds of a US dollar. Most Greater Vancouver establishments accept US dollars and Japanese yen, and usually offer reasonable exchange rates.

The current Canada/US exchange rate and the exchange rate between Canada and other countries, is on the website: www.x-rates.com

Tipping:

Some hotels include tips or gratuities with group programs to simplify bookkeeping. This will usually include gratuities for housekeeping, bell service and food service. In a hotel, bell service should be tipped about $1 per bag, and housekeeping $1 to $5 dollars a day (in proportion to your room rate). Visitors should know that the standard tip in restaurants is 10%-15% (on restaurant bills, an average tip will match the GST(Goods and Services Tax) tax), with 20% for very outstanding service. This is especially important for visitors from countries where tipping on meals is not done: here the waitering staff depend on tips for a significant portion of their incomes. Tip a similar proportion for taxis, or at least round fares up to the nearest dollar.

Taxation:

There are three levels of taxation that affect visitors to Vancouver. There is a 10% tax charged on accommodation and liquor. For just about all other goods and services, there is a 7.5% provincial sales tax (PST)-it's official title is "Social Services Tax"-as well as the 7% federal goods and services tax (GST). There are a number of exemptions and complexities to the way those taxes are applied, particularly where food is involved. PST, for instance, is not applied to, among other things, food and children's clothing.