Vancouver on the cheap

[Runny]

I'm in with Vancouver with my boyfriend who is here for a conference. Do you guys have any tips  on where to get cheap and good groceries or which hole in the wall type restaurants I could go to? We're staying at the renaissance hotel and their breakfast is 22$, which I'm obviously not paying. Unfortunately the room doesn't have a fridge so buying yoghurt and milk in advance is not an option.

Also if you guys have any tips on low cost activities in and around Vancouver, I'd appreciate it.

[Gerard]

Been a while since I spent much time in Vancouver, but try Asian greengrocers in/near Chinatown and the old Japan-town. Chinatown is also good for cheap restaurant meals.

A wonderful free activity is spending time in Stanley Park or the park past UBC (the one that includes Wreck Beach). Or Granville Island if you can resist buying the high-quality expensive food at the market. You can get to the island (and other places) on the cute little False Creek ferry:
http://www.granvilleislandferries.bc.ca/index.htm

You could walk to all of these except Wreck Beach (if you go that far, check out the anthropology museum on the UBC campus, if it's open. It has amazing Haida carving). Part of the walk to Chinatown through the downtown east side used to be kinda rough, though. Maybe it still is.

I'm sure Vancouver natives will chip in with more nuanced/recent suggestions.

[Runny]

Thanks for the great tips Gerard!

[MBot]

I went last year and did a lot of cheap/free things!  Stanley Park, Kitsilano, the Granville Island Market.

Lynn Valley was nearby and a great hike.

I like design stuff so I used some of Design*Sponge's city guide to peruse stores (without buying of course).

http://www.designsponge.com/2013/07/vancouver-guide.html

We love great food, but only budgeted for one "fine dining" meal in 9 days. The rest was groceries, oatmeal at my sisters apartment or office, and "low cost fine experiences"

That strategy was to enjoy gourmet items with a low price point - eg a macaron from Thierrys and one from Thomas Haas were 2 great experiences for a few dollars each. Same with fish from Go Fish and heading to Matchstick for pourover coffee. Oh and Meat and Bread for sandwiches. We liked that so much we did a "meat and bread" themed birthday party back in the town we live in.

As a trip souvenir we did buy 2 HUGE vintage maps for $10 from a store on W Broadway called Stepback.

[Runny]

Thanks for the tips. I'll definitely go to meat &bread. It looks delicious. I went for a walk around Stanley park and it was beautiful!

[Zikoris]

Great location! I live about 10 blocks from there.

I would recommend taking the SeaBus across to the Lonsdale Quay - it's a very fun place to wander around, eat, and buy some cheap groceries or snacks or souvenirs. They have farmers markets, but I'm not sure which days. They have a very good fresh-made chocolates place that I try to avoid due to cost and health, but I definitely stop in once or twice a year.

You know the path around the perimeter of Stanley Park? it continues on both ends, so you can extend that and see a lot more of the downtown area. I'd recommend a bike for this. My boyfriend and I do a really nice circuit from Gastown (where we live) through Coal Harbour, around the park, continuing along past Sunset Beach and English Bay, through Yaletown, and up through Chinatown to get back home. It's completely on bike paths, no cars to be seen, and 90% right next to the water - all around gorgeous ride, especially in this weather. Hit me up if you want to go together (this applies to anyone else in Vancouver as well, not just OP!).

[MgoSam]

You can always call your hotel and request a mini fridge (ask if there are any fees). Many hotels I have stayed at that don't come with a minifridge have provided one complimentary upon request. This might help a little bit.

For these same hotels that don't offer free wifi, I have a Freedompop hotspot that I use. This pays for itself easily as internet at some trade shows is insanely high.