As in any large metropolis, the favorite activity of most local citizens and tourists, shopping is a favorite occupation. And the abundance of shopping centers, shops and whole shopping blocks in Vancouver allows it to do with comfort and pleasure. Moreover, we can say that Vancouver is the most ideal city in Canada for such a time.
The most popular places for shopping and recreation in the city are areas: Kitsilano, Granville Island, South Granville, and Yaletown, as well as Robson Street Street and a huge, which occupies several quarters of the Pacific Center Mall shopping complex. With advantages, advantages and possible disadvantages, each of the above places for shopping, let's try to figure it out.
Pacific Center Mall.
This is a small town in the city. And there is no exaggeration, because this shopping complex occupies the territory of the whole three quarters of the city, with both the land and underground. It is located or surprisingly, not on the outskirts of the city, but in the very center of Vancouver, there are no problems with parking. There are more than 140 stores on the territory of Molla, such as multi-brand, so trading some particular brand. When planning a speastal visit, it will not be superfluous to know his work schedule, as it is a little strange, in my opinion.
Monday - Tuesday from 10:00 to 19:00;
Wednesday - Friday from 10:00 to 21:00;
Saturday from 10:00 to 19:00;
Sunday from 11:00 to 18:00
By the way, most other stores in Vancouver work on a very similar schedule. Agree, unusual for us, accustomed to the work of shops with 10 and to the 21st daily.
Robson Street.
The street located in the Downtown area is a favorite place for shopping and walks on weekends among tourists and citizens. Here you can visit not only more than 200 stores and boutiques that are on it, but also look at the latest new fashion in the galleries, sit in a cafe in a break between shopping visits, just stroll, and finish the evening with a pleasant dinner in one of the restaurants, for Street set.
Granville Island
Perhaps the most interesting place for shopping in Vancouver. Located in the former industrial area of the city, and much from the former entourage remained unchanged, except for the gray and dull walls of factories, hangars and warehouses, now painted in bright screaming colors, and all elements of applied application decor (playgrounds, benches, lights, etc.) Made of parts of machine tools, sleepers, rail, wheel tires and other production elements.
On the territory there is a huge number of small shops selling almost everything that can only be represented, truth within Canadian legislation, there is a mass cafe, small art galleries, and on the outskirts of the district, there is a large indoor food market on the very shore.
Kitsilano.
The most bohemian place for shopping. There are more than 300 stores in the area, most of which are engaged in boutiques of famous world brands, but this should not scare tourists from Russia, because the difference in prices in the stores of the same brand in Moscow and Vancouver, may differ not at times, but an order , if not in favor of the Russian capital. Previously, this area was a meeting place for all sorts of informals, which affects the appearance of stores. Despite its bohemian status, many showcases look very eclectically, but it is rather plus than minus. Here are the largest sports shop stores. There is a 15-minute drive from the "Nizhny city" area. By the way, this is the only place in the city where there are shops and institutions operating 24 hours a day.
Yaletown.
Located in the southern part of Vancouver and is largely similar to the Kitsiliano district. Exactly the same chic boutiques, a large amount of fashion galleries, fashion salons, restaurants, pubs and cafes.
What to buy in Vancouver?
Alas, but world globalization does its job, and find some exclusive trademarks, unique things and other goods that can only be bought in Vancouver and anywhere else, it's not real here. All the same is also in Europe, and in Russia. The difference is possible only only in filling the collections of a brand, and that is rare. From the exclusive you can only mark the maple syrup. It is not cheap, but very tasty, and the most "Canadian" product. As souvenirs, it is worth buying crafts made of wood made by Eskimos or Indians, decorated with ethnic patterns.
Sales.
At the end of the seasons (very-winter, spring-summer), almost all stores arrange seasonal sales, but prices are rare when they drop by more than 20-30 percent, so in this sense, Vancouver stores are not much different from shops in other corners of the world. In addition to seasonal sales it is worth noting two more types in many ways only by Canada. This is Boxing Week and Sidewalk Sale. The first goes mostly in December and January, and at this time the shops open out indecently (by Canadian standards) early, discounts can reach 50-70 percent, but no system has these sales, each store suits them in its own way time. The second type is the street sale. That is, the goods from shops are taken out to the streets or to the corridors of shopping centers, and everyone can touch, try on and if you like it, to buy with a discount of up to 50 percent. And this format sales, shops are arranged at their request, outside the binding to season and dates.
Tax Free.
In the direct form, the Tax Free program in Canada was closed more than 5 years ago due to a large number of migrants who tried to return VAT for all the time of their stay in the country, until they receive citizenship. However, there is a local VAT return program for tourists. For British Columbia, which includes Vancouver, the percentage of return is 8th, but at the same time it is necessary to order the delivery of the purchase to his home, beyond the limits of Canada, provided that the store provides this service. At the same time, the purchase amount should be at least 200 Canadian dollars. After that, during the year, you need to send a check and the completed form to return by mail at the Summerside Tax Center. The form and the address can be found on the site of the center, which you can find a scoring name in the search engine.