Vancouver is the second most expensive city in Canada after Toronto. However Vancouver rarely ranks in the top 50 of worldwide city surveys. Overseas visitors will find Vancouver much cheaper than all the main European and Asian cities and better value than popular American destinations such as New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

A strong Canadian dollar means higher prices for visitors but unless you are planning to buy a house in Vancouver, prices for most things are moderate.

Accommodation rates in Vancouver

After your flight, accommodation will be the priciest part of your trip. Staying downtown is the most expensive option when staying in Vancouver but it is also the most convenient. You’ll cut down on travel costs and food and travel expenses aren’t much more expensive than in the surrounding cities and suburbs.

Like most places the accommodation prices sky-rocket in the summer and the best deals to be had are from October to April. All accommodation prices quoted below are the peak season rates and include taxes.

- Hostels (dormitories): $35 a night

- Hostels (private rooms): $80 to $100 a night

- Bed & breakfasts: $160 to $300 a night

- Three-star hotels: $180 to $250 a night

- Five-star plus luxury: $400 plus a night

When looking for a room make sure you add the tax and service fees (which are about 15% of the basic room rate) before you make a booking.

Food

If money is tight, it is possible to eat out in Vancouver for $30 a day without resorting to fast food value meals. But if you want to live a little, a budget of $40 to $50 a day is more realistic

A coffee and a muffin from a coffee shop will set you back about $7 for breakfast. Vancouver’s numerous sushi restaurants offer lunch specials and bento boxes for under $10 and lots of cafes offer soup and a sandwich for around the same price. In the evening you can enjoy a main course at a good ethnic restaurant for under $15. Alcohol is expensive and a beer or wine with your meal will boost your bill significantly.

- Small cappuccino: $3 to $3.50

- Small latte: $3 to $3.50

- Muffin: $2.25 to $3

- Burger meal deal: $6 to $7.50

- Pizza slice: From $1.50

- Bottled pop/soft drink: $1.90 to $2.50

- Bottled juice: $2.20 – $2.50

- Bottled water: $1.20 to $1.50

- Six-pack of cheap brand beer: $11 to $13

- Six-pack of micro-brew beer: $13 to $17

The cost of travel in Vancouver

Public transit is cheap in Vancouver. One transit ticket is good for use on buses, the SeaBus and SkyTrain and you can use the same ticket within a single zone for 90 minutes. If you plan to do a lot of travel by public transit, buy a book of FareSaver tickets to save money.

- One zone travel: $2.50

- Two zone travel: $3.75

- DayPass (all zones) $9

- One zone FareSaver tickets (10): $21

- Two zone FareSaver tickets (10): $31.50

Vancouver Taxis

Short trips across town (5km) in light traffic will cost just under $15 including a tip.

Gas Gas prices in British Columbia are more expensive than cities in eastern provinces. Prices at the pump are much cheaper than in Europe but around 25% more than the United States. Over the last 3 years, prices have yo-yoed between $1.05 a litre to $1.45.

Entertainment in Vancouver

- Cinema tickets: $9 to $12

- Galleries & museums: $10 to $20

- Other visitor attractions: $12 to $28

Outdoor equipment rental

It’s easy to enjoy the outdoors in Vancouver. There are several bike and in-line skate rentals close to Stanley Park and kayak hire is available at Deep Cove, Granville Island and Sunset Beach and Jericho Beach during the summer.

- Bike rental: $17 to $40 for a half day

- Inline skate rental: From $5 an hour

- Kayaks rental: $30 to $38 for two hours

Taxes

The BC sales tax of 12% is applied to most goods and services.

Tipping

The standard tip rate is 15% for taxis, bars and restaurants.

Ibiza, Majorca, Tenerife, the Costa del Sol. Spain is just filled with superb beaches, which has made it such a popular holiday destination. But have you ever thought of spending your beach holiday in one of Spain’s biggest cities? Well, in Barcelona you can do just that, where one of Europe’s most important cities and seven beaches await you.

Since the Olympic Games in 1992 sparked a rejuvenation of Barcelona’s beaches, their number has grown from one to seven. They are situated along a 5km stretch of the city’s coastline, from North to South. Manned by lifeguards from June to September, they cater for a growing number of tourists and can be accessed in only 20 minutes from the city centre.

More than 3.5million tourists now visit the beaches every year. The city’s council is continually improving services, creating a cleaner and safer place. Part of this mission has included the establishment of the Barcelona Beach Center. Here you can take part in a number of free exhibitions and activities or simply relax with the day’s newspapers.

In each Barcelona beach section, from Sant Sebastia to Llevant, you’ll find beach bars called ‘chiringuitos’. Serving a good range of drinks and food, they are always very popular. The chiringuitos can be more expensive, however, given their beachfront position.

Some of these bars are known to throw beach parties, regularly going on late into the evening. DJs are often hired to play music and attract lots of revellers who come to dance on the sand. With no one to disturb and the sea close by for a midnight dip, Barcelona’s beach parties have become legendary.

But dancing isn’t the only physical activity that you can do on Barcelona’s beaches. During any visit to the sandy shores you’re bound to see joggers and walkers. The promenades are also always busy with skaters, rollerbladers and cyclists looking to keep fit. And, of course, no beach in Spain would be complete without teams taking part in a volleyball match.

The sea is also very safe, with no major currents, making it popular with swimmers. All of Barcelona’s beaches have the EU Blue Star rating making it ideal for bathers. There is also an excellent provision of disabled access. One word of warning however: watch out for the waves. On windy days the surf can get a bit rough, so weaker swimmers are advised to stay close to the shore.

This fact has made Barcelona’s beaches very popular with surfers. You can see surfers taking their boards to the beaches all through the year. One reason for this is the cleanliness of all of the city’s beaches. A clean beach campaign was started in 2006 to raise pollution awareness among bathers and the water quality has improved no end.

Depending on what kind of beach experience you are looking for might affect where you decide to stay. As always, renting an apartment is the cheapest way to stay in Barcelona. The beaches at the southern end of the city – Sant Sebastia and Barceloneta – are closest to its centre and are livelier. For students and young travellers, these are the places to pick out an apartment.

For those looking for somewhere a bit quieter, the beaches to the North will suit better. These include Nova Mar Bella and Llevant. They are much less busy and are used more often by families and residents looking for peace and quiet. For easy access to these you will want to find an apartment around Poblenou or Selva de Mar.

Being away from the city centre, you’ll probably find rent is slightly lower around the beach. You will also have a wide selection of apartments to choose from, catering for young groups, couples and families. There is nowhere better to base yourself.

With some truly sensational beaches, Barcelona ranks alongside Spain’s most popular destinations for a summer vacation. With seven beaches on offer, there are those to cater for every class of person. Whether you are away with family or on a break with friends, there are lots of apartments to meet your requirements. You can also combine the best of both worlds with a city retreat coupled with a beach break. So, before you head for one of the islands, or Spain’s famous ‘Sunshine Coast’, you should always consider Barcelona.