and stage the most incredible spectacle BC has ever experienced.
What you NEED TO KNOW before you arrive »»
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Vancouver and Whistler are
preparing to host the 2010 Olympics and stage the most incredible spectacle BC has ever experienced. What you NEED TO KNOW before you arrive »» |
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 News Weather & Inside Trading Olympic ATHLETES & Entourage come to COMPETE & MEET while SPORTS FANS come to PLAY in Vancouver and Whistler What you need to know Local Transportation SECRETS Most Olympic spectators have no idea until they arrive that public transportation in Olympics regions is incredibly chaotic, and in some cases even nonexistent. You can't get there from here ... is a common saying in Olympics regions. By 2007, traffic in our region already started to become oppressively congested, and it is getting worse as the big event approaches. Today's Olympics events are primarily designed for television, which means tourists are basically brought in to provide a backdrop for the sporting events in stadiums and on the slopes. Tourists are a television "prop" and cash cow. It's unfortunate, but in some respects live spectators are an afterthought. Olympics organizations will waste your time on buses and in long lines for food and other services. Why? Well, they have more important things to worry about, like terrorism for example, and the weather, and most importantly, athletes. |
OLYMPIC TICKETS click here Airport to Downtown Directions 2010 CLOCK Canada's Northern House MAP Downtown Vancouver CANADA PAVILLION LiveCity Downtown Celebration Site Four Host Nations Pavilion MAP French Quarter (Granville Island) MAP Sochi House (Russia 2014) MAP Holland Heineken House MAP David Lam Park MAP Nightly Medal Award Ceremony - $22 Musical Headliners Alberta House MAP Bombardier Streetcar Streetcar Olympic Line Scandinavia House Atlantic Canada House MAP CentrePlace Manitoba MAP Saskatchewan Pavilion Irish House MAP German Saxony House MAP LiveCity Yaletown MAP House of Switzerland O-Zone Richmond Laser Waterworks Show Laser Light Show ::::::::::: Whistler Events |
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| Whether or not an Olympics tourist has a good experience is theoretically important, but practically, it's quite far
down the list. Olympics organizations give good lip service,
and it's not to say that they don't want you to have a good time, but
today, they are always cash poor, which means they cut corners, and
2010 is no exception. Plus, from a revenue perspective, if they can keep you as a captive audience you will spend more money on their products. They have little incentive to help you explore the Host region. After you arrive in our 2010 Olympics region, and once you know what you want to do you still have to plan how you will get to the location. Don't assume it will be easy, or sometimes even possible. Public transportation is always so poorly managed it often takes six hours to travel a route that normally takes two (Turin is a good recent example, and so is Salt Lake City). A twenty minute cab ride in an Olympic region can take an hour or two by the time you are cleared through all the security checkpoints, because as you know ... Olympics regions are targets for terrorists. It won't be as easy as you think to hail a cab, hop on a bus, or rent a car and make your own way. To begin with, our local bus system will be turned upside down, and most of the routes during the Games will not be in normal operation, if at all. All buses are reserved for shuttling spectators from hotels to sport event locations. In 2006, taxis were already a serious problem in Vancouver. Our system is woefully under-equipped and understaffed, so if you can even find a cab be prepared to pay a premium price. Demand receipts and look for transportation coupons offered by some smart retailers. Cab drivers in Vancouver are notorious for not letting customers in their vehicles if they are only traveling short distances, so don't tell them where you're going until you're in the back seat, but confirm the fare before the driver takes off. You must be firm. This is after all the Wild West! Renting a car will be possible if you plan very, very far in advance, but keep in mind many of the roads will be blocked to regular traffic. If you're reading this after 2008 you might already be out of luck renting a car. The plan for the Sea to Sky highway, which is the ONLY road connecting Vancouver and Whistler is to close it completely to the general public between Squamish (the half-way point) and Whistler. The plan is to have this normally one hour-long stretch only be accessible to official Olympics buses and vehicles. Unless you live or work in the area, personal and rental cars will be prevented from driving on this section of highway. Transportation is a serious challenge for everyone, so if you want to do a little shopping anywhere in our Olympics region your best option will be to contact independent retail businesses regarding their personal shuttle service, or to find out if they are part of an independent retail transportation network. If Olympics organizations wanted to make it more efficient they could, but they have little incentive because they eventually realized that when they have you trapped in their system they can sell you more of their products. It's not a coincidence companies like McDonalds and Visa have monopolies at Olympics events. It's planned this way and it means your money is channeled primarily to Olympics organizations. It's unfair to you and local businesses, but unfortunately, it's the Olympic way, so it is up to you to make sure you don't end up being a captive audience. There are many incredible things to see and do in Vancouver and Whistler once you get off the bus, or more accurately, if you get off the bus and out of the McFood line ... so PLAN. click for TIPS regarding SAFETY in Olympics regions TIPS: General Weather Transportation Safety Shopping Your best course of action is to PLAN PLAN PLAN !!! See you soon, and if you have questions, please contact us here! Check out our Newsletter - It's FREE!! blog comments powered by Disqus         Mouseover thumbnails for a mini PHOTO TOUR and a FREE offer |
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