Become a Virtual Tourist Member Today!  Sign Up for Free | Sign In
Downtown Eastside, Vancouver
Search:

Vancouver Hotels

Real reviews from real travelers.

Downtown Eastside, Vancouver

Main & Hastings in the downtown eastside - Vancouver
Main & Hastings in the downtown eastside
by Carmanah
Downtown Eastside tips posted by real travelers and Vancouver locals.
• 17 Photos
• 55 Reviews

See all Vancouver Warnings or Dangers
Sort By:  Most Recent | Best Rated
Downtown Eastside: Downtown Eastside
  • Tip Rating:
  • canadacutey
  • By canadacutey on February 26, 2003
  • Vancouver Page by canadacutey
  • This part of downtown, is a very unflattering view of our beautiful city.Mentioned as the worst skid row in north america.Dont let yourself wander into this part of town.Although many movies are filmed in this area, it is a poor community.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

    Visiting Vancouver?

    Read reviews about Vancouver Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    Downtown Eastside: If you have read other...
  • Tip Rating:
  • unigirl
  • By unigirl on August 26, 2002
  • Vancouver Page by unigirl
  • If you have read other warnings about Vancouver, you've probably read about the severe area of town known as the Downtown Eastside. The area around Main and Hastings Street is notorious for drugs, crime, and unsavoury characters. In fact, the neighbourhood is certifiably the poorest is ALL of Canada, has a high rate (sometimes estimated at about 50%) of people living with AIDS, HIV, and/or hepatitis. Yes, it is a bad area, but know that the majority of people involved in crime down there are the criminals themselves (ie: stabbings during a drug-related fight). Please don't go walking down dark alleys at night, but there is no need to panic if you find yourself there. I have a friend who lived right in the heart of the neighbourhood for well over a year--she left her jeep out at night unlocked and without a hood, walked the streets alone, and nothing ever happened to her. There is a real sense of community there--the people are friendly, and there is no need to be paranoid. Just be careful. Bottom line: you'll probably only find trouble if you look for it. There is also no need to go down there and look at the people as if they are sideshows. They deserve respect like everyone else, and have enough problems with having people going down there to gawk at them. By the way--a few weeks after my friend moved to a more 'civilised' neighbourhood, her jeep was stolen....

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Downtown Eastside: As already mentioned, stay...
  • Tip Rating:
  • SurfSeeker
  • By SurfSeeker on August 27, 2002
  • Vancouver Page by SurfSeeker
  • Downtown Eastside - Vancouver
    by SurfSeeker
    As already mentioned, stay away from the Downtown Eastside, your unlikely to encounter this section of town unless you begin to wander east of Gastown.
    Oh, but Chinatown is definately worth a look. This would be the old Carnegie Library (hastings), don't catch yourself loitering out front or you might run into some rift raft !!!!

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Downtown Eastside: Be very weary of Hastings...
  • Tip Rating:
  • Civet
  • By Civet on August 26, 2002
  • Vancouver Page by Civet
  • Be very weary of Hastings Street (and most of Gastown). It's an extremely dangerous place even during the day. News reports litter the news papers and TV news stations with cases of people being intentionally stuck with hypodermic needles containing Hepatitis C, HIV and other STDs.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Downtown Eastside: Avoid Main Street, and East...
  • Tip Rating:
  • Stellco
  • By Stellco on August 26, 2002
  • Vancouver Page by Stellco
  • Avoid Main Street, and East Hatsings at Night, both a bit dodgey. The Pacific Bus station is on Main, so if you're arriving at night, make sure you know what you're doing when you arrive. (get on Skytrain into city centre is your best bet.)

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

    Visiting Vancouver?

    Read reviews about Vancouver Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    Downtown Eastside: I walked into the courtyard of...
  • Tip Rating:
  • btex
  • Updated By btex on August 30, 2002
  • Vancouver Page by btex
  • I walked into the courtyard of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen's garden in Chinatown and, in the corner, saw a couple of guys smoking something. It looked like they were smoking crack, but I'm not an expert - might have just been a cigarette. I hear that Hastings St., right next to Chinatown, isn't exactly the best neighborhood to be in.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Downtown Eastside: Tourist be careful not to go...
  • Tip Rating:
  • hotshot0428
  • By hotshot0428 on August 26, 2002
  • Vancouver Page by hotshot0428
  • Downtown Eastside - Vancouver
    by hotshot0428
    Tourist be careful not to go to Downtown Eastside along Main and East Hasting Street. There are many drug addicts and drug dealers along that area.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Downtown Eastside: Well the only dangers we were...
  • Tip Rating:
  • Aragina
  • Updated By Aragina on August 26, 2002
  • Vancouver Page by Aragina
  • Downtown Eastside - Vancouver
    by Aragina
    Well the only dangers we were told about was the area between Chinatown and downtown. It is supposed to be ridden with drug addicts and unsavory types. To be honest we did walk through there in daylight but not at night. Also be carful when on Granville Island as one of our group had her bag snatched and she didn't even know :-(.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Downtown Eastside: Stay away from East Hastings...
  • Tip Rating:
  • Kindra
  • By Kindra on August 25, 2002
  • Vancouver Page by Kindra
  • Stay away from East Hastings Street and that area at night and day. This is the worst area in Canada for drug use and has also the highest ratio of people infected with HIV. It is not a fun place to be and only go down there if you are in an extremely large group. It is pretty close to Gastown and those touristy areas so be sure of where you are going.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Downtown Eastside: Vancouver is a really safe...
  • Tip Rating:
  • By vanstudent on August 25, 2002
  • Vancouver Page by vanstudent
  • Downtown Eastside - Vancouver
    by vanstudent
    Vancouver is a really safe place, you can walk downtown late at night. But you should always be careful not to walk into north-east Vancouver by yourself, especially East Hastings. Anything West of Richards Street and south of Pender Street is safe.

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    More Vancouver Tips
    Overview
     
    Hotels and Accommodations
    Tips: 378 - Photos: 274
    Things To Do
    Tips: 1,541 - Photos: 2,217
    Nightlife
    Tips: 255 - Photos: 183
    Transportation
    Tips: 318 - Photos: 303
    Restaurants
    Tips: 950 - Photos: 690
    Shopping
    Tips: 129 - Photos: 114
    Off the Beaten Path
    Tips: 391 - Photos: 474
    Tourist Traps
    Tips: 94 - Photos: 63
    Warnings or Dangers
    Tips: 210 - Photos: 116
    Local Customs
    Tips: 134 - Photos: 84
    Packing Lists
    Tips: 76 - Photos: 34
    Sports Travel
    Tips: 86 - Photos: 83
    General Tips
    Tips: 503 - Photos: 539
    Flights
    Tips: 44 - Photos: 0

    Best Vancouver Travel Deals

    5 Star Vancouver Hotels
    Get Our Best Price Guarantee on All 5 Star Hotels in Vancouver.

    Sunset Inn & Suites
    Downtown Vancouver BC Hotel Suites Great location. From $129-$159/nt

    Pan Pacific Vancouver
    Now Choose 2 Value Added Benefits Including Room Category Upgrades !

    Downtown Vancouver Hotels
    Vancouver Hotels as Low as $68. Special Deal - Book Now For Savings

    Lord Stanley: Vancouver
    Premium downtown hotel with water & mountain views near Stanley Park.

    Sponsored Links

    More Vancouver Travel Deals

    Hilton ® Sweepstakes
    Book Today for your chance to Win a trip to the 2010 Winter Games

    Vancouver Luxury Hotels
    Indulge in Affordable Luxury Hotels Guaranteed Lowest Vancouver Rates!

    Vancouver Hotels & Info
    Vancouver's Official Tourism Site Vancouver hotels from $77 per night

    Sponsored Links


    Vancouver Hotels





    About VirtualTourist |  10 Great Things to Do On VirtualTourist |  Contact Us |  Press Center |  Help |  User Agreement |  Privacy Statement
    Virtual Tourist® ©1994-2009 VirtualTourist.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.