 | Vancouver Downtown Eastside Reviews | 41 - 50 of 55 |  |
My wife and I went to CHINATOWN and thought we could just walk the few blocks on Carrell st. to qucikly get to GASTOWN. Wrong. The area goes from bad to worse real quick. Best described as what it must be like to see the Plague in real life, right in front of your face. Hundreds of people thin and obviously sick. Open Sores. The smell of the place was stuck in my MOUTH for probably 10 blocks after. NOT GOOD. If your in Vancouver on a nice vacation do not go here! Avoid it at all costs. You do not need to see this. It is not just some bums sitting around, its full blown drug addicts. It felt like a wicked sick place. I spoke with police later in the evening about the situation on East Hastings, they said the druggies pretty much leave the tourists alone (dont take comfort in this). He said its been like that since the 60's but lately there are more people. Don't let your curiosity get the best of you. I wish I had never walked thru. I am 6ft. and weight 225 muscular. I have no pictures because my hands were wet with sweat and I was walking so fast, pulling my wife along.
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Perish the thought. Every city has a dark side and Vancouver's isn't as dangerous as the people who have posted before me have made it seem. I am in this neighbourhood everyday. I have worked afternoon shifts down on East Hastings for almost a year and never had a problem. Part of it is because they see me all the time, but tourists should be alright if they stay in groups and do the following
- Stay out of the alleys
- Realize that you're in their territory
- Keep your attitude and opinions about their lifestyle to yourself.
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The Downtown Eastside (near Main and Hastings) should be avoided at night. This area is a haven for drug addicts and criminals, and you should be careful there any time, but especially at night.
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The East Side of Vancouver is not the most pleasant of places to go see. Vancouver is the heroin capital of Canada (being a port city). There are several users, prostitutes and just generally shady people in this part of town. Gastown is located just south of this part of town, but is very safe, just dont venture south. Leave a Comment
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There are certain parts of Vancouver that you don't want to stroll into. East Hastings being one. It's just really dirrty and bad things happen there at night! Leave a Comment
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There are several other posts on here regarding East Hastings. I live in Calgary and have been to Vancouver several times, and I always walk down hastings because it is the best link between Chinatown and the entertainment district. I must agree that it is a very uncomfortable place to be at any time of the day. During the day I don't think you would will have any problems being hasseled or hurt, etc., but I would certainly not walk down this street after dark. The last time I was here, there was a ~50 year old man, naked with scabs all over his bare legs, wrapped in a blanket which was secured with duct tape. He was leaning/sleeping on a minivan. figure that one out. i couldn't imagine coming out to my car and finding him there! Also, watch out for the guys selling weed by the stoner shops, they will show you dank nuggs but then switch it with schwizz. No worries, just be careful and make sure you are watching what you buy. Leave a Comment
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Vancouver is an amazing city. From the richest to the poorest. You can enjoy both. I myself have lived in Yaletown and frequented the Downtown East side daily and never once had any type of confrontation. Some basic tips, look the part. If you go walking into the the east side looking like a tourist, splashing a flashy watch, wearing shiny metal or gold rings, sporting brand new $300.00 running shows, smell of polo then you are asking for trouble.
If you are a frugal tourist or on a tight budget you could utilize some amazing resources in the East Side. A full course lunch/ dinner for $2.50 at the 44 club on east Alexander st. A free lunch and dinner at the Union gospel, free coffee and snacks all throughout the neighborhood if you slow yourself down and observe what others are doing.
Dress the part and like someone else indicated, do not treat the people there as sideshows. Again, people will pick up on it and pounce.
I usually dress in jeans (American Eagle) , a pull over sweat shirt (American Eagle or GAP) Toque (Nike -in winter) and keep my watch un-noticed. No other jewelry. You don't have to dress like you're homeless or in walmart brand clothes. Just don't dress excessive, don't appear afraid, look like you know where you are heading and be observant of whats going on around you, You can enjoy all of Vancouver if you exercise a little common sense.
As for at night. Well, I always got through it by looking like I'm uber pissed off about something and ready to snap. No one ever has approached me yet. One of my friends which lives further up on East Hasting sometimes has to walk Hastings home, what she does is act like a crazy person screaming and pointing at people. One has bothered her yet either. Leave a Comment
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i dont know where yous get your evidence about vancouver being not dangerous but it is no different than any other city and is dangerous. we have indo-canadian gangs (theres a funny story about this. a couple of months ago, a border guard was arrested for smuggling drugs accross the border, and he said 'i had to do it, i was being forced by indo-canadian gang members'), marijuana grow ops, shootings (richards on richards), stabbings, beatings. some woman got beat up twice getting out of the sky train. her name was hazel. i saw that on the news a couple of nights ago. if you go to discover vancouver.com, you always hear about cops harasing people. there have been widespread news coverage about cops abusing the drug addicts in the downtown east side too. people in vancouver, not just the downtown east side are afraid to open their doors. while im on the subject of doors, notice how many of the washrooms (toilets) are locked in vancouver? do u really think that is because we live in such a safe city? even in a war zone like new york, they dont lock their washrooms at the level that vancouver does. and im talking about walking into a mcdonalds and having to ask for a key to take a leak. bottom line is, people in vancouver are scared to death. even in the supposed nicer neighbourhoods like the rich west end, you have people that are scared to death. i was looking for an apartment there, wanting to locate the manger of the building, and this woman said, i cant let you in because you dont live here. now, would a woman say that if this was such a "safe" city. obviously not. even in new york they arent as paranoid.
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i'm very familiar with Vancouver..since i live and born here..druggies, pimps, drugs, crime, break-ins, etc etc etc are in that area..aviod that area! its ok to take a bus threw it..but don't walk threw there at night!you may get robbed..downtown east-side is located after Cambie and Hastings street..downtown is generally safe
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the homeless people, the prostitutes, the criminals, the drug addicts..they did not choose this life. To avoid this street because of them is complete BS. This is indeed the poorest neighborhood in Canada but instead of avoiding the street, why not go there and see the problem and bring it to attention to DO SOMETHING rather than to ignore it. I am not a tourist but a proud resident of Vancouver who has walked through that street many times day and night. It is not dangerous, it is simply just a depressing street in need of repair and attention.
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