Chillin out in Vancouver

If you're looking for a more laid back summer work visa experience, you could do a lot worse than heading to the Western-most tip of Canada and setting up camp in Vancouver. Sort of like a clean, polite California with far less annoying people.

Accommodation

Finding accommodation in Vancouver is not too difficult. SWAP, the people that handle your student Visas, will give you a lot of information about what places are available. A lot of students end up in Kitsalano which contains, among other things, the University of British Columbia.If you want a party summer, you're pretty much guaranteed one if you end up in the UBC dorms (a popular option which fills out early). UBC also has a nude beach nearby which, despite my frankly optimistic expectations, turned out to resemble the aftermath of a Nude Pirate Ship crash more than anything else. 

If you're a hipster and need a bit more of an “alternative” summer (that's usually the word I use to justify being a hipster) near Main Street and Commercial Drive are the places to be looking. Main Street especially has lots of boutique stores and awesome restaurants and plenty of things about which you can be ironically detached. I found both of the places I lived through Craigslist.

The first time did not work out so well, no one needs a shirtless filthy drug dealer as a live in landlord but the second time was ok (the second set drug dealers kept to themselves). Be careful, check out the property carefully before going and only set up something before you go if you can get someone to check it out for you in person.

Where to eat?

One of the great things about Vancouver is people there seem to expect good food as a matter of course. In line with its coastal position and high Asian population, it is almost impossible to walk a block there without running into an a Sushi place that will be at least serviceable and usually much better than that. For those reticent about Sushi, fear not, I personally only had the most meagre and regrettable Sushi experience but by the end of the summer I was basically living off the stuff.

It is also incredibly cheap compared to here (you will be saying this about a lot of things in Canada). Korean noodle soup Pho is also pretty common and awesome. For specific restaurants and good deals you need to be checking out http://www.vancouverslop.com/ fairly regularly for consistently good and off beat suggestions.

Vancouver nightlife

Going out

Vancouver has a thriving club scene so if you're into that whip out your best crazily exaggerated Irish accent and let the new friends come like flies to your big Quiet Man web. One thing I would recommend to you that you might not otherwise consider is Vancouver’s thriving alternative comedy scene.

There are at least two really great three hour shows a week. One is usually whatever is on in The Blitmore off Main Street on a Tuesday and the other is the Sunday Service. The Sunday Service is an improv comedy show that happens weekly on a Sunday (what a surprise right?). Seriously, this was the best five dollars I spent every week and even if improv comedy sounds excruciating to you, give it a go. You will not be disappointed.

Records stores like Zulu on West 4th Ave and Redcat on Main Street are the best places to find out about the best upcoming live music. And fun events can usually be found out about on Vancouverisaweosme.com

Victoria, Vancouver Island

Must see:

The most obvious tourist thing you can do in Vancouver is visit Victoria on Vancouver Island. A sort of tiny idyllic town populated solely by old enthusiastic white people Vancouver Island is beautiful though and definitely worth a visit.

When you’re in Victoria, I would tell you to go to Big Bad John’s but I probably don’t have to. Every single Canadian you meet and tell you are going to Victoria will impress upon you the importance of Big Bad John’s. It earned its name pretty well.

The beautiful outdoors

The main thing about Vancouver though, is to go outside. With so many beautiful rivers and mountains you will find something fun to do. Those who like to ski should make their way Whistler’s, although it is crazy expensive.

That’s Vancouver. It might not be the obvious choice for most people's work visa summer but I thoroughly recommend it as a place that has something for everyone.

By Sean Mc Kiernan