Hi peeps, My big trip through Canada is only three weeks away now and I’m starting to feel nervous 😬 So I thought I’d post here to ask y’all a few things, mainly about socialising and meeting folks. - specifics about my travels at the bottom
1.) I’m still looking for couch surfing hosts in Vancouver and Toronto. People on beWelcome aren’t really answering. Is there some advice? Or advice on cheap accommodation for 1-3 nights in those towns? Or maybe even some of y’all who’d like to hosts me :)
2.) what are some good ways to meet people on the road? Are there social media apps that are favoured in Canada? Specific places for travellers? (YMCA, hostels, clubs…?)
3.) any other things you’d like to tell me? XD
My trip is: arriving in Vancouver on the 25th of Juli, renting a car on the next day. Plans to travel the west for about 3 weeks. Domestic flight to Toronto on the 16th of August, rental car in Toronto on the 17th, driving around Ontario and the east for two weeks. Departure from Toronto on the first of September.
Vancouver people aren’t as friendly and open as in other parts of Canada. Of course there will be people, but as a rule there is the Seattle/Vancouver freeze, where they are just cold shoulder types.
The island, or up Sechelt coast is much friendlier.
It was a culture shift coming from Ontario where people were quite welcoming. You can sat hello directly to a Vancouverites face and they will look through you.
A friend of mine lived in a Vancouver apartment for years, and people were super cold. He lost his shit after a few years, when he’s walking to the elevator and the person sees him a few steps away and hits the close button. Probably not a great response but went off like " I see you everyday, you know me, and you know I live here and your just going to close the door and make me wait 5 more minutes while elevator hits all the other floors. Wtf is wrong with you."
My wife and I play a game when we go for a walk, we take in turns saying hello to those passing on the sidewalk in a suburb…and see who gets snubbed the most.