Vancouver has got it all

The food isn't just international in Vancouver; it's global! And the people are very friendly. And €100 will buy you Can$ 156. So now is the time to go, right? That depends on how you feel about Olympic cities. Some say that the best time to visit will be 2011, after next February's Winter Olympics. On the other hand, Olympic cities love to show off their new architecture before the Games begin, so maybe it's best to go now and get a sneak preview.

• Vancouver has spent a lot of money to create cool new venues like the Richmond Oval, an 8,000-seat arena with a speed-skating track and a glass wall that offers a dramatic view of the North Shore Mountains.


• The beauty of Vancouver is that after skiing in the morning, you can take a gondola down to the city and go fishing or sailing around the harbour in the afternoon. The best way to do all this is with an all-day SkyTrain, ferry and bus ticket.


• Hungry? You will be after a walk through Stanley Park's 1,000-acre forest of cedar and fir. End a perfect day there with dinner at The Fish House, a 1930s building with a big fireplace and live music. Everyone loves the flaming prawns, sautéed with garlic, red peppers, tomatoes, basil, and feta cheese, flambéed with ouzo. All for Can$15!


• After the Olympics, the new Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre is sure to become one the world's top conference venue. A must-see is its six-acre rooftop garden of 400,000 Canadian plants and wild grasses that are watered by a unique rainwater-collection system.


• Where to stay? The Listel Hotel is a beautifully decorated, high-tech residence in the city's West End. It recently held a sale of its rooms on its website, starting at $65 a night — 75 per cent off the average price.


• What about culture? Next year's Cultural Olympiad will offer more than 400 events around the Olympic Games; but if you can't wait until then, Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Sonny Rollins will be one of the many stars appearing at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival on 29 June.