It really depends what you’re looking for. I was say anywhere in the downtown core is great. The downtown core is pretty small and very walkable (and there’s lots of transit / Skytrain available)

Main street and Hastings street is very sketchy, but it’s only a very small area. For example, west of Hastings and Cambie is ok and it gets nicer as you go West.

If you’re into clubbing, Granville street downtown is the strip with all the clubs, so you might want to stay near there.

If you let me know what kind of stuff you’re interested in, I can give you a better idea.

There’s not really much of a “bad” part of town. To be precise, between Gastown and China Town is one area. There’s also a few different blocks in downtown. It’s more like you want to avoid an area that’s not where you want to be.

We like to walk a lot. So we stay in Kitsilano in a B&B and then walk over the bridges to downtown, when we’re tired of the beach and shops and Granville “Island”.

I agree with ohcanada that it really does depend on what you want to do. I find it hard to have a bad time in Vancouver. :)

I would also recommend Burnaby, it’s not too bad. There’s a great Accent Inn motel across from the Bridge Studios where they film Stargate:Atlantis. Very reasonable rates, great little attached restaurant, walking distance to a mall and skytrain station. The Skytrain is a great way to get around.

I would try to stay away from staying in Richmond just because you’ll be drive 20 to 30 mins or so to get anywhere in Vancouver depending on traffic (and dealing with bridge traffic). Richmond is not very dense and not too interesting for the average tourist (although it does have some highlights)

Briefly searching Priceline.com there are some hotels in the core or close to the downtown core in your price range. Because you have a car, I wouldn’t say it’s essential to stay in the core.

Stanley Park is a must (although you’ll be there because of the Aquarium anyways). Biking, rollerblading or walking the seawall is quite fun too. The wall actually extends quite far around the city, so you can just pick one part to do.

If you’re into nature I’d suggest Lynn Canyon (avoid the pricey Capilano bridge, unless you have money to burn. It’s not not worth going, but it is quite pricey). There are some trails there that are just flat walks.

If you’re into boutique shops, independent designers, and antique shops, I’d suggest checking out South Main street. Between 12th street and 25th ish.

I personally like Jerico beach (western part), but not necessarily because it’s the ‘best’, but because it tends to be less busy and there’s skimboarding.

Word on the Main & Hastings area. I stayed in this dirt cheap room above this Vietnamese grocery store or something. There was awesome bus service along Hastings, but it passed by all the crackheads on the way to downtown.

Make a reservation for the hostel international, specifically at Jericho beach.
http://www.hihostels.ca/PM/en/vancouverhostel_jericho.aspx?sortcode=2.2

It’s a beautiful neighborhood with parking. Kitsilano in nearby as well as wreck beach & downtown (just to name a few) but mainly this is a beautiful area of town.

You don’t need to spend $170 a night to have a wonderful stay in Vancouver.
Don’t forget to have breakfast at Sophie’s Cosmic Cafe on 4th Street!

-This used to be my hood..

I was only in Vancouver a couple days when I visited, so I can’t really compare places to stay. I was up by Stanley Park and the bay at the Sylvia Hotel. The area is wonderful, fairly peaceful during the day or night with a lot of things to do and see, but that particular hotel isn’t one I’d recommend personally. I found it stuffy and overpriced, and the staff were fairly unfriendly—not overly rude or anything, just lacking in the customer service skills.