Calling Vancouver from the United States is easy. It's just like calling any American city. Just dial 1 + the area code + the phone number. Vancouver's area code is 604. Thus, to reach BCPassport from the US, just dial 1-604-990-9299.
The international calling code for Canada, like the US, is 1, so you can call Canada from anywhere in the world. And 800 numbers work the same way as well. So you can also call BCPassport by dialing 1-800-913-9207.
All Vancouver numbers are 10 digits even when you're making a local call. You use both the area code and the number. For example, to reach BCPassport even when you're in Vancouver and calling from a Vancouver phone, dial 604-990-9299
If you're looking for the phone number of a person or business in Vancouver or any other city in Canada, use Canada 411
To use a pay phone, dial the number you want, then insert 25 cents. Before using a pay phone, which are getting harder and harder to find, you may want to ask a nearby business if it has a courtesy phone. Many Vancouver businesses have courtesy phones that allow you to make free local calls.
Using Your Cell Phone in Canada
If you are planning to bring your cell phone to Canada, check with your provider before you leave home to get long distance calling rates between your home country and Canada. Some cell phone providers don't let you make international calls without first enabling that feature on your phone.
You may also want to inquire about rates. Many cell phone companies will give you a good international calling rate if you purchase a plan for that country. And you can always purchase the plan before you leave and then remove it once you get back home.
If you don't bring a cell phone, you can always purchase a phone card at a convenience store. Most stores carry a lot of different cards. Look for phone cards without a connection fee.
If most of your calls will go to a certain destination, ask the merchant who sells you the card which one is best for your destination.
Cell/Mobile Phone Rentals
You can rent a cell phone in Vancouver and have it waiting for you at the airport or at your hotel. Call ahead to reserve the best phone for your needs. Cell phones rent for $4.99 a day and .99 a minute for local calls. Contact Cita2000 for more information.
You may also want to check with your local cell phone provider to see if your phone will work in Vancouver or if it can be made to work.