World City Guide

Hotels

A hotel tax of 10%, as well as GST (goods and services tax) of 7%, is added to all hotel bills in Vancouver; the latter is refundable (see Shopping).

The prices quoted below do not include this 17% and are the lowest standard rates for double rooms, excluding breakfast unless otherwise specified. Note that some hotels rarely charge their full standard rates, offering web specials, corporate discounts and the like. With the large chain hotels, price fluctuates with availability, so the prices listed are an approximation.

Business

The Coast Plaza Hotel and Suites
Situated in the heart of Vancouver’s West End, the Coast Plaza has sweeping views of English Bay and Stanley Park. Close to the city’s many shopping outlets, restaurants and tourist attractions, this modern high-rise hotel comprises 269 rooms or suites – all with balconies and many with kitchenettes. All rooms have modem points, voice-mail and offer free local calls. The health club facilities include an exercise room, whirlpool and sauna, as well as squash courts and an indoor pool. Business travellers are well served with three floors dedicated to conference, meeting and banquet spaces, which can accommodate up to 625 people.

1763 Comox Street
Tel: (604) 688 7711 or (800) 716 6199. Fax: (604) 688 5934.
E-mail: plazares@coasthotels.com
Website: www.coasthotels.com
Price: From C$139.

Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown
Until recently run by Delta, this modern hotel is situated near the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre, cruise ship terminals and plenty of shops and restaurants. The 434 spacious rooms provide splendid views from the large windows, and have extensive facilities. Coffee-makers, irons and ironing boards, safes, hairdryers, full-sized desks, high-speed Internet access and two telephones are among the perks. The hotel has a designated business centre, in addition to 13 meeting rooms, while the 24-hour health club features a steam room, hot tub, gym and a 16m (52ft) indoor lap pool. In-room dining is available but guests are also welcome to use the restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

1128 West Hastings Street
Tel: (604) 684 1128. Fax: (604) 298 1128.
E-mail: pinnacle.ays@marriott.com
Website: www.marriott.com
Price: From C$199.

Metropolitan Hotel
Awarded four diamonds by the AAA, this stylish and modern hotel in the heart of the finance, shopping and entertainment area, has 181 elegant guest rooms, with spacious marble bathrooms and separate shower, as well as 16 deluxe suites in contemporary design. Facilities in all rooms include cable TV, broadband Internet connection point, two-line telephones, voice-mail and a large work desk. Business travellers are well catered for, with special business-class rooms that have a fax, printer and ergonomic chair, as well as a business centre in the hotel. The restaurant, Diva at the Met (see Restaurants), serves international cuisine, while the hotel’s leisure facilities include an indoor pool, squash courts, saunas, steam room, whirlpool and a fitness centre.

645 Howe Street
Tel: (604) 687 1122 or (800) 667 2300. Fax: (604) 602 7846.
E-mail: reservations@van.metropolitan.com
Website: www.metropolitan.com/vanc
Price: From C$309.

Renaissance Vancouver Hotel Harbourside
With 428 deluxe guest rooms and 11 suites, this modern waterside hotel, near the Downtown financial district, offers fantastic views of the mountains and harbour. Each individually decorated room has cable TV, in-room coffeemaker and mini-bar, voice-mail, high-speed Internet access and full-sized work desks. Bathrooms have heated floors and hairdryers. Guests can also make use of the same-day laundry and valet services. Its relaxed restaurants offer meat, Pacific seafood, pasta and salad dishes and there is also a sports bar on the premises. Leisure facilities include an indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna and fitness centre. Function rooms are available for conferences and business meetings and all catering requirements can be met.

1133 West Hastings Street
Tel: (604) 689 9211. Fax: (604) 689 4358.
E-mail: vancouver.reservations@renaissancehotels.com
Website: www.renaissancehotels.com
Price: From C$239.

Luxury

The Sutton Place Hotel
This five-star, European-style hotel, located in the heart of Downtown, contains 397 rooms in a variety of sizes. Although outwardly Sutton Place is a modern high-rise hotel much like many others in Vancouver, the atmosphere of the public areas is one of an opulent country house. Floral displays and period antiques add to the charm of the place. Also on offer is an impressive smattering of little touches (sometimes unusual) that include mini-bar, umbrella, bathrobes and in-room entertainment facilities. The health, beauty and fitness centre comes complete with an indoor pool and Jacuzzi. With a lounge and the Fleuri restaurant in the building, it is also a good place for relaxation as well as work. Every room has a cordless and a two-line telephone, as well as high-speed Internet access.

845 Burrard Street
Tel: (604) 682 5511 or (866) 378 8866. Fax: (604) 682 5513.
E-mail: info_vancouver@suttonplace.com
Website: www.suttonplace.com
Price: From C$239.

The Westin Bayshore Resort and Marina
Overlooking Stanley Park, this modern resort-style hotel is a bit of a walk from Downtown's main business, shopping and entertainment centres but guests can make use of the complimentary shuttle service. Howard Hughes, Prince Charles and Tina Turner are among the famous names to have stayed in one of the 510 spacious guest rooms, which all have sophisticated furnishings, soothing earth tones and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that open onto private balconies. Facilities include two-line telephones, voice-mail, coffeemaker, mini-bar and in-room movies; wireless broadband is available for a fee. A business centre, ballroom and 22 other meeting rooms and conference space make it ideal for those conducting business in the city, while recreational activities are addressed with a full-service marina and the hotel’s indoor and outdoor swimming pools, exercise equipment, saunas, steam rooms and massage treatments. Room and concierge services are both 24-hour, while in-room dining is provided in addition to the bar and restaurant.

1601 Bayshore Drive
Tel: (604) 682 3377. Fax: (604) 687 3102.
E-mail: bayshore@westin.com
Website: www.westin.com
Price: From C$229.

Moderate

Granville Island Hotel
Situated on famous Granville Island, this recently renovated hotel is removed from the hustle and bustle of city life and yet minutes from the Downtown area by the bridge or by water taxi. Although it has a distinctively refined and relaxed character (perfect for romantic getaways, as well as business trips) it can still be amazingly good value. Every room is furnished differently – wooden beams, Persian rugs and marble floors are some of the possibilities. Each room has voice-mail and high-speed Internet access. Other facilities include meeting rooms, a rooftop Jacuzzi and health club, as well as a restaurant and bar.

1253 Johnston Street, Granville Island
Tel: (604) 683 7373. Fax: (604) 683 3061.
E-mail: reservations@granvilleislandhotel.com
Website: www.granvilleislandhotel.com
Price: From C$160.

Listel Vancouver
Priding itself on its commitment to art, comfort and elegance, this hotel is located on Robson Street, in one of Vancouver’s main shopping and entertainment areas. There are standard guest rooms suited to both the business and leisure traveller, as well as deluxe rooms. The rooms on the Museum Floor are fitted-out in a retro-modern style, with earthy colours, hemlock and cedar furnishings, forest-themed prints and ceramics, as well as textured leaf-print wallpaper. The Gallery Floor suites are more traditional in style, with dark cherry wood furnishings, chaises longues tucked in bay windows and original artwork in all rooms. High-speed Internet access and two-line telephones with voice-mail are features of all the rooms in this completely non-smoking hotel. A gym and Jacuzzi cater for fitness requirements and the hotel also boasts the well-known O’Doul’s Restaurant & Bar. Four fully equipped meeting rooms are also available, accommodating up to 100 people.

1300 Robson Street
Tel: (604) 684 8461 or (800) 663 5491. Fax: (604) 684 7092.
E-mail: reservations@listel-vancouver.com
Website: www.listel-vancouver.com
Price: From C$129.

Other Recommendations

Opus Hotel
Fitting well into its trendy Yaletown neighbourhood, the 96-room Opus is a boutique hotel with style aplenty. A mishmash of funky furniture and tile-covered oval columns give the lobby an eclectic feel and there’s a great deal of playing with light, from coloured-glass-panel accents to dim, coloured lights in the lifts. The rooms are decorated in one of five colour schemes, which complement the modern, elegant décor, and come with high-speed Internet, ample workspace, sofa or armchair, down pillows and duvets, bathrobes, L’Occitane toiletries and all the other amenities expected of a contemporary hotel – as well as some unexpected, like floor-to-ceiling windows in the bathrooms (with blinds, for the non-exhibitionist). On-site facilities include 24-hour business centre, meeting rooms, bar and French restaurant/brasserie Elixir.

322 Davie Street
Tel: (604) 642 6787 or (866) 642 6787. Fax: (604) 642 6780.
E-mail: info@opushotel.com
Website: www.opushotel.com
Price: From C$219.

Pacific Palisades
Hotel Situated on Robson Street in the heart of the Downtown area, this hotel is close to the city’s amenities and tourist attractions. The 233 rooms and suites are big and light, with various different bold contemporary designs. All rooms contain kitchenettes with microwaves, as well as cable TV and thoughtful touches, such as complimentary Starbucks coffee and a morning newspaper. For business travellers, there is plenty of workspace along with two-line telephones and high-speed Internet access. The hotel has a health club with spa treatments and indoor swimming pool, while services include 24-hour in-room dining service, a business service, a concierge and a valet – even pets are well catered for with their Four Paws Program. There is a restaurant and bar and the unique ‘Evening Wine Reception’ in the Art + Soul Gallery for all guests, so that they have an excuse to mingle, which encourages the continuing growth of the hotel’s feel-good atmosphere.

1277 Robson Street
Tel: (604) 688 0461 or (800) 663 1815. Fax: (604) 688 4374.
E-mail: reservations@pacificpalisadeshotel.com
Website: www.pacificpalisadeshotel.com
Price: From C$135.