The past few years have seen a lot of activity in the Vancouver hotel business. The building boom associated with Expo '86 was followed by a flush of new hotel construction and renovation in the late 1990s, right up to 2003, when the trendy Opus opened in Yaletown. There are lots of rooms and lots of choices, from world-class luxury hotels to moderately priced hotels and budget B&Bs and hostels.
Best Historic Hotel: The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (900 W. Georgia St.; tel. 800/441-1414 or 604/684-3131) was built by the Canadian Pacific Railway on the site of two previous hotels. It opened in 1939 as Vancouver's grandest hotel. The château-style exterior, the lobby, and even the rooms -- now thoroughly restored -- are built in a style and on a scale reminiscent of the great European railway hotels.
Best for Business Travelers: The Westin Grand (433 Robson St.; tel. 888/680-9393 or 604/602-1999), in addition to having some of the nicest modern interior decor and marvelous day- and nighttime views from rooms on its high floors, offers big work spaces, dataports, wi-fi, and lots of electrical plugs, plus -- in the 40 Guest Office suites -- speakerphones, cordless phones, and combo fax/laser printer/photocopiers.
Best Boutique Hotel: In trendy Yaletown, the new Opus Hotel, (322 Davie St.; tel. 866/642-6787 or 604/642-6787), a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World group, has an array of room types, luscious room colors, superb beds, and an overall contemporary aesthetic that sets it apart.
Best for a Romantic Getaway: The Wedgewood Hotel, (845 Hornby St.; tel. 800/663-0666 or 604/689-7777), the only boutique hotel in downtown, has a comfy, romantic, European elegance that brings out the romance in everyone.
Best West End Hotel: Rooms decorated in funky apple greens and lemon yellows and a lobby of bold, bright colors with whimsically shaped glass chandeliers make Pacific Palisades Hotel, (1277 Robson St.; tel. 800/663-1815 or 604/688-0461), one of the top choices in the hip West End.
Best for Families: The Rosedale on Robson Suite Hotel (838 Hamilton at Robson St; tel. 800/661-8870 or 604/689-8033), offers two-bedroom family suites that come furnished with bunk beds, decorated in either a sports or Barbie theme and equipped with a large toy chest and blackboard with crayons. On Saturday night, the Rosedale staff puts on a movie or craft night to take the little ones off their parent's hands for a while.
Best Inexpensive Hotel: With all the facilities of a convention center plus cheap, comfortable rooms, The University of British Columbia Conference Centre (5961 Student Union Blvd.; tel. 604/822-1000), is the best inexpensive choice in the city.
Best B&B: Built in 1905 by two Vancouver photographers, the West End Guest House (1362 Haro St.; tel. 888/546-3327 or 604/681-2889), is filled with the artists' work as well as an impressive collection of Victorian antiques. Fresh-baked brownies or cookies accompany evening turndown service, and the staff is thoroughly professional.
Best Alternative Accommodations: The Aston Rosellen Suites at Stanley Park (100-2030 Barclay St.; tel. 888/317-6648 or 604/689-4807), has spacious furnished apartments with fully equipped kitchens, dining areas, and living rooms for the same price as many standard hotel rooms.
Best Location: Everyone's definition of a great location is different, but the Westin Bayshore Resort & Marina (1601 Bayshore Dr.; tel. 800/937-8461 or 604/682-3377), is just steps from Stanley Park and Denman Street, with easy access to the seawall and only 10 blocks from downtown.
Best Views: So many Vancouver hotels have outstanding views that it's difficult to choose just one. Still, there's something special about the upper floors of the Pan Pacific Hotel Vancouver, (300-999 Canada Place; tel. 800/937-1515 in the U.S. or 604/662-8111), where the harborside rooms have unimpeded views of Coal Harbour, Stanley Park, the Lions Gate Bridge, and the North Shore's mountains. Just as spectacular, and with windows that you can open to savor the freshness of the air along with the magnificence of the water/mountain/park views, is the Westin Bayshore Resort & Marina, 1601 Bayshore Dr. (tel. 800/937-8461 or 604/682-3377).
Best Health Club: There's a rooftop indoor/outdoor pool, fitness center, weight-and-exercise room, aerobics classes, whirlpool, and saunas at the Four Seasons Hotel (791 W. Georgia St.; tel. 800/332-3442 in the U.S. or 604/689-9333).
Best for Sports Fans: The Georgian Court Hotel (773 Beatty St.; tel. 800/663-1155 or 604/682-5555) is as close to the action as you can get with a bed in the room. B.C. Place Stadium is right across the street, and GM Place is just a few blocks away.
Best Bathrooms: No doubt about it, it's the Wedgewood Hotel (845 Hornby St.; tel. 800/663-0666 or 604/689-7777). Every large, marble-clad bathroom has a deep soaker tub and a separate, marble, walk-in Roman shower.
Best Spa: It's the Pan Pacific Hotel Vancouver, 300-999 Canada Place (tel. 800/937-1515 in the U.S. or 604/662-8111), which opened its new, luxurious Spa Utopia in 2005.
For complete listings and reviews of places to stay in Vancouver, visit Frommers.com Vancouver online.
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