Seeking recommendations for Vancouver pre-cruise hotel.

[Calbill]

My wife and I and granddaughter (10) will get into Vancouver BC about noon the day before getting on the Island Princess for 7 day cruise up to Whittier. There are a large number of hotels in Vancouver, and I am unfamiliar with the location as relates to the cruise docks.
Would like a nice hotel for us, with access to nice restaurant, preferably close to the docks, not too much hassle to get to the ship in the morning.
Any recommendations would be helpful.
Thanks.

[drgrinch]

If you have the bucks, the Fairmont Pacific Rim is excellent. Their deluxe rooms are the nicest and roomiest I have seen short of a suite and the level of service is outstanding. It's right across the street from the Olympic Torch and about 200 yards from the cruise terminal. I don't think much of their in-house restaurant (great but expensive breakfast brunch though). The concierge was more than helpful in suggesting excellent local restaurants.

There are several other very nice looking hotels within an easy walk of the cruise terminal but I have no experience with them. The Coal Harbor section of the waterfront (where the terminal is) is all pretty much upscale.

Canadians, as a rule, are exceptionally pleasant and helpful - you should experience good service wherever you decide to stay in that part of town.

[AKman2495]

We booked into try Pan Pacific-it is built right on the cruise dock. It too, however, is pricy. Top dollar, but a nice hotel.

[Putterdude]

Vancouver is a fairly compact area and therefor all downtown hotels are pretty close to Canada Place. The Pan Pacific, the Fairmont Waterfront are the two closest hotels with the Pan Pacific forming part of Canada Place and the Waterfront right across the street....they are however top cabin. Other hotels in close proximity would include the Marriott Pinnacle, the Renaissance, Hyatt Regency, the Tower at the Terminal City Club and the Metropolitan which is just a beginning. If you have any thoughts on a hotel I am sure one of us Vancouverites can help you.

[em-sk]

Originally Posted by Putterdude

Vancouver is a fairly compact area and therefor all downtown hotels are pretty close to Canada Place. The Pan Pacific, the Fairmont Waterfront are the two closest hotels with the Pan Pacific forming part of Canada Place and the Waterfront right across the street....they are however top cabin. Other hotels in close proximity would include the Marriott Pinnacle, the Renaissance, Hyatt Regency, the Tower at the Terminal City Club and the Metropolitan which is just a beginning. If you have any thoughts on a hotel I am sure one of us Vancouverites can help you.

I use to live in Vancouver. A slightly longer trip from the terminal (assuming you are boarding your ship at Canada Place) though still within walking distance if you can manage with your suitcases for a couple of city blocks. I would also add the Delta Vancouver Suites (a few blocks from the terminal). Delta Hotels is a very good national hotel brand in Canada. Coast Coal Harbour is another one to look at. Coast Hotels is also a well respected Canadian chain. The Days Inn Downtown Vancouver (a bit lower on the star rating) but close.

[em-sk]

Originally Posted by em-sk

I use to live in Vancouver. A slightly longer trip from the terminal (assuming you are boarding your ship at Canada Place) though still within walking distance if you can manage with your suitcases for a couple of city blocks. I would also add the Delta Vancouver Suites (a few blocks from the terminal). Delta Hotels is a very good national hotel brand in Canada. Coast Coal Harbour is another one to look at. Coast Hotels is also a well respected Canadian chain. The Days Inn Downtown Vancouver (a bit lower on the star rating) but close.

One more suggestion I will make is Granville Island Hotel. It is located between the Airport and Downtown. You will need to use a taxi to get there from the Airport and will also need a taxi the next day to get to the terminal. Granville Island (http://www.granvilleisland.com/) is a very pleasant place to spend the day. Lot's of restaurants a public market and interesting area to explore.

[rayliang]

may I suggest maybe a B&B of sorts, if you can find one? Or use Airbnb. I like the last apartment I rented through Airbnb. The landlord is a gem, and he was willing to pick me up at airport, and gave me a ride to the docks. Though, I did stay more then 1 night...

[margincall]

How about the Ramada Limited downtown-the reviews don't seem bad on tripadvisor and the cost is much less

[jemenybostons@verizon.net]

on today's groupon there is a "
Lonsdale Quay Hotel – Greater Vancouver

One- or Two-Night Stay for Two in a Standard or Executive Room with Breakfast. Combine Up to Four Nights.

here is the link
http://www.groupon.com/deals/ga-lons...otel?c=all&p=2

must be booked by 6/15/12
and used by 9/30/2

[em-sk]

Originally Posted by jemenybostons@verizon.net

on today's groupon there is a "
Lonsdale Quay Hotel – Greater Vancouver

One- or Two-Night Stay for Two in a Standard or Executive Room with Breakfast. Combine Up to Four Nights.

here is the link
http://www.groupon.com/deals/ga-lons...otel?c=all&p=2

must be booked by 6/15/12
and used by 9/30/2

Lonsdale Quay is in North Vancouver, across the harbour from the cruise ship terminal. Also a really nice spot. Easy to get to on public transport. Quite a bit out of the way if you are taking a taxi. If you are comfortable with handling your bags on/off public transport it is a nice option. The public transit system is wheelchair accessible so there are elevators everywhere. Canada Line is designed to service airport passanges with bags.

To get there from the Airport you need to take Canada Line (subway) to Waterfront Station and then transfer onto SeaBus (ferry departs from Waterfront Station). The hotel is in the top floors above the public market right next to where SeaBus docks. SeaBus departs every 10/15 minutes.

To get from the Hotel to the Canada Place cruise ship terminal the next day you take SeaBus from Lonsdale Quay to Waterfront and then about a block or two down from Waterfront station is Canada Place.

[Putterdude]

Originally Posted by jemenybostons@verizon.net

on today's groupon there is a "
Lonsdale Quay Hotel – Greater Vancouver

One- or Two-Night Stay for Two in a Standard or Executive Room with Breakfast. Combine Up to Four Nights.

here is the link
http://www.groupon.com/deals/ga-lons...otel?c=all&p=2

must be booked by 6/15/12
and used by 9/30/2

We stay at the Lonsdale Quay Hotel once or twice a year as we have family and friends on the North Shore. We find the hotel a bit cold and sterile and would have trouble recommending it to a cruiser. It works, but for a cruise I would much rather be downtown close to the sights of the city and be a few minutes cab ride to Canada Place.....and this is from a guy who lived on the North Shore for over 50 years.

[kenish]

We stayed at the Hyatt Regency pre-cruise using points. The hotel is a nice, typical business hotel. They charged about $30 extra for a view room (higher floor facing the harbor) which was worth it to us. The concierge was extremely helpful and gave a lot of good advice on our explorations of the city.

The hotel is about 2 blocks from Canada Place; we had rolling luggage so walked there in about 10 minutes. Another good feature is the transit hub is nextdoor to the hotel.

Enjoy Vancouver; the UN does an annual "livability" rating of world cities. Vancouver is consistently first or second...with good reason.

[em-sk]

Perhaps not the best hotel for a 10 year old. The River Rock Casino Hotel in Richmond is next to one of the stops along the Canada Line and you may get a good room at a good price. It is more like a Vegas Style hotel (Buffet, etc. shows and casino), not much else in the area.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Originally Posted by em-sk

Perhaps not the best hotel for a 10 year old. The River Rock Casino Hotel in Richmond is next to one of the stops along the Canada Line and you may get a good room at a good price. It is more like a Vegas Style hotel (Buffet, etc. shows and casino), not much else in the area.

Bill asked for a hotel close to the pier, not way out in Richmond.

[jemenybostons@verizon.net]

But Bill in not the only reading this or getting ideas!

[tigger3333]

Originally Posted by rayliang

may I suggest maybe a B&B of sorts, if you can find one? Or use Airbnb. I like the last apartment I rented through Airbnb. The landlord is a gem, and he was willing to pick me up at airport, and gave me a ride to the docks. Though, I did stay more then 1 night...

who did you use?

[Coral]

We just got back from staying at Fairmont Pacific Rim and it was a fabulous hotel! I loved the location. I loved the hotel! Service was great, we did not eat at the main restaurant as the menu didn't seem appealing. They did have a smaller restaurant which had great breakfast food and paninis.

I had previously stayed at Hyatt, Renaissance and Pan Pacific. The Fairmont Pacific Rim was by far the best and is also the newest and probably one of the most expensive. About 4 years ago, I had stayed at Pan Pacific and thought it needed a huge facelift - not sure if it had gotten it or not. The best benefit of Pan Pacific is that you can leave your luggage in the room and they will take it to the ship and that it is right there at the pier. The Fairmont Pacific Rim was about a long block away from the pier.

[aohkay]

Originally Posted by Coral

We just got back from staying at Fairmont Pacific Rim and it was a fabulous hotel! I loved the location. I loved the hotel! Service was great, we did not eat at the main restaurant as the menu didn't seem appealing. They did have a smaller restaurant which had great breakfast food and paninis.

Do you not just love the TV in the bathroom mirror!

[Putterdude]

Originally Posted by Coral

We just got back from staying at Fairmont Pacific Rim and it was a fabulous hotel! I loved the location. I loved the hotel! Service was great, we did not eat at the main restaurant as the menu didn't seem appealing. They did have a smaller restaurant which had great breakfast food and paninis.

I had previously stayed at Hyatt, Renaissance and Pan Pacific. The Fairmont Pacific Rim was by far the best and is also the newest and probably one of the most expensive. About 4 years ago, I had stayed at Pan Pacific and thought it needed a huge facelift - not sure if it had gotten it or not. The best benefit of Pan Pacific is that you can leave your luggage in the room and they will take it to the ship and that it is right there at the pier. The Fairmont Pacific Rim was about a long block away from the pier.

Yes the Pan Pacific got a huge face lift leading up to the 2010 Winter Olympics. Fairmont's Pacific Rim seems to be off the radar for cruisers, I think a big part of their clientèle comes from delegates attending the new trade and convention facility. But while on the topic of upscale digs there is the new/old Rosewood Hotel Georgia hotel and the Shangri-la but both are 6 blocks from Canada Place. The Fairmont's Waterfront Hotel across the street from Canada Place will also transfer your luggage to to pier like the Pan Pacific does.

http://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/hotelgeorgia/


http://www.shangri-la.com/vancouver/shangrila

[tigger3333]

Originally Posted by Putterdude

Vancouver is a fairly compact area and therefor all downtown hotels are pretty close to Canada Place. The Pan Pacific, the Fairmont Waterfront are the two closest hotels with the Pan Pacific forming part of Canada Place and the Waterfront right across the street....they are however top cabin. Other hotels in close proximity would include the Marriott Pinnacle, the Renaissance, Hyatt Regency, the Tower at the Terminal City Club and the Metropolitan which is just a beginning. If you have any thoughts on a hotel I am sure one of us Vancouverites can help you.

Is there a lower priced hotel near the cruise port? I stayed once at the Fairmont Waterfront and it was excellent but this time I'd like something nice but not as expensive. Still would like to be down in that area for getting to the ship the morning of the cruise.