Most of Vancouver's luxury hotels are situated on the waterfront and thus easily accessible from the marinas of downtown Vancouver. A good plan of action would be to begin your charter with a few nights in the city and then head to the islands off the coast of
Vancouver before returning for a few more nights at the end of your trip. Here are the best hotels in downtown Vancouver, near the Coal Harbour, Yaletown and Granville Island marinas.
Rosewood Hotel Georgia
The darling of Vancouver's music and jazz scene in the roaring 20s, the former Hotel Georgia was completely renovated and reopened in 2011 as the Rosewood Hotel Georgia (www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/hotel-georgia-vancouver), an eclectic blend of classic and modern styles with a nod to art deco. Rooms are spacious and elegant, with floor to ceiling windows and touches of marble, polished wood and intricate tilework. All suites have both stand-alone rain shower and soaker tub in the bathroom, and the two signature Rosewood
Suites feature two bedrooms and outdoor garden terraces with plunge pool and fireplace overlooking downtown Vancouver. The hotel is located across from the Vancouver Art Gallery and the shops of Alberni and Robson streets, yet is still within walking distance of
the marinas at Coal Harbour. It is also where you will find Hawksworth Restaurant, voted Vancouver's best restaurant of 2013, and the very popular Reflections rooftop bar. Room rates start from CDN$290 per night for a Superior King room, depending on season.
Contact: +1 604 682 5566; email: hotelgeorgia@rosewoodhotels.com
The Loden
The Loden (https://theloden.com) opened in 2008, giving Vancouver a luxury boutique hotel in a prime downtown location that is also a short walk away from the Coal Harbour marinas and the shops of Robson and Alberni streets. Encased in a sleek glass tower,
The Loden offers 70 rooms and seven suites in tones of coffee, caramel and cream, with flourishes of chrome and wood and ample use of floor to ceiling windows showing off stunning views of the Burrard Inlet and North Shore mountains. The hotel offers complimentarybikes to its guests for cycling around the nearby Stanley Park Seawall, as well as a private car service, fully-equipped fitness centre and pet-friendly accommodation including custom beds, dishes and fresh-baked dog treats. The Loden is a peaceful hotel
considering its downtown location, but the Tableau Bar Bistro attracts the after-work crowds from the nearby business district, ensuring it never feels too quiet. Rooms rates start from CDN$229 per night during low season and CDN$329 per night during high season.
Contact: +1 604 669 5060
Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver
One of Vancouver's newest hotels, the Shangri-La Vancouver (www.shangrila.com/vancouver/shangrila/) literally stands head and shoulders above the rest, in a purpose-built tower that is officially the tallest building in the city. Shangri La's signature minimalist Asian style dominates but is blended with elements of the Canadian wilderness, with natural textures of wood and marble complementing panoramic views of the mountains, ocean and Stanley Park below. The hotel is conveniently located near the Coal Harbour marinas and the downtown shopping and business districts, and is home to the award-winning MARKET restaurant by Jean-Georges. Guests are free to use the outdoor pool and take yoga classes at the fitness centre, while visiting day-guests can pay to use the hotel facilities. The hotel also employs an on-call house doctor in case of medical emergencies. Room rates start from CDN$225 per night depending on season. Contact: +1 604 689 1120.
Wedgewood Hotel & Spa
The only hotel in Vancouver to be included in the prestigious Relais & Chateaux collection, The Wedgewood Hotel & Spa (www.wedgewoodhotel.com/index.php) is a lavish boutique hotel located just around the corner from the upscale shops of Robson Street,
five minutes' walk from the Vancouver Art Gallery and a 15-20-minute walk from the Coal Harbour and Yaletown marinas. The décor is pure opulence: think rich upholstered fabrics, chandeliers, embossed ceilings and marble fireplaces, and guests can enjoy complimentary
access to the hotel's fitness centre and eucalyptus steam room at the award-winning Wedgewood Spa. If you don't stay overnight, reserve a meal or afternoon tea at the exceptionally good Bacchus Restaurant and Piano Bar. Room rates start from CDN$175 per night depending on season. Contact: +1 604-689-7777; or 1-800-663-0666 (toll-free within North America)
Opus Hotel
A sleek design hotel in the heart of Vancouver's upscale Yaletown district (think Manhattan's Chelsea on a smaller scale), the Opus hotel (https://vancouver.opushotel.com) is surrounded by converted-warehouse apartments, boutique shops, and trendy bars and restaurants, and is just a five-minute walk from the Quayside Marina opposite Granville Island. Each of the 96 rooms in this pet-friendly hotel is a blend of bold colours and quirky artwork, and features extra luxuries including heated bathroom floors, in-room iPads and Frette bathrobes. The fact that the Opus has been voted one of the top five trendiest hotels in the world should give an indication of what to expect celebrities and musicians who like a low-key experience often stay at the Opus when in town, and can be spotted at the chichi OPUS Bar, or dining at the hotel's award-winning new Italian restaurant, La Pentola della Quercia. Room rates from CDN$219 per night during low season and CDN$339 during high season. Contact: 1-866-642-6787; info@opushotel.com
Granville Island Hotel
The tiny Granville Island Hotel (www.granvilleislandhotel.com), tucked away among the shops and cafes of the waterfront Granville Island marketplace, may not be as glamorous as the five-star beauties you will find in downtown Vancouver, but if you can book one of the two Penthouse Suites it is a great place to begin or end your charter and you can moor your yacht at the Pelican Bay marina just behind the hotel. Both Penthouse suites offer spacious living area and separate bedroom, full kitchens, Jacuzzi tubs, outdoor terraces and floor to ceiling windows with views of Granville Island Market, downtown Vancouver and English Bay. A recent renovation has seen the addition of a rooftop Jacuzzi and fitness centre, and guests can hire bikes to explore Granville Island and the waterfront seawall, dine at the hotel's Dockside Restaurant or visit the neighbouring Granville Island food markets and restaurants. Parking is available for a small fee. Cost per night: Penthouse suites start from CDN$399.00 (low season) to CDN$549.00 (high season). Contact: +1 604 683 7373; email: reservations@granvilleislandhotel.com
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
Luxury hotel chain Fairmont Hotels & Resorts have three properties in downtown Vancouver, and each one is within walking distance from the Coal Harbour marinas. Those who prefer a modern-style hotel will appreciate the Fairmont Pacific Rim (www.fairmont.com/pacific-rim-vancouver/), inside a glass tower adjacent to the Coal Harbour waterfront, with a sleek rooftop pool and rooms offering incredible views over the North Shore Mountains and downtown Vancouver. A few blocks away across from the Canada Place cruise ship terminals is the Fairmont Waterfront Vancouver (www.fairmont.com/waterfront-vancouver/), slightly older but just as elegant after a recent refurbishment, with a rooftop pool and outdoor rooftop herb garden and bee colonies that supply the hotel's own organic honey. Those who prefer a classical style (and plan to do some shopping) should consider the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (www.fairmont.com/hotel-vancouver/) originally opened in 1939 and located within walking distance from the marinas and overlooking the high-end retail shops of Robson and Alberni streets, with luxury boutiques including Louis Vuitton and Chanel at its lobby level. Room rates from CDN$249per night (Fairmont Hotel Vancouver); from CDN$299 per night (Fairmont Waterfront); and from CDN$359 per night (Fairmont Pacific Rim).