I have 4 nights in Vancouver. I did have a very late arrival and early departure which led to me having a hard time deciding where to stay. Hotel prices in Vancouver were through the roof and I wasn’t expecting the rates to be this expensive. In the end, I decided to stay at Hilton Vancouver Downtown for the first night. Despite the high prices, it still turns out to be the best deal out there. I did decide to book via an OTA rather than directly with Hilton since they are like 40 bucks cheaper. I do not need any more nights and with my rather late arrival, elite benefits are not that crucial. I was shocked that my booking showed up in the app. I still thought that I had made a duplicate booking. I managed to check in online and got a nice suite on one of the highest floors of the hotel. Hilton Vancouver Downtown offers mostly suites accommodations and they are a rebrand from the previous Westin Grand.
Booking Process & Pre Arrival
I booked with an OTA rather than directly with Hilton for this stay. It is around 40 bucks cheaper and with my late arrival, it doesn’t matter to have any upgrades or early check-in. I got the Queen Suite. My nightly rate was around 306 SGD including taxes. Vancouver hotel prices are through the roof! I was extended an upgrade to one of the Premium category suites ahead of the stay. This would usually go for around 470 SGD. Hilton Vancouver Downtown features 206 guest rooms and suites spread across 10 categories. You can find the breakdown below.
| Rooms | Bathtub |
|---|---|
| King Accessible | Yes |
| Double Queen | Yes |
| Double Queen City View | Yes |
| Queen Suite | Yes |
| King Deluxe Suite | Yes |
| Queen Studio Suite | Yes |
| Queen Suite City View | Yes |
| King Deluxe Suite City View | Yes |
| King Balcony Suite | Yes |
| King Balcony Suite City View | Yes |
Checking In
With my flight delay, I only arrived in Vancouver at around 8.30 pm and left the airport only around 9pm. By the time I reached the hotel and checked in, it was close to 10 pm The hotel was very accessible and just a short walk away from the city centre metro station. The hotel has two entrances. The main entrance for vehicles and a side entrance that is very much more suitable for pedestrians. The ground floor is just a reception area with the actual lobby one level up. You can either use the spiral staircase or elevators to access it. There are still some parts of the hotel under renovation. The check-in counters are located to the side. You can also find the hotel’s main restaurant on this level. There was no wait at this hour and a friendly guy checked me in. I was warmly welcomed as a diamond member and offered all the information for my stay. Breakfast was also extended for all guests due to the renovation and I got a late check out at 1pm.
Queen City View Suite
I was assigned a Queen City View suite on the highest floor of the hotel. This is one of the best in the entire hotel. I appreciate them extending this upgrade even though I did not book directly via Hilton. The hotel has a rather small footprint with only 7 rooms per floor. This is also because most of the accommodations here are suites and larger rooms. I was assigned Suite 3102 which is located in the corner. Upon entering, you come into the living room which is a very nice place. Immediately to the left is the wardrobe area with some hangers, a portable luggage rack, an ironing kit and an umbrella. This is also where you can find the minibar setup with a kettle and ice bucket. There is also a microwave and a proper espresso coffee machine. The fully stocked mini fridge is below. Prices have 5-star hotel rates to match. The supermarket is just 2 mins away from the hotel. There will not be any need to use this. I appreciate having a coffee machine in the room, especially with the lack of an executive lounge here. A good cup of coffee to kick-start your day is crucial.
The living room is very cosy and I love the high ceiling of the living room. That makes the place very spacious and gorgeous. This is especially lovely when it gets plenty of natural light from the huge window panels. The view is equally good both in the day and at night. You can even see the BC Arena.
The living room comes with a sofa that can fit three people comfortably. There is a coffee table in the middle and another side table. The television is mounted on the wall and it is of a good size. There are plenty of both local and international cable television channels. You can also stream content from your phone to the television.
The working desk is below the television. There are plenty of outlets here and the Wi-Fi connection is strong. The armchair here offers a decent amount of back support for short periods of work.
The bathroom is located near the entrance. This is spacious and nicely decorated. It looks a lot more modern than the rest of the room. It comes with a single sink and plenty of counter space for you to place your items. All sorts of amenities are provided from mouthward to amenity kits. I am surprised that a dental kit isn’t here. As per usual, Crabtree and Evelyn amenities are provided. These are in large pump-size bottles. The hairdryer is found under the sink.
The bathroom comes with one of the older concepts with a standing shower and tub combo. This is my least favourite with disgusting shower curtains. I am not a fan of these configurations. I am happy to see that it comes with both a handheld shower head and a rainforest shower head. Water pressure is kind of lacking and can be improved.
The bedroom is separated from the living room by an actual door. The cosy bedroom is on the smaller side which is a reason why there is only a queen-size bed instead of a king-size one. The bed takes up most of the space in the middle and on both sides, you can find nightstands. Power outlets are readily available. The lighting here doesn’t have a master control and that makes it inconvenient. The curtains and blinds are also manually operated. The bedding is top notch and the same goes for the pillow. The mattress offered great back support.
Facing the bed you can find another large smart screen high-definition television mounted on the wall. It is the same as the one in the living room so you can cast content too.
The bedroom comes with another wardrobe with even more hangers and extra pillows. There are also some pulls and blankets if you require them during the cooler season.
I love this cosy suite and had a comfortable stay. It is nice to stay in a place that has been recently renovated or refurbished. I will expect some improvement in terms of the central connected lighting and electronically controlled blinds. Imagine what this place needs. A fireplace and it will be perfect!
Fitness Centre
The fitness centre is located on level 3 and is open 24 hours for guests usage. The gym is of a good size and comes with plenty of equipment. Everything is well maintained. Towels and water are provided. The place also comes with a nice view over the surrounding area and the pool. There is also a sauna in the fitness centre.
Pool
The pool is open from 6:00am to 10:00pm daily. Having an outdoor pool is pretty impressive for a city hotel in this part of the world. Given the cooler climate over here, the pool is also heated. This makes it very comfortable. The regular pool makes it great for doing laps. There is also a jacuzzi by the side. I wish that I had time to use it.
Breakfast at Hendricks Restaurant
Breakfast is served at Hendricks Restaurant which is located just off the lobby from 6am to 11am on weekdays and till 11.30am on weekends. I appreciate the long hours. I am pleased to report that Canada is not partaking in their fellow neighbor’s shenanigans. Hilton elite members can still enjoy their usual breakfast entitlement. Breakfast would have normally cost 39 CAD. The hotel was offering breakfast for all guests including those who have booked via OTA during the period of renovation. This is a very nice touch.
Breakfast is served buffet style and I was shown in after giving my room number. The restaurant was very full when I was down at 10am. The place was pretty small and there was only seating for like 30 pax or so. The staff are very welcoming and polite. I am constantly addressed by name.
All of the items are located in a corner. You can find some pictures of the buffet here. They have some cold cuts and cheese, a selection of pastries, cereals, and whole and cut fruits. There are also a couple of hot dishes. It is nothing too fantastic but everything was delicious. I enjoyed the chef’s omelettes and if you like other types of eggs, you can order from the staff.
With the standards of North America, this is very decent and I appreciate how everything is delicious and fresh. It is nice for the hotel to extend this during this period. Having breakfast included might be worthwhile with how expensive things are over here in Canada. Getting 40 to 80 bucks of value is pretty amazing.
Conclusion
Great stay and awesome treatment! The location is as good as it gets. You are near all the attractions and shops. Furthermore, the arena is also within walking distance. It will be perfect to stay here if you are catching a game or show. I would love to return here next time. Everything is well executed over here in terms of service and hardware. Hotel rates are high here but this is in line with the Vancouver market. The hotel offers mostly suites and if you are looking for something with more space, this is perfect. I wish that I had a longer stay here.
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