6 places to stay on your Vancouver getaway

By: Julie Ovenell

Way back in the Before Times—like, six whole months ago—the thought of a summer holiday at home probably held about as much appeal as trying to cut your own hair, or homeschooling a 10-year-old while practising tort law from the guest bedroom.

And the only bubbles that really mattered came in Champagne flutes and soaker tubs.

But hey. We’re an adaptable species. (Your bangs look great, by the way.) We washed, masked, distanced—and flattened BC’s COVID curve with enviable discipline. And if a getaway close to home is what the doctor has ordered for the rest of 2020, then we’re ready to take our medicine—especially when “home” looks this good.

The prescription calls for fewer faces, bigger spaces, and more time outside. It’s not every global city that can offer so much elbow room, but with a thousand acres of park right in the heart of downtown, plenty of public gardens and outdoor patios, and miles of nearby beaches and bike trails, it’s easy to keep your bubble intact in Vancouver.

And there’s no better time to take that bubble for an overnight at a city hotel, where prices are sweet and the perks are sweeter: dips in a pool, comfy beds with pretty views, menus from top-notch chefs, exciting attractions to enjoy, access to green spaces and proximity to nature (think: the seawall). It’s the perfect way to celebrate a special occasion or treat yourself or a loved one, just because. Plus, indoors, you’re guaranteed to encounter a whole new standard of cleanliness and care, thanks to increased safety and hygiene protocols.

So, whether you’re craving me-time or we-time, the city’s top hotels have some great suggestions for well-considered (and considerate) mini-breaks that promise to leave BC residents refreshed and resolved to keep up their healthy habits.

Here are just a few Vancouver getaway favourites—visit tourismvancouver.com/comeback/hotels and stayvancouverhotels.com to check out more great ideas for this year’s “It” vacation.

FAIRMONT PACIFIC RIM

This Vancouver Fairmont is taking its luxe vibe outside: the new Pacific Rim Patio Pop-Up on the hotel’s front plaza is now open daily from noon to 8 p.m.—the perfect place to sip, nibble, and natter (at an appropriate social distance, of course). And with the recent reopening of the Willow Stream Spa, there’s a new deal in town: reserve a treatment from Monday through Wednesday until August 31, and you’ll also enjoy a complimentary lunch or dinner on the patio.

Safety Measures include:

• Enhanced cleaning of rooms and shared spaces

Physically distant dining is now available at select restaurants

Pool deck capacity is in effect and reservations can be made upon check-in

Visit their safety website for more information

PAN PACIFIC VANCOUVER

It’s the easiest thing in the world to step out into the beauty of nature thanks to the Pan Pacific’s central waterfront location, but fair warning: you probably won’t get farther than the pool. Boasting unobstructed views of Coal Harbour, Stanley Park, and the North Shore Mountains, it’s an Instagram-worthy backdrop for some all-day welcome-to-the-good-life lounging. Consider ramping up the R&R with a visit to Spa Utopia, now open for most treatments with strict safety protocols in place.

Safety Measures include:

• Enhanced cleaning of rooms and shared spaces

Supporting social distancing

Rooms are kept vacant multiple days prior to arrival

Additional training for staff

Visit their safety website for more information

THE WESTIN BAYSHORE

Make like Grace Kelly in It Takes a Thief and sip Champagne in one of the Bayshore’s beautiful poolside cabanas—open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (reservations are required and open to hotel guests only). Guests can also book a Liquid Yoga class on floating mats in the pool. Or, revel in the Art Deco glamour of H Tasting Lounge (open Monday to Thursday from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday 12 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.) and then don your best sunnies for a slow stroll (with ice cream) along the tree-lined Coal Harbour seawall. Or keep going all the way around Stanley Park if you just can’t stop admiring the views that made you fall in love with Vancouver in the first place.

Safety Measures include:

• Enhanced cleaning of rooms and shared spaces

Rooms are kept vacant multiple days prior to arrival

Face coverings required in all public areas

Contactless service

Visit their safety website for more information

JW MARRIOTT PARQ VANCOUVER

Straddling two high-energy neighbourhoods—Yaletown and Gastown—this five-star luxury hotel is the right choice for a romantic night in with your bubble bestie. Indulge in the spa, where services range from personalized RMT massages to nail and body treatments, then order in a special room-service meal, or take a meal to go and picnic en plein air in nearby Coopers’ Park or tranquil Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.

Safety Measures include:

• Enhanced cleaning of rooms and shared spaces

Face coverings required in all public areas

Contactless service

Visit their safety website for more information

GRANVILLE ISLAND HOTEL

Beloved by tourists the world over, Granville Island has a little more room for locals at the moment. The Granville Island Hotel—with easy access to the market and artisan galleries, as well as the Aquabus and seawall—is the perfect launch pad for a foot-friendly city getaway. The Dockside Restaurant is open for inside and patio dining (from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. from Wednesdays to Mondays), and when you need a little snack, Lee’s Donuts in the market is worth lining up for (the line is now out of doors).

Safety Measures include:

• Enhanced cleaning of rooms and shared spaces

Only registered hotel guests and restaurant patrons have access to the hotel

Paperless check-in

Individual air conditioning in each room to limit re-circulated air

Guest rooms have windows that open for fresh air

Complimentary masks

Hand sanitizer throughout the facility

Visit their safety website for more information

SEASIDE HOTEL

Located just a short SeaBus ride away from downtown, the chic Seaside Hotel near North Vancouver’s scenic Shipyards District makes a great base for exploring the North Shore’s hiking and biking trails, or much-loved attractions such as the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain. The aptly named Provisions restaurant can set you up with a picnic lunch, and at the end of the day you can recover during happy hour on the patio—with buck-a-shuck oysters!—or a relaxing massage at the Waterfront Spa. This is also a prime location to explore The Brewery District, comprised of craft breweries, pubs, and eateries along Lonsdale, 1st Street, and Esplanade.

Safety Measures include:

• Enhanced cleaning of rooms and shared spaces

Physical distancing throughout the hotel and at check-in

Additional employee training

Visit their safety website for more information

Book your perfect Vancouver getaway: visit tourismvancouver.com/comeback/hotels for great deals and ideas!

Originally published on: HelloBC.com