Oyster knows what luxury travelers look for in their hotels. When our reviewers visit properties around the world, they evaluate how every feature stacks up against the competition, from the decor to the service. So if you're planning a getaway and don't know where to start, you've come to the right place. Take a look at our top picks and get inspired!
The 119-room Shangri-La offers uber-luxe digs in Downtown Vancouver. Catering to the business traveler (mainly due to its location), the hotel's large rooms feature free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs with DVR, bedside controls for curtains and lights, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking downtown. But the massive granite-and-marble bathrooms are the real highlight, featuring separate showers and tubs, as well as flat-screen TVs. The hotel also has a Jean Georges restaurant and a hip spa, both of which are extremely pricey and only add to the hype.
This 77-room luxury boutique has a modern, stylish feel, with a glam lobby (think: velvet couches, dark wood ceilings, and a stunning black-and-white granite fireplace surround) and a popular French bistro. The large, sleek rooms may be the highlight, with subtle earth tones, floor-to-ceiling windows, and decadent marble bathrooms, but the Downtown Vancouver location is convenient as well. The only real downsides are the extra fees for valet parking and Wi-Fi.
A small, upper-middle-range boutique hotel in Downtown Vancouver, the Moda Hotel offers reasonably priced rooms in a convenient location near Robson Square. The popular wine bar and excellent Italian restaurant are highlights, but it's an older property, and there are a few lingering issues under the veneer of boutique-y decor. The rooms are small, with cute but basic contemporary style, and amenities are few -- the hotel lacks room service and a fitness center.
The upscale, 180-room Georgian Court Hotel is on the edge of Downtown Vancouver, within walking distance of numerous Vancouver attractions. Rooms are large and contemporary, if a tad generic, with flat-screen TVs and mahogany accents, and a special women's-only floor (known as the Orchid Floor) is available, with rooms that include curling irons, flat irons, yoga mats, and fashion magazines for no extra fee. The fitness center is small, and other downtown hotels are more centrally located, but the hotel provides a free shuttle to downtown sites.
Despite the "St. Regis" name, this historic, mid-range boutique hotel in Downtown Vancouver is unaffiliated with the famous luxury brand. Rooms are on the small side for Vancouver, but they are cute and modern, and extras like free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, and free long-distance calls add value. There's a casual bar and grill on-site, and two excellent restaurants next door: Gotham Steakhouse and the chic Shore Club Restaurant.