Oyster knows what luxury travelers look for in hotels. When we visit luxury properties around the world, we evaluate how every feature stacks up against the competition, from the rooms to the pools to the restaurants. So if you're planning a posh getaway and need a place to start, you've come to the right place. Take a look at our expert top picks for luxury and get inspired!
The 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.
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.
This elegant 557-room hotel is housed in a historic building across from the Vancouver Art Gallery, in the heart of Downtown. The gorgeous indoor pool, the excellent Griffins Restaurant, and the big, modern fitness center make this property a reliable upscale pick. But some rooms are dated, bathrooms are nothing special, and guests might feel nickel-and-dimed due to the number of extra charges, including the fees for water bottles in the rooms, parking, and Wi-Fi.