FEATURED Vancouver hotels

Nestled along the Coast Mountain range, the thriving metropolis of Vancouver is located in the southwestern corner of British Columbia on Canada's Pacific Ocean coastline. This city of great natural beauty is Canada's third largest city and regarded by many as the one of the best places in the world in which to live as well as one of the most exciting to visit. Vancouver hotels are situated throughout the city and cater for all budgets and requirements of both business and leisure guests. They provide a glimpse into this delightful cosmopolitan city filled with both natural and cultural delights and offer outstanding levels of service and quality.

The modern city is only about 150 years old and was developed as a timber processing settlement in response to the need for timber throughout the world. The development of sawmills, the arrival of the transcontinental railway and the natural port facilities resulted in the fast and rapid growth of Vancouver. Today, it is a very modern city where tourism is the second largest industry and a film industry that is the third to largest in the United States after Los Angeles and New York.

The city itself is located on Burrard Inlet, with the downtown core and English Bay to one side of the peninsular and the Fraser River to the south. Vibrant neighborhoods include the century-old Chinatown, rich in history and architecture and the historic district of Gastown, the original settlement and birthplace of the city where the history is unraveled in the cobbled streets, Victorian buildings and information plaques that tell the story. Granville Island is filled with merchants selling seafood and fresh produce, seaside restaurants, art galleries, stores and exhibits while other neighborhoods all have their own appeal and charm.

Vancouver hotels welcome all guests. Families are greeted with family-friendly amenities and facilities while couples including gay and lesbian travelers will delight in cozy and warm hospitality. Business guests are well catered for with in-room modern technology and communications appliances. Fabulous four and five star Vancouver hotels are located in the central business and financial hub of the city, home to stunning restaurants, wonderfully shopping opportunities, relaxing parks and beaches. Backpackers lodges, smaller hotels, B&Bs and inns are also found here with many more located just outside the central bustling core while an assortment of hotels are located in Richmond, providing very easy access to the airport. Lovely boutique hotels provided a more suburban atmosphere and are easily connected to the city center but provide a welcome alternative to high-rise city hotels.

No matter where visitors stay in the city, the cultural delights, including the diverse neighborhoods are within easy reach. Visitors can experience spectacular settings, colorful sidewalks and different cultural ways of life by walking or cycling through the different areas. Alternatively, the excellent public transport within the city includes buses and the Sky Train, an elevated rapid transport system that will take visitors most places they want to be. Vancouver is served by an International Airport just south of the city, floatplane facilities at the Coal Harbor in downtown and ferry and cruise line terminals. Highways and byways link the city with the rest of the country and offer some of the most spectacular scenery through the Canadian Rockies.

Architecturally, Vancouver hotels reflect the city's history with some lovely Edwardian buildings alongside ultra-modern and chic multi-story hotels. From the lovely weathered architecture of the Fairmont Hotel to the sleek modern look of the Metropolitan Hotel, there is something that will appeal to everybody.

Guest rooms catering for both romantic weekenders and busy corporate visitors include warm and cozy decor and amenities and facilities suitable for all. In-house dining is provided by superb restaurants while sophisticated ballrooms and meeting venues perfect for weddings, private social parties and corporate functions make Vancouver hotels an ideal location for any event.

Vancouver experiences mild weather, by Canadian standards, all year round and although winters are wet, the city is perfect to explore at anytime. Snow is rare except on the ski hills nearby which add another whole dimension in the winter to the leisure pursuits offered by this outdoor active city. The natural beauty is one of the major attractions with majestic mountains, sparkling ocean, lush green foliage and rain forests while Vancouver is also the gateway to so many exciting adventures. The Whistler Resort, Canadian Rockies, the capital city of Victoria and Vancouver Island are all a stone's throw away from any of the Vancouver hotels. The city itself provides so many leisure pursuits; walking, jogging and rollerblading along the famous Seawall, relaxing and picnicking in Stanley Park, sunbathing on one of the numerous sandy beaches including Wreck Beach, the only nudist beach in the city and any water sport you can imagine. Vancouver hotels are very popular with sporting enthusiasts who come to watch and support their favorite ice hockey, baseball league or soccer team.

Vancouver hotels are on a par with the best in the rest of the world and provide a wonderful opportunity for guests to immerse themselves in this vibrant and charming city. Attracting both business and leisure visitors, Vancouver hotels cater for all budgets and provide amenities and facilities to ensure that all needs and requirements are met alongside superb hospitality and friendly staff who are obviously proud of their beautiful city.