Thursday, March 10, 2011

Vancouver's Coast Plaza

The View From My Window in Vancouver's Coast Plaza Hotel
Downtown near the shore in Vancouver
I discovered this gem by accident really and I was very fortunate, so I wanted to pass it on to my readers. While in Vancouver on business at a conference last week I had the good fortune to stay at the Coast Plaza Hotel on Comox Street, near Denman Plaza. The prices were excellent and the variety of rooms plentiful. I understand there are some folks who live here year round inside the Coast Plaza and therefore some of the rooms are the size of small apartments. I was attending a conference at the very fancy Westin Bayshore, but rooms there sold out, and at $200 a night, the rooms at the Westin were far too much money for me anyways. Last minute a colleague who works for the board as a special education and mental health consultant mentioned the Coast Plaza.
Rooms were priced at $100 a night for the friends I travelled with to the conference. Well, on line last minute I was able to request a room for $80 a night. It was for a single occupant - myself as I was staying in a room alone on this trip. I had the option of two double beds or a queen bed. I asked for a queen bed and ended up staying in a suite that I joked was bigger than a relative's condominium. (For sure it was larger than many apartments I lived in when in university). Anyways the Coast Plaza was affordable and clean. There was literally no bad view. I could see English Bay and the ships every morning. A colleague could see the Rockies and the Bay. Her room was smaller though. Another colleague could see even more of the city, remarkable really. The rooms were quiet and clean. The wireless internet password was provided for free for the duration of my stay. I also had a large bathroom, kitchenette and living room area. There was prompt housekeeping every day, a free Globe and Mail each morning and generally just a really good experience staying here. It is not the fanciest or newest motel/hotel in Vancouver, but it was downtown, surrounded by excellent restaurants. It was a very safe area and it even opened onto a small shopping mall (Denman Plaza: with a Shoppers Drug Mart and a No Frills inside.) Everything was nearby and shopping was a short taxi or walk away. The hotel occupants also could make use of the fitness complex beside the buidling. There were two on site restaurants. Both were affordable. The Comox burger spot was a sports bar and lounge with giant burgers, salmon burgers and salads. The Brasserie was a bit fancier and breakfast could be ordered the night before and scheduled to be sent up at whatever time you wanted. The Coast Plaza was roughly 25 minutes away from the airport and a 10 minute walk to the conference centre or the shore. Service was great. Very friendly and prompt. Coast Plaza gets $$$$ out of $$$$$. Very affordable and clean. Not fancy but the price reflects that. Perfect for business travel.