Pan Pacific Hotel - Vancouver, Canada

Vancouver is the third largest city in Canada and has become increasingly popular as a place to visit or as a starting point for a cruise to Alaska or a trip to various sites in British Columbia. In addition, the proximity of the city to Grouse Mountain, the quaint City of Victoria located on Vancouver Island to the south, and to various bays and harbor make Vancouver a great location for businesses and people looking for a relaxing lifestyle with an international flavor.

Pan Pacific is a major international hotel chain with properties in Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, United States and seven Asian countries. It is no surprise, that the company selected the waterfront Canada Place structure for its premier property in the region known as Pan Pacific Vancouver. Canada Place not only serves as a hotel venue, it also houses the Vancouver Convention Center and a cruise ship terminal which handles approximately 290 embarkations and ship visits annually.  Although one would not ordinarily consider such a busy venue as the ideal place for a luxury hotel, Pan Pacific has created a destination there which provides its international and Canadian guests with ready access to those facilities along with the shopping, restaurant and entertainment amenities of the downtown area without any hassles.

One reason for this is the architecture of the Canada Place building which limits most of the cruise ship passengers to the piers surrounding the building on three sides and uses a central entrance on the street for people attending convention events or checking in for cruises. In order to access the hotel, you first go up a large set of escalators to the hotel lobby where the building opens up to a six story high atrium with a large core area for guests to lounge, check in, and spread out to enjoy the hotels many amenities. Another reason why the hotel works is the many different views from the rooms and the rooftop areas. In addition to looking out over the harbor where sea planes frequently land or at the cruise ships surrounding the building, you can see Stanley Park and the mountains.

Amenities

The 500 plus rooms of the Pan Pacific are modern in design and furnishings. The hotel does a good job of providing public facilities and room features which meet the needs of both business travelers and general visitors with occasional touches of luxury here and there. The rooms are oversized with comfortable beds and full windows providing views of the city.

The food at the general restaurant known as Oceans 999 which serves breakfast lunch and dinner is quite good. For fine dining, you go up top to the Five Sails restaurant which is housed under a sail like structure that gives the Canada Place building its distinctive look. Additional meal options are available at include the Patio Terrace and Coal Harbour Bar lounge. 

Since rain can occur in Vancouver approximately 150 days each year, timing is everything for enjoying the many activities that the hotel and the city have to offer. However, the climate is generally temperate and comfortable from April to late September. So, most guests will have some opportunities to use the heated outdoor pool and jacuzzi located on Level 8 for relaxation and to take in a panoramic view. A decent fitness center and the largest spa in British Columbia are also features of the hotel.  Depending on the time of year, a basic deluxe room at the Pan Pacific will run between $225 and $350 per night.

Area activities

There are lots of ways to enjoy a stay in Vancouver using Pan Pacific as your base of operations. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy heading south to the 1000 acre Stanley Park where you can travel by shuttle bus, bike or foot to see the harbor, stop at the Marine Science Center, or walk wilderness trails that make you feel you are still in the countryside. In the opposite direction there is Grouse Mountain, which can be hiked by the adventurous or seen from an aerial tramway that provides spectacular views of the region and other activities at the summit. Another popular option is to take a 90-minute ferry ride and enjoy a day trip to Victoria which was the original settlement of the English population of British Columbia and is known for the Butchart Gardens. Other activities closer to the hotel include the FlyOver Canada flying theater attraction available in Canada Place, or the public market stalls, other entertainment options and restaurants found across town on Granville Island.

Location

Vancouver has a major international airport which often serves as a gateway to countries across the Pacific. Consequently, many major airlines have direct flights to Vancouver from the U.S. including Air Canada, Alaskan Air, Delta, American and United. Once at the airport, the hotel is about a 25-minute drive by car or a taxi. Or you can take the SkyTrain rapid transit from the airport to the Waterfront Station stop and Canada Place is a five-minute walk from there. For people already in the region, you can drive to Vancouver directly on Interstate 5 from Seattle upon presentation of a passport at the border crossing. The trip takes about two and a half to three hours.