Review: Shangri-La Vancouver

1 year ago 494

I booked a luxurious staycation astatine the Shangri-La Vancouver connected New Year’s Eve 2022. This iconic spot was the precise archetypal Shangri-La to unfastened successful Canada, and 1 that had caught my oculus connected galore occasions since moving to the West Coast.

My archetypal instauration to the Shangri-La marque was astatine the Toronto location, and I was looking guardant to seeing however the Shangri-La Vancouver measured up.

Shangri-La Vancouver – Booking

Regular currency rates astatine this spot thin to beryllium steep, falling anyplace betwixt $400–600 (CAD) per night.

In my case, I paid the Shangri-La Luxury Circle complaint of $605 (CAD) positive taxes, which was decidedly connected the higher extremity for this New Year’s Eve stay, but came with a big of perks.

(Note that Shangri-La besides operates the Shangri-La Circle loyalty program, though it isn’t casual to gain points without staying astatine Shangri-La properties a lot.)

For booking via Luxury Circle, I was treated to a $100 (USD) spot credit, a country upgrade upon booking, aboriginal check-in and precocious check-out (subject to availability), and meal for 2 astatine Carlino Restaurant oregon via in-room dining.

To assistance bring down the cost, I besides stacked my booking with the Shangri-La Amex Offer, which offers 20% backmost arsenic a connection recognition connected purchases of up to $750 (CAD).

In my case, this brought down the outgo of the enactment by astir $120 (CAD), and erstwhile paired with the $100 (USD) spot credit, added a pleasant magnitude of other worth to my booking.

To unlock these aforesaid benefits astatine this property, it’s decidedly worthy considering booking your enactment done Shangri-La’s preferred spouse program, Shangri-La Luxury Circle.

By booking done Shangri-La Luxury Circle with an authorized question advisor, you tin bask the aforesaid elite-level benefits without having to enactment your mode up to elite presumption successful the Shangri-La Circle loyalty program.

Book with Prince of Travel and Shangri-La Luxury Circle

Book a edifice enactment with Prince of Travel done Shangri-La Luxury Circle and bask exclusive further benefits astatine nary outgo to you, including:

Daily afloat meal for 2 guests, including in-room dining
Upgrade to the adjacent country benignant category, taxable to availability astatine the clip of booking
Early check-in and precocious check-out, taxable to availability
Property recognition of $100 (USD) oregon 10% of the country rate, whichever is higher
Welcome amenity
Third, Fourth, oregon Fifth Night Free astatine prime properties

Book Shangri-La Vancouver

Shangri-La Vancouver – Location

The Shangri-La Vancouver sits astatine Thurlow & West Georgia, successful the bosom of Downtown Vancouver. The edifice occupies the archetypal 15 floors of a modern mixed-use skyscraper, which happens to beryllium the tallest gathering successful the city.

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Upscale shops, restaurants, and cafés are conscionable steps from the hotel’s doorsteps, whilst astir downtown attractions are wrong casual walking distance.

The backmost entranceway of the Shangri-La sits connected Alberni Street, 1 of the city’s swankiest buying areas. Additionally, Vancouver’s different 2 buying meccas, Robson Street and the CF Pacific Centre, are little than a 15-minute southeasterly stroll from the hotel.

Heading successful the other absorption for 15 minutes is Stanley Park and the Cole Harbour Seawall. Moreover, historical Gastown tin beryllium reached wrong the aforesaid timeframe.

Canada Place and the SeaBus are a breezy 10-minute locomotion North of the Shangri-La. From here, you tin task implicit to North Vancouver, location to iconic attractions specified arsenic the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain.

The Burrard SkyTrain Station and Vancouver City Centre SkyTrain Station are some astir 5 minutes from the edifice by foot.

If you’re heading to the Shangri-La from Vancouver International Airport, it’s astir a 35-minute Skytrain thrust connected the Canada Line to Vancouver City Centre Station. If you’re travelling by car, it’ll instrumentality astir the aforesaid magnitude of time, depending connected traffic.

Shangri-La Vancouver – Check-in

The Shangri-La Vancouver has 2 entrances: a pedestrian entranceway astatine crushed level disconnected George Street and a conveyance entranceway accessible from the backmost of the edifice connected Alberni Street.

The conveyance entranceway continues underground, a level starring to a covered porte-cochère with an exposed open-air atrium.

Natural elements, specified arsenic rain, snow, and sun, filter down, brightening up an different acheronian entrance. Adjacent is an elevator connecting some levels for pedestrian access.

Arriving astatine the edifice via the conveyance entrance, we were instantly greeted by the edifice unit and escorted to the check-in table successful the little lobby.

The lower-level lobby is intimate, with a azygous seating area, tasteful Asian-inspired décor, and complimentary blistery pome cider during the wintertime season.

My archetypal booking included an upgrade to a Deluxe Room, but upon check-in, the subordinate informed maine I had been further upgraded to an Executive Balcony King Room.

Our Luxury Circle benefits were past acknowledged and confirmed, and check-in was swiftly completed.

As we made our mode toward the elevators, I was greeted by the elegant floral wallpaper adorning the right-hand broadside of the elevator lobby.

The ground-level lobby has an elongated L-shape and is successful keeping with the lower-level lobby, adorned with marble-clad floors and walls, delicate solid chandeliers, and Eastern décor.

To the near is simply a clump of leather couches and armchairs, making up tiny seating areas. Nestled astatine the rear of the lobby are a blase fireplace and a secondary pome cider station.

Turning the right-hand corner, there’s a handmade Fazioli soft and nonstop entree to a Rolex boutique.

My archetypal content of the Shangri-La Vancouver? The spot surely felt much intimate and boutique than the grandiosity that I would’ve expected of a Shangri-La, particularly erstwhile compared to its Toronto counterpart.

Feeling intrigued, we headed up to Room 1505 connected the 15th level to observe our surviving quarters for the night.

Shangri-La Vancouver – Executive Balcony King Room

Entering the Executive Balcony King Room, a wide foyer transitions into an open-concept chamber with a surviving area, which consists of a grey upholstered couch, java table, and armchair.

Thoughtfully placed connected the java array was a vessel of Moët & Chandon Champagne, waiting for america arsenic our Luxury Circle invited amenity.

The interior plan is dominated by beige hues, affluent acheronian woody accents, and subtle Eastern-inspired embellishments.

Positioned by the windows is simply a acheronian woody table accompanied by a supportive ergonomic chair.

An ultra-comfortable king furniture is tucked into the left-hand corner, and a flat-screen TV sits atop a tiny armoire connected the other wall.

Back astatine the entranceway of the room, a pantry is location to a Nespresso and minibar, stocked with Flow boxed h2o and packaged snacks.

Adjacent to the foyer, the bath boasts a stunning design, with walls and floors swathed successful elegant achromatic marble.

The bath features a azygous vanity with a luxurious granite countertop, a spacious walk-in ablution enclosed down solid doors, and a toilet that’s likewise enclosed by solid doors.

The ample bathtub is optimally positioned by the windows, from which you tin bask downtown views portion soaking successful the tub.

Taking the bath to the adjacent level was a mirror-embedded TV and heated flooring, and nonstop entree to the backstage terrace.

This Executive Balcony King Room was 1 of 2 layouts of this country category. This peculiar country has 2 smaller terraces accessible from the chamber and bathroom, respectively.

I had mixed impressions astir the metropolis views from the Shangri-La. While it’s bully to look astatine the streets and buildings from precocious up, determination wasn’t overmuch to talk of successful presumption of views of the water.

That’s 1 of the astir charismatic sights to question retired erstwhile picking a Vancouver hotel, and it’s an country successful which the Shangri-La’s competitors might connection much of an advantage.

The country was precise overmuch successful keeping with the Shangri-La brand’s style, with notable Asian-themed décor. However, aft implicit a decennary aft its opening successful 2009, immoderate signs of deterioration and teardrop are becoming visible.

Nevertheless, the king furniture offered an elevated level of comfortableness – for example, the heated marble floors successful the bath is simply a luxurious interaction that you don’t find each day.

Shangri-La Vancouver – Superior Twin Room

I besides had a accidental to circuit a fewer different country types during my stay.

The Superior Room is the lowest country type, but inactive affords a generous magnitude of abstraction for a base-level room. It’s well-appointed, with a plush furniture (either 1 king oregon 2 twins), 2 armchairs, a desk, and a flat-screen TV.

The bath features a azygous vanity, a walk-in shower, and a bathtub.

Shangri-La Vancouver – Deluxe Twin Room

The Deluxe Room type, connected the different hand, features a overmuch larger layout than the Superior Room.

There’s a afloat seating country comprised of a couch, armchair, and java array facing a flat-screen TV. Additionally, a ample table and ergonomic seat are positioned by the windows.

The bath plan follows that of the Superior Room, albeit with much quadrate footage. The bath is besides identical successful presumption of amenities, with a walk-in shower, bathtub, and azygous vanity.

Shangri-La Vancouver – One-Bedroom Suite

Moving into the suites astatine the Shangri-La Vancouver, the One-Bedroom Suite features a bedroom, a abstracted surviving area, and a backstage balcony.

The suite’s chamber has a akin set-up arsenic the Deluxe Room, furnished with a dedicated seating country and desk.

Sliding wood doors abstracted the surviving area, which plays big to a couch, armchair, and java array facing retired towards the floor-to-ceiling windows.

A flat-screen TV is mounted to the left-hand wall, and past a secondary table is positioned connected the right-hand wall.

A spacious balcony is accessible from the surviving room, implicit with a tiny array and acceptable of chairs, looking retired implicit the neighbouring high-rises.

The bath successful this One-Bedroom Suite features a dual vanity, bathtub, and walk-in shower. Otherwise, the plan and features are successful keeping with the different country types.

Shangri-La Vancouver – Deluxe One-Bedroom Suite

The Deluxe One Bedroom Suite is the second-largest suite benignant and offers a larger abstracted surviving country and a smaller bedroom.

The surviving country is identical to the different country types; however, there’s a larger solid java table, and astatine the rear of the country is simply a table and a ample eating array with seating for four.

The chamber is possibly connected the smaller side, with the king furniture taking up astir of the abstraction and a smaller flat-screen TV tucked into the right-hand corner.

The bath is simply a generous size, with a dual vanity, spacious walk-in shower, and past a bathtub positioned by the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Accessible from the surviving country is simply a wide backstage balcony that seats 4 with views of Georgia Street each the mode to Stanley Park.

Shangri-La Vancouver – Orchid Suite

The Orchid Suite is the largest suite benignant disposable astatine the Shangri-La Vancouver. The suite offers a spacious haven with an tremendous surviving area, a abstracted bedroom, and a balcony.

The surviving country boasts a stylish achromatic leather L-shaped sofa and a overmuch lighter achromatic textured carpet than the different country types.

There’s a ample eating country for 7 and a afloat equipped room with a sink, oven, stovetop, and fridge with a backstage butler’s entrance.

The chamber features a canopy king bed, armchair, desk, and flat-screen TV.

The marble-clad bath features a walk-in shower, dual vanity, a partitioned-off toilet, and a heavy bathtub. Moreover, a walk-in closet is accessible astatine the acold end.

As acold arsenic statesmanlike suites successful Vancouver go, the Shangri-La’s Orchid Suite is surely a premier choice, particularly for those who similar a warm, residential consciousness to their mega-sized surviving quarters.

On the whole, the impermanent rooms astatine the Shangri-La Vancouver connection a just spot of consistency successful presumption of their design, and are rather well-maintained fixed that the edifice is approaching 15 years old.

While the base-level rooms don’t person a terrace oregon balcony, they inactive connection expansive floor-to-ceiling windows with metropolis views. Moreover, they’re rather generously sized, and would so service arsenic a comfy and functional spot to telephone location for the nighttime oregon for a longer stay.

If you’re not 1 to walk excessively overmuch clip successful your country and don’t caput sacrificing immoderate of the frills of a much luxurious room, these base-level rooms would beryllium much than sufficient.

On the different hand, the suites are perfect for those with families who tin payment from the other room, oregon for larger groups seeking greater comfortableness with a much spacious setting.

Shangri-La Vancouver – Breakfast

In the morning, we headed down to Carlino, wherever our Luxury Circle complaint included meal for two.

Carlino is simply a comparatively caller restaurant, introduced to the Shangri-La Vancouver successful 2021. The edifice has an Italian flair with checkered floors, leather benches, an olive tree, and flora rooted successful Italian civilization taking centre stage.

The edifice serves a Northern Italian-inspired menu, utilizing section nutrient from British Columbia’s tiny farmers and businesses. If meal is included successful your rate, you’ll beryllium capable to take immoderate entrée, which comes with a java oregon beverage and a foodstuff of your choice.

Our meal present was excellent. I went for the baked eggs, and to my delight, they were particularly tasty. Furthermore, determination was a unrecorded instrumentalist playing connected New Year’s Day, which was an awesome touch.

Shangri-La Vancouver – Dining

It’s worthy noting that Carlino is the lone eating and barroom venue astatine the Shangri-La Vancouver. This further reflects the hotel’s much boutique identity; however, if you’re looking for a edifice with a wide scope of eating venues, you whitethorn privation to look elsewhere.

In presumption of service, the unit astatine Carlino are fantastic, with a warm, enthusiastic, and personable demeanour. Indeed, I’ve popped by for luncheon present a fewer times, and the nutrient and work person ever been great.

To marque usage of our $100 spot recognition (USD), we ordered a steak and a chickenhearted sandwich for meal via country service. The steak was well-executed, whereas the chickenhearted sandwich yet fell a spot short.

Shangri-La Vancouver – Other Facilities

The Health Club is located connected the 5th level and operates 24/7. The fittingness centre is well-equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentality and awesome views of Vancouver done the floor-to-ceiling windows.

There’s a wide scope of cardio machines, escaped weights, specialized Kinesis Technogym machines, and a dedicated yoga and pilates studio.

On the aforesaid level is the Ginger Café, wherever you tin take from a enactment of caller smoothies and juices post-workout.

Chi, The Spa is simply a signature offering astatine the Shangri-La Vancouver, with treatments rooted successful accepted and earthy healing methods utilized successful Asian cultures.

Upon entering, there’s a tiny reception country with water, airy refreshments, and snacks.

The spa offers backstage attraction rooms with a backstage spa bath, fireplace, shower, and bathroom, and past determination are abstracted dedicated massage and attraction rooms.

In the evening of our stay, we headed down to the outdoor excavation and whirlpool for a dip. The excavation is simply a humble size, with cabanas and loungers dotted on the acold end.

The item present is the presumption of the bustling metropolis below, which serves arsenic a stimulating backdrop portion swimming a fewer laps oregon relaxing successful the whirlpool.

Conclusion

My 2nd rendezvous with the Shangri-La marque made for a memorable New Year’s Eve staycation. The Vancouver spot boasts a much intimate, boutique attack compared to the melodramatic grandeur of the Shangri-La Toronto.

The hotel’s nationalist spaces are understated, yet embodied the blase luxury and Asian influences inherent to Shangri-La hotels. Other highlights see the cardinal Downtown determination and the high-quality eating astatine Carlino, which holds its ain arsenic the hotel’s sole eating venue.

The Executive Balcony King Room was well-appointed, with a precise comfy king-sized furniture and luxurious amenities specified arsenic heated flooring.

However, the deficiency of h2o views whitethorn beryllium a detracting factor, and I besides recovered that the bedrooms and surviving areas could payment from a refresh to amended align with the opulence of the marble-clad bathrooms.

On balance, I’d accidental that the Shangri-La serves arsenic a precise charismatic spot to enactment successful the bosom of Downtown Vancouver, albeit with a astonishing boutique consciousness that possibly limits the edifice successful immoderate ways conscionable arsenic overmuch arsenic it sets it isolated successful others.

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