Anna Smith gets the penthouse treatment when she stays at the Georgian Court Hotel in Vancouver.
Right by Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium, the 180-room Georgian Court Hotel comes with a fun list of previous guests: everyone from Britney Spears to Alice Cooper to Chubby Checker has stayed here, along with numerous Canadian ice-skating champions, according to the signed photos in reception.
After a friendly welcome, we are escorted to our two-bedroom Penthouse suite on the 12th floor. It’s very spacious, with generously sized bedrooms, two ensuite bathrooms and a large living room on the corner of the building. The huge windows mean you can either spy on other nearby hotels or look at the Vancouver horizon, and the enormous corner sofa and round mirrored table make us wish we were throwing a party for 12. Other modern design touches include colourful contemporary art, funky mirrors and sleek silver velvet furnishings.
The suite is conveniently located opposite the ice machine station, so we crack open a lovely bottle of complimentary wine and explore the room at leisure. I decide to use the second bedroom as my walk-in wardrobe, and I’m delighted to see that there are several brands of hair straighteners/curlers available (very unusual!), as well as great toiletries including extra touches such as mouthwash.
There are also large widescreen TVs, and that evening after dinner we luck out: the local TV is showing a double bill of Back to the Future Part II and Back to the Future Part III. Should you be feeling more active while in sporty Vancouver, there’s a good gym, and yoga mats in every room.
Breakfast is downstairs at Frankie’s Italian Kitchen and Bar, which serves a variety of hearty grub including Pancakes, Maple Apple Oatmeal and Urban Farmer’s Hash. I enjoy an Eggs Benedict and my partner a Wild Mushroom Omelette, setting us up for a day of exploring.
With its Downtown location, the boutique Georgian Court Hotel is perfectly placed for the shops of Robson Street, as well as culture such as the Vancouver Art Gallery, where we enjoy a futuristic fashion exhibition. It’s also an easy walk over to the little ferry to Granville Island, where there are stalls and craft breweries, and trendy Yaletown and Gastown are a short walk away.
As for dinner, it’s back to Frankie’s, where they are known for home recipes such as their lasagne and meatballs, which I sample with a red wine. Frankie’s also has a jazz club with regular performances, so it’s worth checking who’s playing during your stay.
On our final day, we decide to try out the Jacuzzi – something that always makes a long flight go smoother, in my experience. We get keys from reception and enjoy a very relaxing Hot Tub before a wonderfully detoxing Infrared Sauna. There’s free coffee, tea and water in reception to fortify us before we reluctantly leave.
The Georgian Court Hotel has recently joined the WorldHotels Elite Collection, and with its brilliant location, great spa and excellent penthouse suite, I’d recommend it as a way to do central Vancouver in both comfort and style.
Tell Me More About The Georgian Court Hotel
The Georgian Court Hotel, 773 Beatty Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 2M4, Canada
T: +1 -604-682-5555 Toll Free: 1-800-663-1155
E: info@georgiancourt.com
Rates for Penthouse Suite II start at $1,300 (around £777)
