Originally Posted by aktchi

First time to Vancouver for a few days straddling late May - early June for a conference in the Convention Center. I would be most grateful for hotel advice. Are there any obvious best buys or gotcha's? We would be walking back and forth between the hotel and Convention Center several times during the day and evening, so that would be a consideration.

A friend recommended Hotel Vancouver based on one 15-year old visit. It has become a Fairmont and is available for CAD 239 for those nights. Various other hotels - Sheratons, Westins, a Soleil, etc - are in the same price range, bookable via the conference link.

We have a tentative reservation in Century Plaza as it seemed attractive at CAD 160. Others must have thought the same b/c it sold out fast.

However, changes and cancellations are free for now. Also, we have no obligation to go to big chain hotels via the Conference links. We are free to stay wherever we want. Based on past experience, the organizers prefer big chains and wouldn't have bothered listing small, local, or boutique hotels.