Renaissance Harborside Vancouver
 

I searched this board but could not find a thread on this hotel. I'm thinking about staying there next May. I have heard a few people mention that this is a so-so Renaissance. I think is was formerly a Holiday Inn. Alternatively, we are considering the Residence Inn downtown or the Hampton Inn on Robson. If you have stayed at the Renaissance Vancouver during the past year, I would appreciate hearing your comments re facilities, service and location. Thanks in advance.

We stayed a few days at this hotel about a year and a half ago and quite enjoyed it. The service was excellent, the concierge lounge very seviceable, the restaurant first rate and the views were magnificent if you get a room facing the harbor. The tradeoff for the view is a location that is a bit of a hike to almost anywhere of interest, but we thought it was worth it.

I stayed there 8/00 and thoroughly enjoyed it. Had a harbor view and was quite mesmerized by watching seaplanes in and out every two minutes plus spectacular view in background. Casino is adjacent. Would highly recommend.

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How to get to Vancouver Renessaince
 

I just booked 2 nights in December for $24 (US) per night via Priceline.
I am not eager to part with $40 (canadian) for a limo or a cab.
Does anyone know if they have a shuttle from the airport to the hotel? ARe there any other cost-effective means of transportation?
Water taxi?

Any help is appreciated.

[This message has been edited by GoldPremier (edited 12-12-2001).]

The airport is a very long way from the hotel. You might be able to get there on public buses or using an airport limo.

Bruce

YVR Airporter will drop you off at the Renaissance. Sometime the driver's protest, and drop you off at the Fairmont Hotel Vacouver, just a few blocks away. Fare is about $6 USD each way.

There is a public bus. Don't do it - - it will take as long as your flight!

All of which brings up an interesting point: The availabilty, or lack thereof, of Shuttle Bus Service to the airport.

In Vancouver, the hotel is quite a distance from the airport, so i understand the lack of shuttles.

But in Austin, there are a Courtyard and Fairfield down the main road from the airport, and no shuttle bus. A cab costs about $20. There should be a shuttle bus at those properties, shared by all the Marriott properties there.

Renaissance Vancouver
 

Can anyone provide me with the inside scoop on this property, namely is it centrally located, how does it compare to other Renaissance? Thanks

kpack - Do a search on this board. You will find out enough on which to make an educated guess as to whether you will like the place. If you do stay there and then have something new to add, bring it over here.

Renaissance Vancouver - Great experience
 

Stayed at the YVR Renaissance (using points) for the Thanksgiving weekend and it turned out to be a good decision.

As a plat got upgraded to a waterview room (18th floor) - pretty comfortable sized room facing the water, could see Stanley park, Lions Gate Bridge and North YVR. The hotel staff was also very cordial; in particular Alex from the concierge lounge went out of her way to help us plan and arrange breakfast for us (late risers).

I was torn between the Marriott Pinnacle and the Renaissance. After following the posts on this message board I went for the REnaissance. The Marriott is across the street from the Renaissance so there's a less likely chance of getting a waterview room. But then again the Marriott is almost double the # of stories so keep that in mind.

There was some filming going on around the REn so getting to the REn in a car was a pain; but that was only in the night. So no big deal.

Thanks for the recommendation fellow flyertalkers.

MagicLamp

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the Renaissance. When I stayed there a couple of years ago the only Marriott in town was at the airport. I wonder if the Marriott is a rebadge of another property or new construction? Anyway, I had a similarly good experience (all the way down to an excellent concierge who helped make our stay memorably outstanding) and would recommend this hotel to anyone visiting this wonderful city.

The Marriott Pinnacle is a rebadge of the Delta Pinnacle. (Still a relatively new hotel.)

Thanks! I THINK the Delta Pinnacle was there, but can't remember for sure.

Harborside vs. Residence Inn
 

debating between harbourside and residence inn. is it worth the price difference? which is a better location?

We've stayed at the Pinnacle, which is across the street from the RH, and the RI, both for cruises. I personally liked the RI better for our use, but the Pinnacle is a lovely hotel and we had a great view. Both were safe to walk, at least when we were there. The RI seemed closer to Robson shopping, and the Pinnacle was closer to Gastown and Canada Place.

If the RH can still be had occasionally on Priceline, it would be worth it. Otherwise, I don't know. Guess you'll just have to try it :)

Pat

Vancouver Renaissance - room recommendation?
 

Will be staying at the Renaissance Harbourside in Vancouver for 10 nights in a marina-view club level room. With the construction going on, do some marina view rooms have a restricted view? Does anyone know which rooms/side of building, etc. we should ask for when checking in?

Thanks for any help you can give - a search didn't provide any recent information about any restricted view.

When I was there in August, I don't believe that any rooms had restricted views.

Bruce

Thanks!!

We're looking forward to a fantastic view and a great stay in Vancouver!

FTer feedback on Renaissance Vancouver Hotel Harbourside
 

I have a bit of time there in Aug. and have read some tripadvisor reviews but just wondered if any fellow FTers had been recently and wanted to share their impressions of the property. I did a search but failed to find anything in this forum on that hotel. Most of the reviews seem fairly positive but some say this location could use an update/renovation.

This is just a leisure stop and am not on any kind of business trip or seminar so won't have quite the same needs in terms of the business centre, etc. I'm a lapsed silver :( who strictly travels on leisure trips a few times a year, so elite perks not at play either.

Any feedback would be appreciated. :)

I stayed across the street at the Marriott Pinnacle in January, but decided to stroll over and check out the Ren. I'm sure someone else here can give a better and more detailed report than me, but my impressions were all positive...save for the fact that the main restaurant was closed. I found this a bit odd....even though it was a Sunday night during the "off season".

(As for the Marriott Pinnacle, its one of the better FS properties in the system IMHO).

So did I (last fall). Thought the Pinnacle was very nice; the Ren getting a bit tired.

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I've stayed at this property on two separate occasions in the last four months. The previous posters are correct, the hotel is a little dated, but there are some nice touches here. The bathrooms have heated floors, which are a wonderful surprise in the morning, especially with the typically dreary Vancouver weather. The tile in the bathroom is definitely of the 1970's vintage, and there are a few things that have that 'old' feeling to them. The beds are great, usual Renaissance fare. The rooms are quite spacious near the ends as when they walled off the balconies, that extra space became part of the room. I am a MR Gold, so that may be part of why I got one of those corner rooms. The million dollar view of the harbor is slowly being eroded by a development across the street, which will be literally right on the water. You can hear the construction in the daytime but it never disturbed my sleep. There is a nice glass-doored business center in the lobby with free high-speed internet access on two computers. We didn't eat in the revolving restaurant, but the one on the lobby level was great for breakfast.

If you're considering the Renaissance or Marriott Pinnacle Vancouver Downtown (right across the street), I'd go for the Pinnacle if you can get a rate within $50. That's a very sleek property with a nice restaurant, separate stand-up showers, windows in the bathrooms(!), and breathtaking views if you're lucky enough to get on one of the higher floors. The elevators are extremely fast and quiet in this hotel.

Any other questions feel free to ask!

Hmmmmm. I had the Ren booked for a trip in May. So should I change to the Pinnacle?

Yes you should change to the Pinnacle...I really like that hotel, nice rooms, lovely bar/restaurant, modern feel, service incredible and breathtaking views...very little to criticize at this property.

If you can get a decent rate at the Pinnacle (within $30-$50 of your Renaissance rate), then I'd advise you to go for it.

I got a Sr. rate $10 more than at the Ren so I changed.

There is a huge difference between the various rooms and floors at the Pinnacle, particularly as to view, which range from virtually no view, to spectacular view of the harbor and seaplanes. Be sure to check the room recommendations at Tripadvisor, and then request the suggested rooms.

You could be right, but I've never had a bad room there. The room layouts aren't the standard shapes either, there are several interesting ones.

I didn't say or mean that any rooms were "bad." Just meant that based on size, shape, and view, some are much better than others.

Z2H rate Vancouver Renaissance
 

Earlier today there was a great Z2H rate of 109 per night in much of early next year.
Now I can't see it anymore... Does a lot of queries trigger investigation into rates? I've often wondered about this.
Anyway, I'm interested in staying here or some other place in most of January - April next year, do you think I can get this rate if I talk to the property manager?

Rate queries do not trigger investigation into rates.

I see the rate of $109 as an advance purchase rate but not an AAA/CAA rate.

They do have a Local Promotion Rate (LPR) of $99.00 Although you must have ID that shows a BC address. Looking at your profile you would qualify :)

I just see a misc rate of 999 :confused:

Rennaisance Harborsde Vancouver Lounge Closing for December
 

I just returned from a quick breakfast bite at the lounge and was informed by the woman working there this morning that the lounge will be closed starting December 1 as the hotel is undergoing rennovations. They are going to be refitting 3-4 floors at a time, and the club level has rooms on it (inluding mine with a great view of the harbor). She didn't say how long it would be closed for. She expected that the breakfast would be offered at the main restaurant, but had no ideas about the evening offerings. This also means that the top floor is not going to be available for rooms (and I assume they are going to do contiguous floors, so figure the top 3-4 floors will be unavailable for some time).

If you've got a stay booked in the coming weeks you might want to reconsider based on the lack of lounge and lack of high floor rooms with views.

S.

Renaissance Vancouver
 

Anyone stayed here before?
can a plat expect anything? breakfast on a saturday?

No Breakfast!
 

Stayed this weekend, no breakfast even after asking about the closed lounge. I did get a nice room on the top floor facing the harbor, even when booked into a city view room, no suites or anything like that!
The hotel is clean and bright but a bit dated in furnishings. The Marriot across the street has a much more updated appreance.
My one complaint is parking at close to $40 is too much, street parking is available as long as you pay the meter or move by 9am!

I have stayed there probably a dozen times. The only time I was upgraded is when they were overbooked and I jokingly told the GM, "There is always that President's suite." They consider a view of the harbor an upgrade though.

Beware, if you plan on sleeping in and get a harbor side room, the seaplane port is directly below this hotel. They start at about 7:00 AM IIRC.

renaissance Vancouver
 

Staying here next week, harbor view room.
Is it any good?
also have a reservation at the westin wall centre....which one is better?
and anyone know how i can dodge the rip off parking at either?

Not sure how you can dodge the rip off parking at any city centre hotel. :td:

Stayed at the Renaissance last year, it's right across the street from the Marriott. It is a nice property as you would expect in a decent location close to the harbour. Nice club lounge with decent breakfast and snack selection. Staff were excellent as well.

Rooms have been updated with new fixtures and flat screen TV's, quite nice from what I can recall.

My last stay in YVR was at the newer Fairmont Pacific Rim, not sure any other hotel can compete with this Fairmont, it is truly exceptional if you can get a decent rate.