| TRAVELER REVIEWS: Oct 27, 2007
We stayed here for 5 nights. It is a $25 cab ride from the airport which isn't
too bad really. The hotel itself is nice, it has an average size lobby, and the
staff are really helpful. We didn't eat in the restaurant but the food sounded
nice (although a little pricey!). We did have a few drinks there though and they
were okay.
Our room was nice and comfortable although every morning at 7am a van would
reverse into the area below our window and it's reversing beeps were a bit
annoying! On our floor, there were the brewing silo's for the hotel's beer which
I thought was quite cool, that we could see them.
The location on Granville Island is good, it's near the market and other little
shops and there are nice restaurants around.
You have to get an Aquabus to the downtown area, it is $2.50 each way for the
shortest route, which takes 5 mins (but you can buy 20 tickets for $17, and each
journey is 2 tickets). Although we didn't mind paying, it did all add up and
make us think it might have been more convenient to stay in the downtown area.
However the views of downtown from the island were beautiful so it all evens
out!
I'm not sure if I would stay here if I was in Vancouver again, or downtown, but
this is nothing to do with the hotel, just the price of getting a boat everyday.
Oct 14, 2007
We booked this hotel primarily because of its location, value, and it is close
to downtown.
The biggest obivious attraction of this hotel is its location - smack dab in the
middle of Granville Island, and therefore close to the restaurants, markets,
shops, and galleries that are all nearby. Like, I mean, within a couple of city
blocks.
And on the water, the ships gliding by, the water taxis, the sailboats, the
seagulls, and the smells of the sea, all at your doorstep. And the hotel is a
$10 cab ride from downtown or you can take a water taxi to the edge of the
downtown area.
Otherwise, it is kind of a humble little hotel. Small personal feel to it. Very
accomodating, offering the use of their umbrellas (take one!), pointing out
attractions, giving you maps, friendly greetings every day. Friendly and
informal. Attached to the hotel is a great little patio restaurant by the
water's edge (when weather permits) and a bar/restaurant inside with a mico-brewery.
The food is acceptable, but don't expect gourmet. But don't fret, you are in
Vancouver, where a new restaurant is born every week. Easy to park your car
right in the lot in front of the hotel or the hotel staff will even volunteer to
park it for you.
The rooms themselves are spacious, we had a king-size bed, with a little balcony
that looked out towards downtown. Otherwise, the decor and furnishings are a
little tired and dated. It is clean, just a little frumpy. Nothing a little
renovation couldn't quickly take care of. Like the wonky shower head.
So if the hotel itself is real important and you intend to spend alot of time in
the room itself, I don't recommend this hotel to you. But if you spend very
little time in the hotel, as we generally do, then it is just OK and sometimes
even better than just OK when you look at the lights of downtown at night over
the water.
Sep 18, 2007
After two nights in Whistler, my husband and I checked into the Granville Island
Hotel and couldn't have been more thrilled with the room. That said, we DID
splurge and got the executive suite for approx. $265/night. However, the room
was clean, very large, and the marina view with sparkling water & skyline at
night was perfect. The Granville is located out of the big city, and has its own
unique feel. The water taxis were fun to just go for a ride on. I loved staying
on the island, although I am not sure if I would have been so excited about the
hotel if I was in a standard room looking out to a parking lot/huge crane. We
ate on the island ~ upstairs at Bridges Restaurant and found the food pricey but
very tasty. We had breakfast at the hotel restaurant and although convenient,
the food was marginal and not worth the high price. Two coffees, one muffin and
one bagel w/cream cheese the next morning at the open air market was much better
and fun. Renting bikes and riding around Stanley Park is a MUST. Also enjoyed
the suspension bridge.
Sep 5, 2007
Great location. Rooms fine and generally clean and tidy. Would recommend the
hotel due to it's proximity.
Jul 23, 2007
The Granville Island Hotel is a great little place to stay if you don't want the
big city experience, and you like walking out your door to the marketplace,
coffee shops, galleries and outdoor spaces that surround you on this interesting
island. We often visit Vancouver to see family, and decided to stay someplace
different. We love going to Granville Island, but never have enough time to
explore all of the nooks and crannies of this interesting place.
The hotel is showing some signs of age, but the truly wonderful restaurant,
cheery staff, and easy access to the city make this a hotel that every Vancouver
visitor should try at least once.
It rained all four days that we were there in mid-July, which is fairly unusual
for this time of year. As they say there "No worries", because you could duck in
and out of the little shops and galleries without getting too wet, and when a
real downpour came as we were dressed up and heading into the city, we were
offered a huge umbrella by the staff, which we kept until check out.
Please do try the restaurant. The food was superb, and the atmosphere is
wonderful - right on the water. We heard from friends that it is really
wonderful when you can sit outside.
Also, there is a brewery on site, and some of the beers were great. Maybe do a
taste test first.
So, I would recommend this hotel for its unique location and friendly staff. The
bed was quite comfortable, but the A/C a bit noisy. No worries....
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