Background & Booking:
I needed a place to stay before my Alaska cruise that left from Vancouver, so I decided to use a mix of Hyatt points and a credit card free night certificate for a 2-night pre-cruise stay at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver as hotel cash rates were quite steep in the city. I needed 2 rooms, and unfortunately, when I booked about 6 months before departure, I was only able to get 1 room with World of Hyatt points for the first night. Thankfully 1 week before departure, standard awards opened up and I was able to grab another room.
Arrival:
After my Air Canada flight into YVR, I arrived at around 8 pm at the hotel. The lobby had a decent amount of guests lounging around, but the front desk had no line.
I was quickly checked in and had my choices for a High Floor room and/or a Balcony room as an Explorist upgrade. I opted for 2 balcony rooms at first, which were assigned on the 6th and 8th floors.
The elevators were fast and efficient, and you would select your floor before entering the elevator.
However, upon inspection, the balcony room that was on the 6th floor had drainage issues in the bathroom, so I had that room swapped for a High Floor room on the 20th floor. Thankfully, the 8th-floor balcony room had no issues. The front desk was very kind and apologetic and offered Starbucks vouchers for us to use the next morning. I appreciated the gesture.
High Floor Room and Balcony Room:
Size-wise, both rooms were pretty identical. The only major difference I noticed was that for some reason the high-floor room had a much larger TV than our balcony room. I think it was attributed to the fact that our balcony room had a connecting door in the space of the TV area.
The room featured a coffee maker and mini-fridge for personal use. Two reusable bottles of water were provided in the room which were complimentary for elite members. I appreciated this touch, as the reusable bottle would be perfect for me to bring on my cruise ship.
The two double beds were on the smaller side, and I would not want to squeeze 2 adults in these beds. The mattress and linens were comfortable but unfortunately, I despised the pillows. They only came with 2 per bed, and they were super flat!
On a positive note, the room was clean and there were plenty of updated charging ports. There was a large desk and a fun spinning chair near the window.
Two robes were provided, an umbrella, as well as an iron + board.
Balcony:
The balcony area was quite spacious, but a bit barren with the small table and 2 chairs. The condition of the balcony itself was a bit dated too. I feel that it is probably not worth having a balcony if you’re going to sacrifice a higher floor, but if it’s between two rooms on the same floor, then sure, having a balcony can’t hurt.
Bathroom:
I found the standard three-piece bathroom to be spacious and sufficient. The sink counter space was great, and the water pressure in the shower was excellent. I also liked the updated fixtures for the shower hardware and sink. The drainage in my balcony room was fine, but apparently, the high-floor room had some minor tub drainage issues as well.
Toiletries were offered by Pharmacopia which is standard for Hyatt Regency properties. Cotton balls and swaps were also provided.
Overall, the room was fine but nothing special. A very average Hyatt Regency at that. And, if I had to choose between a high-floor room and a balcony room, I probably would opt for whichever one is on a higher floor. The extra space with the balcony is nice, but the actual balcony itself is a bit bland, so not the most inspiring to lounge out there.
Dining:
The hotel has 2 restaurants on-site, the Mosaic Grille and Bar and Grain Tasting Bar. Mosaic is the main restaurant on the second floor that serves modern comfort food. It’s open for breakfast from 6:30 AM to 11 AM, lunch from 11:30 AM to 2 PM, and dinner from 5 PM to 9:30 PM. A breakfast buffet is offered, as well as an a la carte menu.
The Grain Tasting Bar is open on the lobby level for lunch on the weekdays from 11:30 AM to 11 PM (midnight on Friday) and from 3 PM to 12 AM on Saturday/3 PM to 11 PM on Sunday. It specializes in artisan cocktails, regional wines, and craft beer.
Additionally, there is a Starbucks in the lobby open from 5:30 AM to 7:00 PM Monday to Friday, and from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM Saturday and Sunday. Room service was also available from Mosaic Grille from 7:00 AM to 9:45 PM.
Amenities and Service:
There is a small outdoor pool and hot tub on the 4th floor. It is open from 7 AM to 10 PM. On the same floor, there is a fitness center that is open 24 hours. I saw 1 Peloton machine available in the gym for use.
There is also a lot of conference space on floors 2, 3 and 34.
Valet parking is available for $71 a night, as well as self-parking for $42. There is also an electric vehicle charging station on site.
Location:
The Hyatt Regency Vancouver is located near the upscale shopping district of downtown Vancouver, the “Luxury Zone” on Alberni Street. It’s quite central, being less than a mile to Gastown and just a 10-minute walk to the waterfront and Canada Place Cruise Terminal. We ended up just walking from the hotel to the cruise port and it was quite easy even with our luggage. Additionally, the SkyTrain Burrard Station is located across the street from the hotel.
The actual hotel is connected to the Royal Centre Mall. It is a very empty and outdated mall l which is a bit depressing. I walked to the food court and saw it virtually empty.
The Verdict:
Overall, my stay at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver was sufficient for my pre-cruise stay. If my visits bring me to Vancouver again, I wouldn’t be against staying here again if the price is right, but I would hope that they renovate the common spaces and spice up the exterior of the hotel as it is a bit uninspiring in its current form.
Have you stayed at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver before? How was your experience?
Cheers,
Ty
Have any questions? Comment below or email me at takeofftotravel@gmail.com. I’ve also started working with a travel agency, Fora Travel, and can assist in booking hotel stays or planning trips. You can also view all my other posts here! Thanks for stopping by!
I stayed there back in 2010, also before a cruise. I remember the location was good. The only thing that I remember about the hotel was the elevators that you pick the floor on the initial call. It saves a lot of time that way!!
Wow! I’m shocked they had that in 2010 with the elevators. A great feature though! Thanks for sharing.