Staying At The Historic Sylvia Hotel
Vancouver, BC. November 1, 2024
We’ve been eager to stay at Sylvia Hotel for quite some time. Every time we pass by English Bay, the thought always crosses our minds. This year, luck was on our side as my company party was held at the Vancouver Aquarium, just a five-minute drive away. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to book a night at this historic hotel.
In my opinion, fall is the ideal season to stay at this hotel. This is the time when the Boston Ivy, the plant that covers more than half of the property, is at its most beautiful. The autumn leaves look phenomenal against the eighth stories of brick and terracotta architecture.
The main entrace of the hotel is located on Gilford Street, but if you’re driving, you’ll find the parking lot entrance on Pendrell Street. The lobby is quite small, yet charming. You can kind of sense the heritage of the early 1900s era when the building was constructed. We absolutely love the old-fashioned vibe and the friendly service from all the staff.
We arrived at the hotel quite late at night after attending my company’s party, so some of the room photos were taken at night. We stayed at King Beach Avenue room. The room is simple but quaite spacious and very clean. Pretty good for a building over a century old. The key is an actual key, not a keypad or a card to swipe or tap, which we found pretty amusing. That’s how old this hotel is.
The wahsroom is a decent size and clean, with everything we need. Body wash, shampoo, and conditioner are provided, and there’s a hairdryer for us to use. The only strange thing is that it doesn’t have a ventilation fan. There are no toothbrushes or toothpaste either, but we brought those from home, so it wasn’t a problem.
I chose this room mainly becuase it faces the beach. We absolutely love how this hotel has plenty of windows. We enjoy opening them up to let in the fresh air.
Being on the 2nd floor is perfect for people-watching and taking in the beautiful fall colors. This hotel also allowed us to check out at 12 pm, which is quite rare these days. It gave us the luxury of enjoying the morning without feeling rushed.
For a three-star hotel in a prime location, we paid about $260 CAD for the night. This rate included overnight parking and free EV charging. Also, BC resident’s received 10% discount. Considering the location and amenities, I think it’s a pretty good deal.
Our stay at the Sylvia Hotel was truly delightful. The unbeatable beachside location, combined with the hotel’s charming, historic ambiance, made for a memorable experience. It’s a great hotel to spend for a relaxing getaway.
