A five-minute walk to Stanley Park and Denman Street in the West End
Lots of restaurants and cafes nearby
10-minute walk to the beach at English Bay
Heritage character and charm is found throughout common areas
Cozy lounge with free coffee and tea, plus a fireplace
Some rooms include en-suite bathrooms, and all have flat-screen TVs
Free Wi-Fi in all common spaces and rooms
Limited on-site parking available (fee)
Some rooms are tired and dated
No air-conditioning (though fans are provided)
Some rooms lack closets and/or en-suite bathrooms
Parking is first-come-first-served
No elevator
The 56-room Buchan Hotel, in Vancouver's West End, is a budget option with historical charm and easy access to one of Vancouver's top tourist destinations, Stanley Park. Free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs help add modern appeal, though interiors are a mix of old and new -- ranging from charming and authentic to a bit dated. Keep in mind that this historical property has its limitations: there's no elevator and smaller rooms can mean closets and en-suite bathrooms aren't always guaranteed. Plenty of cafes and restaurants are a five-minute walk away on Denman Street. The proximity to Stanley Park is a major bonus, though the rest of downtown and other Vancouver attractions are a bit farther. Travelers preferring to be right downtown should consider the Victorian Hotel instead, though it's a far pricier option.
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Scene
Basic budget hotel that's best for no-fuss travelers who want to explore a local part of town
The Buchan Hotel is a three-story walk-up nestled along a quiet street in Vancouver's West End. Built as a rooming house in the 1920s, the hotel has plenty of heritage charm that recalls the early days of Vancouver. Details like parquet wood flooring along the corridors, a large fireside lounge, and ornate lamps flanking the front entrance give the hotel a distinguished and stately look. There are photographs showcasing this history on just about every surface, adding to the effect. However, guests will quickly discover that this same distinction does not carry over into the guest rooms, as many are quite tired and dated. There are no grounds associated with the hotel, but there is a cafe that leases space in the basement and the quiet residential street is lined with mature trees that add to the feeling of being in a locals-only part of town.
Location
In a quiet corner of the West End, a five-minute walk from Stanley Park and Denman Street
The Buchan Hotel is located in the West End, a five-minute walk from the Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park. It's a two-minute walk to the shops and cafes on Denman Street and a 10-minute walk to the beach at English Bay. Several bike rental shops can be found on Denman Street, allowing visitors the option of biking to areas like Gastown (a 15-minute ride), or Granville Island Market (a 20-minute ride). Transit options in the area are limited, but visitors can walk five-minutes to Georgia Street for a variety of bus options taking them to the downtown core (a 12-minute bus journey). One major advantage of Buchan Hotel is that it is located on a residential street, meaning street noise is kept to a minimum. Budget 30 to 40 minutes to reach the airport by taxi, depending on traffic. By public transit, the commute takes about an hour.
Rooms
Basic rooms with flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi, but no air-conditioning and some lack en-suite bathrooms
Rooms here are best for travelers who plan to be out and about exploring all day, as they provide little more than a clean place to sleep at night. Unfortunately, they lack the heritage charm of the hotel's common areas, and decor is kept to a (sometimes tired) minimum. They're outfitted with a queen bed or a queen and twin bed, bedside tables with lamps and clocks, flat-screen TVs, and desks with reading lamps. Wi-Fi is free, though there's no air-conditioning (standing fans are available, though top-floor rooms will be hot in the summer). Depending on the room, you may have a closet that feels large enough to sublet or only an exposed hanging rack. Other quirks can include boarded-off doors to neighboring rooms or missing en-suite bathrooms. For the latter, the Buchan Hotel has wash basins in the room and then communal showers and toilets on the floor. Other units have simple en-suite bathrooms. Towels are provided.
Features
Large lounge space with a fireplace and complimentary tea and coffee
Buchan Hotel is light on the features, and guests here spend most their time in the city exploring the sights or doing business, returning to the hotel only to sleep and recharge for the next day. A fireplace is the centerpiece in a communal lounge, which also has complimentary tea and coffee. There's a cafe downstairs, though it's not owned by the hotel. Wi-Fi is free and limited on-site parking is available for a fee on a first-come-first-served basis.
