Lord Stanley Suites On The Park

The Lord Stanley Suites on the Park leans heavily on its location, as interiors here aren't anything to write home about. In fact, it's best used as a place to recharge at night -- or fuel up in the morning -- and little else. The in-suite features, such as workspace and kitchens, are appealing for business travelers and independent leisure travelers who aren't looking for frills. However, if you're here for business be aware that the location, away from the downtown core, may not be ideal. The building operates as both a private residence and a hotel, meaning you will see apartment notices posted in the elevator, the pets of permanent residences in the common areas (hotel guests are not allowed to bring pets), and all the other paraphernalia associated with apartment living. This can be a positive if you're trying to create a home-away-from-home, but can also feel like you're trespassing onto someone else's property.  

The Lord Stanley Suites on the Park are -- as the name suggests -- conveniently adjacent to the Lost Lagoon entrance of one of Vancouver's most famous attractions, Stanley Park. Unfortunately, the entrance to the park is also a major transport route through the city and therefore traffic noise can constantly be heard. The Lord Stanley Suites are a one-minute walk to the foot of Denman Street, which offers eateries, a grocery store, coffee shops, and several bike rental shops. A short 10-minute walk south along Denman Street leads to the heart of the West End, home to western Canada's largest LGBTQ community and the beaches of English Bay. From there, visitors can take a five-minute ferry ride across the water to Granville Island. The hotel is removed from the main downtown attractions, but transit options are available on Georgia Street allowing guests to reach the center of downtown in 10 minutes. If you have a car, you can drive to the North Shore ski resorts in 15 to 35 minutes, about 10 minutes faster than leaving from central downtown. 

The rooms at The Lord Stanley Suites on the Park feature many of the creature comforts that you would have at your own home. These include full kitchens, washers and dryers, air-conditioning, living rooms, separate bedrooms, work space, and free wi-fi. Despite the impressive list of features, the rooms are cramped and include mismatched and dated appliances and furniture (sometimes the furniture is missing altogether, due to space constraints). The kitchens include stove tops, ovens, full fridges, dishwashers and a microwave, meaning visitors can save by preparing their own meals. The finishes in the kitchens and bathrooms of the Standard and Premium Suites are lower-end plastic laminates and dated checker-pattern tile that feels more like you're in a highway motel than a central hotel with multi-million dollar views. The Premium Plus Suites are a bit nicer, though the layouts in some that we visited were bizarre, with kitchen appliances not really close to the kitchens themselves. 

Features are few here, as the hotel caters to self-sufficient guests for the most part. Self-serve waffle irons are included in the free continental breakfast that's laid out every day. The fitness center has one stationary bike, a treadmill, a stair-master, and a variety of weights. Keep in mind that it's open to the building's residents as well. There is a meeting room, but it also doubles as luggage storage, so its probably not the kind of place you want to entertain clients. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.