The Listel Hotel Vancouver: Robson Street Hotels in the West End

The Listel Vancouver Hotel Bedroom in downtown Vancouver's West End, BC (Canada).

I had spent the day playing tourist in my own city, visiting First Nations art galleries and the Stanley Park totem poles, and the Bill Reid Gallery.

The next day I was covering the Dalai Lama event, called the Vancouver Peace Summit, so I chose to stay overnight at one of the hotels in downtown Vancouver. I had never stayed at the Listel Vancouver Hotel in Vancouver’s west end (on Robson Street near Jervis Street) and decided to rest my head there.

It was one of my better ideas. On top of the prime location (Robson Street hotels are near shopping, the beach and are located in downtown Vancouver), it’s also right across the street from a great little sushi joint (Miko Sushi Japanese Restaurant, 604-681-0339, 1335 Robson St.), which has garnered the approval of many a Vancouver Canuck player as proved by the compliments and autographs posted on the wall.

The Listel Hotel Vancouver Living Room in British Columbia, Canada.

Back at the Listel Hotel, I took the elevator to the 4th floor and walked into a gorgeous one-bedroom suite, one of the Artists Series Suites.

There is also the Gallery Floor, which has original artwork gracing the walls (there are 250 pieces in total represented by over 30 artists). The Vancouver Buschlen Mowatt Gallery curates the rooms.

On the Museum Floor, British Columbia gets a special showing in a partnership with the UBC Museum of Anthropology. Work by Northwest Coast artists showcases First Nations cedar headboards and armoires by artists such as Susan Point, Eugene Alfred and Judy Cramer. There are also standard rooms available, as well as fun packages that mix Vancouver art, jazz and film.

My large windows overlooked Robson Street but let absolutely no noise in; modern furnishings and creamy colours made the suite more like an apartment than a hotel room.

The Listel Vancouver Hotel Jacuzzi Tub and Showerhead on Robson Street, Vancouver (Canada).

And then the ultimate: a full Jacuzzi tub and a monstrous showerhead took over half of the space. Which to choose?! (I opted for a quick shower in the morning, feeling a bit eco-guilty. It turns out the Listel Hotel has installed solar panels and a “highly efficient heat recovery system,” which is far beyond what a lot of other accommodations are doing. That eased my mind a bit.)

Also different from most hotels, the Listel Vancouver charges a 3.5% “Facility Fee” on all bookings. It includes wired and wireless internet access, free local calls, three hours of free long distance calls per day in North America (which I took advantage of!) and complimentary fax and photocopying services.

What I Liked:

• A public computer is available in the lobby for guests to use.
• There is a sink outside (and inside) the washroom, so one person can use it while the other is behind closed doors (the suites aren’t geared towards families, though, as the washroom is more of an extension of the bedroom).
• There’s a blue recycling box in each room, which I always appreciate.
• O’Doul’s Restaurant & Bar is located on the main floor. They serve yummy breakfasts, Pacific Northwest seafood and have live jazz seven nights a week.