Fairmont Vancouver Airport hotel room at YVR in British Columbia, Canada.
To bridge the gap between my fantastic two weeks in Corner Brook and St. John’s, Newfoundland and a five-day trip to Winnipeg, Canada for the first time, I had to fly back to Vancouver and spend the night at the airport before leaving the next morning.
It’s just the logistics of the flights I had booked (the Newfoundland trip being booked with Aeroplan points), so I sucked it up and let the eco-guilt of taking an extra flight eat away at me.
Fortunately, YVR (Vancouver International Airport) not only has airport hotels, but the Fairmont Vancouver Airport hotel is literally located in the departures terminal and they decided to host me for a one-night stay.
I got my luggage, rolled it about five minutes across the airport and checked into the hotel. The super modern room with sleek furnishings and a fluffy bed greeted me like the light at the end of an exhausting tunnel. (Travelling from the small airport at Deer Lake, Newfoundland to Vancouver is a loooong ride.)
My room overlooked one set of gates with airplanes ready for late night or early morning take offs, yet I didn’t hear them through my soundproof windows. I mean, there was a hum, but it was pretty muffled and my sleep was never interrupted (I’m a fairly light sleeper).
There was even a telescope set up at the gigantic floor-to-ceiling window to spy on the comings and goings of the airport, although I suspect its main purpose is to watch the night sky… 
Fairmont Vancouver Airport hotel bathroom at YVR in British Columbia, Canada.
I can’t even tell you how good the relief felt when my alarm went off in the morning for yet another flight out and I remembered that I only had to wheel myself to the Canadian departures area. It was a glorious walk after a restful night’s sleep in a hotel that I’m sure saves many people’s travelling lives.
So what are the rates like? $299 CAD per night and they go up from there.
What I Liked:
- It’s all about the location here. No airport shuttle, just a walk within the airport. This Fairmont hotel is an especially good option for business travellers.
- The soundproof rooms are heavenly for sleep-deprived travellers.
- Although the Fairmont comped my room rate, this is definitely an option I’d use for flights that are weirdly timed. Nothing replaces a good night’s sleep when you’re on the road.
Lori Henry is a freelance Travel, Health and Hockey writer based in Vancouver, Canada.
