STAY AT HOME IN THE PRESIDENTIAL SUITE
Fairmont Pacifi c Rim’s Presidential Suite an over- thetop way to spend a night in the city
The Best ( fill in noun here) is always a tricky proposition, as claims of superiority always smack of subjectivity.
Be it ice cream. sportscars, watches or films, personal tastes and preferences dictate what constitutes the best in each of our minds.
That said, on some topics there is little wiggle room when ascribing the bold adjective ‘ Best.’
Which brings us to today’s topic, the Fairmont Pacific Rim’s Presidential Suite, the Best Hotel Suite in all of Vancouver.
Located on the 22nd floor of the downtown luxury hotel, the 2,230 sq.- ft onebedroom suite features stunning panoramic views of Coal Harbour and Stanley Park to the west, the North Shore mountains to the north and Burrard Inlet and the Ironworkers Bridge to the east. The grass- roofed Vancouver Convention Centre is below, and a high- powered telescope in the living- room provides no shortage of viewing options through the floor- to- ceiling windows.
The decor is contemporary, in keeping with the other 376 guest rooms in the Pacific Rim, and like those other rooms is tastefully modern with a high level of rich finish.
Spacious is a word that comes to mind when you enter the suite, with the large living room furnished with low- slung couches and chairs and a large glass coffee table. The book shelves surrounding the large flat screen TV are filled with hardcover books, and various sculptures and painting add to the room’s special ambience.
In one corner of the living room is a desk with a commanding view of the North Shore mountains.
Beside the living room is a large dining room with a beautiful table that seats 10, and just off this room is the Butler’s Pantry, a very modern kitchen with a wellstocked fridge and wine cellar, an oven, and dishes and cutlery.
Don’t worry though, you won’t have to cook if you don’t want to. There is a separate entrance into the Butler’s Pantry that provides Fairmont chefs and serving staff access to prepare and serve catered meals.
Past the dining room is the large bedroom, featuring a king- sized bed with those famed Fairmont pillows and duvets. Again, views are provided through floor- to- ceiling windows, which also allow natural light to fill the room. A massive walk- in closet provides all the room you’ll need for luggage and clothes to be out of sight.
Then there’s the bathroom. Make that two bathrooms, as the bedroom’s ensuite has two full oversized marble spa matching bathrooms, a him and a her proposition if you like. They are identical in layout except one has a deep, jetted soaker tub with incredible views; the other a large marble shower with huge rainfall shower head.
A separate bathroom off the dining room means guests won’t be traipsing through your bedroom, though you’d be remiss in not giving complete tours to all who enter the suite. The dual marble bathrooms are simply incredible.
Rounding out the suites features are a large private outdoor patio with table for four — ideal for breakfast — and a double sofa bed. And if that’s not enough room for your entourage, two connecting guest rooms can be accessed, bringing the total square- footage to 3,200.
Guest of this suite also receive Fairmont Gold services, which include private check- in, concierge and butler services and access to the Gold lounge on the 20th floor, itself a stylish space with stunning views of downtown, Stanley Park and the mountains. Daily breakfast in the lounge is complimentary, as are evening canapes.
It doesn’t hurt that the suite is in, arguably, the best luxury hotel in Vancouver, a West Coast city bursting at the seams with high- end accommodation.
At $ 7,500 a night, the only downside of the Presidential Suite is that you’d be reluctant to not spend every minute of your stay in the room, though catching some live music in the lobby lounge and going for a swim in the palm tree- lined heated outdoor pool might coax you out for a little while at least.
What’s most amazing perhaps is that the Presidential Suite is not the most expensive suite in the Pacific Rim. That honour goes to the Owner’s Suite, a 2,250 sq.- ft two- storey salon inspired by a Balinese villa. Features in the so- called ‘ Rock Star Suite’ include an eight- foot Swarovski crystal chandelier, a hand- carved soaker tub and a private gazebo with meditation pond and fire pit.
Rock Star is a fitting moniker for the Owner’s Suite, as its location overlooking the pool and just a few floors off Cordova Street appeals to the extrovert who craves being seen living the lush life. It truly is like staying in a goldfish bowl, figuratively and literally.
So why isn’t it the ‘ Best,’ you ask?
“They’re so different,” says Pacific Rim public relations manager Kaylyn Storey. “The Presidential Suite is up on the 22nd floor and gets all the views that the hotel offers. That’s what makes that suite — it’s all about the view.”
Storey says the average length of stay in the Presidential Suite is two days, “and it is booked more often than not.”
Put it on your bucket list - and pack your camera.