Vancouver International Airport (YVR): Approximate driving time is 30 minutes and the distance is 8.7 miles (14 km.)

Driving directions from Vancouver International Airport: Follow Grant McConachie Way over the Arthur Laing Bridge. Exit onto Granville St and proceed over the Granville St Bridge. Take the first right onto Seymour St, then turn left onto Robson St. Continue 7 blocks and turn right onto Jervis St. Turn right into the first driveway for the hotel parking area.

Getting there: The Airporter shuttle stops at the hotel. Fare is $12 CDN one way and $18 CDN return. Taxis are usually faster, with metered fares of $16–$25 CDN. Rental cars and limousines are more than $36 CDN. Fees subject to change without notice. Rental cars are available from this Web site.

Getting around: The hotel is in the midst of a lively, walkable downtown area, with plenty of shopping, dining, nightlife, arts, and entertainment choices within a radius of several blocks. Several bus routes run through the area, and the Burrard SkyTrain station is 5 blocks away, for light rapid transit to the suburbs plus connection to the Waterfront Station and SeaBuses which cross Burrard Inlet to North Vancouver. Public bus, SkyTrain and SeaBus fares run less than $5 CDN. Fees subject to change without notice. Driving in downtown can be confusing because of one-way streets but it is generally smooth and is the best way to travel from the city up the coast or to the islands.

Amenity highlights: In the atrium health club/pool complex, there's a range of activities—from lazing in a spa to shooting hoops on the patio. Guests also are invited to borrow a book from the lobby's library or meet other travelers at a daily reception featuring local wines in Art + Soul, the in-house art gallery. Zin, the hotel's restaurant and lounge, is a favored spot for movie-industry "wrap parties." The concierge specializes in Vancouver for families.

Insider tip: Barclay Heritage Square, located 3 blocks from the hotel, is the site of nine historic homes built between 1890 and 1908. It's a good place to see what the West End of Vancouver looked like before the skyscrapers came to town. Centerpiece is the Roedde House Museum, housed in a Queen Anne Revival-style mansion. Guided tours are available.