Lord Stanley Suites

The rooms are dated, but comfortable, and the kitchen is small, suitable for preparing simple meals. If you pay extra for a marina-side view, it’s fantastic, a view to die for. There are lots of restaurants close by and great bus service. The SkyTrain is farther away, but it’s a short bus ride.

You don’t need a car here. Within 15 minutes or less, you can reach a Safeway, Lord Stanley Park, the Aquarium, bike rentals, lots of great restaurants and at least four beaches. It’s also a beautiful one-mile walk along the seawall to the convention center. We loved our stay. We had a Bayside room with a gorgeous view, and it was spotless and worked really well for us with two kids. The kitchen had a dishwasher and basic supplies. The desk folds into a bed, and the couch has a bed that’s comfortable for a kid, though maybe not an adult. The small enclosed patio was lovely too. The shades aren’t blackout, so plan for that in summer.

The area was fantastic, with amazing restaurants and a park a short walk away. The rooms were clean and the views were nice, so this could work for someone on a budget with no more than two people. For our family of four, though, the suite was too small, and we wouldn’t stay again. They didn’t tell us at check-in about the Murphy bed; we only discovered it by accident on the last day, and knowing earlier would have helped with space. The sleeper sofa might suit a toddler, but our nine-year-old was miserable on it. It was small and uncomfortable, and the queen bed in the main bedroom wasn’t comfortable either. The window coverings barely block the light, so in summer it stays bright late into the night. The bathrooms need updating, and it was hot no matter how low we set the window air-conditioning unit. The in-room laundry was nice. The pictures make the place look much better than it is.

The location is sensational, close to restaurants, shops and Stanley Park, and I’d stay here again. The apartment had a fantastic water and mountain view, plus a kitchen, washer and dryer, and it was an easy walk to beaches and downtown. Front desk staff were nice and helpful. The downside is that the view apartments face a six-lane road, so there’s a lot of traffic noise with the windows open. With them shut and the glass bedroom doors closed, it wasn’t too bad. Cleaners only changed towels and emptied bins, so there wasn’t really any service. No ceiling lights in the bedroom or lounge felt odd; the lamps were adequate but not ideal. There’s no air-conditioning except a portable unit or cooler in the lounge, so the bedroom got a bit hot. The fittings and furniture were old but functional. The shower is over the bath, with little space to hang towels. Only half the power points worked. Toiletries.