When an online search for a hotel in North Vancouver during my upcoming two-day stay offered 'North Vancouver Hotel' as one of the options, I thought they were withholding the name of the hotel until I had actually booked.
Turns out—no, that's the hotel's actual name. But what it lacks in name imagination, it makes up in other ways. Reviews for the place were good, and I can see why.
I have never before seen a 3-star hotel (or even a 4- or 5-star one) that offers a proper office chair at the desk, but this one does—a nice touch, and clever strategy for capturing the business visitor market, who need to do work in the comfort of their room instead of in a "business centre" off the lobby, or at a noisy coffeeshop. This, combined with the COVID-era suspension of room cleaning services for the duration of one's stay, ensures an undisturbed work environment throughout the day. For this reason alone, I'd be happy to stay here in future.
Other simple, but thoughtful, touches abound—such as quality bed linen, reading lights that are strong enough to read by, with integrated power outlet to charge one's phone, power outlet behind the desk at desk height, a removable plug for the bath, proper hot water, a reasonably quiet AC unit.
Breakfast was included in the price. It isn't much—a granola bar, three mini muffins or two brioches, a banana, and a Minute Maid juice box, and bottle of water. A sandwich would be better, but there isn't yet a standard definition of what constitutes "breakfast" in the COVID era, and it's delivered to the room, on request, which is something which even the 4-star hotel I recently stayed at didn't offer.
Drawbacks? There's a coffeemaker, but no coffee, tea, sugar, stirrers, etc.—no doubt COVID-related, as well. Front Desk staff will happily bring you some on request, but easier to bring your own.
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