Tl;dr – The JW Marriott Parq is a solid option with quality amenities, conveniently located in Vancouver’s downtown area.
For my three nights in Vancouver, before flying out to Wine Country, I chose the JW Marriott Vancouver Parq (the ‘JW Parq’). The hotel plays its role well as a downtown legacy Marriott-brand hotel, offering moderate luxury while also leaning into the business realm. Let’s jump into the review!
Booking the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver
I booked three nights directly through Marriott as separate one-night reservations. I did this because I’d one remaining nightly upgrade award that I needed to use, and I figured that if the hotel confirmed the first night, they’d likely assign me to a suite for the entire three-night stay rather than having to change rooms.
To my luck, that’s the scenario that would play out.
Arrival and Check-In
The trip from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) takes anywhere from 14-40 minutes, depending on traffic. The JW Parq is located just off the Cambie Bridge, not too far from the waterfront, specifically Vancouver’s False Creek inlet.
It’s next door to BC Place, home to the Vancouver Whitecaps (for any MLS fans) and BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. Behind BC Place, you’ll find the Rogers Arena, which houses the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks. If a sporting event is what brings you to town, you can’t go wrong with the JW Parq.
You’re also near Chinatown, and if you’re looking to explore the beautiful nature around the city, including some wonderful public parks, you’re only a few minute’s drive away.
Entering the hotel, you’ll find yourself in a brightly lit lobby, where the front desk is directly ahead of you. To the left is the concierge station, and off to your right will be one of the hotel’s restaurants – Honey Salt. Flanking your left side is the entrance to the attached casino – the Parq Casino.
The check-in line was a bit long so one of the team members passed out water bottles. When it was my turn the front desk attendant reconfirmed the suite for the entire length of my stay.
At a Titanium Elite, one of the benefits you receive is club (executive) lounge access, which is where the complimentary breakfast is served, as well as an afternoon happy hour.
The Room
The suite was pretty generously laid out. The main living area includes a desk, a modern sofa, and a good amount of space near the window to take in the great river views and the bustling city below.
There was a comfortable king bed in the bedroom and a spacious bathroom with a deep soaking tub. Design-wise, the room felt a little dated, a little more ‘Westin-y’ than ‘JW-y,’ but nothing that I minded at all. It was a comfortable, commodious retreat for three nights.
Amenities
The hotel’s amenities include a spa by JW on the 17th floor with amazing views, a fitness center, an Aqua lounge, and a rooftop Park space on the 6th floor, including a hot tub.
I’m not sure I ever found the Aqua Lounge but I was impressed by the size and quality of the gym—tons of equipment to help you get whatever type of workout you’re after.
Though it was a bit chilly during my stay, I did enjoy stepping out to the rooftop park to enjoy the cityscape.
I referenced it earlier, but it is worth resurfacing that there is also the attached casino. If you enjoy gambling and or nightlife, it doesn’t get any easier than having a venue that offers both downstairs. I didn’t investigate the casino during my stay, so I can’t speak to its quality.
Dining
There are several FBH outlets at the hotel, including at least two dedicated restaurants and a few hybrid bars and lounges. Honey Salt is a full-service Canadian restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. MRKT East Eatery is an Asian eatery open from lunch until dinner. The Victor is a steakhouse. D/6 Lounge and Centre Bar are, well…bars and lounges, and BC Kitchen is more of a gastropub. I didn’t sample the food at any of these places as we were out and about most of the day and had dinner plans each night. That said, I did eat breakfast in the club lounge, and I popped into one of the evening happy hour presentations.
The Executive Lounge
I found the JW Marriott’s Executive Lounge to be quite impressive, with one notable complaint.
Though I don’t love buffets, the lounge’s breakfast presentation was strong. There are ample ‘staple’ options to choose from, including hot entrees like frittata, roasted breakfast potatoes, chicken sausage, and bacon. There are also pastries, bread assortments, and bagels to accompany salmon, cured meats, cheeses, and fresh fruit. Oatmeal and cereals were also available. Teas, coffee, and fruit juices to wash things down – I especially enjoyed the freshly squeezed orange juice.
The hors d’oeuvres presentation was one of the best I’ve seen in a Marriott club lounge (at least one that wasn’t located outside of Asia, South America, or the Middle East. Unfortunately, I don’t have photos to share, but the offerings were varied and all delicious – you could probably have dinner there if you wanted.
Ok, the complaint? Alcohol isn’t complimentary. It’s probably my one knock-on experience, and while you can certainly enjoy alcohol in the executive lounge, you’ll need to pay for it.
Available for purchase are mid-tier wines, beers, and spirits. It’s a bit of papercut as the high-quality food offerings do ask to be enjoyed with some solid free booze, but such is life.
Service
Service was solid all around. I didn’t have many interactions – I requested extra pillows once, and they arrived promptly. The team in the lounge was also pleasant and helpful.
Local Business Spotlight
I can’t close this out without shouting out a great rental car experience I had while in town. I rent cars frequently and am an advocate for shopping with smaller, well-reviewed mom-and-pop outlets whenever possible, as they offer top-notch service. Such is the case with Expo Rent a Car.
When Mrs. Blackbeard and I were searching for a rental to do some exploring of the nearby parks, Expo came up on Google.
Within a few minutes, we had secured a rental at their downtown location with the ability to drop it back at the airport on our way to BC wine country, all at no extra costs. Though we opted for the walk, the owner even offered to drop the car off to us at the JW Parq for free—solid vehicle, solid experience – five stars all around.
Conclusion
The JW Marriott Parq is a great, affordable option for stays in Vancouver. The only quasi-negative (and, of course, this won’t matter to many) I can say is the lack of complimentary alcohol in the club lounge. I would assuredly stay there again.
