Tl;dr – The Westin Wall Centre, Vancouver Airport is one of the better airport hotels I’ve stayed at. The staff is super helpful, the rooms are comfortable, there are solid amenities, and I enjoyed strong elite recognition. If you’re flying out of YVR, it’s a good place to crash for a night.
After returning from BC wine country and before flying out to Dallas, I crashed at the Westin Wall Centre, Vancouver Airport, for one night. I’m a fan of this airport hotel. Let’s jump into the review.
The Westin Wall Centre, Vancouver Airport
I booked the Westin Wall Centre, Vancouver Airport, directly through Marriott’s website, paying the cash right for a one-night stay. Located in Richmond, BC, the hotel is just across the Fraser River from Vancouver International Airport.
After pulling up to the hotel’s port-cochère and rolling out belongings inside, we found the check-in desk on the right side of the hotel’s small lobby.
I booked a standard king room and was delighted to learn that I’d been upgraded to a king suite. As a Titanium Elite, I was informed of the complimentary elite breakfast, and I also received a welcome gift – a free item from the hotel’s mini-market. The hotel’s breakfast service starts after the time we’d need to leave to catch the shuttle and board our flight, so I unfortunately did not get to check it out.
Speaking of the shuttle to the airport, it operates on a 30-minute schedule, beginning at 4:00 AM.
The Room
The suite was quite sizable, and although it wasn’t modern or glamorous, I found the room to be highly comfortable. The extra space came in handy as I had to do some repacking of our luggage to accommodate the wine we’d purchased in the Okanagan Valley.
Entering the room, there’s a desk and sitting area in the living room. The bedroom is separated from the main room by a set of doors with tempered glass panes.
Inside, you can find the classic Westin Heavenly Bed.
Back near the entrance to the room and off to the right, you’ll find a kitchenette. Here is a rather large refrigerator (and freezer) for a hotel room, a dishwasher, a sink, and a coffee station.
The suite’s bathroom featured a shower and a deep soaking tub, not the standalone kind, but one that was built into the wall and fixtures.
Design-wise, the decor of the room, as well as the hallways, fits the reserved-business-y-with-a-tiny-bit-of-leisure vibe that is the calling card of non-resort Westin hotels.
The room’s best feature? The views. It was cool to look out into the night time bustle of the river-harbor area below.
Dining and Service
By the time we arrived at the hotel, the one onsite restaurant – the apron (yes, it’s lowercase – at least on the hotel’s website) – was closing down. We had decided upon ordering delivery anyway, so this wasn’t too disappointing. the apron serves Canadian and West Coast cuisine, and from what I can tell, it looks at least serviceable. This restaurant is also where you’d take the complimentary breakfast, though, as mentioned before, I didn’t get the chance to sample it.
The hotel’s service was pretty good. Everything, from the check-in experience to my one request—a replacement dental kit for the one I left behind in Osooyos—was handled pleasantly and expeditiously.
Amenities
The hotel’s amenities were impressive for an airport hotel. There’s both a fitness center and an indoor pool. Their location is a bit quirky – after exiting the elevator on the correct floor, I swore I had to go down 3-4 hallways and at least two flights of stairs to finally come across a sign indicating I was on the right path.
The gym is decently well equipped, although its layout is a bit tight, particularly if you’re looking to do a non-cardio machine workout.
The pool looked inviting. I didn’t get in, but I believe it was heated, and there’s also an accompanying hot tub. There are changing/locker rooms and pool towels, so you don’t have to tromp back to your hotel soaking wet.
If you need some fresh air, there’s a central courtyard where you can catch a breeze. You’ll want to be careful here, as if you get locked out, you’ll need to walk around to the hotel’s front entrance to get back in.
Conclusion
The Westin Wall Centre, Vancouver Airport, offers above-average amenities for an airport hotel, and its warm service, comfortable rooms, and proximity to the terminal make it a good choice for your next short stay near YVR.
