Fairmont Hotel Vancouver Airport: AvGeek Paradise!

So happy to hear this - I'm staying there in a couple weeks. Looking forward to your full review!

I've stayed at plenty of airport hotels. The Pan-Pacific KLIA (now Sama Sama Hotel), Novotel BKK, Regal Hong Kong, Mariott Hong Kong Airport, Hyatt Regency Incheon, Crowne Plaza Changi, Hotel Nikko Narita and Kansai. I think the Crowne Plaza and Regal have the best view facing airside.

You really should review more Accor hotels. Granted, no one wants to read about an ibis, but their top end (Raffles) likely one-ups a Park Hyatt, and their upscale brands are nice. Their points are a bit pointless since they're directly cash-based, but their loyalty program has improved (top tier even gets lounge access at Fairmont Gold). And in APAC, Accor Plus is really quite the deal.

Thanks for the Fairmont review. You should do more Fairmonts and other Accors. This lifetime Bonvoy and Hilton elite now thinks Fairmonts are his favorite chain. I will go out of my way to stay at a Fairmont instead of any Marriott or Hilton, especially their resort properties.

"...there’s a telescope in the room (perhaps an overkill?)..."

YOU TAKE THAT BACK! THAT IS NOT OVERKILL! THESE ARE AIRPLANES WE ARE TALKING ABOUT!

Really well managed and designed hotel.
Recently stayed at this hotel and would concur with the review. Notably the rooms are extremely comfortable, quiet, and of a decent size. The combination of recessed doorways to rooms, bathroom position and good carpeting make the room very quiet at all hour. The gym was top notch with plenty of equipment and space for multiple people to use the floor. Child enjoyed the pool before resuming our trip. Breakfast was good, and service was as good or better than any other higher end experience. Of course, location can't be beat.

I'm sure VT-CIE would want ibis reviews over Raffles.

All you need is ibis or Motel 6 then "visualise yourself staying Aman or Four Seasons or Park Hyatt or something of that kind! ;)"

HGI Cancun. You can’t beat a circle pool with a view of the Takis branded ATC tower.

All jokes aside GH SFO is gorgeous, but GH DFW slightly wins on the convenience factor and had better views IMO.

Ben, my favorite is this hotel at CTS (Sapporo Chitose): Portom International Hokkaido. A great stop over hotel, I really enjoyed staying there in the winter and waking up to them plowing snow at the airport. Great communal bath as well. Highly recommend that on your trip up there in winter!

It’s a nice hotel, but it’s overpriced and overkill for an airport hotel. I would only stay at an in-terminal hotel if I had an early morning flight. I wish there was a lower cost option at YVR for when you just need a shower and bed. Accor also has a subpar loyalty program.

You didn’t mention the hotel’s fish valet!

https://www.fairmont-vancouver-airport.com/blog/meet-the-fish-valet-at-fairmont-vancouver-airport/

We found this hotel useful for a different scenario. We flew into YVR on a positioning flight the day before an award flight to SYD the next evening, so we had the arrival night and the entire next day free. Rather than schlepping our bags all the way downtown and then back the next day, we checked into the hotel for the night, went downtown for dinner then back for the night on the convenient train. The next morning, we checked out, left our bags at the hotel, spent the day in the city, then came back to the hotel in the evening to pick up our bags and check in for the flight. It was easy and stress-free.

Beautiful city, nice hotel...and the views!

Rydges Sydney @ International Terminal is my favorite, especially the rooftop bar and patio with awesome views. It's not in the terminal, but about 150 feet across from it, so I think that counts.

GH SFO is nice but no runway views. GH DFW is nice except 99% of the aircraft in view are AA; I like variety. I've never been to the hotel, but I imagine the TWA Hotel @ JFK must be fantastic?!

PS

Does that gate layout look really inefficient? Been through the transborder section a million times, but hadn't noticed the layout from the angle of the pic. On that side it's just narrow-bodies and RJ. The swing gates on the other side might get a wide-body, but I've never seen one on that side....just an observation/question...

Pretty sure that's a photo of the US departure wing. The international and Canadian wings have a slightly different layout.

How can you miss posting out that they actually have decent beds and pillow Most in terminal Hotels don't ( Sofitel Gatwick sort of )

We stayed there prior to a cruise to AK back when you needed to be tested to ensure COVID free. I agree with everything Ben has said. Its a great hotel and the views were super. Had breakfast at the restaurant and plane watched while waiting on the results of our COVID test which had to be taken within 48 hours of the cruise. Happy to report they return negative and we got to go. Hate to leave the Fairmont - the rooms, views, food and staff were amazing.

Stayed there a few times pre-pandemic. Nice, but paying for the Gold Floor was overpriced...paying for beverages in the gold lounge!? Not again!

Yup! That was my point. No biggee! Take care!

The art on the main floor of the hotel is unbelievable. It's worth staying there just to view the paintings!

I stayed there a couple of times lately and I really was impressed as well.

Perhaps I missed it, but what is the cost per night for one of these rooms

When I'm paying out of my own pocket, this is always the number one factor in how I book a room

Is there another city with 4 Fairmonts?

Vancouver has the Fairmont Airport, Fairmont Pacific Rim, Fairmont Waterfront and the jewel in the crown, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

So, Ben, here's a review trip suggestion:

Head to Vancouver for several days, review all the Fairmonts and tack on a trip on Harbour Air to Victoria with a stay at the Fairmont Empress Hotel there. (And when in Victoria, do take in lunch at the Legislature restaurant.)

PLUS a second side-trip to Whistler! Another (assumed) top-flight Fairmont there!