Stays in Vancouver

The Loden Vancouver is a 77-room boutique hotel in Coal Harbour, close to the waterfront and downtown sights, and it welcomes both families and pets. With a 9.7 score from 285 reviews, service is the standout. There is a hot tub and a sauna, but no pool is listed, so I would suggest it for families with older children who will spend their days walking the seawall towards Stanley Park rather than splashing at the hotel.

Families get a polished, central stay with room to breathe here. Some rooms include spacious living areas, heated bathroom floors are a quiet luxury on wet Vancouver mornings, and the indoor saltwater lap pool gives children a dependable swim. The Vancouver Art Gallery sits across the street, and 24-hour room service rescues late arrivals. Pets are welcome too. It is a splurge, but service and comfort match the 9.5 score.

L'Hermitage Hotel is a four-star downtown Vancouver hotel with a heated outdoor lap pool, and I would recommend it to families who like a refined stay and swimming. Rooms have Italian marble bathrooms, and some have a fireplace. The hot tub and the twenty-four-hour gym are on site, and the Vancouver City Centre SkyTrain and Rogers Arena are close. It is a luxury hotel, so I would choose it for calm rather than play.

Hyatt Vancouver Downtown Alberni is listed as family-friendly and sits in the city's luxury shopping and financial district, which keeps downtown sights within easy reach. The indoor pool and hot tub are what children will look forward to after a day out, especially on Vancouver's rainy days. Parents can book time at the spa and wellness facilities, and the hotel accepts pets. I would see it as a polished city base for families who want comfort without leaving the centre.

The Como Hotel has an outstanding 9.3 rating from 164 reviews and a city-centre address a short walk from English Bay Beach and Coal Harbour, which makes outings with children easy on foot. Family rooms are air-conditioned with private bathrooms, parquet floors and a tea and coffee maker, and free bicycles are available for a ride along the water. A terrace and outdoor seating give some air between outings. There is no pool or restaurant mentioned.

The Wedgewood is a 5-star Relais & Châteaux hotel in downtown Vancouver, rated 9.3 across 870 reviews, and it is listed as both family-friendly and pet-friendly. Private balconies give children a little outdoor space without leaving the room, and the SkyTrain station is within easy reach for days out without a car. Parents can take turns at the full-service spa and sauna. I would book it for a special family trip where comfort and a central address come first.

Each family room at Smithe House in central Vancouver has a fully equipped kitchen, which I find the most practical feature with children, especially for breakfast and early dinners. Rooms are air-conditioned with private bathrooms and free WiFi, there is laundry service for longer trips, and pets are accepted. The city-centre location keeps major attractions close. Parking on site is private and paid, worth knowing if you arrive by car.

Each Keefer House unit is an apartment with its own kitchen, a dining area and a balcony or terrace, which gives a family room to spread out in the city centre. Rooms are air-conditioned with a private bathroom and free Wi-Fi, and the property is both family-friendly and pet-friendly. A fitness centre, a sun terrace, outdoor seating and laundry service round out the practical side.

Times Square Suites in Vancouver's West End works like a furnished apartment for families: each spacious suite has an equipped kitchen, a gas fireplace, and its own washing machine and tumble dryer, a real help with children's clothes on a longer trip. Some suites have balconies. Stanley Park is close by for walks and bike rides, and the rooftop patio looks out over Coal Harbour and the North Shore Mountains.

I would recommend the Fairmont Pacific Rim to families looking for a special Vancouver stay. The rooftop pool with fire pits and a hot tub is a highlight for children and parents alike, and the full-service spa and the 4,000 square foot gym give adults their own time. The Italian eatery and the lounge keep dinners simple. Rooms have coffee makers and an in-room safe. Stanley Park is a 5-minute drive for a day outdoors.

West Coast Suites at UBC gives families spacious suites with full kitchens on the University of British Columbia campus, a quieter setting than downtown. A guest launderette helps on longer trips, WiFi is free, and reception is open 24 hours. The Museum of Anthropology is within walking distance, a good outing with curious children, while central Vancouver is about 20 minutes by car. The 9.1 score from 232 reviews is excellent.

The EXchange Hotel sits in downtown Vancouver near the Waterfront Centre Mall and the Vancouver Lookout at Harbour Centre, whose viewing deck is an easy outing with children. Rooms are air-conditioned with free WiFi. The hotel leans more towards couples than young families, but parents can enjoy the spa and wellness centre, and Hydra Estiatorio serves Greek seafood on site. Pets are accepted too.

I would suggest the AZUR Legacy Collection Hotel to families who want downtown Vancouver on foot, with easy access to the waterfront and the main attractions. Rooms are modern and air-conditioned with private bathrooms. The restaurant, bar and terrace keep meals simple after a day of walking, and the 24-hour front desk and concierge help plan outings with children. There is no pool listed, so it suits city-focused families most.

A separate living area in every room is what I would highlight for families at Hotel Le Soleil, since it gives children a corner of their own in downtown Vancouver. Each room has a refrigerator and a Keurig coffee machine, handy for breakfast items and early mornings. The French bistro on site keeps dinner close, and the Vancouver Convention Centre is a five-minute walk away. With 2,855 reviews averaging 9.1, guest satisfaction is consistently high.

A location steps from the Yaletown-Roundhouse Canada Line station is the first thing I would mention to families at OPUS Vancouver, since the line reaches both downtown and the airport without a car. Rooms have vibrant decor and Nespresso machines, and some open onto a step-out terrace or a private courtyard, useful for a little extra space. Pets are welcome, the restaurant is on site, and 546 reviews average an excellent 9.1.

Paradox Vancouver is a four-star hotel in the financial district, and I would recommend it to families who want a city base with an indoor pool. Rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, hardwood floors and heated marble bathroom floors, which children and parents both notice on cold mornings. The spa and wellness centre suits the adults, fine dining and a cocktail lounge are on site, and pets are welcome. It is a polished stay rather than a playful one.

Carmana Hotel & Suites gives every suite a full kitchen, which is what I would highlight first for families who want to cook a few meals in Vancouver. A launderette on site is a real help on a longer trip with children. Robson Street is less than five minutes' walk away for shops and food, and Stanley Park, with its seawall and open space, is about four minutes by car. Parents can use the fitness centre, and WiFi is free.

Hotel BLU gives families a modern base in central Vancouver with an indoor pool and hot tub, welcome on the city's frequent rainy days. Every room has a microwave, a refrigerator and a coffee machine, handy for breakfasts and snacks, plus a tablet computer and free WiFi to plan the day. Parents have a fitness centre, the hotel follows eco-conscious practices, and pets are accepted, so the family dog can come along.

The Sutton Place is a five-star downtown hotel that still welcomes families: the indoor pool and hot tub give children a break from sightseeing, and the Vancouver Convention Centre and the waterfront are a short walk away. Parents can book time at the full-service spa, and the gourmet restaurant suits a special family dinner without leaving the building. Pets are accepted too, so the family dog can join a city break.

The Sylvia sits directly on English Bay, so families step out of the door onto the seawall, ready for a walk, a bike ride or an afternoon on the beach. Stanley Park is a short walk away, with plenty of space for children to explore. Suites with full kitchens make longer stays easier, and the on-site restaurant and lounge look out over the water. Pets are accepted, so the family dog can enjoy the seawall too.

A fully equipped kitchen in every room is what I would point out first to families at the Residence Inn by Marriott Vancouver Downtown, especially on a longer visit. A complimentary breakfast is served daily, and the seating area gives everyone room to spread out. The indoor pool and hot tub help children burn off energy after a day in the city, pets are welcome, and the airport is easy to reach. Guests rate the hotel 8.8 across 1,052 reviews.

Auberge Vancouver Hotel is a four-star downtown hotel with an indoor pool, hot tub and sauna, and I would recommend it to families who want a pool and a kitchenette-style room. Rooms include a refrigerator, a microwave and a coffee maker, and select rooms look over the harbour or the mountains. Gastown is a short walk away. Ask for a view room when you book.

Georgian Court Hotel stands directly across from BC Place, which I would point out to families heading to a game or a concert: no transport needed afterwards with tired children. The Queen Elizabeth Theatre is a short walk away for a show. Parents can use the hot tub, the infrared sauna and the fitness centre, and the on-site restaurant keeps dinner simple. The hotel is pet-friendly, and free WiFi helps keep everyone entertained in the room.

Level Vancouver Yaletown Seymour is a five-star, entirely non-smoking hotel where every room has a full kitchen, a private balcony and in-room laundry facilities, and I would recommend it to families who want an apartment feel. The outdoor swimming pool, hot tub and sauna sit alongside a fitness centre. Rooms are spacious and air-conditioned. Pets are welcome, which is welcome at this level.

Gage Suites at UBC is a three-star stay on the University of British Columbia campus, and I would recommend it to families who want a kitchenette and a quiet, green setting. Suites are well equipped with kitchenettes, the reception is open around the clock, and a launderette is available for longer trips. The Museum of Anthropology and the UBC Botanical Gardens are within walking distance. It is a campus stay, not a downtown one.

Hyatt Regency Vancouver gives families a heated outdoor pool, a rare treat in a downtown hotel, with a hot tub and sauna nearby for the adults. Every room has a 42-inch flat-screen TV and free WiFi for quiet evenings in. BC Place Stadium is about 2 km away for a game or a concert. Cloudstreet Restaurant serves meals on site, Grain Tasting Bar suits parents later on, and pets are accepted too.

An all-suite layout gives families the extra room that downtown Vancouver hotels rarely offer, and the floor-to-ceiling windows make the space feel bright. Having separate areas helps when children go to bed before parents do. The Vancouver Convention Centre and the Coal Harbour waterfront are a short walk away, with Stanley Park within reach for a day outdoors. There is no pool listed, so plan swims elsewhere. Pets are welcome, which suits families travelling with the dog.