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The Best Luxury Hotels
The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (Vancouver; tel. 800/441-1414): Built by the Canadian Pacific Railway on the site of two previous Hotel Vancouvers, this landmark opened in 1929. The chateau-style exterior, the lobby, and even the guest rooms -- now thoroughly restored -- are built in a style and on a scale reminiscent of the great European railway hotels.
The Fairmont Empress (Victoria; tel. 800/441-1414): Architect Francis Rattenbury's masterpiece, the Empress has charmed princes (and their princesses), potentates, and movie moguls since 1908. If there's one hotel in Canada that represents a vision of bygone graciousness and class, this is it.
Hastings House Country Estate (Salt Spring Island; tel. 800/661-9255): This farm matured into a country manor and was then converted into a luxury inn. The manor house is now an acclaimed restaurant; the barn and farmhouse have been remade into opulent suites. You might feel like you've been transported to an idealized English estate, if it weren't for those wonderful views of the Pacific.
Poets Cove Resort and Spa (South Pender Island; tel. 888/512-7638): Poets Cove may be on a remote bay on a rural island, but don't let the isolation fool you. New and dazzling, the resort has beautifully furnished rooms, villas, and cottages, all overlooking a peaceful harbor. The spa, restaurant, and facilities are absolutely first class.
The Wickaninnish Inn (Tofino; tel. 800/333-4604): Standing stalwart in the forest above the sands of Chesterman Beach, this log, stone, and glass structure boasts incredible views over the Pacific and extremely comfortable luxury-level guest rooms. The dining room is equally superlative.
Four Seasons Resort Whistler (Whistler; tel. 888/935-2460 or 604/935-3400): This grand -- even monumental -- hotel is the classiest place to stay in Whistler, which is saying something. This is a hotel with many moods, from the Wagnerian scale of the stone-lined lobby to the precise gentility of the guest rooms to the faint and welcome silliness of the tiled and backlit stone fixtures of the restaurant. This is a hotel that's not afraid to make big statements.
Grand Okanagan Lakefront Resort (Kelowna; tel. 800/465-4651): You can't get much closer to Okanagan Lake than this marina-fronted hotel, and you won't find more luxurious lodgings either, particularly the new Royal Private Villas. In their own building, these sumptuous guest units are essentially luxury apartments, with access to a private rooftop infinity pool.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
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