I love the whirl of the holiday season! The lights, the music, the mulled wine and hot chocolate – it’s a magical time. But sometimes, it can get a bit hectic and overwhelming. We took a break from the hustle and bustle and escaped to the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver for a little pre-holiday girls getaway. I’m so glad we did! From pampering sessions at the full-service, in-house spa to fabulous cuisine at two excellent restaurants and wandering around the city doing all the holiday things, it was exactly what Father Christmas ordered. Take a page from our pre-holiday survival guide and book a pre-season rest and relaxation session at one of the best hotels in Vancouver, the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver.
Holiday Getaway at the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver
The JW Marriott Parq Vancouver is a luxury hotel property in Vancouver’s entertainment district, just a few blocks away from the Yaletown neighborhood. The hotel offers nearly 330 rooms and suites, facing south towards False Creek or northwest to the city and mountain skyline overlooking BC Place. The JW Marriott includes a gorgeous full service spa facility (more on that shortly), a large 24-hour fitness studio, outdoor hot tub, and lots of floorspace for conferences or wedding receptions.
The hotel is just a few years old, so everything is nearly like new. Suites are decorated in modern style by design house Studio Munge, and include spacious bathrooms, a espresso machine and couch for lounging by the floor to ceiling window.
The LEED Gold building specs ensure that no noise will disturb your relaxation time in-suite. The rooms are more than spacious enough for two people, and adjoining rooms can be arranged for families. Brew your own illy coffee for a morning cup of espresso before heading down to for a breakfast of pancakes, eggs benedict or French toast at Honey Salt, located in the lobby.
JW Marriott Parq Vancouver Spa
The Spa by JW is on the hotel’s 17th floor, across from the outdoor yoga studio and impressively spacious fitness facility. The Spa has fabulous views of False Creek and downtown Vancouver for guests to enjoy while luxuriating in spa treatments like massage, facials and mani-pedis. There’s also a full-service hair salon and a eucalyptus steam room. Whether you’ve travelled from afar or Kitsilano, the Spa is a wonderful spot to unwind, relax, and focus on some self-care.
Parq Vancouver
The JW Marriott is part of the Parq Vancouver complex, one of the city’s prime entertainment facilities. Parq Vancouver includes a casino, eight restaurants and lounges, and a stunning 30,000 square-foot rooftop park on the sixth floor.
In addition to the JW Marriott, Parq Vancouver houses another great place to stay in Vancouver – the chic Autograph Collection Hotel, the DOUGLAS. This boutique hotel property gives off a more millennial hipster vibe than the JW Marriott, with rooms paneled in warm wood and beds draped in plaid blankets. This is the place to cocoon on a cool rainy Vancouver night – which, let’s be honest, happens frequently.
Where to eat at Parq Vancouver
The eight restaurants and lounges of Parq Vancouver are the offspring of James Beard Award nominees Elizabeth Blau and husband Kim Canteenwalla. We enjoyed stellar meals at two of the Parq’s restaurants – The Victor and Honey Salt.
The Victor is a fine dining room with a contemporary and seasonally inspired menu. The restaurant highlights a wide variety of Pacific Northwest seafood and an impressive selection of specialty steaks. Tip: Order the mac and cheese waffle! The Victor’s bar menu features a holiday cocktail list with yummy, boozy treats that pretty much qualify as dessert.
For a fab dinner a deux or with friends, reserve a table at Honey Salt. This bistro-like room, with white wood paneling and funky chatchkes on the walls is a warm dinner spot to enjoy some signature dishes, like the Tofino Fry – calamari, shrimp and lemon slices fried in light batter with spicy mayo dip; a nice rare steak; tender black cod chowder and mussels; and a massive slice of chocolate banana cake and ice cream. This restaurant is very family-friendly and is also open for breakfast and lunch.
For a unique bar experience, head to the D/6 Bar for a signature Douglas Fir Gin Cocktail aperitif at the DOUGLAS Hotel. Don’t miss taking a peek into the secret speakeasy behind the bookcase. In summer, the giant rooftop patio park opens up to become a warm weather hot spot for the in-crowd and party people. The hotel’s elevator is already the city’s most Instagramable moving photo booth.
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Photo Credits: Claudia Laroye
Disclosure: The writer thanks JW Marriott Parq Vancouver for its hospitality. As always, our opinions are honest and our own. This article contains affiliate links.
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