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concierge
Vancouver
When to go families too. Celebs pop Useful contacts
Vancouver enjoys a up all the time including Tourism British Colum-
moderate climate, singers Michael Buble bia, 0207 930 6857
despite being known for and Bryan Adams, who britishcolumbia.travel
its rain. Winters in the has a house in West Van-
city are some of the couver, while local boys Time
mildest in Canada, but Hayden Christensen and GMT-8
up in the mountains, Ryan Reynolds have
Whistler has some of the made it big in Hollywood Cashflow
best snowfall of any ski but remember their £1 = CAN$1.80
resort, but it is also very roots – Reynolds
pleasant in spring and recently married actress In touch
summer. Scarlett Johannsson Dial code: 00 1. Mobile
here in September. Up networks are strong and
Getting there in Whistler, the vibe is Vancouver and Whistler
Air Canada flies daily very young and cool but are‘wired’ destinations
direct from Heathrow to the resort has a very for internet users.
Vancouver, from £498 broad appeal.
(aircanada.com), with Coming soon
Executive First seats Wow factor Hotel Georgia will open
from £3,180. Other air- For those who want downtown in 2010; the
lines include BA and Air something memorable Fairmont Pacific Rim
Transat. there are are helicopter Vancouver is also
tours (helijet.com) over expected to open before
Getting around the city, or for the the Olympics with 415
SkyTrain is Vancouver’s adventurous, gourmet rooms and 175 luxury
automated light rapid kayaking weekends condos in Coal Harbour
transit system. Tourist (edible-britishcolum and opposite the
hop-on, hop-off buses bia.com) led by a trained Vancouver Convention
are a good orientation chef in the pristine and Exhibition Centre.
device. The drive to Gulf Islands.
Whistler on the Sea to The view from the
Sky Highway takes 2hrs Capilano Suspension
30min, or the Whistler Bridge (capbridge.com)
Mountaineer train is pretty ‘wow’ but
Must-do
operates in the summer Acrophobics should
eye-poppingly citrus and very Sex and the
(May 12 to October 6). avoid that – and the new
High life: book clients onto a flight-seeing City. Also on the Shangri-La block is trendy
Peak 2 Peak Gondola
tour by floatplane around Vancouver deli Urban Fare and soon to follow is Ki,
Who goes (peak2peakgondola.com)
(harbour-air.com) and up around the a very fashionable fusion restaurant. An
British tourists tend to be in Whistler, completed in
North Shore Mountains, from Introducing Shangri-La package is
on the older side, as part December – the longest
of a grand tour of and highest in the world.
downtown Coal Harbour. available till March 31 with rates from £192
Canada or VFR, but it Very impressive, it links
Park and ride: recommend a trip into (plus tax) per night and includes a £55
should be sold to hip the terrain of Whistler
beautiful Stanley Park, a stunning asset on credit per stay towards treatments at
young couples and and Blackcomb.
the doorstep of downtown, with beaches, the hotel’s Chi spa or dining at Market.
totem poles, restaurants and the excellent 1128 West Georgia Street, Vancouver,
Vancouver Aquarium (vanaqua.org). The V6E 0A8. Tel: 604 689 1120,
way to really see the park is on two wheels, shangri-la.com
with bike hire readily available.
Go arty: Vancouver Art Gallery We also like…
(vanartgallery.bc.ca) is the city’s cultural The Loden
centrepiece. The Bill Reid Gallery of Part of the ever-growing Kor Hotel Group,
Northwest Coast Art on Hornby Street is The Loden is a boutique hotel with
also worth a look for anyone fascinated by 77 stylish rooms in Coal Harbour, a newly
the Aboriginal arts (billreidgallery.ca). fashionable waterside area. For the
Like the locals: visit the food market on ultimate stay, recommend the impressive Four Seasons Resort Whistler
Granville Island (granvilleisland.com), and super-cool Halo penthouse. Voya is This Four Seasons property has everything
taking the cute Aquabus across False the flagship 80-seat restaurant, featuring you’d want in a luxury hotel – and then
Creek. Many of the city’s top chefs go to the renowned French-Asian cuisine of some. In winter, the ski concierge thinks
Granville Island Market for inspiration Marc-Andre Choquette. of everything for you and there’s a even a
– Edible BC’s chef guides can steer your 1177 Melville Street, Vancouver, ‘teen concierge’ to help plan activities for
foodie clients through the highlights V6E 0A3. Tel: 604 669 5060, kids. The impeccable spa is the best in
(edible-britishcolumbia.com). lodenvancouver.com Whistler, with 14 treatment rooms, while
the private residences offer supreme space
Rooms
Nita Lake Lodge and privacy but with the benefit of the
We stayed at... Nita Lake Lodge is a fresh new 77-suite hotel services.
Shangri-La Vancouver option in Whistler with the emphasis 4591 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, V0N 1B4.
This new hotel’s 119 guestrooms and suites heavily on comfort. After a hard day on Tel: 604 935 3400, fourseasons.com
are very clean and muted in their design, the piste or summer’s hiking, guests
without any overt Asian touches, just enjoy in-room fireplaces and over-sized
How to book
flashes of gold, rich fabrics and dark wood bathrooms. It is nestled on Nita Lake’s Ski Dream offers an eight-night trip
panelling. The hotel initially seems overtly shores in Whistler Creekside, home to including six nights staying in the Four
masculine, but witness the ladies’ lobby the Winter Olympics alpine events, and an Seasons Resort Whistler and two nights
bar toilets with their enormous sparkling increasingly residential area, so facilities in the Shangri-La Vancouver from
chandeliers, the afternoon tea served on are improving all the time. £1,299pp, including private transfers
custom-made Nikko china and the decor 2131 Lake Placid Road, Whistler, V0N 1B2. and flights. Tel: 0845 277 3333,
in the signature Market restaurant: Tel: 604 966 5700, nitalakelodge.com skidream.com
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cityvancouver
spring 09
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