I read good reviews of this hotel here on TripAdvisor and I have to say they were all correct! The staff was so nice & helpful, and our room was very spacious, quiet and CLEAN. The hotel is walking distance (about 10 minutes) to a very busy area with shops, restaurants, etc., but the free parking is definitely a huge selling point. My only comment would be that if you are staying here and using the parking lot: bring a small car! The parking lot is quite small and somewhat difficult to negotiate, so I think that would be very difficult with a large SUV.

I stay at this hotel at least 30 nights per year, usually in one-week stays, and find it overall an excellent value and very good quality. The hotel is not the Fairmont, and doesn't pretend to be. However, at their very reasonable rates (down to $69 in the winter), what you get is worth every penny.

The rooms are comfortable and clean, the location is very convenient for getting to various places around Vancouver, and the free parking is a nice bonus. The bedspreads and towels could be upgraded. Request a room with fridge and microwave if this could be useful to you.

The front desk staff are all very helpful, and will gladly give you advice on places to go eat, or how to get around.

Breakfast is basic but decent, with no hot choices available. It does get a bit repetitive after a few days, but there are ample choices in the area.

The high speed wired Internet connection is consistently fast. There is also a terminal in the lobby including a laser printer, but which is very expensive.

There is a good reason the gym closes at 8pm, and that is the noise it makes. If you are sensitive to this, do request a room away from the gym. Likewise, the noise from Kingsway is quite persistent day and night, so again, a room at the back of the hotel is preferable if this bothers you.

As others have mentioned, the hotel is perhaps not in the very best area of town, but it is certainly not dangerous. The usual caution you would show in any large city applies here. Car theft is a major problem anywhere in the Vancouver area.

My room was fairly modern, very clean and spacious (for 1). The staff was very helpful with directions and advice. There's not too much to do around the immediate neighborhood, but is safe and fairly quite (definitely better than downtown). Not the cheapest, but for a moderate rate, a very good stay.

A jewel in the rough.
* First impressions: On corner of a busy street. Receptionist was gracious. I asked for a room NOT beneath the gym and he said "Oh, you must have been here before!" I had not...I had just read another Trip Advisor report! Thanks!
* Customer Service: Excellent. I was able to stay a little longer because my flight took off late.
* Room Service: Good food, fast service via a restaurant attached to the hotel next door. Priced OK.
* Parking: Free parking in a double locked garage beneath and to the rear of the hotel.
* In Room: Very clean and tidy. Room was well sized though not huge. There was a little noise from the street so you may want to ask for a room away from the main street. Air conditioning was noisy.
* Location: Good for the price.
* Overall: Very happy, would go again, would recommend to others e.g. on a budget.