Eclectic Kim Review: Hilton Vancouver Airport

After an early morning transport from The Explorer Hotel in Yellowknife to the Yellowknife airport, a delayed flight from Yellowknife to Calgary, which led to an extremely tight connection for my flight to Vancouver, to say that I looked forward to my check in at Hilton Vancouver Airport was an understatement. After my experiences in Travel Guide: Chasing the Aurora Borealis in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada - I needed proper, relaxing rest in a hotel where the elevators worked.

After days of freezing and defrosting in the -30 nights in Yellowstone, I looked forward to the 55 degree weather in Vancouver. as I stepped of the plane and made my way through the airport, I looked for the Hilton Vancouver Airport’s motor coach pick up area. After calling the hotel to confirm, I easy found it on 3rd floor area, outside the airport in a space marked departures.

Once I was safely on board, the ride to Hilton Vancouver Airport hotel was a quick 10 minutes.

Check In

Checking in via the Hilton mobile app has become second nature to me. I could have made my way up to my suite immediately. However, intuition told me to stop at the front desk to confirm what perks I would receive for my Hilton status. A conversation with the manager confirmed two awesome things:

There was a specific welcome drink or appetizer menu for Hilton Honors guests at the hotel bar and restaurant – Cavu.
Instead of credit toward breakfast - as in the United States - breakfast would be complimentary. This is similar to my stay at Hilton Hotel Tahiti. Truly Hilton Honors perks show themselves best when traveling outside of the United States.

The manager smiled and seemed honestly delighted to see me so happy after hearing the news.

Room and Stay

My room was in typical Hilton fashion: tones of beige. And the bathroom’s door clearance was a bit tight in relation to the toilet. But, what I needed was a comfortable night’s stay for a few hours layover before my morning flight. And that’s exactly what I received.

I wasn’t able to have breakfast, due to needing to leave before 6am to deal airport arrival and customs for my morning flight to the United States. But, I appreciated that it was available to me. And, I appreciated the Hilton Honors treat menu.

Overall

I truly appreciated my stay at the Hilton Vancouver Airport hotel. The staff were exceptionally helpful, even recommending a fantastic dinner spot, Cactus Club Cafe – Richmond, which I absolutely loved. I also enjoyed how close the hotel is to Vancouver Airport. When I want to destress and actually relax for a night, nothing beats an easy shuttle ride at 5:55 am that actually runs on time. Plus, the hotel’s location in Richmond offers a rich showcase of Asian culture and cuisine.

Overall, the convenience, service, and location of Hilton Vancouver Airport made my stay both relaxing and memorable.