Without a doubt this is the best Marriott I've ever stayed in. Thanks to platinum status we were able to score a three night stay with an incredible view for 90,000 points. We never used the gym, pool amenities, the food options for breakfast, or the concierge lounge. Come to think of it we didn't use the place for much more than a view and base camp to explore Vancouver.

If you stay in a Marriott it's probably fair to assume you're going to be located in some kind of financial area. High rise Marriott properties are not typically (read: ever) in the hip parts of town. Thankfully Vancouver is so dense that the hip parts of town were within easy walking distance even in near freezing temperatures. There are plenty of shops and restaurants to choose from right around the hotel, but if you choose to walk to Gastown or Granville you're looking at about a 10-12 minute walk, tops. Yaletown would take a bit longer. Going out of the downtown area would require you to drive yourself or hail a cab. If you're staying for a long weekend, AKA you're coming up on a weekday like we did, being in the heart of downtown was great for exploring the city for the first time in a few years while the area was bustling with people going to and from work and other places. On Saturday the area around the hotel is a bit more sleepy but not totally useless. We chose to venture out into the surrounding neighborhoods of East Van and Mt. Pleasant as many of the businesses directly around our hotel were closed up for the weekend. It worked out perfectly. Of course the tourist staples like Robson street are open no matter the day.

The room was not huge but the view of the harbor more than made up for it. The 24th floor king room we got had a chair to dump all our stuff on, a desk we used as a dining table for a late night snack, and a big HD TV. That's all we needed since the trip was focused on being in Vancouver, not in the room. The property is newer, built in 2005 and renovated in 2009. They did a good job with construction. We couldn't hear anyone in the rooms around ours through the walls, but of course you can hear what's going on out in the hall through your door. Since the floors are so small that high up there's not a lot of foot traffic so it's not a big deal.

Room service was spot on and they return later in the evening for a turndown service which I typically turned down. (PUN!)

Parking at this hotel will cost $35 per day after $10 worth of taxes are added on. You're welcome for my contribution to that free healthcare, Canada. There was word of a $6 garage nearby but we never saw it or spent too much time seeking it out. Having the car right at our disposal, especially with a free hotel stay, was more important. At the Platinum level your internet is waived, but be sure to check your bill to ensure any guests you have with you are not counted in your charge. Getting two days of internet charges ($30) removed from the bill at check-out was the only small hang up in an otherwise perfect stay. Whenever we get back to Vancouver chances are we will stay here again, on points or not.