From East to West, Canada has some truly outstanding and world-class hotels. Here are eight hotels to splurge on, or dream about.
King Pacific Lodge, Princess Royal Island, British Columbia
You need to be flown in to this luxury eco-adventure resort, but that’s included in the price of your stay, along with all food and drink as well as daily tours and activities on the ocean and within the Great Bear Rainforest. Rates start at $4,750 for a three-night stay, and go up to $12,300 – but you can add on helicopter rides and spa visits if you’ve still got cash to spend.
The Fairmont Chateau, Lake Louise, Alberta
This gorgeous historic property is nestled in the mountains of Banff National Park and sits beside the incredibly beautiful Lake Louise. You can splurge on a night in a royal suite here for $1,449, or “settle” for a regular room for $449 a night. Once there, you can take a glass-bottomed canoe out on the lake or explore the mountain on horseback, mountain bike or a guided hike. (Photo courtesy of The Fairmont Chateau)
The Wickinnish Inn, Tofino, British Columbia
Tofino is a simply stunning destination, and the Wickininnish Inn is a property that suits it well. Sitting right on the beach, it offers luxurious accommodations that play off the natural beauty of the area. During the summer season, a basic room (which isn’t very basic) is $500 a night, but you can treat yourself to the Chesterman Beach Loft Suite for $880 per night, or the Canopy Suite for $1,500. (Photo courtesy of The Wickinnish Inn)
The W, Montreal, Quebec
For the ultimate hip urban experience, book yourself into an Extreme Wow Suite at the W. It will set you back $2499 per night, but that gives you a chic loft to stay in and all manner of luxurious extra touches (including free champagne in your room for when you arrive. If you have more moulah to spend, use the hotel’s signature Whatever/Whenever® concierge service to arrange whatever your heart desires – from hot air balloon rides to a bath filled with rose petals. (A regular king room at this property runs at $419 per night.) (Photo courtesy of The W)
The Fairmont Pacific Rim, Vancouver, British Columbia
Every room in this new property is high-end, but the suites here knock it out of the park. The most extravagant suite at this property is the Chairman’s Suite, which costs $6,000 a night and is a Balinese-inspired, glass-walled 2,650-square-foot showstopper (it looks over Stanley Park and the mountains). It includes an eight foot long Swarovski crystal chandelier that cascades over the two story living room, a hand-carved soaker tub in the 500-square-foot bathroom and a private rooftop garden complete with outdoor fireplace and furnished cabana. (Photo courtesy of The Fairmont Pacific Rim)
Hotel de Glace, Quebec City, Quebec
Considering that you are effectively paying for a sleeping bag on blocks of ice, prices of around $500 per night seem a little steep – although of course, staying at the ice hotel (which is what Hotel de Glace translates to) is a rather incredible experience, and does include unusual extras such as dog sledding and Nordic spas. The price tag includes a room at the Sheraton also, in case you are unable to take the cold. This is a once in a lifetime winter vacation treat. (Photo courtesy of ©Xdachez.com)
The Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, Flores Island, British Columbia
This is another resort that you need to be flown into, but have no fear – the $5,500 price tag for a three-night stay includes round-trip airfare from Vancouver, as well as all meals, snacks, beverages, adventure activities and massages at the resort spa. Guests stay in unbelievably luxurious tents (complete with wood stoves and full bathrooms) in the heart of beautiful rainforest terrain. (Photo courtesy of The Clayoquot Wilderness Resort)
The Hazelton Hotel, Toronto, Ontario
Located in one of the city’s chicest neighbourhoods, the Hazelton is a luxury boutique hotel that offers a classy urban stay with the bonus of it’s own private movie theatre should you need to screen your latest masterpiece. Most rooms sit at around the $500 mark, but a stay in the Bellair Suite will cost you $3,000 per night. For that you get 1,860 square feet of opulence, including extras such as a dining area that seats ten, an LCD television built into the bathroom mirror, an 80-square-foot dressing room with floor-to-ceiling mirrors and two lounge areas. (Photo courtesy of © 2011 thehazeltonhotel.com)