10 luxury hotels in Canada you HAVE to visit
Canada boasts a highly diverse landscape, wonderous wildlife, interesting historical sites, and big, bustling metropolises. Whether you choose to vacation in the heart of a major city or in the middle of nowhere, anyone and everyone has a plethora of high-class hotels and resorts to lodge with.
Canada is a great nation for travellers. The second largest country in the world by area, Canada boasts a highly diverse landscape, wonderous wildlife, interesting historical sites, and big, bustling metropolises. Whether you choose to vacation in the heart of a major city or in the middle of nowhere, anyone and everyone has a plethora of high-class hotels and resorts to lodge with.
The experience, however, can always be amplified for those willing to spend the extra buck to receive the most luxurious of treatment at some of Canada’s most opulent hotels. This list recommends ten for anyone who wants to have experiences which will surely make their friends jealous.
10. Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac; Quebec City, Quebec
The Chateau Frontenac is an historic hotel situated at the heart of Old Quebec, the historic area of Quebec City. The Hotel first opened in 1893 and for some time stood as the tallest building in the city. As a result of its unique position in the city, the Frontenac is within a short walking distance of a large variety of historical sites including the Ursulines Monastery, the Citadelle of Quebec, and the streets of Old Quebec and its distinct European charm.
The charm of the hotel has allowed it to become the most photographed hotel in Canada, and it is considered a must-stay hotel for any passionate traveller of Canada.
9. Shangri-La Hotel; Toronto, Ontario
Situated in the centre of the bustling city of Toronto, the Shangri-La Hotel has become a staple of the city’s modern skyline. At 66 stories tall, it is the fifteenth tallest building on the Toronto skyline and the second tallest hotel in the city. It is slightly off to the west of the city’s downtown core, allowing a spectacular view of the city of Toronto on one side and an unobstructed view of the sunset on the other.
The hotel boasts state-of-the-art modern architecture reflecting the modernity of the building itself, having only opened in 2012. The hotel offers a magnificent health club, as well as vehicles which will take you around the city of Toronto.
8. Fort Garry Hotel; Winnipeg, Manitoba
The Fort Garry Hotel is an historic, century-old chateau-style hotel in the heart of Winnipeg. The hotel was originally meant to be a luxurious stop for travellers along the Canadian Pacific Railway. The hotel quickly gained a reputation for its luxury, having hosted even hosted King George I and his wife, Queen Elizabeth.
Built with an authentic old world charm, the building boasts 10 foot high ceilings, a well-regarded spa, and a strategic location for anyone seeking to explore the historic city of Winnipeg. The hotel a few blocks away from Manitoba’s legislature, five minutes walking distance from the Canadian Human Rights Museum, and an even shorter distance from the Red River which flows through the city.
7. Hotel Place D’Armes; Montreal, Quebec
Just a few steps away from the famous and historic Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal lies the Hotel Place D’Armes, named after the public square featuring a statue of Montreal’s founder. Other nearby spots include the Montreal Science Centre, the Montreal Convention Centre, and the St. Lawrence River. The hotel is also surrounded by a world-renowned shopping district and is convenient for public transportation.
The hotel’s exterior, while conveying a neoclassical Montreal aesthetic, is nothing special compared to the highly luxurious interior, which boasts a fancy lounge, a 24-hour fitness centre, a steam room, and exquisite rooms featuring exposed brick walls.
6. King Pacific Lodge; Princess Royal Island, British Columbia
The King Pacific Lodge is a luxurious fishing resort on an island just off the coast of British Columbia. The resort offers unlimited fishing, helicopter rides, and an unforgettable view of the British Columbian wilderness.
For anyone who enjoys fishing, the King Pacific Lodge is a must-visit spot. Such an experience is especially lucrative in the summer, when the local salmon migrate past the location of the resort, offering prime opportunities for fishermen.
5. Four Seasons Resort Whistler; Whistler, British Columbia
While the Four Seasons has many top-rated hotels around the world, none lives up to the exquisiteness of their location in the British Columbian resort town of Whistler. The resort overlooks the snow-topped Rocky Mountains which most visitors will eventually head to for some skiing.
Back at the resort, the Four Seasons offers heated outdoor pools which operate all year round, a library, one of the highest rated spas in Canada, and bike rentals for visitors to explore the glorious natural beauty of Whistler.
4. The Hazelton Hotel; Toronto, Ontario
The Hazelton Hotel is a boutique hotel located in Toronto’s historic Yorkville neighbourhood. The hotel offers a spa and restaurant and is a short walking distance away from must-see Toronto sites such as the Royal Ontario Museum and the Gardiner Museum. Those who want to explore Toronto’s shopping scene can also go to the nearby Yorkville Mall. The hotel also boasts a world-renowned private chef who runs the kitchen at the hotel’s restaurant.
The most expensive room at the hotel, the Bellair Suite, features a 10-person dining room, a bathroom LCD television, a media centre, heated floors, and a massive dressing room covered with mirrors all around.
3. The Fairmont Chateau; Lake Louise, Alberta
The Fairmont Chateau is an historic hotel situated on the coast of Lake Louise near Banff, Alberta. The hotel opened in the 1890s as a destination for railway travellers, quickly developing a reputation as a highly exquisite and luxurious hotel.
The hotel itself is surrounded by the world-famous Banff National Park, a prime destination for skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts internationally. Since 1982, the hotel has remained open in the winter months, making it a perfect destination for winter sportsmen. The hotel offers other winter experiences such as ice skating and snowshoeing as well.
In the summer, visitors have the opportunity to enjoy canoeing, horseback riding, and both guided and unguided hikes through the surrounding mountainous wilderness, with peaks topped with snow all year round.
2. Fairmont Pacific Rim; Vancouver, British Columbia
The Fairmont Pacific Rim is a modern hotel situated on the Vancouver coastline. The building was completed in 2010, opening just in time for the Vancouver winter Olympics which took place that year. At 44 stories tall, the building is the 13th tallest in Vancouver. The top half of the building features condos rather than hotels, with some of the highest-price rooms on a square foot basis in all of Canada.
The hotel offers a wide variety of amenities including a spa, an outdoor pool with a cabana, a lounge with live entertainment, and its very own library. For those seeking to explore Vancouver, the hotel offers its own bike service for travellers seeking to take advantage of the bike-friendliness of Vancouver.
1. Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge; Vancouver Island, British Columbia
The Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge, as the name suggests, is located in the wilderness of Vancouver Island at the end of Clayoquot Sound. Travellers to this resort must take a seaplane just to get there, but once they arrive they will be treated to a truly once in a lifetime experience.
The complex is built in the middle of a coniferous forest, with tiki torches illuminating the open wooden walkways surrounded by sprawling trees on all sides. Visitors stay in the most luxurious tents you will ever see, complete with balconies overlooking the sound, truly a remarkable sight as the sun sets.
The hotel also offers a variety of activities for visitors including canoeing, nature watching, archery, and fly-fishing locations accessible only by helicopter.