Buchan Hotel

The Buchan Hotel is a three-story walk-up nestled along a quiet street in Vancouver's West End. Built as a rooming house in the 1920s, the hotel has plenty of heritage charm that recalls the early days of Vancouver. Details like parquet wood flooring along the corridors, a large fireside lounge, and ornate lamps flanking the front entrance give the hotel a distinguished and stately look. There are photographs showcasing this history on just about every surface, adding to the effect. However, guests will quickly discover that this same distinction does not carry over into the guest rooms, as many are quite tired and dated. There are no grounds associated with the hotel, but there is a cafe that leases space in the basement and the quiet residential street is lined with mature trees that add to the feeling of being in a locals-only part of town.

The Buchan Hotel is located in the West End, a five-minute walk from the Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park. It's a two-minute walk to the shops and cafes on Denman Street and a 10-minute walk to the beach at English Bay. Several bike rental shops can be found on Denman Street, allowing visitors the option of biking to areas like Gastown (a 15-minute ride), or Granville Island Market (a 20-minute ride). Transit options in the area are limited, but visitors can walk five-minutes to Georgia Street for a variety of bus options taking them to the downtown core (a 12-minute bus journey). One major advantage of Buchan Hotel is that it is located on a residential street, meaning street noise is kept to a minimum. Budget 30 to 40 minutes to reach the airport by taxi, depending on traffic. By public transit, the commute takes about an hour.

Rooms here are best for travelers who plan to be out and about exploring all day, as they provide little more than a clean place to sleep at night. Unfortunately, they lack the heritage charm of the hotel's common areas, and decor is kept to a (sometimes tired) minimum. They're outfitted with a queen bed or a queen and twin bed, bedside tables with lamps and clocks, flat-screen TVs, and desks with reading lamps. Wi-Fi is free, though there's no air-conditioning (standing fans are available, though top-floor rooms will be hot in the summer). Depending on the room, you may have a closet that feels large enough to sublet or only an exposed hanging rack. Other quirks can include boarded-off doors to neighboring rooms or missing en-suite bathrooms. For the latter, the Buchan Hotel has wash basins in the room and then communal showers and toilets on the floor. Other units have simple en-suite bathrooms. Towels are provided.

Buchan Hotel is light on the features, and guests here spend most their time in the city exploring the sights or doing business, returning to the hotel only to sleep and recharge for the next day. A fireplace is the centerpiece in a communal lounge, which also has complimentary tea and coffee. There's a cafe downstairs, though it's not owned by the hotel. Wi-Fi is free and limited on-site parking is available for a fee on a first-come-first-served basis.