Carmana Plaza

The entrance of the Carmana Plaza mimics the rows of office towers and high-end fashion stores along the same fashioable street. The lobby has an executive vibe with brown leather chairs and sofas set beneath enormous black drum lights. Copper urns filled with white lilies and a gas fireplace warm the space up. The business-like hallways are clean and minimal, with a muted color palette limited to gray and white. Guests tend to be business travelers or families who appreciate the upscale apartment-style accommodations and walkable downtown location.  

The Carmana Plaza is located in the heart of downtown on Alberni Street, which is known for its high-end fashion shops and exclusive restaurants. However, the area does feel a bit dead on evenings and weekends once the office workers have gone home. Guests can walk to several of Vancouver's best known attractions such as the Vancouver Art Gallery (seven minutes away), Vancouver Convention Center (eight minutes away) or the shops on Robson Street (two minutes away). The seawall and Stanley Park are also close and accessible either by foot (15 minutes) or by public transit (11 minutes). Access to YVR airport is also convenient via a rapid transit line, only an eight-minute walk away. 

Rooms at the Carmana Plaza are all apartment-style with furnished living rooms, multiple bedrooms, and fully equipped kitchens. They're available as either one or two bed suites. All are spacious and have a contemporary look with wood flooring, large floor-to-ceiling windows (some with lovely mountain or city views), flat-screen televisions in each bedroom, and splashes of bold geometric patterned wallpaper. Unfortunately, the contemporary look doesn't carry through to the kitchens which, although well equipped with a full fridge, stove, oven, microwave, and dishwasher, look tired with laminate cabinetry and white appliances. There is a desk and a chair in each room which, paired with the free Wi-Fi and city views, makes for a nice place to do some work. The corner units have the added bonus of outdoor balconies. The bathrooms are a little plain, but feature modern countertop basins, toiletries, shower/tub combos or stand-up showers, and hairdryers. 

The Carmana Plaza specializes in self-contained apartments in a central location, and therefore doesn't offer many additional amenities for guests. There are a few exceptions however, such as the fitness area that has a variety of cardio machines and weights for use among several wall-mounted flat-screen TVs. The Carmana Plaza also has a meeting room that can host 20 to 30 people. The meeting room is equipped with a large dry erase board and a projector that can connect to laptops. There's also a small catering kitchen in the room. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. There is a coin-operated laundry facility for guest use. Parking is available for a fee.