Check-In/Check-Out: Opus Hotel, Vancouver

Source: By Chris Jancelewicz, AOL Travel

Posted: 08/25/09 4:48PM

Filed Under: Canada Travel Guide

Room to Roam: Opus Vancouver is located in the up-and-coming downtown neighbourhood of Yaletown, in the heart of a series of cool-looking clubs, bars and restaurants. Close to several museums and cultural centres, the hotel is just a two-minute walk from Vancouver’s inner harbour. There is no dearth of things to see, do, and explore from the hotel. If you’re lazy, Opus offers complimentary transportation within the downtown area, and to boot, you ride in the luxurious BMW 7-Series. If you’d prefer to blend in with the crowd, mountain bikes and city bikes are available free of charge. If coming from the Vancouver International Airport, it’s a short cab ride at about 20 minutes. The newly-built SkyTrain allows for a cheaper ride from the airport to downtown, and takes about 25 minutes.

Ambience: In an incredibly imaginative spin, each room at the Opus has its own character. The design, artwork, literature, and colour schemes are all reflective of the character they’re supposed to represent. Luxurious, spotless guestrooms come in five distinct ‘personalities’, ranging from modern and minimalist to artful and eclectic. I was put into the ‘Dede’ room (she’s a resident thrill seeker and party princess) on my first night, and in a ‘Billy’ room (he’s a rock star with little concern for frills) the second night. Each room is definitely ‘boutique’, with its own small touches. Everything looks immaculate, and you almost feel bad moving anything out of its place. When entering the lobby, you know you’re in for a luxurious and pampered stay. Even the elevator is cool – it plays low-volume soothing music, and is dimly-lit like a movie theatre before the show starts. It’s no wonder celebrities of all stripes (most notably the young hipster types) come to Opus to hang out.

Guests: It’s no secret that it costs quite a bit to stay at Opus, but after experiencing it firsthand, I can understand why. There is absolutely no corner-cutting. Because of the price, the clientele tends to be of the wealthier persuasion. Several times I saw Porsches and Ferraris pull up out front to drop off or pick up a guest. Men and women in designer clothes walk through the lobby with that stride – ‘are you looking at me? Of course you are’ – and one even FEELS richer just sitting in the lobby. Even when it comes to the staff, the hotel guest is pampered; every employee I encountered was good-looking, both male and female, and they flashed their pearly whites whenever I had any request. If this is what it costs for this kind of service, man, I’ve been missing out!

Food and Drink: Opus offers food and room service from its in-hotel restaurant, Elixir. Chef Don Letendre takes a modern approach to classic French cuisine, offering up favourites like French onion soup and to-die-for French fries, and those are just the tip of the iceberg. The menu is long, and it’s difficult to choose. Also located in the lobby is Opus Bar, which is a compilation of designer (and very comfy) furniture, sheer curtains on big windows, and a laid-back atmosphere, perfect for socializing and taking in the scenery. Whatever your poison, Opus has it. If you feel adventurous and want to explore, there are countless restaurants and bars all around the hotel in Yaletown. Some recommendations include the nearby Capones Restaurant and Live Jazz Bar, which has incredible ahi tuna and some toe-tapping live music, or Glowbal Grill and Satay Bar, one of the most happening places in Yaletown.

At Your Service: As mentioned earlier, Opus staff will do whatever you request (within reason). The hotel provides deluxe tea service, personal shopping, same-day laundry, in-room spa services, and a DVD library. If you feel like lazing about in your ridiculously comfortable bed, you can just call down to the front desk and ask for a specific DVD to watch. They’ll even shine your shoes overnight and have them to your door before you wake up. Turn-down service happens twice daily, with a twist. Hotel manager Nicholas Gandossi was so sick and tired of the ol’ mint on the pillow, he decided to go all out and try something different. During my stay, I received an awesome Pez dispenser with candy, two huge lollipops, and a chocolate-covered marshmallow, all delicious. With the candy came two complimentary bottles of water, another nice touch. When I had an upset stomach, the manager insisted I relax and stay in bed, and within minutes a selection of hot tea was brought up to my room. At this point I was contemplating moving in.

Extras: I could not possibly list all the extras the Opus Hotel offers, but a few things stand out. First was the heated bathroom floor, which was glorious for the tootsies first thing in the morning. The showerhead had many adjustable settings, from hard to soft, and an average-sized person could easily lie down and sprawl in the bathtub. An odd little amenity was the personalized mini oxygen tank on the bathroom counter (for about $15 Cdn), which is supposed to wake you up if you feel tired or drained. I’ll admit I was tempted, but resisted. Never seen that little gadget before! And as if I needed any more comfort, the Herman Miller chairs in the rooms are slices of ergonomic bliss.

The Draw: The secret of Opus lies in the little details, the little frills added to an already-luxurious experience. When you stay at a hotel and you don’t feel like a guest, but rather like visiting royalty, you know you’ve hit the jackpot.

If You Go: To make reservations at Opus Vancouver, call toll-free at 1-866-642-6787, or visit their website at http://www.opushotel.com.