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Amazing Canadian Hotels
Rich Beattie December 11, 2006
Great Stays in the Great White North
From the cities to the mountains, from east coast across the Rockies to the Pacific, Canada has an impressive array of hotels and resorts worthy of being called “world's best.”
That's the judgment of the expert panelists who chose the best hotels in Canada for Forbes Traveler.
Which of the Canadian hotels selected by our experts is No. 1? Forbes Traveler didn't rank them; instead, we had our panel choose the overall best places, based on factors such as room quality, service, décor and location. We wanted to make our compilation much more than a list--we wanted it to be a real resource, a place travelers could turn to find the absolute best places to stay. So not only did we choose them, but we also had professional travel writers who have stayed in these hotels review them, offering an in-depth look at the rooms, service and other highlights. And since these writers didn't accept a complimentary rate, they could provide an honest assessment.
See our slideshow of the 10 best hotels in Canada.
What did they find? Toronto's the home of Four Seasons hotels, of course; the company's flagship property has kept itself fresh and remains one of the country's best, luring Canadian power brokers. Joining it is the Windsor Arms Hotel, which attracts its own attention, mostly notably from celebrities like Cher, Sean Penn and Kate Hudson, who appreciate its seclusion off on a side street.
The other selections are all out west, and why not--the Canadian Rockies and Pacific Coast are some of the most gorgeous places in North America, incorporating the resort areas of Banff/Lake Louise, Whistler and Vancouver. In the heart of the mountains, Fairmont hotels fairly dominate the terrain, with the chain's historic Banff Springs and Lake Louise properties garnering nods from our experts, along with Swiss-owned Post Hotel.
Still, the majority of our experts' picks were in British Columbia, with the Vancouver area snagging five of their votes. The city's urban elegance asserts itself in the Four Seasons and Pan Pacific hotels, as well as in the only truly boutique property in town--the 96-room Opus Hotel. Ocean views and solitude are just a quick drive away; check out the Aerie Resort's 85 acres, or wrap yourself in fir trees at the beach-side Wickaninnish.
And don't neglect the Whistler area. Here in 2004, the Four Seasons muscled in on the luxury turf once held exclusively by the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, and in our survey both properties received praise from the Forbes Traveler experts. While the newcomer doesn't offer ski-in, ski-out access like the Fairmont, it does offer larger rooms, and both serve up high-end experiences for the upscale skier in the winter and the hiker/biker in summer.
See our slideshow of the 10 best hotels in Canada.
