Shawn Blore & Alexandra de Vries -

What’s New in
Vancouver & Victoria

In the summer of 2003, Vancouver was awarded hosting rights to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Still 6 years away, preparations are already visible, and the excitement in the city is palpable. Prices on real estate, restaurants, and hotels are sure to go up. Fortunately, at present, fabulous restaurants and accommodations are still a steal in Vancouver and Victoria, compared to Toronto or Montreal. VANCOUVER Accommodations The Gallery Floor at the Listel Vancouver (1300 Robson St.; & 800/663-5491 or 604/684-8461) proved such a hit with guests that a museum floor was the next logical step. For the past several years, guests on the penultimate Gallery floor have been able to enjoy original works of art from Vancouver’s Buschlen Mowatt Gallery, temporarily displayed in the Listel’s ever-so-tasteful rooms.

Guests on the top floor now have the same artistic privilege, but the objets d’art on display in the rooms come from the vast collection of the UBC Museum of Anthropology. As with the Gallery rooms, Museum rooms contain detailed information on the artist whose works are on display. The Sunset Inn Travel Apartments (1111 Burnaby St.; & 800/786-1997 or 604/688-2474) has always been a steal, just a couple of blocks from English Bay on the edge of the residential West End and offering apartment-size accommodations (with full kitchens, dining tables, and balconies) at a more-than-reasonable price. For years the only drawback was a kind of pastel ’80s decor, but the furnishings in the top two floors have been fully renovated. The owner intends to continue renovating until the entire inn is fully updated.

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