Hotel Review: The Gentry Suite at the Sandman on Davie

The city of Vancouver has one of the most vibrant and infamous LGBTQIA+ scenes in the world. Davie Street hosts most of the city’s LGBTQIA+ bars and stores and the street itself stretches from the English Bay beaches to Vancouver’s waterfront and it is, by far, one of the most diverse streets in British Columbia.

LGBTQIA+ rainbow crossings represent the heart of the area. You might find silent and often quirky observers perched on camping chairs in the Jim Deva plaza, all the while surrounded with “Hello, Darlings” and almost naked rollerbladers.

When Vancouver Pride announced that they were going to be one of the first LGBTQIA+ events to ‘re-imagine’ Pride as opposed to postponing it during the COVID-19 pandemic, we were very excited to see what a ‘virtual pride’ would entail.

In collaboration with the Sandman Hotel Group, we booked the best room in the district which offered an aerial view of the Davie Street shenanigans and enabled us to enjoy Vancouver’s Virtual Pride in a safe and comfortable space.

The Sandman on Davie

The Sandman on Davie is a 24-story hotel in Vancouver’s prestigious West End. The height of the hotel offers panoramic views of English Bay and the Pacific Ocean and well as a silhouette of fencing mountains that are typical to British Columbia.

The hotel features free high-speed WiFi, a luxurious swimming pool and Moxie’s Grill and Bar which offers street-level people watching and happy hour cocktails and beers.

Sandman PureClean program and COVID-19

It was the first time we had been to a hotel since the COVID-19 outbreak when we visited the Sandman on Davie and we were assured from the start that the hotel would be following all hygiene and safety protocols in accordance with the Government’s COVID-19 prevention guidelines.

We experienced a sanitized check-in, safety screens in place in front of the reception staff as well as social distancing signage and floor decals. Check-in was touchless and there was an elevator capacity limit of two people.

We were told that all suites are cleaned upon request in order to minimalize contact between staff and guests and our room was incredibly clean on arrival. We were able to ask for extra toiletries and towels without any delays.

All public areas of the hotel were persistently cleaned and the hotel followed their ‘PureClean program’ which ensures strong sanitization and PPE procedures are met as well as customer comfort and safety.

The hotel pool has a booking system and the maximum capacity of the pool area was limited to 5 people. There was plenty of space around the pool and guests are asked to sanitize their own chairs and tables.

We were very satisfied with the efforts of the Sandman on Davie and their overall hygiene during a difficult time and they managed to perfectly balance this with optimum guest comfort.

Click here for more information on the Sandman on Davie’s PureClean program.

Location

Hotel Address: 1160 Davie St, Vancouver, BC V6E 1N1

For LGBTQIA+ visitors to Vancouver, this is the hotel of choice for exploring Davie Street and the surrounding area.
Upon exiting the hotel, it is a 1-minute walk to the Jim Deva Plaza and the city’s vibrant LGBTQIA+ bars and clubs. Due to the height of the hotel, little noise is heard from the street itself.

Other location perks of the Sandman on Davie are the dozens of culturally diverse eateries that line Davie Street itself. Eateries include Indian restaurants, Falafel takeout, Pub food, a Transylvanian Bakery next door to a Central and South America themed cafe, and various pizzerias.

There is a big Independent Supermarket across the road which is around 3 minutes walking distance from the hotel.

English Bay and its beautiful beaches on the Pacific Ocean are a mere 5-minute walk away down Davie Street.
The other end of Davie Street offers splendid shopping and tourist activities besides the popular districts of Yaletown and Gastown and is an approximate 30-minute walk away.

Vancouver’s main shopping street, Robson, is around a 10-minute walk away. Robson offers over 200 stores, eateries, and tourist attractions. Nothing is too far away from the Sandman on Davie.

Parking at the Sandman on Davie

We arrived at the Sandman on Davie in our camper van which is approximately 6ft 9inches in height. The secure parking gate is accessible with a room key that must be obtained at checkout to get access to the parking lot. There is a dropbox to leave the key upon checking out.

The clearance for the initial gate is higher than our van and the hotel has immediate spaces in the parking lot for tall vans and trucks. After this, the remainder of the parking lot has a clearance of 6ft 8 inches.

The parking lot has two floors (P1 and P2) and both can be accessed via the street or via the elevator with a room key.

The Pool Area

As we visited the Sandman on Davie during the COVID-19 pandemic, there were restrictions at the pool area. They were allowing five people at a time to swim and guests must sanitize their own chairs and tables. Slots for the swimming pool were arranged by the reception staff.

The pool itself is on the third floor and can only be accessed with a room key. Towels are provided at the pool so no need to take them from your suite.

The swimming pool is the perfect temperature, we found it to be lovely and warm and incredibly clean and clear.

The Gym and Steam room were closed due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The Gentry Presidential Suite Penthouse

On the top floor (24th) of the Sandman on Davie, in the far right corner sits the elegant Gentry Presidential Suite.

The Gentry Suite is one of the best hotel suites we’ve had the privilege of staying in.

The Suite boasts a separate living area to the bedroom which houses a super comfortable California King bed.

The Living area and bedroom each have their own balcony and both offer panoramic views of Vancouver and the Pacific Ocean.

The total size of the Gentry Suite is approximately 900 Sq.Ft (max two people).

The Living Area

In the living area, there is a fully functional kitchen with a stovetop, a sink, a microwave, a fridge-freezer, and an oven. We were super happy about the oven which is a rare find in a hotel!

Coffee, tea, and sugar are provided free of charge, there is a coffee machine with everything you need to make a delicious morning brew.

The kitchen island offers ample storage drawers and cupboards. The in-suite facilities encouraged us to cook more than dining out, especially with the amount of local fruit and produce vendors at the base of the hotel.

There is a lovely workspace in the living area complete with a desk, chair, and electronic charging points. The workspace has its own window that faces the Pacific Ocean and the affluent residential area of Vancouver’s West End.

The living area has a comfortable couch which is big enough to sprawl beside a low rise coffee table. The table is perfect for sampling one of the local take out banquets from the many eateries on Davie Street.

The living area also has a 42-inch TV and is perfectly situated for movie nights 24-stories high.

The Bedroom

The enormous bedroom of the Gentry Suite has a super comfortable lounger right beside the balcony and the views from this spot are impeccable.

Sinking into the California King bed after a long day of exploring beaches and shopping certainly is a luxurious treat.

There are many wardrobes and drawers within the bedroom area for those wishing to make themselves at home.

The Hot Tub

If the endless amenities of the Gentry Presidential Suite weren’t enough, the bedroom has a large 2-person jetted hot tub complete with complimentary bathrobes, towels, and an in-suite hairdryer.

The hot tub was very spacious with plenty of room for two and we really appreciated the perfectly placed headrests that kept our hair dry!

Enjoy the view of the Lion’s Gate bridge and the city’s skyscrapers on one side of the tub or watch a mellow movie or sports on the wonderfully placed television beside the tub itself.

The Bathrooms

The Gentry Suite has two bathrooms in total, one for showering and washing, and the other for the toilet.

The larger bathroom has a lovely walk-in shower with numerous jets for an all-over body cleanse.

Shampoo, soap, conditioner, and towels are all provided free of charge. The main bathroom has two sinks and large mirrors so no waiting outside the door to brush your teeth in the morning!

The toilet has a good-sized area with a mirror and a sink for washing hands.

The Balconies

Both the living area of the Gentry Suite and the bedroom have patio doors that lead onto a balcony.

Both balconies neighbor one another and there is no neighbor to the left side of the living room balcony. The suite is perfectly positioned at the corner of the hotel.

The balconies have a sturdy safety railing and offer a stunning view of Vancouver and it’s waterways.

The Lions Gate Bridge can be seen from the room as well as the LGBTQIA+ road crossings and mountainous peaks that seem to enclose the city itself.

The balconies are each the same size and one has two chairs and a table which makes it a perfect spot for a healthy breakfast over sunrise.

Round the World Magazine Rating

It goes without saying that the Gentry Presidential Suite of the Sandman on Davie is one of the most elegant and spacious options when staying in Vancouver. It is really affordable too, unlike other penthouse and presidential suites in the province.

We doubt there’s a better view of the entire city from the Sandman on Davie!

The staff at the Sandman on Davie were very accommodating and helpful, the location is fun and the suite itself is a modern-day paradise.

We look forward to visiting the Sandman on Davie again in the future!

For the best rates at the Sandman on Davie, book direct with the hotel.

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