Vancouver Travel Forum

I going to be visiting Vancouver next month and I've made reservations at the Westin Grand Hotel. After reading these warning posts, I'm wondering if this is the safest place to stay due to being so close to the "bad" area. Any feedback?

The Westin Grand is across the street from the Public Library and is in no way close to a 'bad area'-that is nonsense.

I agree with the other poster to your question. Great location close everything and far away from the "bad area"

It's not close to the "bad" area. Heck, it's surrounded by multi-million dollar condos and a block over from heritage lofts full of trendy restaurants and high roller lounges. I suppose if you walked north and east for 30 minutes you would pass by the stadiums and it would get progressively more gritty and entirely uninteresting... but you'd realize soon enough you'd be heading into a rather "blah" part of the city. The Westin Grand is a 5 minute walk away down the road from the downtown shopping malls and the majority of the city's hotels.

Vancouver's distances are small, however, and often you can walk short distances and have a dramatic change in scenery.

I would argue that all of downtown Vancouver is safe. Nowhere is there an area where muggings or shootings are frequent events. The intersection of Main and Hastings which is several neighboruhoods north-east of where you're staying is known for drug addicts, but even then, as a tourist, it's not dangerous. It's just not pretty.

I should also say that if you're heading out at night from your hotel, the lively areas are west and south of your hotel - not north and not east.

Hi,

My apartment looks out at the Westin and it's in both a lovely and convenient location. It is right on Coal Harbour with great views and within walking distance of the restaurant / shopping area of Robson Street. No problem.

Cheers, john.

John, there are 2 Westins in Vancouver. The Westin Bayshore is on Coal Harbour. The Westin Grand borders Yaletown. :)

But I agree, regardles of which one you end at, they're both great locations.

Thanks for the info...glad mine was nonsense....had a great time!