I remember when my friends visited me right before COVID, they wanted to stay in Richmond - close to me and the Airport. I was asked to recommend some nice hotels but after so much digging, all I could find in Richmond were some very, ummmm, standard accommodations. Don't get me wrong, I love Richmond. It's where I grew up, where I live, and my favorite city in Greater Vancouver ! But I cannot deny that fact that we reallyyyyyy lacked a luxurious hotel...
...until Versante.
Versante Hotel opened in the summer of 2021. It was an appropriate celebratory gift to the gradual lifting of travel restrictions ! Located just minutes from the airport, but also close to downtown Richmond and steps from Bridgeport SkyTrain Station, Versante Hotel offers great convenience ! It is also not your typical airport hotel. And although attached to the International Trade Center, Versante is not your typical executive conference hotel either !
It is Richmond's first and only luxury boutique hotel ! Versante is dazzled with vibrant colors, iconic furnishings, and countless handcrafted arts from local artists. This support for the locals is the one thing I really appreciate about the hotel. I love how most of the arts and decors are created by local artists and the hotel makes it a point to specially feature them! This rug in the hotel lobby (photo below), for example, is handcrafted by North Vancouver's Andy Dixon.
Versante houses 100 luxurious guestrooms and suites. Thanks to the unique structure / shape of the building, many of the rooms offer a completely different look and layout so that repeat travelers and staycation guests can experience something different each time.
All of the rooms are so vibrantly designed, each evoking a distinct personality. We stayed at the King's Corner Suite. It was a generously spacious suite with a tastefully bold pink wall ! The floor-to-ceiling windows offered views to downtown Richmond, the Fraser River, and lets in abundance of natural light.
Hotel amenities include complimentary high-speed internet. I honestly think this should be a GIVEN at all hotels. I still cannot appreciate how some luxurious hotels still charge for Wi-Fi ! 😐 Besides the standards, like room service and fitness rooms, Versante also offers some surprising extras ! It has a rooftop pool + hot tub, free airport shuttle, free bike rentals, as well as Peloton bikes and Mirror workout technology in some of the suites !
Our king-size bed was so comfortable. For some reason, I just loveeeeeeeee hotel pillows and beds ! It's always like sleeping in clouds. Versante offers hypo-allergenic bedding and also a nightly turndown service.
The MOST important thing for me in a hotel room is not the bed, however. It's the washroom. It's always the first room I check out and the room I care about the most ! It NEEDS to be beautiful, clean, and ideally new. Versante's washroom has all of the above.
It includes comfortable bathrobes, slippers, designer toiletries, and Dyson hair dryers ! My favorite part is the freestanding bathtub with a view, a rainforest shower, and heated flooring !
Okay, I cannot believe I haven't mentioned this until now. VERSANTE IS ALSO A PET FRIENDLY HOTEL ! 😍 I bring my fur baby everywhere with me whenever I can, so a pet-friendly hotel is often mandatory for me. Versante was soooo sweet. They provided a KONG bed, bowls, and a treat for Luna when we first checked in ! Luna got comfortable very quickly !
I had dinner and brunch there during my stay and truly enjoyed both meals so so so much ! I am already planning to book Bruno for my Christmas dinner !
It's not a surprise that I want to conclude by saying that I highly recommend Versante Hotel as a staycation choice. It's also an amazing spot for travelers. While not located in downtown Vancouver, it is not a long drive to all the famous attractions. And Richmond is such a charming city. While you are here, remember to visit as many good restaurants as you can, because like I mentioned, Richmond is famous for good Asian cuisines ! You can also visit the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Mall, Richmond Night Market during those summer months, and the exquisite Steveston Village.
Due to COVID, it's been the longest I haven't traveled. Hotel stays are one thing I look forward to the most during a trip. So since I can't travel to foreign lands, a good staycation makes up for a lot of it ! I highly highly recommend those who have never stay-cationed before, try it. It's really an escape from the same old routine. And even just for one night, it's such a nice change of scenery, and an extensive date night 🥰
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Thank you :)