Finding a good hotel that meets a traveller’s needs isn’t always easy, especially in an expensive city like Vancouver. Travellers – with or without kids in tow – seeking clean, comfortable and affordable hotel accommodations in this popular west coast city should look no further than the YWCA Hotel Vancouver. Not only will you be saving money on your holiday, you’ll be doing good long after your budget stay at the YWCA Hotel Vancouver becomes a pleasant memory. This is the best budget hotel in Vancouver for families or couples watching their travel expenditures.
Do Good at the YWCA Hotel Vancouver
The YWCA Vancouver has been in the social enterprise and hospitality business for over one hundred years. It first opened its doors in 1897, providing housing and services to women coming to Vancouver in search of education and employment.
The current YWCA Hotel is a 155-room, non-smoking facility in the eastern part of downtown Vancouver. This is great location near the city’s two sports and concert stadiums, Rogers Arena and BC Place. It’s in easy walking distance to downtown, and close to attractions and restaurants in Gastown, Chinatown and Yaletown. It doesn’t take more than 15 minutes to reach most of downtown Vancouver.
The hotel provides affordable accommodation for all travellers, including short-term rentals and residency stays. YWCA also provides emergency temporary shelter to families during times of crisis. And that’s where your guest stay comes in.
A stay at the YWCA Hotel Vancouver gives back. It’s a mission-related social enterprise that helps support the YWCA’s local community services work. All of the dollars from guest stays goes to programming that reaches more than 50,000 people every year. The YWCA operates more than 40 programs and services that help local populations. Things like social housing, youth programs and community kitchens. Your stay really does make a difference at the local level. It’s a great trade-off.
Who Stays at the YWCA Hotel Vancouver
The guest mix is a jumble of young and old. Solo women travellers, students, families, backpackers and couples of every age. Guests are budget and socially conscious travellers from all over the world.
The YWCA Hotel Vancouver has a variety of room types that will suit many travellers, including single, twin, double, double/double, triple, and quint rooms with five beds. The larger rooms are great for families or students bunking up together. Each room features its own bathroom (or a shared bathroom), mini-fridge, flat screen television, AC and free wifi.
The YWCA Hotel is child and family-friendly. At check-in, kids can choose a toy from the “YWCA Hotel Magic Suitcase.” The kitchenettes and full-size kitchen also make it handy to fix kids their favourite meals in the kitchen.
A Room at the YWCA Hotel Vancouver
I enjoyed several nights in a clean and cosy single room. The queen size bed nestled against a nicely-appointed grey and yellow feature wall. The closet space and shelving offered plenty of space for two people’s clothes and necessities, even though I was a solo traveller. There was a small kitchenette down the hall where I could boil water for tea, or make a quick meal on the cooktop or microwave.
The YWCA Hotel features kitchenettes on several floors, and a full kitchen and dining area on the fourth floor. This area is perfect for preparing family breakfasts. There’s also a small fitness centre, and even meeting rooms. If you want more fitness options, guests have free access to the large, spacious YWCA Health + Fitness Centre, just a 15-minute walk away.
Book Direct = Do Better
Booking directly on the YWCA Hotel’s website is best. It reduces costs to the YWCA (those booking sites do charge fees), and provides more revenue to the YWCA’s community services.
Tip: Seniors and Y members get preferential booking rates. Membership and age can have their privileges.
Save Money and Have More Fun
Being budget savvy without any lose of comfort, safety or location is a super smart travel hack. It leaves travel dollars left over for the fun stuff! Like booking a HeliJet tour to Victoria. Or taking in the views at the Vancouver Lookout. Or contemplating yin & yang at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, and then finding the cutest button-sweater button ever made.
Do good while you travel. It’s easier than you think.
Photo credits: C Laroye
Disclosure: The Travelling Mom was a guest of the YWCA Hotel Vancouver, and thanks the staff and Tourism Vancouver for their hospitality. As always, her opinions are honest and her own.
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