Before you read on , let me state for the record that this review is biased, due to the fact that we paid $165 for a $3000-per-night suite. Looking for a thorough review of the hotel - might need to look elsewhere. Want a glimpse of how the other half lives? Read on.

The 5-star Pan Pacific is located at Canada Place (where the cruise ship terminal and convention centre are, topped with large white sails that are often featured prominently in photos of Vancouver). The hotel boasts 504 rooms with panoramic vistas of the harbour, mountains, Stanley Park and the city skyline. Rooms have all the ameneties you would expect from a swanky hotel, including fluffy bathrobes. There are two restaurants (Five Sails and Café Pacifica) as well as a lounge (Cascades) located in the lobby. There is also a state-of-the-art fitness club and heated pool with Jacuzzi and sun deck with views of the harbour.

I had actually booked the Pan Pacific through Hotwire – at $165 a night, it was a steal. As we went up to check-in, we discovered that due to a convention, the hotel was full, and so they had to do some upgrades – and we were getting one. We were expected something fairly exciting, but it ended up being beyond our wildest expectations.

As we reached The Coral Suite, on the 22nd floor, we were greeted with double doors, and even a doorbell (!). As we walked in, we were totally floored. The suite had a foyer bigger than my parents house! All marble floors, beautiful wood everywhere, silk wallpaper--just beautiful.

To the right was a powder room and to the left, a kitchen with a small sink, fridge, microwave and even dishwasher. Beyond that was a bar, with 4 gorgeous leather barstools, and a stone and glass dining table for six. The living room was just as spectacular, with glass windows all across the back wall, giving us an impeccable view of the twinkling harbour lights. The kicker - a shiny black Yamaha baby grand, in the living room! Right behind that was the desk/work area, and just in front was the TV/Stereo cabinet with a 36" television and an amazing Bang & Olufsen Stereo System (which could even be piped in to the bedroom and bathroom).

Then it was off to the master bedroom and bath. The bedroom was beautiful, a huge king-sized bed with feather pillow and a goose-down duvet greeted us, along with a plush seating area. But the bathroom, that was spectacular. A separate "toilet room" (as we called it), a big closet, a huge double shower/steam room, a massive Jacuzzi tub with a view out to the harbour, and a great big basket of Aveda bath products.

Unfortunately, we could only stay one night and had to leave early the next morning, but the experience was truly unforgettable.

The hotel is excellent, and the view is magnificent. It’s an expensive hotel, but you'll sure enjoy the waterfront view, which is breathtaking, although the lobby is not typical (in fact, it’s a convention center). If you are looking for a traditional hotel and don’t mind a view other than the waterfront one, you better find another hotel.

Parking its really expensive, about C$27 per night, which is the cost of a hostel. It all depends on your budget. For the price of the Deluxe Waterfront View (C$300), you can get a bigger room in other hotels, but it all depends what you prefer. Rooms are clean and nice, with all the businessmen things in it.

After staying at the Sheraton Wall Center, I thought I would be spoiled for the rest of the trip. That's until we checked into the Pan Pacific, an all-suites hotel that looks more like a lodge than a hotel. Even during the summer, you get that warm feeling of going back into your cozy mountain lodge. We landed a studio for C$110, but that was in 1999. I checked the price for the summer of 2005, and it's at US$106. Not bad! The hotel also has one-and two-bedroom suites.

The studio was roomy and classy with a nice living room, a balcony (overlooking the pool and the mountain), a fully equipped kitchenette (which blew my mind because I’ve never seen that before, it was my first trip in North America), a four-person dining room table, a sofa-bed, and, the neatest of all - a queen-size Murphy bed. Now, where else would you find that in a hotel? But you realize you're in a high-end hotel when you check out the goodies in the bathroom - Aveda products!!! And the nice touch - lip blam, always useful after a day in the mountains regardless of the season. The hotel also has a pool and a hot-tub that I personally tested (strangely, it was deserted despite the beautiful weather).

Now, I wish I could, after a day spent "shushing" down the slopes in the winter, go back to my beautiful studio!

The Pan Pacific is so very at home in Vancouver harbour and is considered by many, including locals, as one of the most luxurious hotels in the city. It is a landmark that is almost always featured in any images of Vancouver that you may see. As the tall, blue mirrored hotel pertrudes into the Pacific ocean it is made even more striking by the huge white IMAX theater attached to the lobby, making the scene slightly futuristic.

Centrally located, the area feels safe and is within close walking distance to downtown Vancouver, including Robson Street and what is probably its best selling point, adjacent with magnificent views over Stanley Park.

The hotel lobby is breathtaking with marble floors and a lounge that features romantic music played for guests on a grand piano with panoramic views over the Pacific.

The rooms are equally fantastic with floor to ceiling views over the city, Stanley Park, harbour, or ocean. Everyday you will also see large cruise ships dock for an afternoon or night, you can see this from your hotel window or even from the outdoor heated swimming pool or spa. I cannot recommend this hotel enough for a romantic getaway or any visit to central Vancouver.

Conde Naste's Traveller 2000 Readers' Choice awards recently rated this hotel #22 in the category of Top N.American hotels. Large, stylishly appointed rooms range from $200-$500 CDN. with harbour views & corner rooms in the higher range. This is a first class hotel and is in a complex that includes an IMAX theatre, Vancouver Trade & Convention Centre & the cruise ship terminal. The piano lounge offers wonderful views of the water & North Shore mountains. Near the lounge is a pink marble map of the Pacific Rim set in a water fountain - sounds strange but it's impressive to look at. Historical Gastown is a 2 block walk from the hotel. Definitely the place for a splurge.