A man goes into his local corner store to buy a six-pack of Coors Light and a $5 scratch-off ticket. Three beers later, he remembers the ticket in his pocket and pulls out a quarter. Eureka! Though up to this point in his life the only thing he had ever won was a Supersoaker squirt gun and tickets to see Boston off the radio, he now holds in his hand a $2,000 winner. "Just in time for my trip to Vancouver," he thinks to himself. "Forget my reservation at that dingy hostel on East Hastings Street--I’m taking my girlfriend to the Fairmont!" And so begins a two-night stay at the illustrious
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver for this lucky couple.
Upon arriving at the airport, they hop in a cab and are whisked downtown. After a short tour of the nearby Robson Street shopping bonanza, and taking note of the Vancouver Art Gallery across the street, they step into the grand lobby of the Fairmont, a hotel built in 1939. The helpful staff assign them the standard Fairmont room, starting at C$287 a night. Already exhilarated by the chance to stay in one of Vancouver’s classiest hotels, the lucky man’s grateful girlfriend insists that he not splurge on one of the more expensive rooms the Fairmont has to offer--the Fairmont Deluxe, Fairmont Gold, or Courtyard Suite.
Before going to their room, they walk around to survey the lobby. A piano sits adjacent to the large bar/lounge area that screams "serve me a pricey drink, please!" They take note of the two on-site restaurant options--Griffin’s, serving standard chain-restaurant fare at widely inflated prices, and the more upscale lounge, with a menu boasting dishes such as grilled portobello mushrooms, Szechuan seafood stir-fry, and a $13 grilled cheese sandwich (but it comes with spiced fries, too!). The resident dog has his own personal bed set up in the lobby as well, helping give the hotel a more homey feel amidst all the stoic grandeur. The couple also browse the Fairmont Store, St. John, Louis Vuitton, and Snowflake, all selling either designer clothes or souvenirs.
The feeling of being high rollers for a few days is invigorating. The couple's room, with a few chairs, dining table, and heavenly bed, spoils them. The health club and indoor pool, sleekly designed with a skylight above, go hand in hand with the spa they pamper themselves at every day. Yes, indeed, ‘twas a romantic stay at the Fairmont.
After checking out, the man grabs a Fairmont brochure and notices the "Fairmont Fling" special--one night's accommodation, overnight parking, a bottle of Blue Mountain wine, and strawberries dipped in chocolate for C$317 high season. Thinking of his playboy friend Ted, he pockets the brochure and laughs to himself. "This is perfect for Ted," he thinks. "After that Motel 6 incident, I know he wants nothing but the best for his next one-night stand."