Four Points by Sheraton Vancouver Airport

Last year when I was looking for a cheap points redemption in Vancouver, one of the properties that stood out was the Four Points by Sheraton Vancouver Airport.  At the time, it was an SPG category 2 property requiring just 4,000 points on weekdays and 3,000 points on weekends when it regularly goes for ~$140 USD giving a fabulous redemption ratio of ~3-4 cents per SPG point.  It has now (as of 9/7/2014) gone up to a category 3 property requiring 7,000 points per night which is still reasonable but not as good of a steal.

The hotel itself is located fairly near YVR Vancouver International Airport and operates a half hourly shuttle which is shared with the Westin Wall Centre Vancouver Airport. Given that this hotel  recently completed renovations, the lobby looked contemporary and fresh with a polished glow that made it feel closer to a Sheraton than a Four Points property.



The front desk staff was knowledgeable and polite and supplied plenty of information about the attractions around town. As I was checking in at 10:30 am, I was half expecting to have to leave my luggage there while waiting for my room but was lucky enough to be able to check right in.

The elevator lobby, hallway decor and lighting had a very warm, contemporary look to them that made this hotel feel much more upscale than the image I had before of a Four Points property (I'm looking at you Four Points San Francisco Airport).  The hallways were light and airy and the housekeeping staff I walked past were pleasant and courteous as well. At this point, I was quite impressed with the hotel as they were surpassing all my expectations for a basic airport hotel.

The room featured 2 double beds with some nice wooden furniture. Everything looked fairly cookie cutter though the quality was better than I had expected for this brand. The only disappointment was that the room was just supplied with a single complimentary bottle of water. Fortunately, this was mitigated by the fact that they had water dispensers on the 3rd and 5th floor.

The washroom was very clean and fairly minimalist with a basic sink area.

The spacious shower area felt like a nice modern design with sliding glass panels and shampoo/soap dispensers which I suppose really helps the housekeeping team (when restocking) and keeps the hotel more environmentally sustainable.

The last comment I have about this hotel have to do with its location. The first is that the walk to Lansdowne Skytrain station is probably more of a 10 minute walk than a 5 minute one particularly as it does take some effort to get around the hotel grounds and onto an actual sidewalk that reaches the Canada Line. So do give yourself a little extra time the first time you are making this trip.

The second aspect of the location is far more favorable. The hotel appears to be located smack in the middle of Richmond's Chinese restaurant district as it is surrounded by plaza after plaza of Chinese and other asian eateries. So if you're craving some dim sum, this hotel is located in the right place!