Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel Review

Booking & Stay Details

I stayed at the Four Points by Sheraton in Surrey just down the road. They were starting their renovation on my floor. I needed to extend my stay for my work project, and I had to move out of the room there either way. Therefore, I decided to move to the Sheraton, which will get me a little bit closer to my project site as well as the chance to review another hotel. I booked a “Traditional 1 King Room” and got upgraded during check in to a “Club Room 1 King”.

It was just a short drive from the Four Points to the Sheraton.

Location

The Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel is located in the city of Surrey. From the hotel it is about 45 minutes to Vancouver International Airport by car and about 35 minutes to Downtown Vancouver.

The hotel is right across from the Guildford Town Centre shopping mall. Which offers, besides many shops, also lots of dining options and a movie theatre. Surrey has a great public transportation network and there is a bus stop close to the hotel.

Parking

The Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel has a two-story underground parking garage for hotel guests. Parking is 15 CAD/night. I booked an AAA rate which had parking included. Either way, you have to give the hotel your license plate number for them to charge it to the room or you can pay on self-pay stations and charge it separately. 

The garage has a gate which closes at night, and you will need your room key to open it. During the day, the door is always open, and you can just drive in. The parkade, as it is called at the hotel, is a bit confusing. There is bad signage on where the exit is. Signs are only when you are already close to the exit. The exit gate is always closed and opens automatically as you drive up to it. It’s a tight turn with a Ford Explorer and will be even tighter with bigger cars.

Shuttle Service

There is a shuttle parked in front of the hotel, but the hotel does currently not provide any shuttle service. Neither to the airport or any other location nearby.

Check-In

Check in was as usual quick and easy. The short-term parking spots for check-in in front of the hotel were all used up by other cars as there was nobody checking in when I walked inside. Because these stalls were blocked, I used one of the oversized vehicle spots to walk in to check-in.

Check-in was quick and easy. They checked my ID, and I swiped my credit card. I had the choice of a gift (honeybee honey) or points as my welcome gift.

Check-In: 3 p.m.
Check-Out: 12 p.m.

Club Room 1 King (Room 2001)

This room is the first room on the right after the elevator bay. The main part of the room features a King bed on one side with a nightstand on either side. There are lights on top of the nightstands and additional reading lights on each side of the headboard. One of the reading lights was broken and didn’t turn on. Opposite the bed is a large wall-mounted TV. Underneath is a dresser with storage for your belongings. Inside the left side of the dresser is a small refrigerator. Next to it is a work desk with a chair. Unfortunately, the desk has a tampered glass top, and you need a mouse pad if you want to use your mouse on the glass surface. A coffee maker also sits on top of the desk.

Next to the bed, towards the windows, is a sofa with a cocktail table and a chair. The windows face southwest and give you a few of the nearby mall as well as the large Canadian flag which is normally flying next to the hotel. Seems like they take it down during the wintertime, but you still see the large flag post. There is a small part in the top corner which you can open and tilt outwards to get fresh air in. 

The bathroom is at the front of the room, next to the entrance. Inside is a wall-mounted mirror and a vanity with a single sink. On the other side is a walk-in shower with shower head and shower wand. Soap dispensers are mounted to the wall inside the shower. Be careful when you turn the water to hot, it really gets hot, steaming hot.

Outside the bathroom is a closet with two PJ’s hanging in there. Inside is also a laundry bag and paper form besides iron and ironing board.

Public Areas & Amenities

Lobby

The lobby is beautiful and inviting. It was Christmas themed with a tree and other decoration. There were a few gingerbread houses in the lobby, and you could vote for your favorite. 

There are a few chairs to sit down and hang out. It’s also from where you get to the different meetings and ballrooms on the first and second floor.

Business Center

A business center is located close to the front desk. It comes with multiple workstations and a printer for your convenience. 

Hours: 24/7

Fitness Center

The Fitness Center is located on the second floor. You need your room key to enter the facility. It is a well-sized workout area with lots of equipment. The windows of the fitness center face the outdoor pool area. 

There are restrooms located on the short hallway to the fitness center and pool area.

Hours: 24/7

Pool

The pool is located outdoors on the second floor. The pool is heated and is not very big. The sundeck offers some spots to sit down and relax. Next to the pool is a small hot tub.

I couldn’t identify the actual pool hours as there are two signs on the door with different hours. I assume the one attached at the top is the most current one but I’m not sure.

Sueno Spa

Near the pool area and fitness center is the Sueno Spa. 

Hours: Monday-Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (closed on holidays)

Guest Laundry

The Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel offers dry cleaning/laundry service. There should be a bag and paper form in the closet in your room. If not, one can be picked up at the front desk.

Dining

Breakfast

Breakfast is served to all guests in the restaurant in the lobby. A host will seat you and also check your room number. Elite members who would get free breakfast or guests staying on the Club Floor get free breakfast. 

The breakfast consists of a large breakfast buffet in the dining area of the restaurant. Service is great and swift. Waiters will refill your coffee and pick up your plates from the table. If you get free breakfast, you don’t even have to fill out a check which is normal in the U.S. even when you get free breakfast.

Hours: 6:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

To-Go Breakfast

Alternatively, you can opt to take breakfast to go. This to-go setup is the best I have seen so far. It’s like a small market. You go in and tell them your room number. If you get free breakfast, you can select whatever you want from the items offered. Otherwise, you must pay per item and a price list is available on the counter by the entrance. The waiter will walk you step by step and ask what you want. Most of the options are cold but there are some hot choices like omelet and breakfast potatoes as well as coffee and tea. It was great as I start work early and the to-go breakfast opens already at 6 a.m.

This setup is amazing. That’s what hotels should have done during the height of the pandemic.

Club Lounge

The club lounge is located on the 21st floor but is now closed. They even bolted the doors shut. 

Guests with lounge access, either by elite status or staying in a club room, are now directed to visit the Mixt Lounge in the lobby. There is a section in the restaurant area which is now dedicated as the “lounge”. Just tell the host that you have lounge access, and they will get you seated in the right area.

As a club guest you get a small list with appetizers, and you get two for free. Non-alcoholic beverages like soda and coffee are free of charge. Alcoholic beverages and other food items besides the ones on the appetizer list will be charged. You can pay with card or cash or charge it to your room.

The lounge is open from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. daily.

Mixt Lobby Lounge

The lobby lounge is the actual onsite restaurant of the hotel. A menu is available at mixtlounge.com.

Hours: 4:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Conclusion

It was a great stay at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel. The staff was really amazing, and it is a wonderful place to stay. Try to see if you can get an AAA rate with parking included. I checked a few times over a couple of weeks and the Sheraton is only a few dollars more expensive than the Four Points by Sheraton down the street. Especially if you are an elite member, you get more benefits here like lounge access.