Ladies First at Vancouver’s Georgian Court Hotel
Ever had the quick need to run down your hotel hall and grab some ice or peak your head out and ask the maid for an extra towel, but the thought of some random guy seeing you in your bathrobe made you think twice? Imagine a hotel where the chance of said random man seeing you desperate for an extra hair towel didn’t exist.
That’s the best part about the Orchid Floor at the Georgian Court Hotel in Vancouver, which was introduced to frequent female travelers back in 2009. It’s for women only. In other words, no boys allowed. And it’s amazing. Aside from the additional safety features and the daunting possibility to run through the halls in your skivvies (though, still not recommended), the 18 rooms on the 10th floor are filled with amenities a traveling gal only dreams of.
Upon entering your room on the Orchid Floor, you’ll notice a number of “little extras” as the hotel staff calls them. Those little extras include hairspray (because good hairspray rarely comes in 3oz bottles, right?), nail polish remover (!!!), feminine emergency kit (which includes a spare pair of pantyhose), Aveda bath products (in a larger portion), make-up remover towelettes, bath salts, a yoga mat, hair dryer, flat iron, and curling iron. Can’t you feel your suitcase lightening up already?
Another desirable amenity worth mentioning is of course the magazine selection. The Orchid rooms offer variations of InStyle, Vogue, Women’s Health, Oprah and a few others (like Bridal Magazines by the elevator bank) to help you unwind after a long day of conferences and meetings or a long day of shopping on Robson.
It’s as if Mel Gibson got inside the heads of female travelers, because the Georgian Court has really done their homework on what women want and need during travel.
And with a name like Orchid, relax. The hotel room isn’t pink with abounding decorative ruffled pillows covering your bed or doilies strategically placed all over your room. It’s tasteful and refreshing with all the important details intact (remember those amenities listed above?) to make your stay fabulously enjoyable.
As a frequent traveler, whether for business or personal, solo or with a few gal pals, seeing this epidemic of women-only floors (only a few hotels in North America have done this) really makes a statement: hotels value female travelers. And they should. Women are traveling more now than ever before.
And since there aren’t any boys around and it is a Girls’ Getaway, check out Five Things To Do On A Girls’ Getaway in Vancouver, from Inside Vancouver, with suggestions ranging from food, fitness and spas and of course, shopping!
While I can personally vouch for the exotic oasis at Miraj Hammam Spa and the complimentary Lululemon in-store yoga classes on Thursday mornings (both mentioned in the article), here are a few other ideas for avid female travelers (the below are within walking distance or a short cab ride from the Georgian Court Hotel):
Coffee at Revolver – A unique experience for the extreme coffee lover. Once you go Revolver, you’ll keep coming back for more. Or at least dreaming of it.
325 Cambie Street | 604.727.5101
Shopping at LYNNsteven Boutique – A wide range of unique and local clothing and accessories you can take home and brag about. Also fun to note, the dressing room is made out of old books!
225 Carrall Street | 604.899.0808
Tasty cupcakes at The Cupcake Girls – Aside from the popular show on the W Network, these are some really tasty cupcakes – especially the nutella flavored one! Multiple locations.
Dinner and good vibes at Black + Blue – A massive dining room (and square bar!) built around a meat locker serving some of the best steak around (which says a lot coming from a Texas girl). The music at this place on any given night is key with tunes ranging from Biggie to A-ha. If you’re sitting at the bar, ask for Ryan and tell him Jayme sent you.
1032 Alberni Street | 604.637.0777
ChamBar – A high-energy place located just across the street, is a great place to eat and the food and service is exceptional. Open 7 days a week from 5pm-midnight. Did I mention the phenomenal service?
562 Beatty Street | 604.879.7119
Amazingly enough, the Orchid Floor is at no additional cost when staying at the Georgian Court and it’s within walking distance to so many great things Vancouver has to offer. Simply ask to book a room on that floor when booking your reservation (there’s also a spot online to select that, and voila, let the girls’ getaway begin.
It should come as no surprise that these rooms sell out fast, so don’t delay in booking. The women-only floor has been so wildly successful the hotel is considering adding a second one once the numbers have been crunched and logistics have been worked out. We all know women are trendy, but I believe this fad of No Boys Allowed Hotel Rooms is here to stay!
Georgian Court Hotel | 773 Beatty Street | Vancouver, BC V6B 2M4 | Canada | 604.682.5555
Jayme Lamm is a freelance writer and marketing consultant based in Houston focusing on travel writing and is in a full-court press writing her hugely opinionated sport’s column, The Blonde Side.