Holiday Inn Express Vancouver-Metrotown (Burnaby) By IHG Canada

Vancouver's BEST Kept Secret: Metrotown's Hidden Gem Hotel!

Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into a review of [Hotel Name], the kind of review that'll make you laugh, maybe cry a little (good tears, hopefully!), and definitely make you want to book a room. I'm ditching the robotic, perfectly-organized reviews and giving you the REAL deal, the messy, honest, and totally unpredictable truth. Prepare for a wild ride.

First, let's get the boring stuff out of the way. Let's talk Accessibility, because, let's face it, that’s important.

Accessibility: The Good, the Bad, and the "Almost" Wonderful

Okay, so the stuff that matters:

Wheelchair Accessible: Crucial and let's hope they are. If you're rolling, you need to know.
Facilities for Disabled Guests: Same deal. Are these actually there, or just checked on a list? I'm holding my breath.
Elevator: Essential. Especially if you snuck in a few too many desserts the night before.
The Rest: Let’s be honest, the website says all the right things. But does it feel right? We'll find out. This is the kind of thing where I pray I don't have to edit a bunch of "well, technically…" comments.

The Internet: A Modern Necessity (and a Potential Headache)

Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! YES! My phone can breathe a sigh of relief. I need social media access!
Internet, Internet [LAN], Internet services: Let's hope the wired internet, if offered, isn’t some creaky old dial-up situation.
Wi-Fi in public areas: Good. Even if I'm trying to look like I'm working, I've probably got 5 tabs open.

My Take: I am not a Luddite, but I want my Wi-Fi to keep up. Otherwise, I'm just going to be annoyed the whole time.

Things To Do (and Ways to Actually Relax!)

Ah, the good stuff. Where to begin…

Spa/Sauna/Steamroom: This is ALWAYS a selling point.
Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor], Pool with view: Does it have a swim up bar? Because I want that.
Fitness center, Gym/fitness: See above re: desserts.
Massage, Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath: Sign me up! This is where my inner diva comes out.
Sauna: Love a good sauna!

Side note: I'm a sucker for a pool with a view. Give me a drink, some sun, and a view worth posting to Insta, and I'm happy.

(Quirky observation): I've been to fancy spas where the "relaxing" music is a cacophony of whale sounds and new-age flutes. Is this place like that? Pray to the spa gods it isn't. If I hear whale sounds, I'm bringing earplugs.

Food, Glorious Food (and the All-Important Booze)

Restaurants, Bar, Poolside bar, Coffee shop, Snack bar: A good start. Variety is the spice of life. And the fuel for my adventures.
Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Asian breakfast: Let’s see if that buffet has a waffle maker because I would make the trip for that alone.
A la carte in restaurant, Buffet in restaurant: Nice, gives options.
Room service [24-hour]: HALLELUJAH! Midnight snack cravings are a real thing.
Happy hour: Essentials!

My Take: Food can make or break a hotel experience. If the food is bland, the drinks are weak, or the service is slow, I WILL complain. A good food experience is like a warm hug, and a bad one is like getting stung by a jellyfish (metaphorically, of course).

Cleanliness and Safety (In a Post-Pandemic World)

Okay, let's be real. This is what matters.

Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer: Big check, big check, big check.
Individually-wrapped food options, Safe dining setup: Again, important.
Rooms sanitized between stays, Room sanitization opt-out available: Excellent.
Staff trained in safety protocol: Gotta have it.
Cashless payment service: Convenient.
Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit: Peace of mind.

My Take: I'm not a germaphobe, but I do appreciate knowing that places are taking extra precautions these days.

Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter

Concierge: Need a reservation, a recommendation, or just someone to tell me where to get a decent coffee? A concierge is GOLD.
Dry cleaning, Laundry service, Ironing service: Because wrinkles are NOT my friend.
Doorman, Luggage storage: Because hauling luggage is the worst.
Daily housekeeping: Again, YES.
Currency exchange, Cash withdrawal: Convenient.
Gift/souvenir shop, Convenience store: Always a plus.

My Take: The little things make a big difference. It's those extra services that make a hotel feel like a real treat.

For the Kids (Because Family Vacations are a Thing)

Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal: Because, well, kids. If this place is family friendly, it’s a huge check.

Inside the Rooms: My Personal Oasis

Alright, let's open the treasure chest of individual room features.

Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Coffee/tea maker, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, In-room safe box, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Mini bar, Non-smoking: Basics, but necessary.
Extra long bed: Because I love to sprawl.
Complimentary tea: My afternoon ritual.
Desk: I’ll probably end up working there anyway.
Bathtub: Because bubbles and books are a mood.
Socket near the bed: Crucial for modern life.

My Take: Room amenities have become so standardized that you don't usually get excited by them. It's like, "Okay, good, a bed. And not just a mattress on the floor." But the little things… those are what I notice. A good hairdryer? A perfectly soft bathrobe? Those make all the difference.

Safety and Security: Peace of Mind (or at Least, Trying To Get It)

CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour], Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms, Soundproof rooms: Essential, essential, essential.

Getting Around: Getting Out and About (or Not!)

Airport transfer: Saves serious hassle.
Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site]: If they have parking, that's great.
Taxi service: Always good to have an option.

And Now, The Pitch!

Right, after all of that rambling, are you ready to book?

Here's what I got from my meandering review:

[Hotel Name] is a place where you can truly relax, whether you're getting pampered at the spa, lounging by the pool, or simply enjoying a quiet moment in your room. It's got the modern amenities, the safety measures, and the service you need in the 21st Century. But that's not all!

The real magic of [Hotel Name] is in its commitment to making your stay easy and fun.

Here's my irresistible offer:

Book your stay at [Hotel Name] and get FREE breakfast every day! (because, hello, free waffles!)
Bonus: Upgrade to a luxury room for a chance to get a complimentary spa treatment!

Why book now? Because life’s too short for boring vacations. Book your stay at [Hotel Name] and get ready for an experience that’s as unique and unforgettable as you are. See you there!

Daphne Hotel Apartments Cyprus: Your Dream Escape Awaits!

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Okay, buckle up, Buttercup, because this ain't gonna be your perfectly curated Instagram travel feed. This is REAL life. This is my trip to Vancouver, starting at the Holiday Inn Express in Burnaby, and let's just say… things got interesting.

Vancouver: A Slightly Chaotic Adventure (and My Attempt to Adult)

Day 1: Arrival & Burnaby Blues (And the Great Dryer Debacle)

1:00 PM - ARRIVAL & CHECK-IN: Holiday Inn Express, Metrotown, Burnaby. Okay, so, first impressions… clean. Kinda sterile, if I'm honest. The receptionist seemed nice enough, though I swear she was giving me the side-eye for my ridiculously overstuffed luggage. (Don't judge! I'm always overprepared. You never know when you'll need… a spare ukulele? Just kidding… mostly.) The room is…well, a room. Standard hotel fare. Predictable. And I immediately realized I'd forgotten my fancy face wash, the one that's supposed to make me look 20 years younger (spoiler alert: it doesn't work). Sigh.
2:00 PM - EXPLORATION (Attempt One): Metrotown Mall. "World-class shopping!" the brochure blares. And, yes, it's enormous. I got overwhelmed within 20 minutes and ended up buying a novelty pen- I am weak. Very weak. I need to be strong here, I tell myself. I'm an intrepid traveler! I can handle a mall! I promptly got lost in a sea of Lululemon and overpriced phone cases. Gave up, grabbed a sad, soggy pretzel, and retreated back to the hotel to regroup.
4:00 PM - THE GREAT DRYER DEBACLE: This… this is when things went south. I put a load of laundry in, because, you know, grown-up stuff. The dryer? Completely useless. My jeans emerged wetter than when they went in. And my favorite sweater? Now the size of a child's onesie. I swear, I almost wept. Hotel laundry room, always a gamble and i lost big time. I called the front desk. "We'll send someone up," they said, a little too cheerfully. 45 minutes later, no one. Called again. Still no one. Eventually, I just gave up. My wet, shrunken clothes became my cross to bear.
7:00 PM - DINNER: (The Search for Food… and Sanity): The hotel restaurant was a glorified vending machine, so I ventured out, hungry and slightly damp. I went to a sushi restaurant thinking that I can’t get sick with sushi. Wrong. Ended up with a dodgy chicken roll, I am still very unhappy at that. So yeah, I ordered a big, delicious-looking pizza, ate half of it in my room while wallowing in my laundry fail.
9:00 PM - BEDTIME I was so tired and feeling so gloomy. I went to sleep soon after that.

Day 2: Vancouver Adventures (and My Almost-Embarrassing Encounter)

8:00 AM - BREAKFAST: The "Free" Breakfast of Champions (or Despair): Let's be honest, hotel breakfasts are always a gamble. This one was the usual mix: sad scrambled eggs that tasted suspiciously like cardboard, limp bacon, and a vat of lukewarm coffee. The only redeeming factor? The waffle maker. I made three waffles. They were perfect little beacons of hope in a sea of mediocrity.
9:00 AM - ADVENTURE TIME: Granville Island Market: Okay, finally, something exciting! Granville Island is AMAZING. The colors, the smells, the sheer buzz of the place! I could have spent the entire day there. The artesian food was fantastic, I might even go as far as to say that I was in heaven. The fresh seafood… the baked goods… the local crafts… it was sensory overload in the best way possible. I bought some ridiculously overpriced salmon pate (worth it).
12:00 PM - STANLEY PARK: Strolling, Squirrels, and a Near-Disaster: I walked the seawall. The views are unreal. Jaw-dropping. Breathe it in! Squirrels everywhere, plotting world domination. I got a bit too close to a particularly chubby one, and it snarled at me! Okay, lesson learned: respect the squirrels. Nearly got taken out by a rogue cyclist, but hey, that's Vancouver life, right?
3:00 PM - GASTOWN: Cobblestones and (Almost) Trouble: Okay, Gastown is cool. Its historic buildings and cobbled streets are great. I was wandering around, enjoying the ambiance, when I saw a group of people gathered around something. My curiosity got the better of me, and I edged closer. It turned out to be some sort of street performer, probably a magician! He was talking about love, trust and happiness. I was fascinated! And then… he singled me out. He wanted me to be his volunteer. I almost died of embarrassment! I’m terrible at public performances. I declined. I was very flustered, I walked away as fast as I could.
6:00 PM - DINNER: Pizza (Again!): Pizza. It’s a reliable old friend, just like my room here. I decided to give back to the city and eat at a local restaurant. I don’t regret it.
8:00 PM - HOTEL RETREAT: I went back, feeling good about myself. I am sure tomorrow will be even better.

Day 3: Departure (and the Lingering Smell of Dryer Sadness)

8:00 AM - THE BREAKFAST OF REVENGE I went back there to enjoy the same breakfast as yesterday. But hey, who am I to judge, this is the food of gods.
10:00 AM - FAREWELL, VANCOUVER: Time to pack up. I looked at my suitcase, which was bursting at the seams. And then I looked at my laundry, which was still damp. Sigh. I guess the Great Dryer Debacle will be the one thing that I will never forget.
12:00 PM - DEPARTURE: Goodbye Vancouver, you beautiful, chaotic, slightly damp city. I'll be back. Maybe next time, I'll bring my own dryer. And maybe leave a little more room for the ukulele.

Escape to Fairgrounds Fun: Econo Lodge Inn & Suites Awaits!

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Okay, buckle up buttercup, because we're about to dive headfirst into the glorious, chaotic mess that is... well, you'll see. Forget pristine FAQs, we're going for the unfiltered, slightly unhinged, and undeniably human version.

So, what is this thing anyway? Like, in plain English?

Alright, picture this: you're trying to explain something *really* complicated to your grandma. You start with the basics, right? Well, this… this is *like* that. It's all about [**Insert Broad Subject Here, like "Getting a new job" or "Learning to cook Indian Food".** - Let's go with "Getting a new job" for example]. Basically, the goal is... well, to get a new gig. A job. Where you hopefully aren't miserable all the time. Emphasis on "hopefully." The process usually involves a bunch of steps: figuring out what you *actually* want to do (that's the hardest part, trust me), sprucing up your resume (which is like, the *least* fun part), applying for jobs (the soul-crushing part), and then trying not to completely botch the interviews (the part where you pray you don't say anything stupid.) I once blew an interview by spilling coffee *all* over the hiring manager's pristine white blouse. True story. Didn't get the job. Moral of the story: caffeinate with caution.

Okay, so, resume... What even goes on that thing? Serious question.

Ugh, THE RESUME. The bane of my existence. Look, it's basically a highlight reel of your life... a *very* carefully curated highlight reel. No one needs to know about that time you spent three months binge-watching reality TV. (Unless, maybe, you're applying for a job *reviewing* reality TV... then, maybe.) Think about it: what skills do you have? What accomplishments can you crow about (even if they were tiny wins like "Didn't set the kitchen on fire making toast")? What jobs did you *actually* hold down? And most importantly, make it *look* like you know what you're doing. Keywords are your friends. They're basically the secret handshake that gets you past the bots that read your resume *before* a real human does. So, research those keywords… and pray. Seriously, a little divine intervention never hurt anyone. My resume used to be an absolute train wreck. Bullet points that went on forever. Random fonts. A picture of me with a beard I hadn't shaved in three days (bad move). It took ages to finally get it presentable.

Cover Letters. Do I actually need one? I hate writing.

Ugh, COVER LETTERS. I get it. I *hate* them too. They're like that annoying little cousin you *have* to invite to the party, even though you'd rather not. Do you *need* one? Honestly... probably. Unless the job listing specifically says "Cover letters optional," assume you need one. Think of it as your *chance* to tell your side of the story, how you fit in the role beyond what on the resume. Highlight a few of your biggest accomplishments, explain why you want *that specific* job (not just *any* job), and show some enthusiasm. The absolute *worst* is when you have to write a different cover letter for every single application. I've spent *days* crafting cover letters, only to get… well, you guessed it: rejected. It's soul-crushing, truly. But, you gotta keep trying!

Interviews. How do I NOT completely fall apart?

Ah, interviews. The moment of truth. The big show. The butterflies-in-your-stomach extravaganza. And the potential coffee-spilling disaster zone (see above). Here's the lowdown: * **Research:** Know the company inside and out. Read their website. Follow them on social media. Figure out what they *actually* do. * **Practice:** Rehearse your answers to common interview questions. What are your strengths? Your weaknesses? Why do you want this job? Why *should* they hire you? Practice in front of a mirror, with a friend, with your dog (they'll always be supportive!). * **Dress the part:** Err on the side of being slightly *over*-dressed. You can always take off a jacket. You can't magically conjure one up. * **Ask Questions:** This is *key*. Show that you're engaged, interested, and actually thinking about the role. Prepare a list of thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer. * **Be Yourself (but a Slightly Polished Version):** Don't try to be someone you're not. But do try to project confidence, enthusiasm, and a genuine interest in the job. I once went on an interview that I *thought* I was totally prepared for. I had the answers down, I knew the company... and then they asked me a question about a very specific project, and my mind just… blanked. It was like my brain went on vacation without telling me. I stammered, I fumbled, and I'm pretty sure I turned bright red. Didn't get that job either. But, hey, at least I learned a valuable lesson about being *overly* prepared - it's just as bad as being underprepared.

What if I get rejected? Does that even matter?

Rejection. Yeah, it stings. It's a punch to the gut. It makes you question everything you thought you knew about yourself and your abilities. It's totally normal to feel crushed. But listen up: *everyone* gets rejected. Seriously. Every single person who has ever applied for a job has faced rejection. It's part of the process. It doesn't mean you're a failure. It doesn't mean you're not good enough. It just means that… well, that particular job wasn't the right fit. Take a deep breath. Go for a walk. Eat some ice cream. Scream into a pillow (I recommend this one). Then, dust yourself off, learn from the experience, and get back out there. Because there's a perfect job out there for you, and it definitely won't come to you if you're curled up on the couch in your pajamas. I've been rejected from so many jobs I've lost count (and I'm not even old!). But the truly great thing about rejection is that you learn something from each one. You learn what works in interviews, what doesn't, what you could improve on... that's what is most important, and not giving up.

So, what's the secret to all of this? Is there some magic formula?

Oh, if I had a secret formula, I'd be lounging on a beach somewhere, sipping a ridiculously expensive cocktail. Sadly, there isn't one. It's a grind. It's a rollercoaster. It's a sometimes-frustrating, sometimes-exhilarating journey. You're going to have setbacks. You're going to want to give up. You're going to question everything. But, here's the thing. You *can* do it. You *will* do it. Just keep going. Keep learning. Keep applying. Keep believing (in yourself, anyway). And maybe, just maybe, the next job you get will be the one thatHotel Blog Guru

Vancouver's BEST Kept Secret: Metrotown's Hidden Gem Hotel!