By Alison McGill
As the saying goes, west coast is the best coast, and I would certainly agree that’s absolutely the case when it comes to capturing a chill vibe.
Vancouver is a western city I love for this very reason. It offers the best of big city living mixed with laid-back coolness. It’s always a trending destination offering an all-star foodie scene, iconic mountain and ocean vistas, and some of the country’s best hotels. It’s one of my favourite places to visit, and on my most recent jet west I had a chance to grab some serious down time and indulge in a little selfcare getaway at the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver.
Checking into my sprawling corner suite with cinematic 180-degree views of the city and the surrounding mountainscapes was just the beginning of my tune out time at the JW Marriott Parq. Here’s what makes this Vancouver resort a wellness seekers delight.
The Rooms Are Pure Zen
The JW Marriott Parq is located between two of Vancouver’s most vibrant neighbourhoods, Yaletown and Gastown. That means it’s just steps away from great shopping and some of the city’s best restaurants. The hotel was opened in 2017 and has a modern, airy vibe throughout; guest rooms are light-filled and finished in a palette of white and creamy vanilla hues. The bed, pillows and duvet are plush perfection, and I logged a few nights of majorly restorative sleep here. My suite also had a massive soaker tub which was a huge win as so many hotels are shelving bathtubs in favour of experiential showers. A lingering bath soak is always my choice and what a treat it was to enjoy nightly in this chic space.
The Spa Is An Oasis In the Sky
I spent a lot of time in the Spa by JW which is on the hotel’s 17th floor and has the most incredible views of the city and the buoyant inflatable roof of the hotel’s neighbour, BC Place Stadium. Complete mind, body and soul wellness are the focus of all spa treatments, and there are some unique ones on the menu I tried and highly recommend for getting your groove back. The Doctor Babor Wellness Facial was incredible clocking in at an indulgent treatment time of 100 minutes. It started with an aromatic inhalation ritual and meditation, followed by a back massage to boost circulation, and bust stress (it completely melted all my plane seat knots). The final step was a bespoke facial focused on lifting and plumping with collagen boosted products and a lymphatic drainage massage to sculp and depuff my skin using Cryo-Gua Sha massage—divine! I followed this up with a Mind Sync session which was truly groundbreaking and took my mind to the deepest level of relaxation. I was cocooned away in a specially designed treatment room for 30 minutes reclined in the Mind Sync sleep lounger, tucked in with a weighted blanked and eye mask. With headphones on, I was guided through a vibrational sound therapy which hit deep and left me feeling balanced and refreshed. Interestingly, this therapy was originally used to treat PTSD in military veterans.
The Food Is Pacific-Inspired Perfection
Connection to nature is an important thing at the JW Marriott Parq. So important that it was designed to accommodate a stunning open-air park located on the sixth floor which is the perfect place to take a nature stroll through and catch a mindful break. The 30,000 square foot green space includes over 200 native pines and 15,000 local florals as well as a dramatic water feature and the green space was designed specifically with connection back to the nature of beautiful B.C.’s in mind. This relationship with the land is also the main philosophy of the food here. The Victor is the hotel’s signature restaurant located on the park level and is delivers a delicious steak and seafood experience in the most stylish of spaces. The vibe here is old world grandeur with a distinctly rich British flair. The menu is full of Pacific Northwest favourites and the seafood bar is top tier. Another favourite on-site eatery focused on local flavours is Honey Salt on the hotel’s main floor. This airy space is the perfect spot to catch up with friends (which I did) over breakfast, lunch, dinner, or weekend brunch, and enjoy a menu brimming with fresh sourced ingredients. The BC albacore poke bowl was my favourite—a perfect dose of nutritional wellness.
