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Fairmont Vancouver Airport

3111 Grant McConachie Way, International Terminal, U.S. Departures, Level 3 (pre-security) , Vancouver International Airport

Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada http://www.fairmont.com/vancouverairport

(604) 207-5200

This Fairmont outpost attached to Vancouver International Airport is a dream for jet watchers (and anyone needing luxurious digs between flights). The hotel towers above the airport’s U.S. check-in area, and rooms on the north side have terrific views of the main arrivals runway with the Shore Mountains as a backdrop. The 392 rooms themselves are also easy on the eyes, with clean-lined wood furniture and upholstery in tones of gold and burnt orange. All have triple-paned, inert-glass windows for maximum soundproofing. The location is 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver (a light-rail system connecting the airport to Downtown, opening November 2009, will make the ride just 20 minutes), but come Olympics time it’ll be the nearest luxury property to the speed-skating oval.

Insider Tip: The on-site gym and pool area overlook the airport’s check-in counters, a bit surreal in your Speedo; facilities can be used by nonguests for a fee.

Room to Book: Deluxe rooms (and up) come with telescopes (called spotting scopes) for plane watching and mountain gazing.