Reset at this surprising hotel voted Canada’s best

An innovative wellness suite at one of the world’s most lauded airport hotels offers an in-room gym and hydrotherapy experience

I can’t think of the last time I prayed for a delay or cancellation to a long-haul flight. Yet here I am, gazing over Vancouver’s snow dusted North Shore Mountains, hoping my stay can stretch just that little bit longer.

I’ve just finished a Nordic-style hydrotherapy session and feel calm and energised as I sip a celery elixir.

The biggest surprise? I’m not at a wellness retreat, I’m at an airport hotel.

A wellness-focused stay at Vancouver Airport Hotel

Airport hotels serve a purpose – but you wouldn’t equate them with wellness, and normally I’d never dream of extending my stay at one.

The Fairmont Vancouver Airport, however, does things differently with its unique Wellness Suite offering. All the luxury and attention to detail the brand is known for is on offer but rather than beach or skyline vistas, you’re located atop Vancouver International Airport (right above the US departures area). Consistently ranked as one of the world’s best airport hotels, the 386-room property was even voted Canada’s best hotel by American readers of Conde Nast Traveler.

All luxury rooms and suites come with WiFi, flat-screen TVs, desks with ergonomic chairs, bathrooms with separate showers and soaking tubs. Fun plane spotting guides and telescopes are on hand for identifying aircraft. But it’s the remarkable Fit to Fly Suite that has me most excited.

Inside the Fairmont Vancouver Airport’s Wellness Suite

Sweeping mountain and runway vistas greet me as I step inside the 48 square-metre suite, which is whisper quiet thanks to soundproofed floor-to-ceiling windows.

The in-room gym is just as attention grabbing. A Peloton bike, Lululemon yoga mat and fitness bench (FITBENCH ONE) is set up along with exercise apparel including shoes neatly presented in a wooden box. Borrowing Fairmont Fit gear makes packing a breeze (guests are contacted beforehand for sizing) and means no lugging sweaty gear to your next destination in your carry-on.

Dressed in soft muted grey, ochre and neutral hues, the suite is the hotel’s most immersive wellness experience (more are in the pipeline) and gives guests no excuse not to work out, no matter the time or time-zone. Regular guests apparently return again and again to this suite so they can meet their wellness goals while on the go.

Along with the Peleton bike (which includes access to thousands of cardio, strength, HIIT, yoga, meditation, and spin classes) there’s a Swiss Ball, aromatherapy diffuser and books as well as complimentary house-made granola bars, a health elixir and fresh fruit.

The plush king bed with pillow-top mattress, robes and slippers calls to me invitingly but I know my body will thank me for exercising instead of napping – especially when I’m buckled into my seat at 30,000 ft later tonight.

Rolling out the mat, I do some stretches before jumping on the bike. Watching aircraft take off and land outside the window while exercising is such a novelty that it barely registers that I’ve worked up a sweat. I wrap up with 20 minutes of strength training utilising the dumbbells, kettlebells and slam ball stocked in the weights bench. The benchtop elevates to different positions and doubles as a plyo box.

To finish I try the optional Nordic-style in-room hydrotherapy experience, dialling zero for ice. The three-step instruction card says hydrotherapy is renowned for soothing sore muscles, relieving joint stiffness and creating a sense of well-being and I’m keen for that.

First up a hot, steamy shower infused with essential oils gets the blood flowing and relaxes tight muscles (a couple of sedentary days aboard the Rocky Mountaineer will do that to you). Next, I pour ice into a cold-water bath – wincing as I sink into the freezing water. I repeat the hot-cold process before wrapping myself in a fluffy robe and lying down on the yoga mat with a contented sigh. Did I mention I’m hoping for a flight delay?

Healthy dining and spa options before your flight

After all the rich food I’ve eaten in Canada, I’m craving something nourishing and a roast beet salad with house-made ricotta, salsa verde, cara cara orange and baby spinach at inhouse Globe at YVR restaurant hits the spot.

Restaurant Globe@YVR’s Pacific Northwest menu is underpinned by chef Harris Sakalis’ ethos of sourcing local and sustainably-sourced ingredients from farmers and fishers, and offers a mix of healthy and comforting options.

As the sun sinks over the mountains and airfield, I finish my signature G+T (garnished with rosemary from the rooftop garden) and check my flight status one last time.

A hot stone massage or rose hydrating cocoon treatment at the hotel’s Absolute Spa would’ve been the cherry on top of this rejuvenating stay. Yet even so, I notice something different about myself as I head to the gate. Typically, I’m a little frazzled before a flight and all I can think about is getting to my destination. This time, however, I float onto the plane calm, present and ready to tackle the 15-hour flight home.

fairmont.com/vancouver-airport-richmond

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Hotel Notes

The Fit on the Fly Suite is priced from $CAD429 (around AU$477). A Wellness Enhancement package can be added to any guest room booking for $CAD75 (around AU$83) inclusive of Fit on the Fly amenities (minus the in-room gym). All guests enjoy access to the hotel’s Health Club (day passes also available for layover travellers), featuring a fitness centre with Peloton Bike, Lululemon studio mirrors and mechanised resistance pool for swimming against a self-adjusted current, whirlpool and saunas. Bikes and e-bikes can also be hired for exploring nearby beaches and trails for guests on a longer layover.

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