The Westin Bayshore

Yes, it's got tons of meeting space and is popular with the business-convention set—but the Westin Bayshore also happens to have one of the city's most spectacular locations: set directly on Coal Harbour and next to Stanley Park. Watch seaplanes coming in for landing with the mountains in the background from a water-view suite—or a hotel-chartered yacht on the marina. A bit of trivia: Howard Hughes lived in the hotel for six months in 1972, occupying the top two floors.