For most Vancouverites, travelling across the globe remains a bucket list goal for the future, but it's never the wrong time to dream.
A new ranking out of the UK might help you curate your next Pinterest "Wanderlust" board, thanks to its look at some of the world's most beautiful hotels, fuelled by Instagram data - or you can hit up the only Canadian hotel on the list for a Vancouver staycation.
Specifically, the aptly-named UK banking and finance company Money looked at five-star luxury hotels around the world and how often those stunning locations were hashtagged on Instagram.
At the very top is Dubai's Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, followed by Soneva Jani in the Maldives and then Las Vegas' Bellagio.
Top 20 most beautiful five-star hotels in the world
- Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE
- Soneva Jani, Maldives
- Bellagio, Las Vegas
- The Plaza, New York
- Beverly Hills Hotel
- Halekulani, Hawaii
- Claridges Hotel, London
- The Ritz Paris
- Niyama, Maldives
- W Barcelona
- Villa Cimbrone, Ravello, Italy
- Palace Hotel Tokyo
- Excellence El Carmen, Dominican Republic
- Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, Wales
- La Mamounia, Marrakesh, Morocco
- The Dorchester, London
- Palazzo Versace Dubai
- Palazzo Versace, Gold Coast, Australia
- The Savoy, London
- 1 Hotel South Beach, Florida
No hotel in Canada cracked the overall global top 20 rankings, but Vancouver's posh Fairmont Pacific Rim landed in the 16th spot on the list of North and Central America’s top 20 most beautiful five-star hotels, with 15,772 Instagram tags. The modern, elegant Coal Harbour property is the only Canadian hotel on the list entirely.
The PacRim is known for many of its luxury amenities, top-notch dining and cocktail options and waterfront views and is no stranger to global accolades. In early 2020, the Fairmont Pacific Rim was named the "Best Hotel in Canada," just in time for the property's 10th anniversary celebration.
The Pacific Rim didn't close during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Vancouver, as many of its sibling and peer properties did; our stay in the summer of 2020 illustrated how the hotel and its parent company focused on guest safety during a tumultuous time in the hospitality industry.
Guests at the PacRim enjoy luxury linens, Stearns & Foster beds, spacious spa-like marble bathrooms with television-mirrors, a media connectivity panel, as well as wall-mounted LCD televisions with surround-sound in their rooms or suites.
The downstairs Lobby Lounge features acclaimed cocktails and sushi selections from the Raw Bar along with live entertainment, while two additional on-site restaurants are among the best in the city, Botanist and Giovane Bacaro. Amenities include the Willow Stream Spa, an outdoor pool with water views, the Taschen library, and art exhibitions.
Take at look at some Instagram pics geo-tagged at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel in Vancouver:
