Hello! I hope someone who knows Vancouver Airport well will be able to help me. My gf and I arrive in Vancouver airport (YVR) at 1:40 am (yes, that's 1:40 am at night) on the Cathay Pacific flight from New York. We are continuing to Calgary on a 7:00 am flight on West Jet. Hence, instead of getting a hotel room for 3-4 hours, I was wondering whether there was any place in the airport (a lounge or something) where we could lie down for a few hours? Is the airport open at night or will they shoo everyone away? One other idea was to go to the Fairmont hotel at the airport and spend a couple of hours in their lounge... unless they rent rooms by the hour. Any other suggestions? Thanks.

I think the Fairmont would actually rent rooms by the hour. It's a super nice, deluxe hotel, and I think the splurge would be worth it.

Otherwise, there is seating around the airport and no, they won't shoo everyone out. The airport is quiet at night - the stores, restaurants, and cafes are all closed, but there is still staff and the airport is still functioning.

I know that there are lounge areas along the ground floor where the international terminal connects to the domestic terminal. If you think of the airport shaped like a boomerang, then the lounge area I'm talking about is in the bend of the boomerang. The airport, though major, is small enough that you shouldn't get lost.

Have you looked at the airport's website yet? http://www.yvr.ca

Just a ditto for the Fairmont Vancouver Airport. It is a very lovely hotel, has an excellent spa and does offer day room rates for people on short layovers. The smartest move we made was staying there before our oh double dot early flight.

Thanks for your replies. Just checked with the Fairmont. While they offer a special day-rate/hourly rate for people with long layovers at the hotel, it only applies for use of rooms between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm, with a minimum stay of 4 hours. For night time, they will have to charge me a full day rate
Sounds like I'll have to slum this one out, but I'll make sure I at least have a drink or light breakfast at the Fairmont.

I just came thru YVR @ 11:30PM last night. It was very quiet, and all the places to eat were closed. By the time you land, collect your baggage and clear customs it will be closer to 2:30AM. If I were you I would curl up on the seats or on the carpet.The international departures section is relatively new. There are many clean quiet places that time of the night and not unusual for people sleeping and waiting for their next flight. It appears to be very safe. I live in greater Vanc. area and have never heard of any problems at the airport. If you belong to an air miles plan with Cathay or Star Alliance you may want to inquire if you can buy a pass to the "Maple Leaf Lounge" at YVR.

You didn't say on which date your flight is, so I'm hoping you haven't left yet!

In any event, there is a new lounge at YVR called Plaza Premium Lounge that's apparently open to anyone leaving from the domestic terminal on any airline. There's a $25 fee for entry, but the services are like a first class lounge I think. (Although I've never been there, just heard of it).

Here's a link to a recent news release:

http://www.yvr.ca/authority/newsrele...ils.asp?id=517

Yes. I'm leaving this weekend. I'll look into the lounge option althoug on the web site it says that it can be used by passengers on international flights departing from Canada. I'll be arriving there, but hope they'll let me use the lounge anyway.
Thank you all for your helpful suggestions.

Actually it say arrivals and departures

Vancouver International Airport has introduced the first pay-per-use passenger lounges in North America. With the introduction of Plaza Premium Arrivals and Departures Lounges, all international travellers can enjoy a first-class lounge experience regardless of airline or class of travel.