We stayed as a couple in November 2011 for 1 week. The entire process from booking to checking-out was very easy. Our suite was the one bedroom deluxe on the 8th floor which is approximately 786 sq. ft. (according to their website). It was very spacious for 2 people.

The unit was located in downtown Vancouver and was very close to major attractions such as Stanley Park, Pacific Centre and Granville Island. Although this property is a bit on the older side, it has been well maintained. Our unit was clean and had fairly nice views of the city and mountains. There is quite a bit of construction going on around the hotel which isn't very nice to look at and it can get noisy if you are home during the day. As others have mentioned in their reviews, the suite felt more like home than a hotel room, which is important when staying seven days or more in a place. The kitchen was fully stocked with everything you need to cook, should you choose to. There was a washer and dryer, which is great if you are packing light or don't want to lug dirty clothes dirty clothes home (e.g. I washed our stuff after a day of hiking). The bed was super comfortable, lots of pillows and the sheets were clean and fresh. Towels and a robe were provided, and there were Bath and Body Works products in the bathroom. Housekeeping was twice-a-week, which worked for us since we're not messy people. The housekeeper was very nice and did a great job but we didn't need her to come a second time. It was just nice to have our sheets and towels changed during the week. Oh and there was welcome basket for us when we arrived, which included sparkling water, mini Toblerone and Ferrero Rocher, peanuts, almonds, M&M cookies, and microwaveable popcorn.

We checked in and out on the weekend so the administration office was closed as they are only open Monday to Friday. But the friendly security guard (didn't catch his name) helped us with this process and it went smoothly. Prior to our stay, I interacted with the staff via email and they are professional and friendly. The unit also comes with one underground parking spot which was great as we rented a car. The security for the building is very tight - a security guard at the front entrance and a pass card is required to access each hotel entrance and floor.

The rate we paid was $128.17 per night not including taxes. Overall, I would highly recommend Viva Suites to anyone looking for a cost-efficient place to stay in Vancouver.