The River Rock Hotel was our chosen staycation destination to celebrate my birthday. Check-in process was smooth we were a little early and they were kind enough to let us in before check-in time. The room was nice and bright, a little dusty by the desk area but the sheets seemed clean as well as the bathroom. Water pressure was good and I loved the peppermint scented toiletries that they provided. I also liked how the rooms are kind of like tucked, that helps minimize the noise in the hallway. The staff were mostly friendly and the best part is that parking is free. It gets a little too crowded at night if you want to wander around the hotel as people are starting to get in to the casino. We also enjoyed their swimming pool with water slide and the hot tub. They have a spa (not cheap) and a fitness gym that customers can use as well. Location wise I think it’s pretty convenient, close proximity to the airport and the Richmond Night Market (seasonal). Be prepared for a lot of walking though, as you would need to get across from your room if you want to go the restaurants, casino, lobby etc. Although they have a walk-a-lator by the foot bridge that connects both buildings which was helpful for someone who has a bad leg like me. The place is wheelchair accessible and overall it was a pleasant experience. Just avoid leaving anything behind after you check out because its a bit of a process to get your stuff back, they got our stuff but housekeeping staff will not bring it to the front desk until they want to. So yeah, letting the customers wait at the lobby for an hour or so was not a problem for the housekeeping staff there. So double check or triple check the room and make sure you don’t leave anything behind.

When I was booking this hotel I was initially nervous about the mixed reviews. I think a lot of one-star reviews are from people who are looking for something to complain about. My unbiased perspective of the River Rock is that it is a perfectly fine four stars. We got a one bedroom suite with sofa bed in the west tower. The room was mostly clean and comfortable. My one real complaint about the rooms would be that the walls are very thin, and you can hear people inside and outside of the rooms. The pool area was lovely. Warm pool and nice hot tub. The casino was fun, although we didn’t win any money. Being next to the Sky Train was a bonus, too. Starbucks and Convenience store are located on the main level which was nice. Overall I would recommend this hotel if you’re looking for easy access back to the airport and into the city.

First of all, not really a lot of options for kids, unless they like to swim or can be taken on the sky train. Stayed at the hotel section across from the entrance, which on Google is rated at four stars. To be clear, all amenities are located in the casino portion and not the hotel. The hotel has great access to the sky, train and bus routes in addition to car sharing and taxi services. The casino has a food court, a buffet, Starbucks and lounge bistro. There is a space for an Italian restaurant, but that has closed and looks to be a future spot for a Gordon Ramsay restaurant. Additionally, the food court is inside the casino area, making it not accessible to children. The pool and spa area are down a weirdly planned hallway, making the journey rather awkward and as if you will turn into a maintenance closet at the end. Who is this hotel for? People wanting to watch a show or gamble who do not have children. Those on a quick trip to Vancouver who do not want to stay in downtown but like access to downtown and the airport. To be clear, access to transportation and the airport is fantastic so location is a four-star. The hotel overall, is a 3.5 star.

As someone who is a world traveler, there’s some things I look for during the stay. The River Rock has so many things that we loved. We stayed there along with friends recently. We loved the pool, the spa services (Lillian who does facials is amazing so go see her), and the staff. Most memorable were the crew at the Curve Lounge. In our first day, we sat there and I ordered a Cosmo and met Alan. In addition to being super friendly and funny, he’s a genius. He made it his mission from the start to play with the flavors of my drink to craft it exactly as I like it. Brad and others made excellent food recommendations. During our 4 day stay, Alan and the staff took time to know and greet us by name. Would we stay here again? Absolutely! Would we recommend it? Absolutely! Don’t trust me though, go experience it for yourself.

Parking sucks for hotel guests. Too far of a walk. But all else was great! Room upgrade was unexpected and had lots of espresso in room along with complimentary bottles water. Good views too. Wish I could have stayed longer. But if I'm back in Vancouver I'll come here again. Decent casino too. Didn't try any food here this time around.