Reviewed as "the Four Seasons on the water," and by a NASA astronaut as "the best Airbnb stay ...on earth" - Sailor's View is one of the most unique & luxurious vacation rentals in Vancouver. Dine under the vaulted beamed ceiling in the grand room, touch the water from the bedroom windows, and relax & drink around the cozy fire table on the patio. All with incredible views of downtown Vancouver, framed by the yachts & sailing masts of the marina. This isn't waterfront, its water-ON! #Flotel
PARKING
Parking is $20 per day at the 24 hour patrolled and gated (at night) marina parking lot, which is right up the ramp to our dock. There is a cost because this is on the waterfront, but you have unlimited in and out privileges to come and go as you please, and your vehicle should be well looked after. There is free street parking a few blocks away if you can find it. Most of my guests choose to use the parking lot. If you are staying two weeks or longer, I can register your licence plate for free parking in the marina!
I will often check you in personally, or provide you with the access code for key-less entry.
The Lower Lonsdale area of North Vancouver is a vibrant waterfront community with lots of restaurants, coffee shops, and amenities, and just a short Seabus ride across the inlet to Downtown Vancouver and the Skytrain system to access YVR and the rest of the metro Vancouver area.
Guests will have access to the entire house, as well the docks of the marina to explore.
I could not be more proud to invite you to experience Sailor's View, our luxury floating home along the coastal Pacific Ocean waters in North Vancouver, looking out across the harbour at the downtown Vancouver skyline. The idea for this came after my mother and I watched an HGTV show where designer Joanna Gaines transformed a float home, and we become obsessed with them. My mom's many thoughtful touches and gardening are evident throughout the home.
We'd love to have you follow us on social media FB/Insta: @SailorsView #Floatel
We bought this float home from the original owner & builder Doug, and his wife Jewel, which is why I still affectionately call Sailor's View, "the Jewel of Vancouver." In addition to the many wonderful things said about it by guests, Curiocity (lifestyle, entertainment, travel blog/website/Insta) featured Sailor's View and called it "The Ultimate Staycation."
This home is one of only three in the entire marina (all side by side in this location), that have an unobstructed view of the water through to downtown. All others are facing opposite directions or obstructed by large "sea cans" aka tall metal boat houses that surround the perimeter of the marina, in which case you'll just see the tops of the buildings above the boat sheds.
HIGHLIGHTS
Each area of the floating home has a unique charm. The patio balcony is where it's at to enjoy the incredible downtown Vancouver city view through the masts of boats & yachts in the marina, while sitting around the fire table. Inside, the exposed beams in the vaulted ceiling make for the perfect open-air space to cook, dine, or just relax around the fireplace and watch TV. The luxurious steam shower in the master bathroom is an added treat, as are the downstairs heated floors under your feat. Retire to either of two spacious bedrooms: the primary having ocean and city views for days and both a picture frame TV and an electric fireplace to set the mood! Even in the winter, there is no cozier place to get away from the every day, and watch rain drops hit the water from around the living room gas fireplace. It's the perfect setting to read a book or catch up on life.
SLEEPING
-2 in the king bed in the primary bedroom (main/lower level)
-2 in the queen bed in the secondary bedroom (main/lower level)
-2 in the queen sofa bed in the living room (upper level)
-1 on a twin/single sized blow-up mattress (which you'll set up on the upper level)
EXTRA TOUCHES
These thoughtful touches will make your stay:
-Stainless steel Keurig coffee maker to start your day off right. I also provide a French press.
-High-end appliances (induction cook top and stove) and a well-stocked kitchen for cooking just about anything.
-All pillows and mattresses have a high-quality protector/encasement underneath the sheet set. The main beds have both an encasement and a top protector, in addition to the sheets.
-Wireless phone chargers on each side table in the bedrooms - no looking around for the outlet, just lay your phone down on the pad before you sleep. Another 6 port wireless charging station upstairs in the living room for all other guests and devices.
-Samsung Frame TVs (55" upstairs and 43" bedroom) with 4K cable. Netflix is included or watch the news or big hockey game (many Airbnb's do not have regular cable).
-Surround sound speakers you can connect your phone to and play music throughout the whole house, including downstairs in the primary bed and bathroom.
-Hair dyers in each bathroom if that saves some room in your travel bag.
-My detailed guidebook (sent to you digitally after booking and printed in the home) will help you plan your trip and get the most out of your stay.
-High quality portable air conditioner upstairs in the summer months, plus Dyson fans in each bedroom. The ocean is the best air conditioner, and in two summers (each with a notable weeks heat wave), nobody has asked for AC downstairs (or I would have put it in). The cool sea breeze cools the home right down and makes it reliably comfortable in all seasons.
LOCATION
Being on the water in North Vancouver is an amazing experience. You can easily arrive from YVR Airport on transit (Skytrain, and then across the water on the "Seabus" from downtown to the North Vancouvers side), and we are a short walk from there. It is easy to get back over to downtown anytime for activites like Stanley Park and Granville Island, or concerts and hockey games. The advantage of being on the North Shore, is the closer proximity to the Capilano Suspension Bridge, Grouse Mountain (or any of the local ski mountains), Lynn Canyon, Deep Cove, Lonsdale Quay & the Shipyards entertainment district, and West Vancouver. Park Royal Shopping Center in West Van, one of the Vancouver area's best malls, is also on this side of the water.
WORKING REMOTE
For people needing to work during their stay, or just to keep in touch over video calls (or all the social media posts from the patio!), we have Telus Fibre Optic high speed internet (yes on the dock!) with a booster, so that internet use is fast and consistent whether you are sitting out on the patio, on the laptop in bed downstairs, or doing a video call at the workstation or kitchen island.
LIVE MUSIC ADD-ON
Some people have also booked me to perform live music for them on the balcony for various special occasions or just for the atmosphere. My music website is available on request, I play a mix of classic and 90’s rock, country, and some pop hits. Availability and pricing vary by date.
HISTORY
The Spirit Trail Ocean homes community was completed by individual owners over several years during the 2010s. The project was led by the Squamish Nation. The Creek Marina, though located on the North Shore/North Vancouver, is part of the Squamish Nation territory, and they could not be more gracious hosts. This home was completed and built in 2014 by realtor Doug as mentioned. As he was living in the float home next door during the new build, he was able to incorporate many extra and unique features others had not thought of, such as enlarging the deck, moving window locations to capture the best views, add working roofline windows, fireplace bump outs rather than it encroaching inside the living room, and bringing over an ornate metal gate from Spain for the stair railings. It is one of the largest float homes in the marina and is like no other, largely because of his expertise.
WATCH THE BUILD PROCESS
Float homes in the marina have been featured in the British TV series “My Floating Home.” Unfortunately, I can no longer post links directly in this description, but to see how these homes were built or learn more, just search and watch any of these three videos to get excited for your stay:
-“My floating home S1E2” (Aaron and Heather)"
-"My Floating Home (UK) S01 - Ep04 Vancouver and Canada's West Coast"
(this is full episode, but its mirrored horizontally for some reason)
-"Maritime-Inspired Two Storey Floating Home | My Floating Home"
NOTABLE GUESTS
-NASA Astronaut Paul Richards, International Space Station shuttle mission STS-102*
-Paul Langlois, guitarist for The Tragically Hip
-Aaron Pritchett, Canadian country artist
*Apparently the International Space Station was a slightly more memorable Airbnb, but we were a close second, and best on Earth at least :) We'll take it!
Thank you for reading through and considering us for you next adventure! Reach out to me for any questions and we look forward to having you stay.
Sailor's View is impressively located centrally near the Lower Lonsdale are of North Vancouver. Follow the Spirit Trail less than 5 minutes to the Sea Bus which takes you to Downtown Vancouver, from the Lonsdale Quay. The "Quay" is a central transit hub that connects to YVR International Airport, and the entire region of the Lower Mainland of Vancouver. Of course, there is a secure gated parking lot with 24 hour security for your vehicle, for getting around by car. The parking lot is right at the top of the ramp and first dock from the home.
