Reviews of the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver

Guest Reviews of the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Dec 4, 2009
1 night couples leisure visit. Loved it
Gorgeous lobby & common areas. From the outside, the hotel also looks old-world beautiful.
2pm Check-in was a breeze at the desk. No wait, and service with a smile. Concierge also very helpful RE: restaurants. Couldn't have been smoother. Great location right in the heart of downtown Vancouver, near the best shopping and some good restaurants. Room bathroom was spotless, and Miller Harris amenities were very appreciated. Room itself was also very well cleaned. Housekeeping here appears to be quite good
cleaned very well, the room itself was like a Victorian bed and breakfast with a flat-screen TV, which appeared to be the only modern furnishing.

Guest Reviews of the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Nov 30, 2009
Great location in the heart of downtown Vancouver + excellent, attentive staff that cater to your every whim (and offer good recommendations too) + spacious, spotless room + attractive off-season rates = a great 3 day stay in 1 of the world's most attractive cities. Would definitely recommend both (and go back of course ;-)

Guest Reviews of the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Nov 5, 2009
This place was amazing. I have stayed at many Fairmont hotels for pleasure and business and they are great properties!! Specifically about this location though, the service was top notch some of the best I've ever had. Our concierge made numerous reservations for us and steered us in all the right directions to make our 2 day stay in such a fantastic city memorable and wanting me to go back for more. The rooms are elegant and very classy as is the entire ambience of the hotel. If you're looking for something a little more upper scale this Fairmont is definitely worth it!

Guest Reviews of the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Nov 1, 2009
We arrived in my son's 12 year old car. The doorman took one look at us, clearly decided "No tip there" and proceeded to ignore us and our luggage. Things could only improve from there. Our room, on the fifth floor was fine, clean and comfortable. On our second day we had a problem using the key cards. On contacting reception we found that our two night booking was under two separate references which was why our cards had been canceled. This was corrected with a minimum of fuss. My major gripe about this hotel was the fees they wanted to charge for everything - fees for car parking, fees for internet usage, $8 for a bottle of water in the room. Fees for all the things that I thought should have been included. In the time we were there we did not buy as much as a cup of tea in the hotel. Far too expensive when there were any number of bars/restaurants nearby. Overall I thought that this hotel was a bit too aware that it was a 'grand' hotel

Guest Reviews of the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Oct 22, 2009
This is a great hotel. The former grand Hotel Vancouver is part of the Fairmont chain, which always does a good job.

I originally had reservations at the Four Seasons across the street, but found a special online for this hotel. I'm glad I did. It was great. The room was huge, the service great, and the location perfect. Even though I could never get the pillows arranged just right, the bed was comfy enough that it didn't matter and I slept great.

Here's a hint -- before you make your reservation, sign up for the Presidents Club. That way you don't have to wait in line to check in or out (there's a separate desk around the corner from main check in) and the internet is free.

Usually when I travel for business I stay in super-cheap places. I'm glad I stayed here this time. I didn't realize the importance of having a proper desk to do my work and a separate space to sit and read and relax. My productivity was much higher than when I multi-purpose the bed like I normally do.

The hotel has a pair of dogs for when you get lonely, but don't count on using them. They seemed to be booked all the time and when they weren't they looked dog tired from all the love and affection they get from the guests. But the dogs are cute and well behaved and if you're lonely they're a lot cheaper than a hooker and won't cut you if you don't give them a tip.

The location is very good -- just a block or two from two different subway lines. The only bad thing is that you do get some drunks out on the street at 3am whooping it up on the weekends, but that's not the hotel's fault. City noise is city noise.

Guest Reviews of the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Oct 12, 2009
We came on a Saturday and the Hotel staff were all terrific! Not a bad person in the house. We read that we should try and upgrade to th Fairmont Gold and we did.... So glad we did. The room was NICE! Except the mini bar thing (DO NOT OPEN!). They should really do something about it. We got to take the dog for a walk on Sunday morning and my giirls loved it! The gold room was Fantastic! One of my girls who is 6 said the service here is really terrific and said they felt like royalty! X and his associate X were #1 and were extremely professional. I researched many hotels and this place by far was a fantastic deal. I do not know about the other rooms but the Gold level was the best. The pillow concierge was a nice treat. Check it out about choosing your own special pillows!! We are from California and have travelled to many places and felt this very nice. We will be back.

Guest Reviews of the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Oct 2, 2009
My wife, 9-year old son and I recently stayed at this hotel and really enjoyed our visit. The hotel is in a great location with many shops and restaurants nearby. The staff was friendly and helpful and the room was large and very clean. The hotel also has two resident dogs that kids love to pet and a nice indoor pool. We also got a great rate on Travelocity and cancelled our reservation at another hotel because the travel website rate was such a good deal.

Guest Reviews of the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Sep 5, 2009
I am a Fairmont Presidents Club Member and even at the basic level, it offers compelling benefits for your loyalty (free high speed internet, complimentary workout clothing and shoes, free access to the hotel bikes, special rates). That being said, there are soon to be four Fairmont hotels in Vancouver and three downtown. The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver will still be my location of choice.

While the basic Fairmont room is not large, it is well furnished with a terrific bed and soft feather pillows, a sturdy desk and chair, dresser and lounging chair with ottoman. I always have a terrific night's sleep. Each room has robes, an umbrella, ironing board with a decent iron.

I also prefer the more traditional style furniture. Many of the boutique hotels in the city have furniture designed for the eyes and not the body. Rather than trying to figure out how to become comfortable on upholstered cubes, guests actually lounge and read in the chesterfields in the lobby.

The Fairmont room bathroom is not spectacular, but everything works and I like the retro feel of the basin fixtures and white tiles. I am a quick shower type, so soakers may be disappointed. Towels are large, fluffy and absorbent.

The really deciding factors for me, however, are service and location. Staff is universally friendly and helpful. I once arrived needing to wrap two gifts (due to airline regulations) and within fifteen minutes of asking, was provided with scissors and scotch tape. I have never had to experience the typical hour long wait for service as with many "five stars". I once had to ask my room to be re-keyed and not only was this done, security was waiting for me at my room to ensure I had no further problems.

Location, though, cannot be beat. The hotel overlooks the VAG, a block from the Pan Pacific Centre, at the East ends of Robson and Alberni Streets (shops and restaurants), a short walk to the waterfront and the new Convention Centre, and easily in walking distance to Gastown, Yaletown, Granville Street and English Bay. Better yet, take a hotel bike (free to Presidents Club Members) and ride to the West End and Stanley Park.

Even with it's newer and more modern sister properties, the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver remains my first choice.


Guest Reviews of the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Sept 2, 2009
Spent a lovely week at the Fairmont on our first trip to Vancouver. Location is perfect; city central and within walking distance of many of the city's major attractions, (which is a good thing since parking is no bargain). The service is great, (can't say enough good things about the staff), and the rooms are large and well appointed. Griffins Restaurant serves a killer brunch, and the 900 West Lounge off the lobby is pleasant and has good entertainment on the weekends. Oh, and as a bonus they have a couple of big, friendly dogs, Mavis and Beau, for you to pet, walk or just admire, assuming you like dogs. Keep in mind, however, this is an old hotel and, despite having been updated, you might expect a few glitches. For instance, the elevators have been updated to operate with key cards, but they don't always work. Not a major issue, but annoying. The plumbing is another matter all together. It's old, it's noisy and it's cranky. After our toilet stopped up, (honest, it wasn't us), for the second consecutive day, we were moved into a different room so that the offending appliance could be removed and replaced. However, to compensate for our inconvenience we were upgraded to a much larger corner room on a higher floor with a great view. Can't complain. All in all a great stay.

Guest Reviews of the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Aug 19, 2009
The Fairmont Vancouver trades on its historic past as Vancouver’s prime hotel for the last seventy years and has a slightly antiquated style which you either like or hate. We loved it.

Our arrival went smoothly and we were soon installed in a large suite overlooking the Vancouver Art Gallery. The suite was well equipped, with two large flat-screen televisions and good quality furniture & furnishings throughout. A small fridge had been installed at my request, which was just as well as the minibar was one of those evil machines that charges you if as much as a bit of wind brushes any of the contents. Tea and coffee, which was complimentary, was placed dangerously close next to a bottle of water which was chargeable. This being Vancouver, complimentary loan umbrellas are provided.

Griffin’s restaurant produces good quality food at quite high prices, but the reliance on buffets for all but main courses comes seems inappropriate in a hotel with Fairmont’s aspirations. The absence of cheese as a desert option was astonishing and the flat refusal of the buffet chef to provide any utterly ludicrous. In any event I would surely stay here again

Guest Reviews of the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Aug 4, 2009
I cannot understand the negative comments of some of the reviewers. The Fairmont Vancouver is a wonderful place to stay. Everyone of the staff that I encountered was gracious and friendly. The room was newly refurnished and not a single sign of any fraying that a very old property would be excused to have. Of course the location is not to be beat. Breakfast buffet is quite good in Griffin's. I had a superb dinner at the 900 Restaurant. Only one oddity: no coffee creamers in the guest room.

Guest Reviews of the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
July 23, 2009
This hotel is location in the heart of the city, right across the road from the main shopping centre. The hotel is quite grand and has a lot of extra, like apples at reception and two very friendly dogs called marvis and Beau. You can take these dogs out for a walk. The staff are very friendly and helpful. There give informative information and nothing seems to be a problem. This hotel would suit families, elderly, singles and business travellers, in fact all travellers. The room are not large but are quite grand, quite old world styled but with a certain flare.