Hotel Review of the Fairmont Empress Hotel Victoria
Apr 21, 2011
My wife and I had to opportunity to travel to Victoria this past March. Prior to
our visit, I was contacted by Duane, the Manager of Fairmont Gold for the hotel.
Not only did he provide an outstanding first impression of the service we were
going to receive, he also assisted me by booking spa appointments, whale
watching tours, dinner reservations, etc. It was great to have someone local who
knew the area and also cared about ensuring we had the very best time in
Victoria and at the Empress.
Our room was absolutely stunning, a corner room with a view of the harbor as
well as the legislature building. It was impeccably clean and you can tell not
only that the housekeepers really care, but also have exceptionally high
standards. Turndown service was great each evening – this small treat on the
bed, along with the weather forecast, sheets turned down, music on low, slippers
laid out – exceptional!
The service on the Fairmont Gold floor is second to none. While they provide a
lounge, honor bar, complimentary breakfast and snacks in the evening - it was
well beyond that. The staff took the time to interact with you, get to know you
and inquire about your day...and not just "how was your day"...but "how was the
whale watching tour". They genuinely cared and you could see it in their every
act.
Our spa treatment was perfect, relaxed and everything you could hope for and
more from a spa experience while on vacation. They really went the extra mile at
every opportunity and the spa menu pricing was very reasonable.
To be honest, this was our first Fairmont Gold experience and it was well worth
it. We would be hard pressed to return to a Fairmont property in the future and
not upgrade.
We can't wait to return to the Empress and check-in with Duane, Stephanie, Tyler
and all the rest of the fabulous staff.
Hotel Review of the Fairmont Empress Hotel Victoria
Apr 18, 2011
We booked this stay through Westjet Vacations and knew we wouldn't be getting
the best room in the hotel but we were greatly disappointed in what we received.
The room we were in was described as a deluxe harbor view room, well it did have
a harbor view but I have no idea what was deluxe about it. It had to be the
smallest room in the hotel and the carpet is old and soiled and needs to be
replaced. The bed was old soft and creaked every time you moved. The toilet had
to be flushed at least twice every time you used it. We will not be staying here
again there are to many other very good hotels in the downtown Victoria area.
Hotel Review of the Fairmont Empress Hotel Victoria
Apr 18, 2011
Yes, it's very traditional and ornate. But for the price I'd never stay there
again. We had a room on the back side (facing away from the harbor). No way we
could sleep with the windows open because of a squeeling mechanical fan belt on
an ajoining building. Luckily it was quite chilly during our visit, so it didn't
matter that there is no air conditioning.
Things to consider:
Wireless or hard wired internet access - free and worked without any problems.
No snacks or drinks of in room (other than tea and coffee). All must be
purchased through room service (with accompanying delivery charge and gratuity).
Towels and robes aren't very fluffy (again, for the price....) I've seen much
better at other "luxury" hotels.
Drinks in the lounge range from $20 to $30 each.
I don't consider myself a bargain traveler, but I really believe there are much
better places to spend my money on lodging in Victoria.
Hotel Review of the Fairmont Empress Hotel Victoria
Apr 16, 2011
This was my husband's and my first trip to Victoria and in retrospect, I can't
imagine having stayed anywhere else. The location can't be beaten, and when
traveling without a car in iffy weather, that alone was worth the price of
staying here. Not only can you walk just about anywhere in the Old Town/Inner
Harbor area, you get the turn-of-the-century charm of the beautifully designed
building.
If you can afford to splurge on the Gold Floor, I highly recommend doing it. The
concierge staff's service is outstanding. Dillon, in particular, not only
welcomed us warmly upon arrival, but helped us arrange transportation to the
Butchart Gardens, held our bags securely until we were ready to leave on
checkout day, and basically made sure we wanted for nothing throughout our stay.
The continental breakfast spread is delicious, and the afternoon snacks and
evening treats in the Gold Lounge are a nice extra touch.
The room itself was luxuriously comfortable, with a nice view of the harbor. The
only thing we could have used was more drawers for our clothing--there were some
hangers in the closet, but no real dresser per se. Another tiny thing was the
height of the sink in the bathroom; as a person of shorter stature, I felt like
I could have used a stepstool while I was washing my face and brushing my teeth.
Other than that, the experience was perfect! Highly recommend the Gold Floor for
a first-rate stay!Hotel Review of the Fairmont Empress Hotel Victoria
Apr 11, 2011
The location of the Empress in Victoria is the best. Close to everything and
right in front of the Harbor, you can walk to many sightseeing spots in the same
area. I was there for business and my free time was filled with walking around
in 8 degree temperatures in early February. As expected in a Fairmont, food is
expensive and dinning rooms aren't too lively, not very trendy also. Having a
Cup o' Tea is more like it. But there are plenty of restaurants around. Carpets
and wall paper give and old and busy taste to decoration. Rooms are very clean
but nothing special. You might need earplugs if your room faces the back yard. I
liked it, but would possibly look for a more recent hotel in the same location
next time.
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