Hotel Review of the Fairmont Hotel Chateau Whistler
Feb 2, 2011
For years, I have visited Whistler and dreamed of staying at the
Fairmont. The location can't be beat, all those beautiful pools and hot
tubs beckoning from the bottom of the Blackcomb lifts. I was very
excited to spend this past weekend there as part of their "Stay and Ski"
package.
Sadly, it was not what I had hoped. The rooms were spacious and the beds
comfortable, and there was a feeling of luxury, but it was a feeling of
luxury going to waste. There were problems with the basic
infrastructure: NEITHER of the bathrooms in the the women's restroom in
the health club area were operational, meaning that if you wanted to use
the facilities you had to walk out into the lobby in your bathing suit.
One of the outdoor hot tubs wasn't hot at all, so the other two were
packed to the gills. In our guestroom, the shower door latch was broken
and wouldn't close. These are just a few examples of the kind of basics
you would expect to be taken care of in a place like the Fairmont.
Further, the staff made us feel nickeled and dimed. For example, after
paying $60 for two days of parking, we asked to leave our car in the lot
for an extra hour and were charged an extra $5. Was that $5 really worth
the bad taste something like that leaves? Also, we had been sold the ski
and stay package, which I booked over the phone. The person on the phone
did NOT explain that if you pay for two nights stay, you only get lift
tickets for one day. I understand now that this is how their package
works, but the night manager told me that I was definitely NOT the first
person to misunderstand this deal. However, instead of putting it right
by getting us the extra lift tickets, the day manager "met us halfway"
and gave us credit for HALF the price of the lift tickets in our room
rate. I guess that's nice, but I had to talk to four different people to
make that happen, and it added to the feeling of just not being taken
care of. The $8 cans of beer at the pool (before tax and tip) didn't
help.
Hotel Review of the Fairmont Hotel Chateau Whistler
Jan 31, 2011
This hotel was an embarrassment. We brought some out of town business
associates to show them how great Whistler was, and thought we were
staying at a great hotel, But it didn't take very long to figure out
this was a mistake. From the time at checkin to when we left, we were
constantly disappointed by the terrible service. Not to mention the run
down rooms. We booked the Club floor and it was really not worth the
extra.
Really really do not recommend this one... Rather pay the extra and stay
at the Four Seasons!
Hotel Review of the Fairmont Hotel Chateau Whistler
Jan 30, 2011
We stayed here for 10 nights and was looked after very well. The hotel
is in the best position, we loved the ski valet service. The team were
always very prompt in collecting our boots and ski's. We had in room
dining three of the evenings, and this too was good. Good choice for the
kids and adults and not badly priced. We also enjoyed the wildflower for
breakfast which was always very good and good value. We visited the
portabello a few times also for breakfast, which wasn't bad for a quick
stop for breakfast. The guys on reception were always very helpful and
couldn't do enough for you. We also really enjoyed the health club, most
days we visited the pool and hot tubs, there was also a steam room and
sauna. I would certainly visit this hotel again. The Fairmont certainly
made this holiday perfect.
Hotel Review of the Fairmont Hotel Chateau Whistler
Jan 29, 2011
Spent 3 nights here as part of flydrive in September. We had upgraded to
Gold when booking as a bit of treat and it was well worth it. From the
moment of check -in in the separate reception we had a fabulous stay.
The rooms were very nicely furnished and had a good view across
Whistler. There was also robes and slippers and a jetted bath tub. The
beds were very comfortable and we also enjoyed the turndown service
complete with the weather forecast for the following day.
The gold lounge was a real bonus where we enjoyed the complimentary
breakfast - very good quality and choice and also the hors d'ouvres. In
fact the hors d'ouvres were so good we ate very little for dinner later
in the evening as a result!
The hotel is very nice although we didn't try any of the other
restaurants. We used the main reception to change some money which was
straightforward and we also used the outdoor pools. All the staff were
very friendly and helpful. One downside but not unexpected was the cost
of parking - $CAD30 per night.
The hotel has a good location in the Upper Village and it is only a 5
minute walk into the main village. Whilst in Whistler we did a
bear-watching tour with Michael Allen which was amazing and well worth
doing.
We would stay at the Fairmont Whistler again but would like it to be a
gold room again!
Hotel Review of the Fairmont Hotel Chateau Whistler
Jan 10, 2011
We stayed at the Fairmont over the New Year period, and have to say this
is a superb hotel. Having read some older posts I was concerned re the
rooms, however these concerns were unfounded. The room was great, with a
large 42" flat screen TV, lovely Mountain View, fridge etc and a nice
bathroom with robes, overall a very nice room. The hotel was busy over
the holiday period, with the outside pool / Jacuzzi’s being very busy up
until 6pm, but from the 2nd Jan onwards there was a marked difference.
Throughout the whole stay all the staff were superb, they were always on
hand for any questions. The hotel runs a shuttle service to the main
Whistler square; however we never used this as it's only a 10 minute
walk anyway. The ski to your door is great, although I feel the hotel
should advertise the ski storage to say 'communal ski storage', as the
current description leads you to think you have your own storage area,
and the wait times can get a bit tedious after a days skiing, waiting
for someone to collect your skis and then your boots, and skiing around
with your room sticker on your own boots & skis is not something I
liked. Overall this is a great hotel which I would have no problems
recommending to friends.
Hotel Review of the Fairmont Hotel Chateau Whistler
Jan 10, 2011
My partner and I stayed here from the 21st December until the 4th
January and all I can say is this hotel fulfilled our expectations. We
visited Whistler the previous year and stayed at the
Four Seasons which was very
nice but seems a little detached from the rest of Whistler and all in
all just a bit too quiet for our liking. So we decided to stay at the
Fairmont this year as we had visited the hotel previously and were very
impressed with the atmosphere and service we received (especially in the
Mallard Lounge). The whole hotel has an ambience and an air of grace
about it that is very hard to find in Whistler, everyday feels like
Christmas in this hotel. The lobby is beautifully decorated with
Christmas trees and decorations and everyone you see has a smile on
their face.
Hotel Review of the Fairmont Hotel Chateau Whistler
Jan 10, 2011
The concierge team and front desk team do a fantastic job and nothing is
too much trouble, they ALWAYS remember your name and even if you are
just walking past acknowledge your presence with familiarity and as a
guest in the hotel. We had a deluxe slope side room which was very nice,
great views of the slopes and also the pool area and terrace with fire
pits, good size, clean and had a big plasma tv. The bed was too
comfortable and we found ourselves sleeping in way too much but then
again I suppose thats what holidays are for aren't they? The bathrooms
need to be seriously updated though, they're just not big enough for two
people plus toiletries to share and for a 5 star establishment I think
this should be looked at as they could be out of a 3-star hotel. We
ordered a Christmas tree in our room with decorations which is a nice
little touch We had a couple of treatments in the Spa which were very
nice but a touch on the pricey side compared with similar treatments we
have had at the Four Seasons and I think the Spa at the Four Seasons is
juts better full stop.
Hotel Review of the Fairmont Hotel Chateau Whistler
Jan 10, 2011
The ski in/out access is very good and the guys and girls in the ski
room do a very good job but need to learn that when someone is stood
waiting to be served you dont serve the next person that turns up before
them, a minor point but one that happened a couple of times and wound me
up no-end! It might be worth saying that these people are not Fairmont
employees but employees of Whistler Blackcomb so that probably explains
a lot. We ate in the Wildflower restaurant twice, once in the morning
and the other for the New Years Eve Party. The morning breakfast didn't
go too well as everything in the buffet was cold, looked great but was
cold and at $25 a head isn't cheap, needless to say we didn't have to
pay for it and we're reassured that this was not of their standard and
we're invited to come back within our stay to prove this. We did which
was on New Years Eve for the dinner buffet and all I can say is WOW,
totally redeemed themselves, the food was unbelievably good! They had a
sushi station which was too die for, freshly cut in front of you, crab
claws, etc etc. The meat was great, we had venison and duck and all
sorts of other things. It was a really, really good dinner and you could
tell they went to town to make sure it made everybody's New Year
special. We were suitably stuffed but still had plenty of room for
drinks and shots to see the New Year in with a bang, great party and the
DJ was brilliant and seemed to be playing every single song that we
loved - 5 stars guys, good job! Room service was really good too. The
overall highlight though for us was the Mallard Lounge - the waiters,
waitresses and the bar staff, what a great bunch of people that enjoy
what they do. chatty, attentive, always smiling, nothing is ever too
much trouble, famililar and polite. I can't think of enough words to
praise these guys/girls.
Hotel Review of the Fairmont Hotel Chateau Whistler
Jan 10, 2011
Special thanks to Adam and 'Frenchie' behind the bar who were very funny
and always chatting to us and making us laugh and also Cam who
remembered us from visiting the Lounge last year (very impressive).
Everyone that works in the Mallard Lounge works their behinds off and it
shows as we spent a small fortune in there during our stay but it was
worth every penny. The ambience of the Mallard Lounge just feels like
Christmas, special, cosy, intimate, warm and just somewhere you could
relax, it is our favourite bar in Whistler and a bonus its in the lobby
of our hotel!!! All in all the Fairmont Chateau Whistler has its flaws
albeit minor ones but the Pro's far outway the con's and if you want to
do Christmas in style this is THE Christmas hotel! We have booked for
Christmas and New Year 2011 already its that good!
Hotel Review of the Fairmont Hotel Chateau Whistler
Jan 9, 2011
We stayed at the Fairmont Chateau from Christmas day through to 4th Jan.
The experience was fabulous and particular complements should be paid to
the Concierge desk - nothing was a problem. The front house was
generally outstanding and well managed. The rooms were a little on the
small side for the price charged, but then again we did stay at the peak
of the season. Location was outstanding with ski in ski out facilities.
The ski butler service generally worked well, but could certainly use
some organization at peak times at the start and end of the day as the
staff can, and do leave you waiting while they serve others that have
been there much less time than you (very frustrating). There is a great
little pub (smallest pub in Whistler) that is next to the hotel called
the 'Fitz' which is a great find - good bartenders and the best chicken
wings I have found in a long time.
All in all - a great hotel, well positioned, attentive staff. Needs an
upgrade for the prices charged. Will certainly return.
Hotel Review of the Fairmont Hotel Chateau Whistler
Jan 5, 2011
Yes, it's expensive, but it's worth it. The hotel is lovely, the staff
were all fantastic and the combination of ski valet and proximity to
lifts was incredible! We stayed for a week and started off ordering room
service and drinks, drinking in the hotel bar and eating the buffet
breakfast. No complaints about food, drink or service BUT be aware you
can get cheaper food and drink very easily.
I'm not a big eater so never going to do a $25 breakfast buffet justice
- was much happier eating smaller on-the-go breakfast sandwiches and
pizza slices from the Portobello restaurant in the hotel. Dinner in the
Wildflower was great and the staff are all wonderful.
Being Christmas the Mallard Lounge was always very busy, but there's a
lovely little pub (Fitz) opposite the Portobello, plus a very nice off
licence as well.
I've seen some complaints about wi-fi on here: all you have to do is
join the Presidents' Club and it is free.
I love dogs so it was great having dogs around and didn't see any signs
of this being unhygienic, but if you're particularly anti-dogs then this
probably isn't the hotel for you. But then Whistler is probably not for
you
Some of the decor might be a bit dated if you're used to 'hip hotels'
but it's part of it's charm. The service was great and our standard room
was perfectly clean and comfortable.
The Upper village is lovely and quiet but you've only got to walk about
10 mins or jump on the free Fairmont shuttle to get "into town" where
there's a LOT more going on.
I can't recommend Whistler/Blackcomb enough, and if you can afford it,
don't hate dogs or children (lots of families stay there) , want to be
incredibly close to ski lifts and in a fairly quiet part of town, the
Fairmont is ace.
Hotel Review of the Fairmont Hotel Chateau Whistler
Jan 4, 2011
In December I stayed at the Fairmont for work and enjoyed it so much
that I came back two weeks later with my family. The rooms are spotless
and you can't beat the patio with outdoor fire pits at night. Above all
the staff are real pros - attentive and very helpful but not intrusive.
Spoil yourself - it's well worth it.
Hotel Review of the Fairmont Hotel Chateau Whistler
Jan 3, 2011
Conveniently located at the bottom of the Blackcomb Gondola Ski Lift
with free ski valet. For either families or couples, the Upper Village
is a convenient place to stay in Whistler. Outside of the resort area
there are several restaurants, plus ski rentals and shopping. And a
convenient (free) shuttle service is provided every 10-15 minutes to
transport you to the main village area. The staff could not have been
more accommodating or delighted to serve your every need. The hotel
could definitely use a make-over as I would rate the hotel with a 3 star
rating as the accommodations could use an update. For those looking for
a full service day spa...check out another venue as the lounge area was
not relaxing. But if you are needing a quick massage, pedicure, etc.
service was very good but the there was no room for lounging or
relaxing.
Hotel Review of the Fairmont Hotel Chateau Whistler
Jan 2, 2011
We stayed here over Christmas and would recommend the hotel for parents
with younger children who appreciate the perfect location for the
Blackcomb mountain. Unfortunately, they use the location to their
advantage by charging exorbitant prices for the 'incidentals' as the
check-in staff called it. I appreciate the Fairmont have to make a good
profit in the winter season but it has meant we would not return again.
I would have expected them to have relied on returning clients. As for
dining in the Fairmont, we ate at the Wine Room where the food was
fantastic and the paired wine was well thought through. However, this is
supposed to be The Fairmont's fine dining experience, so we didn't
expect to be seated next to a table with a chap in a T-shirt and jeans
whilst listening to Rudolph the red nose reindeer!!! This place was sold
as an exclusive dining experience and not a partitioned area away from
the buffet crowed. In conclusion, we wouldn't return.
Hotel Review of the Fairmont Hotel Chateau Whistler
Dec 26, 2010
Our annual family snowboarding trip. Beautiful hotel. Room always clean
and comfy. They have just remodel it again too. Comfortable bed, pillows
and duvets. Lunch at the Portobello- best sandwiches. The concierge was
very helpful. Spa service was not the greatest. Therapist was just "ok".
I don't think I will return to the spa. I love the fitness center and
the pool. After a long day of snowboarding. We relaxed at the pool. Even
it is an outdoor pool, the water temperature was just right. They have 3
outdoor and one indoor hot tub. It was never packed like other hotels.
It was extremely breathtaking and relaxing to hot tub under the snow. To
finish with their eucalyptus steam room. Ahhhh!!! Dinner services and
food at the Wildflower restaurant and Chalet fondue was awesome.
Snuggled up at the children theater to watch a cheering family movie.
What a perfect family vacation.
Hotel Review of the Fairmont Hotel Chateau Whistler
Dec 25, 2010
Stayed here for 2 nights in a slope side room with 2 queen beds. The
room was very comfortable, had a beautiful view, plenty of space for
luggage and storage, a very clean bathroom with good amenities and most
of the staff members within the hotel that we encountered were friendly
and wanted to ensure we were enjoying our stay. On this point however, I
have to single out the manager of the ski rental shop downstairs, who
took up 15 minutes of skiing time whilst training a friendly, attentive
and obviously new employee on how to charge us an extra 20 bucks for
rental gear in the POS system because we had to be charged a full day of
rental for returning equipment at midday. There are absolutely no free
lunches at this place, be it in the rental shop, the family restaurant
(4 bucks for a soda) or by the hot-tub (15 bucks for a cocktail post tax
and tip). You do expect to pay a bit extra in a quality ski resort ( and
the skiing is the best quality/widest variety you'll find anywhere) but
in some aspects of the resort, it's a bit over the top. If you don't
mind splashing some cash and are looking for world-class skiing at your
doorstep, this is definitely the place to be. |
