Hotel Review of the Fairmont Empress Hotel Victoria
May 2, 2009
If you stay in Victoria then stay here!! My husband and I stayed here
for a couple of nights of our honeymoon and we wished we'd booked
longer!! The building is beautiful and the rooms very spacious. We were
upgraded on both visits and each time were in an incredible place. Try
and get a room overlooking the harbour, it looks amazing at all times of
the day and night.
Breakfast isn't included and the hotel breakfast is quite expensive, but
a short walk out of the back of the hotel and there is a lovely cafe
with great staff and plenty of choice. We ate in the Indian in the
hotel, which was buffet style or a la carte and very tasty, with some
amazing cocktails.
There is also a car rental place right behind the hotel so perfect for
starting a tour of the island as we did! We didn't try the spa but they
are usually brilliant in the Fairmont's.
Book in for afternoon tea in the tea room and you will be served some
amazing little sandwiches and cakes, perfect for lunch, although not the
feast some will lead you to believe, just enough for two!! We had the
Champagne tea, which was delightful!!
The gym was fantastic too and the rooms so well appointed. Get a
seaplane flight from here to the Fairmont in Vancouver like we did, very
sophisticated!!
Hotel Review of the Fairmont Empress Hotel Victoria
Apr 15, 2009
We stayed two nights and loved the Victorian architecture and interiors
of this hotel. Rooms were ok for the price we paid. Overpriced afternoon
tea but should try once. We really want to eat buffet at Bengal lounge
since we read rave reviews, but couldn't get into it 'cos we had an
infant baby. No kids under 18 (infants too? c'mon!). Parking is an
expensive but comforting thing is you get valet. Great hotel, good
service, amazing experience but it comes at a steep price.
Hotel Review of the Fairmont Empress Hotel Victoria
Mar 23, 2009
I stayed there for a week-end with my grand mother. We were really happy
because we had an amazing deal for the room. If we would have paid the
full price, I feel it would have been a little overpriced. After all,
very chic hotel. Reminds me a lot of Chateau Frontnac in Quebec City.
Hotel Review of the Fairmont Empress Hotel Victoria
Mar 11, 2009
My husband and I stayed for two nights at the Empress in Victoria in
early March, 2009. Much like other reviewers on this site, I found the
public rooms are lovely and the service is excellent.
Nothing beats the Empress for it's views or location (quite nice to be
front row centre on the harbour!) and the staff service was very good.
We had drinks in the Bengal Lounge in the evening and enjoyed the jazz
band, breakfast in the Empress Room and Afternoon Tea complete with
fires going at both ends of the hall and a pianist in the corner.
Everything was done well, and the public rooms are exactly as you find
on the website: very early 20th century "grand."
The Tea was a tad expensive (with tax & tip it's CDN$45/pp) but I loved
the service and the food was nicely traditional. Basically it's one of
those things that you can experience in few places so if you like that
kind of thing, indulge and enjoy.
Breakfast was pretty much on par with other Fairmonts -- they provide
some niceties to add to the charm.
Hotel Review of the Fairmont Empress Hotel Victoria
March 2, 2009
Got a great rate on a mini suite, had a beautiful corner suite, old
fashioned and modern at the same time, with really high ceilings and a
huge window.
Everything about the hotel was top notch, the stay fantastic. Great
multi course dinner in the restaurant and also tea (though that is
obviously not my thing as I could have eaten 3 x as much of those teeny
weeny sandwiches)
Turn down service was totally amazing- have never had it before but just
loved it and it was different everyday
The pool area is nice but one of the least impressive of the Fairmont
line.
We stayed for 4 great days and it was wonderful
Hotel Review of the Fairmont Empress Hotel Victoria
Feb 25, 2009
Loved the Empress, loved the food, loved the Bengal Lounge and the curry
buffet. The reception area looking worn, could use an update. Room
lovely, but sad to see the lovely bedspreads replaced with newest hotel
trend comforters only. Service excellent.
Hotel Review of the Fairmont Empress Hotel Victoria
Feb 5, 2009
We enjoyed our stay. We got a very good room rate and that was the main
reason for our trip. The location is excellent. The character and
service is excellent from front desk, valet to bellman, maids, Duty
Manager. This is not a cheap place to dine or enjoy the lounge - but I
must say the food was amazing, from late night Pizza from Room Service
(which actually was nearly the same price as take out from Pizza Hut),
to the Bengal Lounges selections of local cider, local beer, spirits and
Martinis. We had the misfortune being kept up one night but the hotel
comped our breakfast in the Empress Dinning Room which was superb -
every bite was absolutely delicious.
Hotel Review of the Fairmont Empress Hotel Victoria
Jan 9, 2009
An experience to remember. We celebrated our son’s recent U of V
graduation and spent a few days at the Empress. The dining room was a
perfect setting for a celebratory dinner and I could not think of a
finer ambiance for marking this special moment. The staff were superb,
friendly and very helpful, the setting dignified, the food fantastic. We
have been around the world and have stayed in places costing $1,500 a
night and we have to say that our memories of the Empress will be
treasured far more. The history of the hotel and its great architect
Ratenbury lead us to acquire some books about Victoria’s history and one
couldn’t find a more interesting story as to this hotel and other
adjacent buildings designed by this incredible man. You haven’t
experienced Victoria until you have stayed at least one night in this
hotel. We look forward to our return visit.
Hotel Review of the Fairmont Empress Hotel Victoria
Dec 1, 2008
Staying at the Empress on business for a full week, I came to appreciate
the hotel's obvious emphasis on service and high-quality accommodations.
My good experience was only diminished a little by the misuse of the old
hotel's stately public spaces. The location is the absolute best in the
city, and one of the most striking in North America.
From reception, to the breakfast room, to the front door, to the
cleaners, every one of the staff I encountered was pleasant and service
oriented in an unforced way. The receptionists were particularly
efficient and helpful. Only the security personnel were taciturn; given
their numbers, I wonder if the hotel has security problems.
The old-world lobby is indeed magnificent, but it is in the old building
and used for the Empress's famous Afternoon Tea service on weekends and
through the tourist season. That wood-panelled bar is tucked down a side
hallway near the conference centre and between a row of boutiques. The
very impressive breakfast room/restaurant is beautifully decorated but
sits off a side hallway and has a view of an inner courtyard. All a bit
disappointing for the hotel guests, but great for day visitors, which is
the point, I suppose.
Hotel Review of the Fairmont Empress Hotel Victoria
Nov 22, 2008
A night at the Empress was included in our Clipper Cruises trip from
Seattle. The marginal cost of adding the hotel room was reasonable
compared to the rate on the Empress’ site and to alternatives in the
area, so we decided to give it a try.
We arrived at 11 AM and my husband and I immediately got a room, which
was a pleasant surprise. (Check-in time was shown as 4 PM on the
voucher.) We were with another couple and their room wasn’t ready, but
we stowed everything in our room and went sightseeing. The hotel is
beautiful and the rooms are well-maintained but still have the
distinctive style of an older hotel, with heavy woodwork everywhere. Our
room had a ceiling fan and windows that open but apparently no A/C. It
was November so we didn’t mind; in Vancouver a ceiling fan and open
windows may be enough even in the summer.
At 3:45 PM we came back and the second room still wasn’t available. So
we piled into the one room and I tried to get on the Internet? Internet?
What Internet? My wireless card didn’t detect a signal and there was no
Ethernet connection. I called the front desk. Well, not ALL the rooms
had high-speed Internet, but I could use dial-up or they could put us in
another room. I chose the latter. At 4:15 the other couple finally got
their room and five minutes later we got a room with an Ethernet
connection. It also had a TV with a plasma-screen monitor, unlike the
previous room which had a smaller, older TV. Too bad the remote didn’t
work. The original had a bad battery. The replacement was for the older
set. Third time was the charm.
After the initial check-in snafus, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. I
used the pool in the morning and it was a generous size and had a nice
view of the surrounding buildings. There was also a well-equipped health
club and full locker room facilities. The 2 showers in the women's
locker room were both handicapped-accessible. Our room was quiet,
although kitchen smells woke me up in the morning because we were over
the kitchen!
We (and that includes the other couple) loved the Empress because of its
beauty and location, and would definitely return.
Hotel Review of the Fairmont Empress Hotel Victoria
Nov 13, 2008
I have stayed here on a few occasions for work related events and have
always enjoyed the experience however I have asked to change rooms about
half the time so that is disappointing. Some rooms here are much better
than others in terms of location. Rooms are well appointed and
comfortable. Overall though I do enjoy the location, the food at all the
events has been as good as it gets. The Bengal Lounge is a classic
lounge to imbibe. Good indoor pool and fitness centre has new cardio
equipment that has individual TV's on each piece of equipment. It is a
grand old hotel with lots of history and right in the centre of the
inner harbour
|
