We've been to nine of the Fairmont properties in our travels. This was over the Independence Day weekend due to a phenomenal rate offered to their President's Club members and we're thrilled we went. This is a classic early 20th century wilderness lodge right on the Ottawa River, the type where mostly families will go during the summer for a week and never have to leave due to the quantity of activities (if you've been to Disney's Wilderness Lodge, you'll have an idea of what the place looks like!). The "down" list is a short one. The food, while delicious, is expensive (probably due to the fact that there really is no alternative for miles). The rooms (especially the bathrooms) tend to be on the smaller size, more than likely due to the fact that it was built almost 100 years ago!) That's it. Otherwise, we loved it. The service, the ambience, the activities were great, everything. It truly is a wonderful place if you're looking to escape with your family for a family-bonding trip as opposed to a family-bondage trip! There are organized activities for kids of all ages. There are places for adults to enjoy other adults. And there is something for everybody - from the laziest lump who just wants to marinate by the pool to those looking to go out hiking on their extensive property.

If you go into it expecting the two short-comings I mentioned, I can't imagine anyone having a bad time!

This isn't our first experience at this hotel nor the fairmont chains. We decided to take a mini-vacation and stayed a few nights away to this, once charming hotel. Granted, the hotel is old and has aged but it appears so did the staff! upon reception we were not treated very nicely by two older women. After an hour of seeing three rooms and finally them getting our requests right (main floor, king bed...not difficult!), we finally settled into a room that they said "was a bigger one". The fable making reception I think put us in a closet! We barely had room for our suitcase and the bathroom was full of mold and the room had a moldy smell. There was not a functioning fridge in ANY of the rooms and after insisting we obtain this, they found us this great neon light fridge..at least the effort was there but it was disappointing we had to fight to get it and get lied to by the staff saying "all fairmonts have these fridges"... I think we have been to more fairmonts than this old clerk has and there ARE working fridges

FOOD: very generic, definitely not a 5 star restaurant. Service was amazing in this aspect of the restaurant. Breakfast tres yummy. Lobby bar staff not very helpful either. Very odd character that was very persistent we make diner reservations when the resort barely had full capacity..

POOL: outdoor very dirty, indoor amazing with great staff.

SPA: had to get credited one of our therapies... young esthetician made a pedicure look like a 2 year old applied it... again, no 5 star here! LAst time we came, it was teh best pedicures we had ever had!

Overall: Not sure what has happened in the last year but definitely not a 5 star that could use some renovating and reception clerks could definitely use some improvements on their interpersonal relationship with clients as well as a renovation themselves...perhaps they should go away and reflect how this "5 star" service hotel begins with their lack of smile, rude attitude and can easily ruin people's holidays! We don't take our problems to our jobs, neither should they!
The whole hotel needs an uplift and should meet their 5 star standards... perhaps they could learn from the real 5 stars out there like the Ritz or Four seasons... definitely where we are staying next and never again staying or referring to any Fairmont hotels.

First off Id like to mention that this was something we went to on a business trip.
The hotel lobby was GRAND and this hotel is quite dark and antique looking so if you want brioght and modern, this is not the place. It was built in 1930s and has an old world charm to it. There is a great fireplace at the entrance.

ROOM
The beds were very comfortable as are most Fairmont beds, but the bathroom was rediculously small. More than one couple on this business trip complained that you can NOT have two people in the bathroom at the same time. IT was the size of a closet. I thought it was quiet there and had no problems with noise as the others mentioned. We had room 267.

GROUNDS
The grounds of the hotel were beautiful and if you go for a little walk into "town" there is a quaint little house that is converted to a restaurant that makes really good breakfast. We went there because after 3 days of the hotel food we needed a change (there is only one restaurant and one BAR at this hotel and the bar is not open for breakfast).

We came here in the summer but I think it is more of a winter resort and would have loved to see it in the winter.

The building alone is reason enough to stay here. The massive lobby with its stone fireplaces, rooms with wooden walls, the size of the indoor pool, etc.
The fairmont rooms in this hotel are quite small, so I would reccomend opting for a larger room. We have stayed in jaccuzi rooms (not recommended- who wants to sleep in the basement?) , deluxe rooms, and deluxe riverview rooms. They aren great.
The amenities are great- free popcorn in the downstairs bar room, free games by the front desk, pool toys, etc. This is a great, cozy hotel to relax in.