721 Government Street, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 1W5 Canada
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$289
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$289
$253
Fully refundable before 04/01/23
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$289
$253
Fully refundable before 04/01/23
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What is Travelers’ Choice?
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About
#24 of 45 hotels in Victoria
Location
4.9
Cleanliness
4.5
Service
4.5
Value
3.8
Travelers' Choice
GreenLeaders Gold level
Regarded as a Condé Nast Readers' Choice and Gold List hotel, and honoured with the Travel + Leisure distinction as a top Canadian hotel, the Fairmont Empress graces Victoria's sparkling Inner Harbour with an iconic presence. The Fairmont Empress is Victoria B.C.’s most iconic hotel. This luxury hotel offers 431 beautifully appointed guest rooms and suites, and expansive meeting and wedding space adjacent to the conference centre. Located on the picturesque West Coast of Canada, this is the ideal location to explore all the natural beauty of Vancouver Island.
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Property amenities
Electric vehicle charging station
Free internet
Pool
Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room
Bar / lounge
Babysitting
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Valet parking
Paid public parking on-site
Wifi
Paid wifi
Hot tub
Pool / beach towels
Indoor pool
Heated pool
Fitness / spa locker rooms
Sauna
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Breakfast in the room
Kids' meals
Outdoor dining area
Wine / champagne
Kids club
Airport transportation
Taxi service
Business Center with Internet Access
Conference facilities
Banquet room
Meeting rooms
Spa
Couples massage
Facial treatments
Full body massage
Massage
Salon
24-hour security
Concierge
Gift shop
Newspaper
Non-smoking hotel
Shops
Butler service
Doorperson
24-hour front desk
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Ironing service
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Room features
Air conditioning
Desk
Housekeeping
Room service
Coffee / tea maker
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
On-demand movies
Safe
Iron
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Room types
Ocean view
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Smoking rooms available
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Luxury
Historic Hotel
Languages Spoken
English, French
Hotel links
Special Rate:Take Your Vacation Beyond Limits - Save up to 20%
Location
100Great for walkers
Grade: 100 out of 100
141Restaurantswithin 0.3 miles
70Attractionswithin 0.3 miles
Contact
721 Government Street, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 1W5 Canada
Getting there
Rental CarsSee rental cars from $27/day
5159Reviews44Q+A100Room tips
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Our visit to the Empress was a great one. The reception was friendly and set the tone for the entire visit. The staff fall over backwards to provide top service. We enjoyed the in-house restaurant and Bar as well as usual fitness centre and pool. It also has quite the Spa. Just good things to report on this visit. I look forward to our next visit.
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Date of stay: March 2023
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: In the heart of Victoria. Great location. Room was quiet. All the facilities for a family visit.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from General Manager Fairmont Empress, General Manager at Fairmont Empress
Responded 6 days ago
We very much appreciate your comments regarding your stay at the Fairmont Empress. We are delighted you enjoyed your stay with us and very much look forward to warmly welcoming you again in the near future.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
Hotel's Favorite
What a lovely afternoon of high tea with my daughters. The service was impeccable. We started our tea with menu boxes. They showed all the tea options with a few tea leaves for a visual. The tea warmer was a nice touch to keep the tea hot. The desserts were not too sweet and the live pianist made it that more special. We loved the replica Queens porcelain set. We loved the Empress tea which was Princess Diana's favourite. You can go to the gift shop and purchase most of the items from high tea. It is on the upper end of what high tea is charged but I would highly recommend.
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Fairmont Empress, General Manager at Fairmont Empress
Responded Sep 1, 2022
Thank you for your lovely and detailed feedback regarding our Tea at the Empress. It is truly a fabulous experience. Thank you very much!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Booked a room with a king-sized bed more than a month in advance of a conference. Was given a room with a queen bed. When I asked the front desk about it, I was told because I was a single traveller, I was “assigned” a queen. When I enquired about the difference in price, I was informed the prices were the same. WTF??! And of course, they had no more rooms with kings. My first trip to Victoria and I can say I am extremely disappointed with this Fairmont.
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
We were treated with respect through our whole six day stay at the Fairmont Empress. It is a grand old hotel which has been painstakingly brought up to the 21 century without loosing any of its 1908 charm.
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Date of stay: January 2023
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: Always ask for an upgrade
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from General Manager Fairmont Empress, General Manager at Fairmont Empress
Responded 4 weeks ago
Dear Lincoln, We very much appreciate your comments regarding your stay at the Fairmont Empress. We are delighted to read that you had an excellent stay and enjoyed your visit at our hotel. It is always encouraging to learn that guests are satisfied with our service as it is what we strive for every day. Thank you for your kind feedback, and we hope to see you again soon.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I just had a standard king room, unfortunately my view was of the roof of the conference center. That said - there are many places within the hotel to see that beautiful harbor view, and the hotel itself is very nice. The bed is very comfortable, and the staff are very nice (although I did miss seeing Winston on my visit :( ).
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Date of stay: February 2023
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from General Manager Fairmont Empress, General Manager at Fairmont Empress
Responded 4 weeks ago
Good Day, We very much appreciate your comments regarding your stay at the Fairmont Empress and hope to see you again very soon.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We had a three night stay at the Fairmont Empress and the experience was divine. The hotel is absolutely stunning, and our room exceeded our expectations. The location of the hotel is fantastic, sitting majestically beside the bay. The hotel staff were extremely helpful and attentive. I encourage anyone traveling to Victoria BC to stay at the Empress, it is an unforgettable experience.
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Date of stay: January 2023
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from General Manager Fairmont Empress, General Manager at Fairmont Empress
Responded 6 days ago
Thank you for taking the time to review us! We are delighted you enjoyed your stay with us and very much look forward to warmly welcoming you again in the near future. Yours sincerely, Irene Martyniuk Fairmont Empress
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This was a celebration of a "Milestone" birthday for my wife. She said it was her 'best birthday celebration EVER. As wonderful as a Hallmark Christmas movie.' The room was enormous, and your staff was "over-the-top" helpful and friendly. And we LOVED greeting Winston each day. We'll definitely be back! Thank you for a fantastic birthday for my wife!!!
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Date of stay: December 2022
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: Pet-friendly. Higher-up rooms have better harbour view.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from General Manager Fairmont Empress, General Manager at Fairmont Empress
Responded 4 weeks ago
Good Day, Thank you very much for taking the time to share your comments regarding your stay at the Fairmont Empress. We are delighted to read that you had an excellent stay and enjoyed your visit at our hotel. It is always encouraging to learn that guests are satisfied with our service as it is what we strive for every day. Thank you for your kind feedback, and we hope to see you again soon.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Friendly welcome and the room and whole hotel environment were stunning. Loved the dog wandering in the foyer and his staff member owner was delightful. We enjoyed having drinks at the bar where staff were friendly, and the vibe encouraged chatting amongst other guests. Really enjoyed meeting other travellers. Very helpful staff assisting in scanning/emailing some documents for us also.
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Date of stay: September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from General Manager Fairmont Empress, General Manager at Fairmont Empress
Responded 4 weeks ago
Good Day, We very much appreciate your comments regarding your stay at the Fairmont Empress. It is always a pleasure to receive positive feedback. I will share your comments with our team. I am sure that this feedback will serve as an encouragement to all of our staff as we strive to continuously improve the quality of our services.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Very much enjoyed this grand dame property. The service was excellent from valet check in to massage therapy. The "High Tea" is an absolute must with many different selections and options. The rooms have been updated with more modern themes and the bathrooms have exquisite showers. The meals were all excellent
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Date of stay: December 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Lack of trained and professional staff. The hotel is gorgeous to look at, but rooms are small and largely outdated. In the case of the “Gold” level it is worth every cent. Jordan, James, Stephanie and crew treat you like royalty. Wandering down to other parts of the hotel the service not good. Q Bar is hit and miss with great bartenders like Jordan and servers like June mixed with untrained, rude and unprofessional servers such as Michael and others. Q Restaurant is much the same many servers are long time employees from a bygone era when service was paramount. One manager, Mark is quite good and another Micheal is a disaster. So stay “Gold” and stay away from Q Bar and restaurant if you truly are expecting five star service. It is definitely two to three star at best.
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Date of stay: December 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: Avoid the Q Bar and lounge extremely over priced and unprofessional service and etiquette....
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
PRICE RANGE
$246 - $362 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
the fairmont empress hotel victoria, fairmont hotel victoria, fairmont hotel empress, empress hotel victoria, fairmont victoria, victoria fairmont, fairmont empress hotel
LOCATION
CanadaBritish ColumbiaVancouver IslandVictoria Capital Regional DistrictVictoriaDowntown
NUMBER OF ROOMS
431
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Frequently Asked Questions about Fairmont Empress
Which popular attractions are close to Fairmont Empress?
Nearby attractions include Axe and Grind (0.1 miles), Russell Books (0.2 miles), and Inner Harbour (0.06 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Fairmont Empress?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include an indoor pool, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
Which room amenities are available at Fairmont Empress?
Top room amenities include air conditioning, a flat screen TV, and a refrigerator.
What food & drink options are available at Fairmont Empress?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at Fairmont Empress?
Yes, paid public parking nearby, paid public parking on-site, and secured parking are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Fairmont Empress?
Conveniently located restaurants include Legislative Dining Room, Finn's, and Fishhook.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Fairmont Empress?
Yes, guests have access to an indoor pool, a fitness center, and a sauna during their stay.
Does Fairmont Empress have airport transportation?
Yes, Fairmont Empress offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are any cleaning services offered at Fairmont Empress?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Are pets allowed at Fairmont Empress?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Does Fairmont Empress offer any business services?
Yes, it conveniently offers a business center, meeting rooms, and a banquet room.