We stayed six nights. The hotel itself is magnificent. The staff is friendly, accommodating and relaxed. We were met by a young woman on her break; she helped us with our luggage and guided us to the reception area. It was the perfect start to a perfect stay. She set a high standard of expectation; the rest of the staff met that standard as well.
Bad service at the restaurant with long waiting lists for breakfast and diner. Also there are items not available on the breakfast menu. The luggage service at departure was not on time. We had to rush to catch the taxi. This is not the service at the level of a 5 star hotel.
We have stayed in hotels throughout North America and Europe. I have never experienced such a level of care and attention to detail. All the staff, from the reception, concierge, cleaning, and restaurants exuded pleasantness and cordiality. All of our needs were met with speed and effectiveness. Our fantastic corner room provided a view of both the parliament building and the marina. The food and drinks were top-notch, better by far than some very highly rated local restaurants. I strongly suggest taking the time to eat at The Veranda, the Empress outside patio. Our only regret is the brevity of our stay. There is no question that when we come back to Victoria we will be booking the Empress. I would like to once again thank Mitchell Hughes and the wonderful staff for such an incredible stay.…
Spent two nights at Fairmont Empress. Really impressive how Fairmont has maintained this historic property that opened in 1908. The only thing that was disappointing was there was no hot water for showers at 6:00pm. Hotel appeared nearly full so I guess everyone was showering for dinner. Afternoon tea was a lot of fun. Light dinner on the Veranda at sunset was delightful. Within walking distance of Victoria harbor and other points of interest.. We especially liked Winston the yellow lab although he was really most interested in staff with a treat.
Location could not be more beautiful and walkable. Food was wonderful, afternoon Tea was delightful and delicious. Rooms are nicely furnished and very clean. Worth it for a night or two, more if you can afford it.
At least it was gorgeous, before they "renovated" it. I can't believe they cut those gorgeous trees in front of the hotel down. They were what made this hotel the Empress. Been there several times, but will not go back after they cannibalized the Exterior and the Interior. Remember people: a good renovation should not change the ambiance of the existing place. So disappointed!
Fairmont was one of the major reason for our most satisfying vacation in Canada. The reception was polite and positive for extra discounts at our requests, for an online matching deal, which otherwise also was a decent package. The concierge was very helpful for and shared her personal experiences for the Whale watching. The onward journey bookings were scrutinized for us for the best ticketing deals.
Beautiful hotel in a wonderful location. Food, beverages, and service was very good. High Tea was a great experience. We utilized Valet parking without any incident. We will definitely return in the future.
We stayed with you at the Fairmont Empress in order to attend the Pride and Prejudice Midsummers Ball. The hotel and location are beautiful, from the Restaurant to the Crystal Ballroom. The staff at the hotel were also extremely friendly and accommodating. That said, I don't believe it's worth the money. We ordered room service as we needed to get dressed and ready for the evening ball, and the food was mediocre at best - underseasoned and undercooked in some cases. My wife and I made a pact to never order room service again, with the exception of beverages. We stayed in a standard Fairmont King room, costing close to $600 per night. The room was nice. Nothing fancy, nothing extravagant... Just nice. I have no complaints about it at all - It was clean and functional, but again, not worth the price. Had I known this, I would have spent the extra money on a better room. In my honest opinion, if you're going to stay here, spend the extra money on a "fancier" room, or better yet, find a beautiful Boutique Hotel and save yourself some money.…
This is an old building that has been renovated. It is really quite beautiful. The hotel is very well situated in the heart of downtown Victoria. It was very simple to walk to our pick of shops and restaurants as well as the museam and the parliament buildings.
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