The Fairmont Empress

overprice and cramp the rooms

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

The room was incredibly small. So was the bathroom. The place is simply old, and lack of maintenance has taken its toll. It looks and smells old. Carpets, windows, everything was old and worn out. It's former classy aura has faded long ago. Much better options for what I paid.

Genuine Expedia guest review

Hotel is too old so accommodation lacks in modern features; no a/c, although the time I visited was untypically hot. So you're paying just for the reputation, or tradition, of the hotel.

Genuine Expedia guest review

we had a tiny tiny outdated room. no air conditioning. we stayed at the empress because it's a victoria landmark. you get what you pay for?? we chose the least expensive room. would not stay there again. hotel lobby is pretty and looks good. but that itty bitty outdated room.....? not the best.

Genuine Expedia guest review

I am worried that Expedia users get the short end of the stick. This was one of three times on our recent west coast trip that we felt that we were given a less than satisfactory room location upon our arrival. In fact we were placed over the Crystal Ballroom on the first floor of the hotel in a room with no view and the party rocking below our room […] disturbed our sleep. In fact the hotel offered to move us to a higher floor, but we were already situated, unpacked and in bed. They comped our breakfast and offered us a later checkout, but that was hardly comforting when we had planned to arise for early sight seeing. Disappointed. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

Overrated. Location great but not worth price. Restaurant offered poor service and quality, yet very pricey. Desk staff who checked us in not knowledgeable about local restaurants within a block of hotel. No soap in bathroom upon arrival. Shower handle broken and bathroom very small. Hotel's public areas, ie. lobby, need some freshening. Would stay […] elsewhere next time. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Wonderful staff, great location, beautiful lobby and common areas. The guest rooms, while spacious, had inadequate lighting and air conditioning. This made the room very depressing and stuffy. Thank goodness there was a box fan in the closet or we would not have survived.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

I am going to be honest. Everything, and I mean everything, about this hotel is overpriced. Now, don't get me wrong, I love the location and understand the historic significance. But there are so many other great hotels in the area that I am shocked they get away with charging so much. Let's talk about tea at the Empress. I lived in the Victoria area […] for four years, so I know the area well. I also have travelled around the world, UK, Middle East, China, all over North America and have had afternoon tea all over. The Empress is right up there with Harrod's in terms of reputation. But let me tell you, it is unwarranted. It's not that the tea is bad, it's just that it is not exceptionally better than other tea places, even ones within walking distance of the Empress. The food is about the level I expect for a good afternoon tea, but it is not amazing. You can just go to the nice little Empress gift shop and buy a box of tea, look around and have the experience and be done with it, then go get better value tea down the road at Murchie's. I enjoyed my stay, and I am glad I got to finally stay there, but don't fool yourself into thinking it is the nicest hotel in Victoria. Most historic? Yes? Best location? Arguably, yes. If you are going to stay there, just stay one night, so you can have the experience, then get one of the other nice hotels in the area and save your money. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

This is a beautiful hotel on the outside and they are famous for their high tea however, I will never stay at this hotel again since our room was located fronting the main street and it was so noisy all night long. We didn't get a wink of sleep all night. Also, we were a bit hot and there wasn't any AC. If there was a thermostat in the room we did not […] see it. There was a ceiling fan in the room which did not help. This hotel is very close walking distance to the Inner Harbour and convenient for passengers flying in on the seaplane etc. and very short walk which was good but I would not recommend this hotel. We couldn't wait to get back to Vancouver and stay at L'Hermitage!!!!!! Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Had asked for a room with a view, got a view of the garbarator, had also requested a king bed and was initially given a queen bed. They did move us but it was an inconvenience to us. The room washroom was too small, toilet seat hits the bathtub when utilizing. It is a very old hotel and is very nice (the rest of the hotel), Amazing view of harbour if […] you were to get a room with a view. The bathroom sink in our room had a big crack down the centre of it, the shower curtain had large stains on it. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

everything is old but not classic, there are even holes and cracks on the wall!

Genuine Expedia guest review

not much :0(

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

My two children and I were disappointed with the level of communication and thoughtfulness we received from front desk staff. On three different occasions, interacting with three different employees we were treated rudely, made to feel insignificant and no one ever apologized when we expressed our concern about how previous employees had just treated […] us. And, in fact, we didn't appreciate that all we got was pressure to join the "Fairmont Gold" members club, when at that point we didn't even want to stay in the hotel any longer. We will not be recommending this former Victoria landmark to anyone. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

It was okay, nothing special, less than I had expected.

Genuine Expedia guest review

We felt the staff decided we were not wealthy and therefore did not act very friendly towards us. Everything we asked for was available for a fee. Parking $30.00 (ridiculous). Prices at the restautant - way overboard!!

Genuine Expedia guest review

I think the fairmont empress is surviving on their name and history alone. with the amount they charge in peak season to stay there, you'd think they could do some upgrades and retrofitting. the plumbing must be ancient, when someone flushes a toilet in another room your shower water pressure and temperature change. the windows are still wood frame […] single pane windows. the bathtub is pea yellow. when i first entered the room i noticed it wasnt cleaned very well as there was hair all over the bathroom floor. the room was quite small. the biggest turnoff of this place though was the way they nickle and dime you to death despite how much they charge for a room. the first blow was that parking costed me $30 for one night. if i wanted wifi access it would cost me $12 for 24 hours. i wanted to make a dinner reservation, so instead of getting charged long distance on my cell phone i used the in room phone and they charged me $2 for a 1 minute call! it would've been cheaper to use my cell. i just dont understand why when they charge so much to stay there, they still charge through the nose for the little things. generally not impressed. i will not stay there agian. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

After much anticipation of our stay at the Empress, Victoria, we were very disappointed in the rooms. Our room felt closet like. While we realize this is a heritage property the rooms are in sore need of updating and repair. The floor squeaked as well as it felt like the floor boards were falling apart under the carpet outside of the bathoom. There […] are ways to update/upgrade buildings while maintaining the integrity of heritage. The bed however, was comfortable. For the quality of the room we felt it was extremely overpriced. Will not stay again. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

no air con. service was slow, all the patio where close.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

This guest did not leave a comment.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

憧れのエンプレスホテルでしたので、予約をした、アフタヌーンティーを満喫し、ホテルのチエックインをしました。予め部屋のベッドや備え付けの品等、確認して,2月頃に6月の予約をしましたが、いざ、言われた部屋は、違ったものでした。3人で宿泊でしたが、アメニティも2人分でした。部屋も一番奥の部屋で、コーヒーメーカーには濡れたあとがそのまま残っており、ホコリもありました。日本語のできるスタッフはいないとのことで、拙い英語でアメニティのことは言いましたが、かなりがっかりするホテルでした。

Genuine Hotels.com guest review