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All 57 Victoria hotels

The Fairmont Empress

4.0 of 5
721 Government Street, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 1W5, Canada
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Ranked #17 of 57 hotels in Victoria
Most recent review
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 17 June 2013
coalharbor2010 vancouver
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1,192 reviews from our community

Traveller rating
    607
    326
    159
    67
    33
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Families
243
 
Couples
480
 
Solo
54
 
Business
188
 
Rating summary
  • Location
    5 of 5 stars
  • Sleep Quality
    4.5 of 5 stars
  • Rooms
    4 of 5 stars
  • Service
    4.5 of 5 stars
  • Value
    4 of 5 stars
  • Cleanliness
    4.5 of 5 stars
Date Rating
vancouver
Senior Contributor
45 reviews 45 reviews
11 hotel reviews
Reviews in 23 cities Reviews in 23 cities
22 helpful votes 22 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 17 June 2013 NEW

If you're looking for a bland corporate stay, sleek modern hotel or some hipster artsy boutique experince, keep looking. The Empress is a grand railway hotel firmly stuck in the last century and proud of it. We were upgraded to a one bedroom suite with a harbour view and I loved it. It really felt like I was staying at... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 1
See 3 more reviews by coalharbor2010 for Victoria
from guess where
Senior Contributor
22 reviews 22 reviews
12 hotel reviews
Reviews in 14 cities Reviews in 14 cities
24 helpful votes 24 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 16 June 2013 NEW

My wife and I stayed for 7 nights during early June, 2013 in the Gold section of the Fairmont Empress. Originally we had booked a Deluxe King for a conference my wife was attending. When we arrived at our room, we didn't like the view and asked if an upgrade was available. We were told we could upgrade to Gold... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 1
See 2 more reviews by MikeAnnArbor for Victoria
vancouver
Reviewer
4 reviews 4 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 14 June 2013 NEW

This was our third stay at the Empress in Victoria. This time, we decided to try out Fairmont Gold. It was really great - separate check-in, excellent service. We loved the gold lounge, which was always well stocked with drinks, coffee, tea and cookies. Breakfast was excellent, and so were the evening hors d'oeuvres. We will definitely opt for Gold... More

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See 2 more reviews by jvorb for Victoria
OR
Contributor
14 reviews 14 reviews
6 hotel reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
1 of 5 stars Reviewed 13 June 2013 NEW

We booked a room at the Empress with some trepidation based on the mixed reviews. I booked a standard room, expecting a room badly in need of an update, complete with peeling wallpaper in the bathroom, shabby furniture and a parking lot view, but expecting the room to live up to the basic standards of a Fairmont, like premium bedding,... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 1
See 5 more reviews by ecutler for Victoria
wokingham
Senior Reviewer
10 reviews 10 reviews
8 hotel reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 13 June 2013 NEW

We thoroughly enjoyed our 2night stay from the moment of our arrival, valet parking to check in we were made to feel welcome . we were upgraded to the 5th floor room 232 this was exactly what we hoped for a great room fantastic views of the harbour. wonderful bed room service and first class house keeping made our stay... More

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Whitby, Canada
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
3 hotel reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 11 June 2013

We loved our 2 night stay at the hotel for a birthday celebration. We had a lovely room on the 6th floor overlooking the harbour. It was so enjoyable to have a drink and watch the activities in front of us. The waiter in the Empress room was very accommodating when the wine we chose did not meet our expectations... More

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FairmontEmpress1908, General Manager at The Fairmont Empress, responded to this review
12 June 2013

Dear Valued Guest from Whitby, Thank you for taking the time to write such a great review on Tripadvisor of your recent stay with us. I am so pleased to hear that we were able to provide you with the service that The Fairmont Empress is so well known for. It is wonderful to hear that you were welcomed warmly... More

Oakville, Canada
Contributor
11 reviews 11 reviews
9 hotel reviews
Reviews in 9 cities Reviews in 9 cities
12 helpful votes 12 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 10 June 2013

Like all the old railway hotels in Canada, the Empress is glorious. But what made this stand out was the phenomenal service, from the valet parking to check in to room service to house keeping to the spa. I have never felt so well cared for in a hotel! I was upgraded to a room with a view of the... More

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Portland, OR
Top Contributor
52 reviews 52 reviews
6 hotel reviews
Reviews in 12 cities Reviews in 12 cities
10 helpful votes 10 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 10 June 2013 via mobile

We had a fabulous experience at the Empress hotel. At check-in, our customer service rep Ryan Chew graciously up graded us to a beautiful corner room with a lovely view of the harbor for NO extra charge. Now that's customer service!!! It pays to ask and ask nicely! The room was perfect and the staff friendly and helpful. We will... More

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See 2 more reviews by Care P for Victoria
st-jerome, qc
Senior Contributor
29 reviews 29 reviews
3 hotel reviews
Reviews in 16 cities Reviews in 16 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 9 June 2013

An historical hotel located by the sea and surrounded by wonderful gardens. The rooms are comfortable. The dining room makes you feel like a queen. A lot of choice for breakfast. The location is perfect : you can walk along the harbor (in front of the hotel), visit many attractions in the streets nearby. You can also have a carriage... More

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FairmontEmpress1908, General Manager at The Fairmont Empress, responded to this review
12 June 2013

Dear Valued Guest from St-Jerome, Thank you for taking the time to write such a great review on Tripadvisor of your recent stay with us. I am so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your stay while in Victoria. It is wonderful to hear that you enjoyed breakfast in The Empress Dining Room and Afternoon Tea in our historic Tea... More

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada
Senior Contributor
38 reviews 38 reviews
13 hotel reviews
Reviews in 17 cities Reviews in 17 cities
28 helpful votes 28 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 9 June 2013

Stay was good and the location was great. Walking distance to everything and many local tour operators just across the street in the harbour area. Rooms are small but that is to be expected at an old gem like this one. Staff was helpful and remember to bring a bike if you want to go and explore the city.

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See 2 more reviews by Hollyg74 for Victoria
 
 
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Hotel Summarization (Beta)

What travellers say

  • Bengal lounge(53)
  • Afternoon tea(39)
  • Gold Floor(35)
  • High tea(20)
  • Very good(14)
  • Old world(14)
  • Great location(12)
  • Air conditioning(11)
  • Staff were friendly(10)
  • Hot tub(10)

Additional Information about The Fairmont Empress

Address: 721 Government Street, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 1W5, Canada
Phone Number:
Region: Canada > British Columbia > Vancouver Island > Victoria Capital Regional District > Victoria
Amenities:
Bar/Lounge Business Centre Fitness Centre Children Activities Pets Allowed Restaurant Room Service Suites Swimming Pool Wheelchair access
Hotel Style:
#3 Romantic Hotels in Victoria
#8 Luxury Hotels in Victoria
#14 Family Hotels in Victoria
#16 Business Hotels in Victoria
Price Range: $$$
Hotel Class:4 star (4*)
Official Description (provided by the hotel):
The Fairmont Empress sits majestically at the cornerstone of Victoria's sparkling Inner Harbour. This landmark hotel features turn of the century architecture, classic beauty and an unrivaled location on the water. It features the highly acclaimed Willow Stream Spa regarded as one of the best spas in Canada. Food lovers can sample the English ritual of Afternoon Tea, savour the famous curry buffet in The Bengal Lounge or sample award-winning food and wine in The Empress Room. The Fairmont Empress offers wireless internet access in all guestrooms, and it is complimentary for our Fairmont President's Club members, free to join. ... more   less 
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Also Known As:
The Fairmont Empress Hotel
The Fairmont Empress Hotel Victoria
Fairmont Hotel Victoria
Fairmont Hotel Empress
Empress Hotel Victoria
Fairmont Victoria
Victoria Fairmont
Fairmont Empress Hotel

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