Blending the classic build elements from the early 1900s with the new modern, Fairmont Chateau Ottawa offers its guests a historical stay in the heart of Ottawa. In fact, the property is located within walking distance to all top attractions, including the National Gallery of Canada, Notre Dame Basilica, Royal Canadian Mint, and Byward Market.
Location
Location, location, location is the key phrase used in real estate. And if this was the metric used to assess Chateau Laurier, we’d say the property is a winner. Fairmont Chateau is situated across from Parliament Hill and beside the Rideau Canal locks, a UNESCO world heritage site. Major Hill Park is located behind the Fairmont Chateau and is a great spot to not only stroll but also enjoy a picnic. We strolled the park during sunset and have to say it made for a very romantic closing to the day. We definitely weren’t the only ones that had the idea and actually noticed quite a few couples and families strolling the beautiful grounds of the property or gathering to admire the boats passing through the locks system.
Check-in experience and first impressions
In terms of our first impressions – we have to say that, as is with most Fairmont properties, the hotel truly is beautiful. It really does have a feeling of a castle or a French Chateau (which is in the properties name) and a royal grandeur that simply can’t be replicated now a days. This comes as no surprise seeing as the property stood tall in the heart of Ottawa since 1912 and has hosted a number of prominent people including Bryan Adams, Nelson Mandela, and Carrie Fisher. We’ve heard from prior guests that you can do a virtual self-guided tour of the hotel using an iPad (Chateau will provide it if you do not have one) – however we didn’t take one up ourselves.
The rooms
Our room was a good size for a couple, and we especially appreciated the tall ceilings. They made the room feel larger and have a general grander feel. We’re guessing these ceilings are at least 15 feet tall (though we’ve heard they may even be 20 feet tall). The bedding (which is one of the critical things for us) was clean, and the bed was comfortable. We both had an incredible night of sleep which is not something you can always say about a hotel bed.
In terms of the bathroom, there isn’t a lot of counter space, and a bit of wear and tear does show in this room. However, while the wear and tear showed, the space itself is clean.
All in all, the rooms are suited with relatively standard items. The room featured tea and coffee facilities, bath robes, a mini bar, a small seating area, and a writing desk. Two noteworthy items would have to be the bottled water Flow, and the ironing board. In terms of the Flow Water, while Daria really likes the brand, we were a bit disappointed to find that the water was provided free of charge only for the day of the check-in. We know some other luxury brand hotels in the area offer it daily, so we were a bit surprised. We did appreciate that the room had an ironing board, as that is often rare for hotels, and the service desk usually has to be called in to be able to rent or borrow one.
Before concluding the room section of our write-up, it is worth noting that we paid approximately $323 pre-tax for the room. We considered this to be a bit of a hefty fee, given the overall experience. As noted further in the post, while there wasn’t anything bad in particular, given Fairmont’s reputation, the overall experience left us wanting a bit more.
Facilities and experiences
While we didn’t spend much time using the facilities, we have to remark on the staff and our interactions with them. Our first interaction with them was when we realized we had forgotten our toothpaste. We called the reception, and they were extremely kind – immediately bringing up a kit featuring toothpaste and a toothbrush. We’ve also had a couple of interactions with the front desk staff when we needed to store our luggage after check out and when we needed room utensils. The staff were really great and were able to assist us each time fairly quickly, something we really appreciated given how busy the hotel was during our stay. We actually stayed when the Fairmont was hosting multiple proms, and so evidently, it was very busy, however, that never interfered with the service we received.
In terms of facilities, the Fairmont Chateau does have an indoor pool as well as a health club/fitness centre. While we didn’t use either of these spaces, we visited them and found them quite busy even though we stopped by very close to the opening hours of 6:30 AM.
The Fairmont Chateau also does have valet parking, but it comes at a hefty price of $60 per day (plus tax) – so we did not use this. However, there are plenty of other parking options around the hotel – even some only 5 minutes away or so.
Dining
There are a couple of alternatives at Fairmont Chateau – the Wilfrid Restaurant, the Reading Lounge and La Terrasse. We didn’t end up dining in on the property as so much selection is offered right around the corner. But, we heard great things about the afternoon tea served at Fairmont. We will need to check it out next time we visit.
Overall Scores
Her take:
All in all, I’d have to give the Fairmont Chateau Ottawa property a 7.5/10. While the location is perfect, as everything is within walking distance of the hotel, the hotel does show a bit of wear and tear. Aside from the grandeur and castle-like outer appearance, I wouldn’t say there is anything else in particular about the property that truly made us wowed by it, especially given the price.
His take:
Overall, I’d have to give the Fairmont Chateau an 8.5 rating out of 10. The biggest reason for this would likely be the location, as all key tourist locations and food options are within walking distance from the hotel.
There isn’t anything about the hotel that is truly remarkable, however, there is a very nice luxurious feeling to it. What I enjoyed was how eco-friendly it is. For example, the hotel room keys are wooden, the toothbrush we received in their dental kit was also wooden, and the toothpaste may have been the most earthy and natural toothpaste I have ever used. Would I return to Fairmont Chateau based on the overall experience? I certainly would, and I think it is a great option for families, couples or those travelling on business.
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