The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Seattle

Did the tea time. It was a nice experience. Service was good. Staff was friendly.

Very crowded and incredibly understaffed hotel, examples including 30 min wait time at check in, inattentive servers at breakfast, and 90 minutes waiting in line at checkout. Overall, a very frustrating experience, would have expected a lot more with the cost of staying here

Been to this hotel for many different occasions but not recently. We stayed here for the flower show and loved the location and such a beautiful historic building. Unfortunately they were very understaffed. Valet was backed up even though the staff was clearly hustling. We called it in half hour before and still waited 20 minutes after the promised time. The bar is such a lovely spot for people watching and a drink but the wait was long and the food was not well prepared. They give you a number to text when you need something but requests were not responded to or it took so long that it was easier to try and call. Overall it felt like they were trying to cut costs at the expense of the customer. Expect more from a luxury hotel.

★☆☆☆☆ — Request for Management Review I’m leaving this review because my Valentine’s stay did not reflect the standards expected from a property of this reputation, and I would appreciate management reviewing what occurred. I booked the romance package and had difficulty reaching concierge prior to arrival — calls, texts, and emails largely went unanswered while trying to plan. At check-in, we waited 47 minutes with no acknowledgment or apology. We then missed our dinner reservation because valet informed us retrieving our car would take about 30 minutes. When we returned for assistance, concierge was closed and the front desk offered minimal solutions. A manager converted a $50 massage credit into a hotel credit and suggested room service, which did not resolve the situation. The room itself was clean but showed clear maintenance concerns: peeling wallpaper, visible water damage above the shower, a loose bathroom mirror, and melted plastic stuck to the iron that ruined my husband’s shirt. The champagne and strawberries included with the package were fine, but nothing about the experience felt special or aligned with the expectations set by the hotel’s branding. Not a single staff member even acknowledged Valentine’s Day, which was surprising considering the package theme. At checkout, the apology felt routine rather than responsive, which gave the impression these issues may not be uncommon. That was honestly the most concerning part. For comparison, we’ve had far more attentive and proactive service at other Seattle hotels, including Silver Cloud SODO, where communication and guest care felt genuinely prioritized. I would welcome direct contact from hotel management to discuss this stay, as the service, communication, and room condition did not match the price point or brand reputation — though based on our experience trying to reach staff, I’m not confident that call will be returned.

We have stayed at this hotel numerous times as the actual hotel is our favorite in Seattle. However, the service has gotten unacceptable. The last straw was we booked for the night prior to the Seahawks parade. We got there to check on around 6:00 pm and were told there was a glitch in the system and we did not have a room. I had my confirmation number to show them and they still could not accommodate us. This completely ruined our plans. There was a huge line of guests ready to check in in front of us and behind us. All being turned away. They said they would get us a room at another hotel. We choose to not do this as we had selected the Fairmont due to the location for the parade. This is just unacceptable. We have had other stays there where we have waited a long time to check in. Their system really needs improvement. The valet is ridiculous as well. We’ve waited for an hour, and another time 40 min. We almost stopped coming due to the chaotic parking system but live the actual hotel so much we continued to book here. In addition, the bar has the worst service. Slowest moving bartenders I’ve seen. No urgency. Lastly, on our stay a week ago we were charged for the items in the mini bar. We don’t even drink beer and do not like Chardonnay and we were charged for these items. Still trying to get a hold of management to discuss this. Always goes to voice mail. We will never be returning to this hotel.