Fairmont Chateau Laurier

Excellent location next to Parliament Hill and the Rideau Canal. And you are at the Centre of everything. I just think the hotel is short staffed. Waits at the front desk, we went to the famous terrace restaurant and the bartender looked bit impatient, when we finally sat down for dinner and ordered beer, the beer did not arrive for 25 minutes. We eventually did not stay for dinner. The restaurant service does not live up to its reputation. But one exception…the most friendly, professional and knowledgeable concierge staff. The one lady and 3 gentlemen I dealt with were most helpful and need to be recognized for the huge value they bring to the hotel. Overall, enjoyed it but service can be better.

We were given a 6th floor, under-the-eaves-room-with small-window-hidden-in-alcove during a SWELTERING HEATWAVE-with-appropriate-bed-but-rendered-view-with-stifling-heat discomfort. In a heat wave you do not want a 6th floor room at the chateau. Ever! So, while we were given a fifty dollar food voucher as a reasonable acknowledgment that the hotel knows it should be doing better, we decided to rest-up after our 5 1/2 hour drive and reconnoiter afterward discussing how to get the room we imagined & knew was available in this architectural pulchritude of historical loveliness. We complained, asked for a fan, had a technician in to look at the air conditioner, and asked the front desk to look into a better room for the rest of our stay. Next day, more intense heat heat so we hunkered down for the day in the lovely museum that’s a hotel and while taking pics & waiting for the hotel tour to begin (yes- the Chateau has hotel tours -it’s a stunningly beautiful old-world hotel -magical), we, in a seemingly happenstance moment happened across Jennifer, whom, on hearing about our 6th floor room fiasco arranged a 500 level room for us. Guy brought us new keys & brought our things down to the 5th floor. Just wished what felt like serendipity was more about communicating up front about delighting a customer. Splendid room. Absolutely lovely! More than what we imagined our $ would get us. C’est tres bonne! And air conditioning worthy of a Nordic Wind God. Now we could properly enjoy ourselves -heat be damned. Shout out to the valets stoically working outside the hotel in the terrible heat - discreet, professional. We parked our car in a public lot in the byward market. And we never did find out who owned the Bentley. Loved searching out which wall now housed Mr. Karsh’s photo of a disgruntled PM Churchill showing emotion for having his cigar taken away ended up. Hope to make visiting The Fairmount Chateau Laurier a yearly thing. Lovely place.

We stayed in Fairmont Chateau Laurier on Late June for our vacation. I have to say this hotel we experienced great service from everyone work there, but that’s about it. Because as soon as we walk into our room, it has moldy smell, which we tried to ignore it, the real big “bug” about this hotel is air conditioners. We call the front desk to tell them if we could change room because our room was warm. They sent a technician and bring a fan to us. Technician tried to explain to us about the hotel air conditioner system Was using water to cool down the room which means it was a very old system! And what that means there is no solution for this , that’s why he brought a fan ! The time we were there was before the weather started to become warmer. Remember this year weather could not get warm until the end of June or July? I can not imagine what the room temperature will be in summer time. Bottom line is maybe winter is the only time suitable for staying this hotel! Very disappointed experience.

Everyone who works at this hotel seems so happy and eager to please. This hotel must really be a pleasure to work in. Certainly the architectural beauty and prime location make this the place to be in Ottawa. Very comfortable and quiet rooms. Parking is exorbitant at $60/night. Drop your bags and park across the street at the National Arts Centre for half in a safe secure underground lot.

The valet was a shitshow. It took forever to be able to pull our car up to unload and check-in. The chair in the room looked like it was mauled. I expected a higher quality.