I only had about a 14 hour layover in Vancouver, though decided to spend it in the city. Vancouver is probably my favorite city in North America, and really does feel like a mini Hong Kong (which is one of my favorite places in the world).
Continue reading: Review: Fairmont Waterfront Vancouver
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Interesting post and hotel review. I think, something worth keeping in mind, is that the $100 F&B credits may be more able to be used by folks who travel with (a) another person or two and/or (b) who stay for more than one night. Which, usually doesn't describe you ...
I was under the impression AmEx was moving toward a full breakfast benefit with their FHR program so I was surprised you were only offered a continental buffet. What is your information on this?
If the buffet came with juice, cereal, fruit, cheese, meat, lox, bagels, toast, pastries, etc. that seems like a fairly substantial breakfast. With the F&B credit it seems to work best with two people as that can cover Breakfast for three days easily.
@ JetAway -- There are some hotels that go above and beyond, but I haven't heard of the official policy changing from offering continental breakfast.
@Lucky-The FHR booking website refers to "Daily Breakfast" as a benefit whereas awhile back it referred to "Continental Breakfast." Along these lines, I've been receiving full breakfasts at all of my FHR bookings over the last year. If you receive any clarification from AmEx on this we would certainly appreciate hearing about it.
@ JetAway -- The benefit hasn't changed, they're just marketing it slightly differently since lots of hotels were going above and beyond. In my experience non-US/Canadian properties almost always offer full hot breakfast, while US/Canadian hotels mostly offer continental breakfast. But it's totally at the hotel's discretion, so nothing American Express can clarify.
@Lucky-Thanks for the info. I guess I was under the impression AmEx had changed the terms of their contract with the FHR properties.
Slight nitpick, but there are 3 Fairmonts in Vancouver -- Pacific Rim, Waterfront, and just "the Fairmont Hotel". There's also a fairmont in the airport, although the last two are not FHR.
Loved the report, would like to see more of your views on Fairmont as a brand in the future 🙂
I actually stayed at the Waterfront shortly before you did, Lucky, and used AmEx FHR to do so. For breakfast, I got the option to order off the breakfast menu (up to $20) instead of getting the cold buffet or paying to upgrade to the hot buffet. I thought that was a much better deal. Not sure if they really advertise that, though. Great review!
@ KHJack -- Now that I live in hotels full time I have several hotel reviews coming up, and then have another major trip coming up in early May -- stay tuned!
Lucky, you should have used the leftover credit to order additional food to takeout for afternoon or early dinner. That would be maximizing the F B credit.
@ Lucky - since Fairmont Platinum can be obtained in 10 stays (or 30 nights), it seems like you can earn that without too much problem as long as FHR rates count (their T&C don't mention it specifically). Platinum members get 1000 mile credit to with airline partners.
I would kill to see you review the Fairmont properties at Lake Louise and Banff. (Not literally, though -- hopefully the AA twitter team isn't reading this!)
If you want to check out an awesome Fairmont Hotel check out the Fairmont Jaipur or Montreux. And yes I agree some Fairmont's are just stunning i.e Fairmont Quebec City, Lake Louise, Banff, Jasper, Montebello etc. However others are just average: Vancouver Airport, Vancouver Waterfront, Chicago
Hi Lucky
Intrigued by one minor point. You said that the rate was $185 yet the rate on the welcome card says $204. Did they misprint?
@ john -- The rate I mentioned was in USD, while the rate on the folio was in CAD.
Could you please fix your website? There seems to be something wrong with its formatting in Chrome. None of the other boardingarea websites seem to be affected.
Do you have to use the F&B credit all yourself, or could you "treat" a family or someone to lunch to use up the F&B credit so it didn't go to waste?
Just buy a really nice double scotch at $70ish and you're good to go. That's what I do at least.
I actually LOVED LOVED LOVED the Fairmont pacific rim, which is like one block away from your fairmont... It can get kinda crazy during the weekends with all the ferraris and the bentleys parked in the front...
Ben, there are some amazingly beautiful Fairmont properties in Canada. These were originally Canadian Pacific Railway hotels until CP bought Fairmont and rebranded all the Canadian properties. All of the old railway properties are quite grand.
Banff Springs (the first-built CP Hotels property), Château Lake Louise, and Château Frontenac (most photographed hotel in the World) come to mind as must-sees/stays.
The restaurant across the hotel is very good, Miku, check it out next time you are around 🙂
@ Laurel -- As long as it's charged to your room anyone could be using the credit, basically.
@Matt - There are actually four Fairmont hotels in Vancouver- Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, Waterfront, Pacific Rim and Fairmont Vancouver Airport.
Nice review of Fairmont Waterfront Vancouver. Next time you're in Vancouver, please send me an email. Would be great to show you around if you had the time.
Can't believe you wasted the $100 food and beverage credit though. You ought to have ordered some drinks to run it dry.