Great Romantic Hotels: The Fairmont Empress Hotel    

The Fairmont Empress

The Fairmont Empress is a beautiful romantic hotel located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Visit The Fairmont Empress to explore Victoria, get pampered at the hotel spa, and engage in exciting activities such as ocean bound whale watching. The hotel, opened in 1908, has a long history and has attracted many celebrity guests, including Rita Hayworth, Katherine Hepburn, Roger Moore, John Travolta, Barbara Streisland and Harrison Ford. The Fairmont Empress Hotel is our pick for one of the best historic vacation spots.

The Willow Stream spa offers exclusive and specialized treatments using natural resources and indigenous ingredients from British Columbia such as purifying algae, rare muds, essential oils and herbs. Other vacation activities guests can enjoy nearby include golf, kayaking, tennis, shopping, fishing, mountain biking, eco-tours, sailing and hiking.

If you are planning a wedding, a reunion or organizing a company business meeting, The Fairmont Empress offers six meeting rooms and a ballroom. The Victoria Conference Centre with 40,000 square feet of meeting space is attached to The Fairmont Empress.

Rooms & Food

The hotel has 476 guest rooms with antique furnishings, including suites and Entrée Gold rooms and suites. Guest rooms have great views of the city, courtyard, or Victoria's Inner Harbour.

Elegant dining is offered in the The Empress Dining Room which has been awarded a AAA 4 Diamond rating. Other dining options include The Bengal Lounge, a Victorian club lounge, and Kipling's, a casual family restaurant. Tea at The Empress is a daily afternoon tee service that has been offered at the hotel for over 90 years.

Location

Victoria is a charming city with art galleries, gardens and antique shops. Guests can visit Butchart Gardens, Royal British Columbia Museum and local wineries. If you are looking for something romantic, try the horse-drawn carriage ride.

Best Time to Go & Getting There

If you would like to see the magnificent orcas, The Fairmont Empress is offering a Whale Watching Safari Package from mid-April through mid-October, 2002. Victoria's International Airport is a 30 minute drive from The Fairmont Empress. Taxis are available at the airport. A great way to arrive to Victoria is by sea. Regular ferry and high-speed catamaran service connects Vancouver Island to the mainland of B.C. and Washington State.

The Facts
Check the hotel web site for seasonal offers and packages. Room rates from $199 CAD.

Fairmont Empress, 721 Government Street, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, 800-441-1414 250-384-8111

  1. Exterior
      Exterior
  2. Willow Stream spa
      Willow Stream spa
  3. Tea Service
      Tea Service
  4. Victoria Premiere hotel room
      Victoria Premiere hotel room
  5. Atrium Pool
      Atrium Pool
  6. Lounge
      Lounge
  7. Exterior picture
      Exterior picture
  8. The Tea Lobby
      The Tea Lobby
  9. Bedroom
      Bedroom
  10. Dinner
      Dinner
  11. Spa Treatment Room
      Spa Treatment Room
  12. Chocolate Treats
      Chocolate Treats
[Feature Photo: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts]