The Fairmont Palliser, Calgary

Having particularly enjoyed a stay at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto, we were keen to try its smaller sister in Calgary. We stayed for 3 nights at the end of a superb Rocky Mountaineer train journey from Vancouver to Calgary.
First impressions of the hotel were very good, with a helpful welcome from the concierge who arrange for our bags to be taken direct to the room. Check in was very friendly and efficient, possibly helped by the fact that I am a Fairmont Presidents Club member - hotel loyalty schemes always seem to be worth joining.

Our room was a "double double" of very good size and clearly recently redecorated. The bathroom, although clean and functional, could probably benefit from an update in the near future. Furnishings in the room were very smart and comfortable and there was the usual TV/games/internet facility. Being able to check the bill on the TV was a benefit that we like, and it was amazing how quickly the items appeared. We were initially charged for local phone calls required for our phone card, but these charges were removed without having to ask, as part of the Presidents Club perks.

The view from the room was across to another block of the hotel, but this was not a problem as we were aware that there are no real "view" rooms in the hotel. We were pleased that we were able to open a small window, as the outside temperature over the 3 days rose from -2 C to 18 C. There was of course also air conditioning.

Our location on the 10 th floor was very quiet, apart from a few minor rattles from the pipes during the night. Any calls to reception were answered by name, and any requests or questions handled perfectly.

Breakfast was expensive, at around 25 CAD per person for the full buffet, so we just used this facility for one morning. The restaurant prices in the evening were around 12 CAD for starters and 40 CAD for mains, so we chose to eat elswhere in Calgary on 2 nights and had a bar meal in the hotel on the third - excellent quality and value for around 18 CAD for main courses.

The bar and other public rooms were very comfortable and generally quiet, with excellent service. Occaisionally there were brief periods of noise from large parties - eg competitors from a Curling championships, but no real problem.

The hotel is in great downtown location, adjacent to the Clagary Tower and in walking distance of all the major shops. We also walked to the zoo, along the Bow River - about 40 mins each way.

As we stayed as part of a package, we cannot comment on the cost of the hotel, but fairmont.com is a good site for checking prices and making bookings - it's always best to look for special offers at quieter times of the year, or packages including breakfast. Other booking agencies also offer good deals.

We can thoroughly recommend this hotel for those staying in Calgary, particularly if you like style, elegance and service.