When we travel, we usually stay at nicer, mid-range hotels but occasionally like to splurge. The Fairmont Palliser in downtown Calgary, Alberta was one such splurge.
It had been more than 15 years since I’d last been to Calgary and my wife had never been so, following a deployment with a U.S. federal disaster relief agency that had me away from home for four months, we decided to take a short vacation to reconnect.
It had been more than 15 years since I’d last been to Calgary and my wife had never been so, following a deployment with a U.S. federal disaster relief agency that had me away from home for four months, we decided to take a short vacation to reconnect.
Calgary is a quick flight from our home in Seattle, and both Banff and Lake Louise are within easy driving distance of Calgary so, with flights booked and rental car reserved, we started looking at hotels.
Wanting an up-market hotel close to restaurants and bars that would offer alternatives to whatever our hotel offered, we chose the Fairmont Palliser. We could not have been happier.
As with all the Fairmonts at which we’ve stayed over the years, staff represented the epitome of hospitality: polished, professional and gracious. For example, after our first interaction, the hotel valet/doorman remembered – and USED – our name every time we left or returned. Every. Time. Talk about making someone feel special!
While we’d booked a Deluxe room, we were upgraded to a larger Signature Room upon check-in. The room on the hotel’s 9th floor was very spacious, measuring about 320 square feet. Ten-foot ceilings made the room feel even more grand. The room had a King bed with a bench seat at the end, a sofa with coffee table, an easy chair with an ottoman, and a desk equipped with delightful old-school touches like stationery and mailing envelopes.
A flat-screen TV sat on a bureau which contained coffee and tea service, glassware for coffee, tea, or wine, and a minibar with wine, spirits and snacks.
A safe, iron and board, and robes and slippers awaited in the closet, while the bath was equipped with high-end amenities, a hair dryer, and an increasingly important magnifying mirror over the vanity. The bath had its own radiator on a separate thermostat from the room so guests could take the chill off before getting into the shower. Both the closet and the bathrooms were smaller than at more modern hotels though, given the hotel’s history, it was understandable.
The Palliser first opened its doors in June 1914. With the Canadian Pacific Railway as the original owner, the hotel was an outgrowth of the railroad’s intent on pushing westward. The hotel is connected to what used to be a CPR station spanning 1 Street SW, though it is now sealed and inaccessible. Train tracks that run behind the hotel now carry freight trains almost exclusively. Passenger trains are increasingly rare.
Home of the famed Calgary Stampede, the city has plenty of accommodations. Many of them are downtown, near the city’s landmark Calgary Tower and the major pedestrian mall, Stephen Avenue. Located along 8 Avenue SW between 4 Street SW and 1 Street SE, the mall contains a high concentration of registered historic buildings. In fact, the street itself was declared a Canadian historic site in 2002. Today, it boasts a range of restaurants, bars and pubs, shops and stores from Dollarama to The Bay. It also abuts the Core Shopping Centre, which was formerly Calgary Eaton Centre/TD Square.
King bed in our Signature room |
Wanting an up-market hotel close to restaurants and bars that would offer alternatives to whatever our hotel offered, we chose the Fairmont Palliser. We could not have been happier.
As with all the Fairmonts at which we’ve stayed over the years, staff represented the epitome of hospitality: polished, professional and gracious. For example, after our first interaction, the hotel valet/doorman remembered – and USED – our name every time we left or returned. Every. Time. Talk about making someone feel special!
Sitting area. Doors lead to bath (left) and closet |
While we’d booked a Deluxe room, we were upgraded to a larger Signature Room upon check-in. The room on the hotel’s 9th floor was very spacious, measuring about 320 square feet. Ten-foot ceilings made the room feel even more grand. The room had a King bed with a bench seat at the end, a sofa with coffee table, an easy chair with an ottoman, and a desk equipped with delightful old-school touches like stationery and mailing envelopes.
TV, refreshment bureau and desk area |
A flat-screen TV sat on a bureau which contained coffee and tea service, glassware for coffee, tea, or wine, and a minibar with wine, spirits and snacks.
Small but well-appointed bath |
A safe, iron and board, and robes and slippers awaited in the closet, while the bath was equipped with high-end amenities, a hair dryer, and an increasingly important magnifying mirror over the vanity. The bath had its own radiator on a separate thermostat from the room so guests could take the chill off before getting into the shower. Both the closet and the bathrooms were smaller than at more modern hotels though, given the hotel’s history, it was understandable.
Bath amenities |
The Palliser first opened its doors in June 1914. With the Canadian Pacific Railway as the original owner, the hotel was an outgrowth of the railroad’s intent on pushing westward. The hotel is connected to what used to be a CPR station spanning 1 Street SW, though it is now sealed and inaccessible. Train tracks that run behind the hotel now carry freight trains almost exclusively. Passenger trains are increasingly rare.
Shuttered Canadian Pacific Railway station |
The on-site restaurant and lounge, The Hawthorn, offered food and beverages from breakfast all the way to the nightcap. After rising very early the first day to catch our early morning flight, we lacked the energy to do much exploring so chose to enjoy wine and small plates before turning in. They were well-prepared and delicious, brought by servers who clearly understand what hospitality means.
The Palliser is a popular conference destination and there were at least three there during our stay. That meant the lobby and the restaurant were quite busy – and noisy – at times, though staff handled everything with aplomb. Importantly, little of the noise made its way to our guestroom.
The hotel has an on-site spa on the bottom floor, with prices as you would expect for spa treatments in a resort setting. There are also an indoor swimming pool and fitness center.
One thing the Palliser does not have is an on-site shop with Fairmont merchandise. However, products are available online at us.FairmontStore.com and at the Fairmont Banff Springs, just about an hour’s drive up the Trans-Canada Highway.
We left, reluctantly, feeling quite pampered, and looking forward to what we trust will be a similar experience at our next yet-to-be-discovered Fairmont.
The Palliser is a popular conference destination and there were at least three there during our stay. That meant the lobby and the restaurant were quite busy – and noisy – at times, though staff handled everything with aplomb. Importantly, little of the noise made its way to our guestroom.
The hotel has an on-site spa on the bottom floor, with prices as you would expect for spa treatments in a resort setting. There are also an indoor swimming pool and fitness center.
One thing the Palliser does not have is an on-site shop with Fairmont merchandise. However, products are available online at us.FairmontStore.com and at the Fairmont Banff Springs, just about an hour’s drive up the Trans-Canada Highway.
We left, reluctantly, feeling quite pampered, and looking forward to what we trust will be a similar experience at our next yet-to-be-discovered Fairmont.
Visit my main page at TheTravelPro.us for more news, reviews, and personal observations on the world of upmarket travel.
Photos by Carl Dombek
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Click on photos to view larger images
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