It takes quite a bit for a hotel to wipe the
frown off your face after you check into your room at 11am, but
your luggage doesn't join you until 10pm. The sincerest
of apologies and a genuine sense that this was an honest mistake
took the initial sting out of my lagging luggage. The
comfortable, convenient hospitality of the Fairmont
Palliser in Calgary, Canada, did the rest.
Like you, I don't consider toaster
waffles and watered-down orange juice to be an actual meal, let
alone a hotel amenity (though many chains disagree with me on
both points these days). So I was glad to see that the Fairmont
Palliser defines breakfast the way I do with a well-stocked
buffet or ala carte menu offering fine lox, fresh fruit, baked
goods and eggs any way. And, yes, they'll make you a waffle from
scratch. It's all served in a subdued room with private tables
and discreet booths that seem made to foster productive business
conversations.
I also appreciated the fact that the
Palliser's staff was wearing full cowboy regalia to support and
celebrate the city's annual Calgary Exhibition &
Stampede which was happening during my visit. Never mind that
some of them looked as if this was the only
time all year that they put on cowboy boots.
Another smile-inducing
feature of the hotel is the Fairmont Gold concierge floor. Guests
with Gold reservations enjoy a separate check in and check out
desk on the third floor of the hotel in addition to complimentary
deluxe continental breakfast, complimentary evening hors
d'oeuvres and a fully stocked honor bar in the private lounge on
the floor plus access to a fax machine and other business
services. Even if you're not there on business, these extras get
you out the door fast and happy in the morning and create a
wonderful, relaxing sanctuary to return to after a long day of
sight seeing or shopping.
No matter what floor your room is
located on, your plushly appointed bed will inspire sweet
dreams””and perhaps an upgrade at home. And the sandstone building
was designed in what's called the Edwardian Commercial styles
that employs an E-shape to ensure that all rooms get natural
light. My room had one full wall of large unobstructed windows
(which actually opened on the bottom!). They let in lots of
sunshine and even allowed me to watch the nightly Stampede
fireworks display over the nearby fairgrounds right from my
bed.
Speaking of nearby, the downtown
location of the Fairmont Palliser could not be more convenient. I
walked to and from the Stampede each day, avoiding the traffic
and parking nightmare at the fairgrounds and the crowded commuter
bus service. And the heart of Calgary's relaxed and varied
downtown shopping districts””including the pedestrians-only
Stephen Area Walk and the strip referred to
as "Uptown 17” are both just a stroll away.
The Bay, a
department store operated by the Hudson's Bay Company,
recently celebrated the Grand Opening of what they call
the “Designer Depot.” Located on 8th Street SW (one
block away from the hotel), the Depot offers 30,000 square feet
of designer clothing for men, women and children as well as home
goods at reduced prices.
In addition, the downtown
shopping area boasts plenty of places to pick up some cowboy or
cowgirl gear at classics retailers like Lamle's and Riley &
McCormick. A few blocks further away (but still within
walking distance) you'll find the Alberta Boot
Company, the
official supplier of boots to Canada's famous Mounties and THE
place to invest in a pair of cowboy boots for yourself. Trust me
on this.
A $20 million renovation of the entire
Fairmont Palliser is planned to begin in the fall of 2007 and is
expected to be completed by 2010. I was relieved to learn that
the renovation will include the bathrooms which, during my stay,
were more reminiscent of a motel than a hotel, with visibly beat
up and tacky fixtures, toilets, towels, tubs and showers””though
the pedestal sinks remain elegant.
It must be said that when it came time
to check out of the Fairmont Palliser, I waited for almost an
hour before the valet retrieved my Chevy Silverado, but I was in
such a good mood from the rest of my stay that I figured this was
simply a sign that they didn't want me to leave. And at least I
had my luggage!
Rates: $149-$2,200
The Fairmont Palliser
133 9th Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 2M3
Phone: (800) 257-7544
www.fairmont.com/palliser
In April, 2006 peripatetic
journalist Karen Catchpole left her job as deputy editor of
SHOP Etc. magazine in New York City, jumped into a Chevy
Silverado and embarked on the Trans-Americas Journey, a three year, 70,000+
mile road trip through North, Central and South America. When
she's not reviewing luxury hotels, resorts, ranches and B&Bs,
she can be found enjoying the nearest camp ground.
