Rooms are not overly large but have all the amenities you would expect in a Fairmont hotel. I highly recommend paying extra for a room on the entrée gold floor (club level). These rooms are not bigger, but have upgraded amenities and fireplaces. Also, this floor has a very nice lounge where complimentary breakfast / afternoon tea is served and there is also an honor bar. The service here is also much more personal.

The hotel also maintains the best health club in town. There are plenty of outdoor (and an indoor) hot tubs and a nice indoor / outdoor pool. There is also a new outdoor lap pool but this is a little too short to be functional. This area is busy after skiing but a great place to meet other guests. I’ve heard the spa services are also very good, but expensive. There are nice outdoor tennis courts in the summer.

The hotel has three main restaurants. The wildflower is the flagship and is expensive but extremely good. The Mallard Lounge has lost some of its intimacy in a recent expansion, but is still a very relaxing place for a drink in the evening. There is usually live music and also a cigar lounge here. Finally, Portabello is a sort of luxury cafeteria which is good, but in my opinion, over-priced.

The chateau has a nice ski storage area on the lower floor (and boots are warmed in the morning!). All of your other standard luxury hotel services are offered. If you can afford the price tag, you will not go wrong with this hotel.

As for the room, I still chuckle when I think about it. I had a suite that was twice the size of my apartment in New York. It had an entrance area with a separate bathroom, a living room (complete with desk, couch, TV, and fireplace), a very large bedroom, a huge walk-in closet area, and an amazing master bathroom (complete with shower, hot tub, double sinks, and separate toilet area).

But it was actually the little things that made my room and stay so special. Just to list a few of the special touches:

When you turned on the lights in the bathroom, they started out very dim and gradually got brighter (great for early morning).
The towels were placed on an electronic towel warmer.
The bathroom was well stocked with the best lotions, shampoo, toothpaste, lip balm, etc.
Every night, the weather forecast and two bottles of water were brought to the room.
Everywhere you went, the staff knew your name and treated you magnificently.
The room had high-speed internet access (make sure you bring your Ethernet card and adapter if you want to use it).
The fitness room had everything you would ever need, including robes, towels, and locks, as well a wide range of cardiovascular and weight machines (and free weights).
Ski storage was provided at the bottom of the hotel (making it even easier to get back to your room and relax). The hotel was only 100 yards from the lifts. I could go on, but you get the picture.

When it came time to eat, the hotel had several options. For a casual environment, try the Portabello restaurant (it had a really nice, affordable breakfast buffet). The more formal dining room was a bit more upscale but still very comfortable. I spoiled myself and ate at the hotel several times.

Finally, you should try the spa. It is top-notch and worth every penny (and you will spend a lot more than pennies). I got an Ayurvedic Treatment ("a balancing treatment for the mind, body and spirit"). Specifically, I got the Swedana treatment: a 60-minute massage, 20 minutes in a cedar steam cabinet customized with herbs and oils (picture my body in a cedar steambox with my head sticking out), and a full-body exfoliation. It really was fantastic.

It is pricey, but I can’t recommend this hotel enough!