Hotel Review Highlights: Fairmont Chateau Whistler (Gold Floor Experience), Whistler, BC

Fairmont Chateau Whistler Gold Floor Experience Introduction

Brad and I were looking to get away for a weekend to celebrate our anniversary a bit early and decided on Whistler, mainly because the weather looked great, but also because we had a boatload of certificates to use since we both qualified as Platinum in the Fairmont President’s Club. While up until now I considered The Four Seasons Resort next door a slightly better hotel overall, I was very curious to see how the Fairmont Chateau Whistler Gold Floor compared, as I’ve read multiple reports that the Gold Floor service is actually a notch above The Four Seasons. As luck would have it, we were generously upgraded to Gold for our two night stay, which may have been because we were celebrating a special occasion (I had mentioned in the pre-arrival email when making our reservation), and also maybe in part because I booked through American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts using my Platinum Card. This was only my second complimentary upgrade to Gold with Fairmont, though I wouldn’t hesitate to pay the premium on future stays at this property knowing now what I’ve been missing out on!

This was a busy weekend, and I feel like there’s a lot of content to cover. Because of this, I’ve decided to break this review into a few smaller reviews, which was well received when Britt recently posted on the JW Marriott Parq Hotel Vancouver along with a separate review of their executive lounge.

Below is a sample of what’s to come, including a couple of pictures from each category I plan to review over the coming days!

Fairmont Chateau Whistler Gold Floor King Room

We were generously upgraded to a Gold Floor King room, which featured a fairly standard layout not too different from a standard room at the resort, though the finishes did feel slightly higher quality, but oddly enough, the bathroom felt more dated. Our stay in a standard room a couple of years ago had a more updated feel, and our stay last September in a recently renovated Alpine Suite was great, with modern finishes throughout.

The room was roughly 365 square feet with a comfortable king bed, small sitting area, desk, and gas fireplace. The windows on this side of the hotel overlooked the forest, which is much preferred over rooms overlooking the front of the property. There was a nice welcome amenity offered by the executive assistant to the General Manager, Sue, which was thoughtful and delicious! While the ‘mountain lodge’ style isn’t my favourite, I think it’s really fitting given the destination, and much prefer the rustic style over something bland.

The bathroom felt a bit dated, but featured quality finishes with a deep soaking jetted tub (much appreciated after a day of hiking), a walk-in shower, and vanity with double sinks. Of course, Le Labo Rose 31 amenities were on offer, which are some of my favourites (the Gold Floor features the larger bottles normally reserved for suites).

Fairmont Chateau Whistler Gold Floor Room Pampered Pups Program

Not exclusive to the Gold Floor, The Fairmont Chateau Whistler recently launched a new pet program, with some improved amenities for those travelling with their furry friends. Pet fees are $50/night, but the hotel limits that to $100/stay, which isn’t quite as good as The Fairmont Pacific Rim where pets are welcomed without a fee, but I do appreciate that they cap it for longer stays.

Highlights of the new pet program include:

• Dog bed, water/food bowl
• Selection of high quality dog food (sample packs)
• Complimentary scheduled group adventure hikes
• Dog waste bags
• Private walks – $35/hour and operated by Fairmont Chateau Whistler dog walkers
• Grooming by Shampooch
• Selection of amenities including Auntie Kim’s Better Bickie’s organic dog snacks, X-treme organic paw balm, and Huxley & Kent squeaker toys

It didn’t take long for Rocco to find a comfortable spot in the sun in front of the fireplace, while Margo took the king bed, naturally.

Best of all, the Fairmont Chateau Whistler is located in the Upper Village next to some world class trails, with Lost Lake about 15 minutes from the hotel entrance. Lost Lake is great for an easy stroll, with plenty of trails, creeks, and a dedicated off-leash area at the lake!

Fairmont Chateau Whistler Gold Floor Lounge

Located on one half of the 8th floor, the Gold lounge is one of the nicest I’ve seen in the Fairmont brand, and very similar to what I experienced at The Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai. The Lounge is open daily and includes private check-in/check-out, dedicated concierge staff, daily breakfast, afternoon snacks, evening canapés, and desserts with an honour bar available throughout the day.

Even though the Gold Floor was fully committed over the weekend, the lounge never felt crowded, which is always nice. Views from the lounge include the forest, resort pool and distant mountain views.

We had breakfast in the lounge one day, and also enjoyed the canapés both nights. The food was delicious, and the variety was good, with different offerings each evening. The highlight of the lounge was the service though, which was friendly and professional. I really appreciated the private check-in/check-out, since this is a relatively large property that caters to conventions, and the common spaces can get quite crowded at peak times.

Fairmont Chateau Whistler Dining

Brad and I were celebrating our anniversary a bit early, and decided to eat at The Wildflower, a Pacific Northwest fine dining restaurant located in the lobby. We actually had a locally authentic dining certificate to use as part of our Fairmont President’s Club Platinum status, and were treated to a 3-course meal consisting of smoked sablefish, Pemberton Meadows dry aged rib eye, and a shared dessert. While the food was beyond excellent, the service left a bit to be desired, mainly because it seemed our waiter was new and the bartender was a bit disinterested.

All things considered though, being able to redeem a certificate for such a nice meal was fantastic, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this restaurant based on the food quality alone.

We also had drinks by the pool, and at The Mallard lounge, with all the details coming in the full review!

Fairmont Chateau Whistler Gold Floor Experience Bottom Line

Brad and I agree on this – The Fairmont Chateau Whistler Gold Floor was one of our favourite overall hotel stays in recent memory. The room was perfect for us, the service from staff couldn’t have been better (save for The Wildflower dinner), and the property was ideally located as we were looking for a spot convenient for walking our dogs.

The new Pampered Pups program is really nice, and I felt like our dogs were welcomed as guests, and not just ‘tolerated’, as it sometimes feels at other luxury hotels.

I recently wrote a series of posts comparing the two Fine Hotel and Resort properties in Whistler, and gave The Four Seasons Resort a marginal edge as the best luxury hotel, but after our stay on The Gold Floor, I think we have a new go-to for our weekend getaways! Here’s hoping the hotel still continues to recognize loyalty in the same ways The Fairmont President’s Club does once Le Club AccorHotels replaces the program in July!

Have you stayed on The Fairmont Chateau Whistler Gold Floor? How did your experience compare with ours? Let us know in the comment section below!