we are getting these 2 hotels for the same rate. which one would you choose.
thanks vic

For me it might depend on which way the room faced and also if there was any loud event planned by the harbour during my stay. Otherwise, without having stayed at either, it would be a toss up between a presumably nice, newer room at the Marriott and the super location of the Empress.

Hi Montrealvic -

I haven't stayed at the Mariott, and I'm sure I'm biased, but we stayed at and were married at the Empress last fall and were extremely pleased. We did have a lovely suite (gold floor, facing the harbor), but the public areas of the hotel are just beautiful and charming, and the location can't be beat. Could not have had a better experience.

I stayed at the Marriott and had a wonderful stay. Your decision depends on whether you want to stay in a Fairmont hotel with a historical background, but possibly with small, old, yet elegant furnishings, or want to stay in a new (2 years old), modern hotel with decent sized rooms. Each has its own pros and cons. Also, since I have a Marriott Rewards card, I received airline miles or hotel reward points for my Marriot stay. Both hotels have equal locations, but I was on the 13th floor (16th floor top) of the Marriott and had a fabulous view of the inner harbour, while the Fairmont Empress only goes up to about eight floors, but is two blocks closer to the harbour.

I highly recommend the Marriott Victoria Inner Harbour. We stayed there in September and found the service exceptional, room beautiful and spacious and the location perfect. It's only a stones throw away from the Empress.

I put my parents up for 4 nights at the Marriott Inner Harbour in June. The room and service were both very good. They had a view over the Empress that ran from the Sooke Hills in the West to the Cruise Ships at Ogden Point , Legislative Buildings, the Empress and the Olympics! Some rooms at the Empress are nice others not so. However the Curry Buffet in the Bengal Lounge is excellent and atmospheric

AndrewDavid

The Mariott, the Empress rooms have a particular odor...not to pleasant.But do not missed the tea ceremony is very nice.

I agree heartily with AndrewDavid about the curry buffet in the Bengal Room at the Empress. It was excellent and only $28/pp. The night we were there, there was a nice little jazz band as well.

I've heard excellent things about tea at the Empress but it's pricey and it's not hard to find a good hotel tea here in Toronto, so we opted for dinner in the Bengal Lounge instead and enjoyed it tremendously.

The best view is looking AT the Empress, not out from it!