Planning a two night weekend stay for my wife and me, and have found a good rate for the Fairmont Miramar. The rate is the same for "Palisades" rooms or low floor rooms in the Ocean Tower. The website indicates that the Palisades rooms are "traditional" in decor. Does this mean they haven't been renovated, or somehow aren't as nice? Which would you choose?

You're reading far too much into the word "traditional". I think the Palisades rooms reflect a more East Coast Big City Hotel décor-- crown molding, dark wood furniture. Other sections of the hotel reflect a more California feel.

Fact is, this hotel was very, very nice when Fairmont bought it, and it spent a lot of money on freshening the whole property, so you can't go wrong anywhere. It's still one of the very nicest hotels in southern California.

I can't comment on the Palisades rooms because I have never stayed in them, but I have stayed in the Ocean tower several times at the Miramar and love it. The rooms I've had have been approx mid level floors in the tower facing northward. I love the view of the pool, beach etc. The rooms I've had have not been overly large, but were nice in decor.

Hi sq92,

If you are speaking of the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica, I have had the pleasure of staying here several times, it is a lovely property in a great location (the Third Street Promenade shopping area is only about a block and a half away)you will not be disappointed.
For a fun, atmospheric, delicious dining experience I can highly recommend the Border Grill on 4th Street, it is soooooooooo good, I would find it sinful to be that near it and not dine with them. (We ate there twice, yum!)

Enjoy, Tiff

p.s. Oh, forgot to really answer your original post - we stayed in the Ocean Tower each time we were there, very nice.

Thanks for the info. Hopefully we'll get a chance to check out the Border Grill. Sounds like we can't really go wrong on rooms -- I'm glad to hear that.

We stayed in the separate rooms a few years ago. I enjoyed it. It was different than staying in the normal hotel tower. I think the old movie stars used to use these rooms years ago. Seems like someone told me that.