Montebello

In the past I had normally chose Fairmont when travelling - business as I often travel for hearings or when travelling with my family.  But my last stay at the Chateau Montebello changed my opinion & I now make a point of staying anywhere but at a Fairmont.   Fairmont Montebello caters to conventions and unfortunately neglects its individual guests, although ironically it is ultimately inidividual guests who are the ones deciding where to hold their conventions, whether for legal conventions etc.  

My (partial) stay at the Montebello in Winter 2010 was for a family trip.  However, our room smelled like sewage or mold and the carpet was damp - not sure what it was but the smell was putrid enough to make my 1 year old son sick.  Despite being provided with another room - the odor in the previous room already had my son vomitting and left me with a headache.   We, therefore, packed up the car at midnight and called it a night and upon indicating to the front desk that we were leaving - kids still in pajamas and all -- I was promptly handed the bill (would have been nice if such promptness would have similarly been applied in helping us move our luggage & playpen between rooms which we did ourselves without any offer of assistance).  Anyhow, I emailed the manager the next day and, unpromptly, 2 days later was informed that the amount of the stay had been fully reimbursed, however, no other remedy was offered for what we went through.   I have stayed at other hotels not known as widely as Fairmont - even a holiday inn chain.... that has offered much more when something is not up to par.   Yet the Fairmont failed to offer so much as a free stay or meal for our troubles.  That is bad management and unprofessional.  There are much better quality and considerate places to stay than the Fairmont.  Unfortunately, Fairmont no longer caters to the individual.