Get Into The Holiday Spirit At The Fairmont Hotel MacDonald
‘Tis the season to embrace all things Christmas! Warm memories by the fire, great food, laughs with family and cozy nights. All of this can be found at Edmonton’s “Castle”; The Fairmont Hotel MacDonald. If you need a little extra boost in your holiday spirit; look no further than the Fairmont.
As part of the Edmonton’s Best Hotels group; you can stay at the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald at an incredible rate and receive gift cards with your stay! (More on that at the bottom of this blog!)
WHERE WE STAYED
As soon as you walk into the grand lobby of The Fairmont Hotel MacDonald; you know you are in for a treat. It is one of the most recognizable buildings in Edmonton. It looks exactly like a castle and that’s why it’s nicknamed “ Edmonton’s River Valley Castle”.
It has a rich history; built in 1915. This 198 room Châteauesque-styled building is considered one of Canada's grand railway hotels. It offers rooms, suites and even a special GOLD floor which is like a hotel within a hotel. It is a sight to be seen.
Everything about this hotel feels grand. But it’s also approachable luxury. From the gorgeous Confederation Lounge to the grand ballrooms; the gorgeous and well appointed rooms to the stunning views. You will fall in love with this hotel.
Famous guests include Queen Elizabeth ll (who has a suite named after her!), Oprah Winfrey and The Rolling Stones. One time; Paul McCartney even sang a Christmas carol in the lobby.
ROOMS
As I had mentioned above, something unique about the Fairmont brand is that most of their hotels offer a “Gold Floor”. It is like an exclusive hotel-within-a-hotel experience. There is a private check in located on the 7th floor of the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald. There is an exclusive lounge with deluxe continental breakfast, all day coffee & tea service, and evening canapés & an honor bar.
For our stay we were located on the Fairmont Gold Floor. We had a really neat room - actually 2! But they were connected by one door. We stayed in rooms 736 & 738. You walked into a foyer and had a choice of 2 doorways. One lead to a smaller king bed room and the other another king bed suite with a pull out couch (and a Christmas Tree!). These rooms would be PERFECT for any larger family wanting to stay together but also have some privacy too!
In both rooms there was a mini bar, a kettle, some snacks and wine as well as a Nespresso machine.
Robes for the entire family - and oh my goodness my mama heart SQUEALED putting baby Tripp into his.
The number one thing I always notice about staying at any Fairmont hotel is that no detail is left untouched. The Christmas tree had stockings and ornaments for all the kids - and even Cactus our dog.
The bathrooms are beautiful. A marble vanity, porcelain flooring, and a European-style spa shower. As always - my absolute fav; Rose 31 Le Labo toiletries. I will never be sick of that smell.
Complimentary WiFi is also included and their outlets are USB cord compatible!
POOL / FITNESS AREA
We Sweeney’s LOVE a good pool. And the Fairmont did not disappoint. The girls had a blast and the water was warm! Tripp FELL ASLEEP in the pool while we were floating him on his back haha so I’d say it’s a pretty relaxing area!
Something neat is that they also offer private swimming lessons for your little fishes through Lil Betta’s Swim School. Make sure to call and book ahead. We love Lil Betta’s!
These lessons are a great option for parents wanting to just relax with a coffee poolside or catch up in the hot tub. Let’s us relax while the kids have that special one on one time too with the instructor.
They have a main pool (where the swimming lessons were), a hot tub and a kiddie (shallow) pool.
There is also an extensive health club including a big workout room, sauna and steam room at the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald. They also have a squash court! Like I said - thier fitness area is HUGE and very impressive. They also offer massage therapy.
HOLIDAYS AT THE FAIRMONT
Nobody does the holidays like the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald. The giant Christmas Tree in their lobby instantly makes you smile. The smell of cinnamon and cider from the lounge make you feel like you’re right at home.
There are a ton of events happening all throughout December at the hotel. Here are a few highlights:
Bring your small office team and leave the planning to the hotel! Hosted in the iconic century-old Empire Ballroom, guests can enjoy a traditional Christmas buffet, festive cocktails and live entertainment! And of course, Champagne on arrival! More info and how to book can be found HERE.
Enjoy an extravagant brunch buffet in the historic Empire Ballroom. Immerse yourself in the magic of historical elegance at the castle on the river as you enjoy made-to-order omelettes, specialty crepes, savoury carving stations, a deluxe seafood selection and so much more.
Best of all, children under 5 eat free with kids ages 6-12 receiving 50% off the buffet menu.
You can book your spot HERE.
Not sure yet what to do for NYE? L:ook no further than The Fairmont Hotel MacDonald!
They have a night that includes a 6-course dinner for 2, tickets to their “Champagne in the Chateau” dance, evening canapes, chef-attended live action stations, and overnight accommodations . More information can be found HERE.
WHERE WE ATE
The Fairmont Hotel MacDonald boasts some world renowned chefs on their roster. The Harvest Room is where you can taste some of their masterpieces. And that’s exactly where we had dinner right in the hotel. They offer breakfast, dinner and an all day dining menu. They also had a great kids menu.
For Christmas; their Festive Dining does not disappoint. They have special menus for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years Day.
More information on their Festive Dining this season can be found HERE.
Dinner in The Harvest Room meant the girls LOVED getting all dressed up for dinner! They have a kids menu with the classics like grilled cheese, chicken fingers or a cheesburger. But you can also get Salmon or even Hummus! Kennedy had the grilled cheese and Lilly chose the Salmon. Both were awesome! We started with the Octopus for an appetizer and it was delicious! Even our 7 year old Kennedy said “ It tastes like chicken” haha. Bobby had the tenderloin and I had the spicy pasta with shrimp. No surprise- all were amazing.
Tripp started to cry near the end of dinner so we took that as our cue to leave. Unfortunately we were not able to get dessert; and to our surprise; it was sent up to our room. Like I said; when it comes to Fairmont Hotels they never cease to amaze you.
If you are staying on the Fairmont Gold Floor there is an exclusive lounge with deluxe continental breakfast, all day coffee and tea service, and evening canapés & an honor bar. The breakfast and canapés are included with your stay.
That’s where we headed the next morning and it was a beautiful and relaxing setting to start our day!
One last note about the holiday season: The Fairmont Hotel MacDonald now has their own signature gin, Festive Spirit. It’s made locally by Field Notes Spirits and for every bottle sold, $5 will be donated to The Christmas Bureau of Edmonton. We tried a few cocktails made with this gin; YUM!
DOGS/ PETS
Cactus is so happy to tell you that The Fairmont Hotel MacDonald is pet friendly! And he was treated royally. When we arrived there was a dog bed and a bowl waiting for him and all of the staff greeted him by name. I know it’s just a little thing but it was really sweet.
Exciting news for the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald- they just got a new pup! His name is Hendricks and he is the sweetest soul. He is the hotel’s newest canine ambassador (following in the big paw prints of the late beloved Smudge) and as a new hire; he is really doing a great job!
Pets are welcome at a charge of $35 CAD + GST per pet, per day, which includes a $5 CAD per day donation to Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind. Pet fees do not apply for service animals.
PARKING
They do offer valet parking and self-parking with in and out privileges.
Rates:
$50.00 CAD daily for valet parking overnight or over four hours, excluding tax
$25.00 CAD for valet parking up to four hours, excluding tax
$40.00 CAD for overnight self-parking, excluding tax
WHY BOOK WITH EDMONTON’S BEST HOTELS?
I absolutely love my partnership with Edmonton’s Best Hotels. It’s a website where you can book a hotel, get the BEST available rates and receive additional perks at no extra cost! You know I love a good deal and this website is awesome. Why not get something extra for something you were going to book anyways?
Great News- Fairmont Gold IS included in the 1-2-3 Deal. You get to pick your reward based on how many nights you stay!! You choose what is best for your lifestyle and your ideal vacation.
Book One Night & Choose From $50 in Rewards:
One Night Reward 1: $50 Gas Card
One Night Reward 2: $50 Prepaid Mastercard
One Night Reward 3: $50 Ultimate Dining Card
(That’s $50 in FREE rewards!)
OR
Book Two Nights & Choose From $150 In Rewards:
Two Night Reward 1: $150 Prepaid Mastercard
Two Night Reward 2: $75 Prepaid Mastercard + $75 Gas Card
Two Night Reward 3: $75 Gas Card + $75 Ultimate Dining Card
(That’s $150 in FREE rewards!)
OR
Book Three Nights and Choose From $225 in Rewards:
Three Night Reward 1: $225 Prepaid Mastercard
Three Night Reward 2: $75 Ultimate Dining Card + $75 Prepaid Mastercard + $75 Gas Card
(That’s $225 in FREE rewards!)
*Included rewards will be emailed to guests within 24 hours after checking in to their hotel. Rewards are not provided by the hotel’s front desk. While supplies last.
I hope this give you some holiday inspiration for your next hotel stay! NOBODY does the holidays like the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald. It is such a special place to stay ; and with Edmonton’s Best Hotels there is no reason not to! Make those special memories with your family this year; you will treasure your time together at Edmonton’s Castle!
xoxo Jacks
o All festive dining can be found: https://www.fairmont.com/macdonald-edmonton/dining/holiday-dining/