Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn Review

The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa is located in the heart of California's prestigious Sonoma Valley, next to neighboring Napa Valley. Perhaps one of the most unique things about the Fairmont Sonoma is that the resort itself has it's own supply of thermal mineral water which is part of the reason for a nearly 40,000 square foot spa. All the resorts pools and spa are fed with these natural waters. Combine the location, a Michelin-rated restaurant, the 18-hole championship golf course and a state-of-the-art Spa, all make this an exquisite AAA Four Diamond destination.

The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa

If you are looking for the perfect place to relax, re-charge and experience fine dining after a day in Sonoma Valley, the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa is the perfect destination.

When we arrived at the resort, driving up to the front circle you are instantly immersed into the charming setting of the resort. We were promptly welcomed to the resort and offered a glass of champagne. The bell staff already had our keys and whisked us away to our room.

Our Room

The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa is a fairly small property in terms of the number of rooms with only 226 guest rooms.

During our stay at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa we stayed in one of the Mission Suites. The Mission Suites are very romantic with a four-poster bed, an oversized Jacuzzi tub, a wood-burning fireplace and a patio with french doors.

The room was decorated with many elements of old world charm with red brick as the floor, lots of travertine tile, plenty of warm tones in the organic materials in the linens, curtains, and fabrics.

The Mission Suite had plenty of natural light coming in from the big french doors. But the room was also very cozy at night with the fireplace burning. The bathroom was very open with the vanity, tub and shower within view from almost everywhere in the room.

As you know from reading about our favorite hotel toiletries, Fairmont Hotels feature Le Labo products, which are fantastic.

Dining

The resort's restaurant, Santé, a premier Michelin-rated restaurant. And talk about an incredible dining experience, Santé is phenomenal. In Sonoma Valley you would expect for restaurants to have a large selection of wine. And that is most definitely the case at Santé which has over 500 wines offered on the menu.

We started our meal off with a selection of local cheeses, spreads and bread from the cheese cart. The cart was brought table side and a very nice cheese plate was prepared right in front of us!

Next we opted for the seasonal butternut squash soup, which was perhaps the best soup we have ever tasted. And for our main course we both choose the Dry Aged Rib Eye with Ember Roasted Beets, Black Garlic Puree and a Coffee Black Garlic Bordelaise.

We eat at a lot of great restaurants around the globe with all of our travels but Santé perhaps tops our list.

If you are looking for a quick casual meal we would recommend 38º North in the hotel lobby. It is a great place for a quick salad, sand-which, burger or entree. They offer over 50 wines by the glass from local and international wineries.

Amenities

The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn doesn't lack when you are looking for things to do after a long hard day of wine tastings and exploring the region. From the pool, to the spa, the fitness center and golf course, you won't run out of activities.

The main pool at the resort sits underneath a Water Tower. A little back story on this, is back in the day part of the resort burnt down because there was no water close by to extinguish the fire. The owner of the resort decided he was going to store his own supply of water in case something like this were to happen again. Today, the water tower has become sort of a Sonoma icon.

The Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn is known by the Native Americans to have healing powers since the waters are fed by an ancient thermal spring. We had to check-out the spa for ourselves and experience the ancient bathing ritual.

The clover-shaped outdoor pool at the spa features music underwater. And it was so peaceful to float in the pool with our heads underwater and just unwind.

The bathing ritual takes places in the bathhouse, in which you start by showering, then get into the main Watsu pool, move to the Jacuzzi, and then walk through the tunnel which starts with body temperature water and then has a bucket full of cold water that you can drench yourself with. You might be thinking dumping cold water on yourself doesn't sound like fun, but it was quite refreshing and energizing.

We always try to workout with as much as we travel. And while we were in Sonoma that was no exception. The fitness center featured plenty of equipment to get a nice workout in. And there was plenty of cardio equipment as well as a squat rack, something most hotel fitness centers just don't have.

Overall Impression

The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa is a fantastic place to stay right in the heart of Wine Country. It is close enough to everything, yet feels like you are secluded when spending time at the resort. If you are going to Sonoma, this property should definitely be on your list of places to stay. The resort has plenty of amenities if you are still seeking adventure after a day in wine country.

Fairmont Banff Springs Review

The Fairmont Banff Springs, also known as the Castle of the Rockies, is conveniently located in the heart of the Banff National Park. It sits just above Bow Falls and within walking distance of Banff Village.

Banff Springs Resort

The Banff Springs Resort, originally built in 1888 was remodeled in 1928 to resemble a European Castle. And the property was declared a national historic site by the government of Canada in 1988. The resort is not only luxurious and close to all of the attractions in Banff, but the resort itself offers plenty to do including a pool, spa, bowling alley and numerous dining options.

Once we arrived at the Banff Springs Resort, we were quickly greeted by the valet staff. They asked our name and within minutes a hotel guest services representative met us at our car with our room keys and resort information. There was no waiting in line and within minutes we were off to our room.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts are now a part of Accor. That means that sadly, the Fairmont President's Club is no more. Fairmont Hotels and Resorts are now part of the Accor Loyalty Program, Le Club. As a platinum member with Le Club, we received two complimentary drink vouchers. Otherwise, loyalty recognition was almost non-existent. A sad change from the Fairmont President's Club that so many of us truly loved.

Our Room

The Fairmont Banff Springs has 768 rooms and suites. We had a standard king room with a mountain view. One thing we should point out is that the rooms at the Banff Springs are fairly small. But that's expected as the rooms were designed in another era. Our room had a beautiful view of Bow Falls and Tunnel Mountain. The hotel is starting to renovate and increase the size of some of the rooms in the castle part of the hotel.

And like the room, the bathroom was small, but again functional. With a single sink, toilet and shower/tub combo, the bathroom served it's purpose.

Like most Fairmont Hotels & Resort, the Fairmont Banff Springs offers Rose 31 scented toiletries, which were created exclusively for the Fairmont hotel chain. And the Rose 31 toiletries are personally some of our favorite.

Dining

The hotel features an impressive number of restaurants, fine dining venues, and bars.

Chop House 1888 is a modern twist on the authentic chop-house. And they serve up a menu focused on prime cuts of Alberta beef, sustainably sourced wild game and Ocean Wise seafood. If you are a steak lover, treat yourself to a meal at Chop House 1888. You won't be disappointed!

Another great restaurant is the Vermillion Room, which is one of the newest restaurants in the Castle. The Vermillion Room is a brasserie or bistro style restaurant. The bistro has an upscale feel. And it reminds you of stepping back in time with it's blue velvet chairs and lots of brass accents. We enjoyed dinner and Sunday Brunch in the Vermillion Room. And both meals were excellent. And you can't beat the Vermillion Room's view!

Castello Ristorante is a place where you can celebrate the simple pleasures of great food, wine and company with an authentic Italian meal. And if you are looking for Alpine Cuisine, grab a table at Waldhaus Restaurant which features a menu consisting of schnitzel and fondue.

The Banff Springs Resort also has a spot for sushi (Samurai Sushi Bar and Restaurant and a tastings and wine bar, Grapes.

And finally, the newly redesigned and opened coffee shop. Stock, adjacent to the hotel lobby is amazing. Stock serves up delicious coffee, yummy pastries and delicious sandwiches.

Amenities

The Fairmont Banff Springs Resort features superb aquatic facilities, which are accessible to hotel guests only.

The aquatic area has a large saltwater indoor pool, an indoor whirlpool, a kid’s wading pool, and an outdoor pool. The outdoor pool is heated and offers great views of the surrounding mountains.

Plan to spend some time at Willow Stream Spa. The 38,000-square-foot spa offers first-class pampering surrounded by majestic mountain beauty. Reminiscent of the hot springs that beckoned travelers over 100 years ago, the pulsating waterfalls and the mineral pool in the heart of the spa rejuvenate tired muscles and soothe troubled spirits.

Families will appreciate the endless hotel activities suitable for kids of all ages. Activities include the extensive pool area and Kids Club plus the Banff Springs bowling lanes (which we might have given a try ourselves).

And if you a golfer, don't worry, the Fairmont Banff Springs has you covered too. Renowned for its panoramic beauty and breathtaking views in every direction, the hotel’s magnificent golf course is a captivating and challenging layout set in the heart of Canada’s Rocky Mountains. Stanley Thompson, Canada’s renowned golf course architect, laid out the original 18 holes in 1928 along the winding Bow River. After an expansion in 1989, the course now has 27 holes of championship layout, that inspire everyone from first-time players to seasoned golfers.

Overall Impression

The Fairmont Banff Springs is an amazing resort. The Castle of the Rockies is definitely impressive. Do yourself a favor and take a tour of the Castle. The tour, which is a walking tour given by a staff member of the resort, is a fascinating way to learn about the history of this larger than life resort.

The resort amenities kept us busy and we enjoyed spending time at the spa. And the resort's restaurants are just fantastic. We loved both of the meals we had at The Vermillion Room. Plus the coffee at Stock was delicious. And enjoying a cocktail in the evening with a view of the spectacular mountains is the perfect way to finish off a busy day.

There is plenty to do in the Banff area including dozens of hikes, canoeing, plus day trips to places like Lake Louise. If Banff has been on your bucket list, we definitely recommend visiting this picturesque resort town in the Canadian Rockies.

And remember, if you book with a travel agent like Virtual Travel Gurus, you'll get extra benefits like complimentary breakfast, a welcome amenity, room upgrade, early check-in and late check-out!