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4.5
#38 of 112 hotels in Seattle
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Located in the heart of the city since 1924, Fairmont Olympic is Seattle’s iconic hotel featuring rich character and history, breathtaking architecture, an innovative culinary experience and best-in-class service. Ideally situated just steps from Pike Place Market, museums, attractions and shopping, Fairmont Olympic offers 450 lavishly appointed guestrooms and suites perfect for the modern traveler. Seattle’s social address for events, galas and weddings for almost a century, Fairmont Olympic’s 28,000 square feet of key event and meeting spaces create the perfect stage for momentous celebrations. The Olympic Hotel boasts a fully renovated lobby featuring a new center bar, Olympic Bar, that offers all-day dining and drinks seven days a week and afternoon tea on Saturdays and Sundays. Debuting in future months, the subsequent chapter of this historic restoration story will unveil a new culinary flagship and intimate spirit drinker’s enclave.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Accor Hotels.
HOTEL STYLE
Luxury
Classic
Languages Spoken
English, French, Spanish, Japanese
Location
411 University Street, Seattle, WA 98101-2507
The Fairmont Olympic Hotel
4,272 reviews
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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Nestled in the heart of the city, The Fairmont Olympic Hotel garners praise for its prime location and sophisticated atmosphere, with many guests applauding the renovated lobby and welcoming vibe. The well-equipped rooms, diverse dining options, and amenities like the pool and gym are highlights, although the presence of hidden fees and parking costs have left some guests feeling the value doesn't match the expense.
While the staff's friendliness stands out, occasional slow service has been mentioned. Cleanliness is a consistent strong suit, contributing to the hotel's appeal.
Location
Central
Atmosphere
Sophisticated
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Friendly
Amenities
Well-appointed
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Fairmont Olympic Seattle stay dates February 14 to February 18 Doing a reconstruction of the lobby which won’t be done until mid 2020 so check in is through the opposite side of the building in a much smaller area. I also miss the lobby Majesty that the Fairmont usually presents. We had a suite which was well appointed with a flat screen TV in the bedroom as well as one in the sitting area. I thought the bed was large and comfortable with large pillows that I liked, but my wife thought the opposite and her back hurt the entire time. The bathroom is Up to date with a light that goes on automatically when you walk in (it can also go off if you’re not moving around much in the bathroom). There is also full lighting on another switch. The usual amenities are included with body lotion shampoo conditioner soaps. The towels were large and ok texture (not quite as soft as I’d like) A magnifying mirror and hair dryer were also in the bathroom. There are electric outlets for use and the USB connections but oddly these were in the sitting area and not in the bedroom by the bed. Other notes: there’s a $20 urban experience fee per day that includes a five dollar credit at their coffee shop and free transportation within 2 miles by a car run by the hotel. Wifi is included in this fee but I expect free Wifi. We did not keep a car here but it’s expensive running $60 a day. It’s certainly cheaper to get around the city using Lyft or Uber. If you want to leave the city you can rent a car at car rental agencies (a third of a mile away) or spend a little extra money and have the car delivered to the hotel. (Alamo only) This is still cheaper than parking it overnight. Also notice that they are building a new building across the street so there’s construction noise starting at 7 AM on weekdays. When trying to use Lyft/Uber the location will default to the old (closed) entrance on 5th. You have to call once they’re on the way (411 university ave)
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Date of stay: February 2020
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â while outside construction going on, ask for a room that might avoid the morning noise.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We checked in on a weekday afternoon and Laura at reception couldn’t have been nicer and more helpful. We were offered an upgrade for a fee and decided to go for it. Laura said that housekeeping wouldn’t be coming daily except upon request, but we could text for any needs. She was also helpful with directions to places we planned to go, and on areas to avoid.
We went to our room which was lovely and quite spacious, especially the bathroom. Bed linens and pillows were great. Towels looked a little rough which was surprising since the Fairmont has a high end reputation. The bath products were nice.
After a walkabout at the Public Market, we returned to the hotel and ordered a couple of drinks and a salad from the bar. The salad was good, and enough for two. Tired from our flight, we went to the room for the night. Street noise can be loud so ear plugs might come in handy. The bed was comfy, and AC worked well and helped keep the noise down. There were some ridiculously loud guests walking down the hall, and more quiet time signs would have been useful, not just at the elevators, but perhaps on every hall.
Breakfast isn’t included, so on a couple of mornings, after a cup of coffee from the room’s Nespresso machine, we went to the nearest Starbucks or Lowells. BTW, it was a little surprising that the room’s coffee station had fake creamer. “Come on, man!” We are paying a high price for this hotel - half and half pods would have been nice.
We had two annoying incidents happen (a room issue, and a guest problem) where we had to call the front desk/management but they immediately took care of both situations.
The concierge lady was super helpful, and all of the staff members we encountered were fantastic, including the doormen.
As another reviewer noted, upon checkout we saw an urban usage fee that caught us off guard. We were in a rush to get to the airport so didn’t really have time to discuss or argue at that time. It’s kind of confusing and frustrating that even though guests aren’t getting daily cleanings unless requested, the room rates and extra fees don’t seem to compensate for the reduced services. I think we will be looking into this further.
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Date of stay: October 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveller reviews.
I stayed at Fairmont for 4nights and this was one of the best business hotels I have stayed in. this is not the one-size-fits all kind of business hotel- to start with, it is not a high rise building with many rooms.
The check in was smooth and the room was very spacious with a sitting area. The views weren't great primarily because it is not a high rise building and also bang in the middle of downtown.
The supplies and amenities in the hotel were part excellence. In door dining had great options and we're prompt/professional. Martha from housekeeping was an angel and would keep my room spic and span. The gym was very spacious and had all the equipments, steam room and showers with a heated swimming pool.
The hotel has some shops on the ground floor which I didn't check out, but the salon/spa here is rated quite high in the city. They offer quite unique treatments and also are very expensive.
One thing that could have been better is that they charge you handling fees for any Amazon deliveries which I found quite unreasonable or they could have informed me about this earlier so guests could have planned accordingly.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I booked a reservation a couple of months ago, planning a weekend getaway for me and my 2 daughters. We all live in Washington, so this was a nice way to spend some quality time together, since we live in different areas of the state. Check in was fast, and seamless. They even checked us in early (I think because of the Corona Virus hitting Seattle very hard). Hotel room was clean and comfortable. We went downstairs to “Shuckers” for an afternoon cocktail, which was nice. The cocktails were ok, and as expected. Steven, the. bartender was very personable. Room Stay: One of us forgot a toothbrush, and one was brought up to our room. (Took awhile, but that was okay). There was a “nespresso” coffee maker in the room, which was great, but only 2 coffee pods were caffeinated (boo! There were 3 of us!). Getting housekeeping up to the room took a LONG time (to get more coffee pods) We ordered room service at one point for a late snack, and that took a long time too. The pool and hot tub inside hotel was nice, and the locker rooms to get changed were clean and well appointed. On the negative note: I was very disappointed in the fact that the WiFi was not free, and the bathrooms came equipped with single ply toilet paper. I know it makes me sound like a diva (first world problems!!!), but this mama appreciates good TP. This hotel is nicely located, and we were able to walk to most every attraction. The bell desk staff were beyond friendly, and the concierge was helpful with providing us maps and tips to get around the city. I would stay here again, but I’d probably bring my own charmin.
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from MarkusT977, General Manager at The Fairmont Olympic Hotel
Responded 12 Mar 2020
We thank you for choosing us to spend your family time with! We do hope you were able to make some great memories even if it was less than perfect. "Average" is not exactly what we strive for and will attempt to make your next stay even more memorable. Thank you for taking the time to write of your stay. Regards, Markus Treppenhauer General Manager
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I recently spent a night at the Olympic, and what a disappointment. This was previously one of my favorite hotels, but I'm regretfully crossing it off my list.
My gripes:
1) DECOR: a "renovation" of the public areas is a complete disaster. The stately and charming historic lobby is gone, in favor of a horrible casino type bar. No more chandeliers, no more soft piano music.
The entrance lobby has been given a nightclub feel, with the wood panelling painted black and the escalators given a horrible 70's disco makeover, with mirrored walls and light fixtures.
The Georgian Room is apparently closed for renovations, but the fact that the Georgian's chandeliers are now hanging in the Spanish Foyer (where they look horribly out of place, and don't match the other fixtures) doesn't give me much confidence about what's going on there.
2) SERVICE - Most of the time doormen were no place to be found, and bellmen were pretty scarce to. The formerly prominent concierge desk is relegated to a corner of the lobby.
3) CULINARY - Shuckers, the formerly impeccable seafood restaurant which has been in the hotel for decades, now has a "good" rating from the King County health department. Do you really want to shell out big bucks for a restaurant where the kitchen is only "good" when it comes to cleanliness?
On the plus side, the newly decorated guest rooms are smartly appointed and comfortable, but so are the Westin's, the Sheraton's, the W's, and a million other hotels in the downtown core.
Fairmont has succeeded in reducing one of the nation's greatest hotels to just another Vegas style mess.
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Date of stay: July 2021
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sunny Joseph, General Manager at The Fairmont Olympic Hotel
Responded 17 Aug 2021
We are disappointed the renovations are no to your liking but thank you for your feedback nonetheless. We do hope you will return when all restaurants are fully open to see if your view might be different. Thank you for being our guest.
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Great location, rooms are super clean and the hotel is very quiet. My only complaint is the $20 USD + tax ¨Urban Experience Fee” that i had on my bill at the end of my stay. After I checked out I Googled this charge to find out what it was. Here’s what it says: “Fairmont Olympic Urban Experience Fee of $20 USD per room per night (plus tax) includes a variety of items, including Wi-Fi, bottled water in your room and a coffee credit at our Espresso Bar, 4th Ave (up to $5 per night).” There was water in the room with a $9 USD price tag which we did not drink. We weren’t told about the coffee credit and whatever else was included. The only thing we were advised about was the ¨complimentary¨ wifi which really in the end isn’t now is it? That’s it. Just ask when you check in what you get cause they are not forthcoming with the info. We’ll prob go back after the renovations in June but I’ll factor that charge in when I book.
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I try to stick with Marriott properties for work travel for the points but every December I go to Seattle for work and HAVE to stay at the Fairmont. It is a GORGEOUS property with such beautiful holiday decor an large, spacious rooms. They always leave me just the best little treats and a handwritten note and it's those touches that make me forego my loyalty points with Marriott! Fairmont also has the best soaps and lotions and comfortable robes and slippers. Food is always solid as well and this property is in a great location. I can't wait to return every time I stay there!
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Date of stay: December 2019
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from MarkusT977, General Manager at The Fairmont Olympic Hotel
Responded 24 Jan 2020
Thank you! We really appreciate your loyalty to the Olympic and we know you have other choices but are delighted to know you choose to stay with us. The Olympic is a special place and it's always nice to know the history, the charm and the service is appreciated so much. Regards, Markus Treppenhauer General Manager
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Stayed at this hotel with my mother for my birthday and was excited to explore Seattle. The location is great - but beyond that it was a disappointment. Beware of the rate you are locking in and add $25 per night for the required 'urban experience' fee that can't be removed and add on top of that the 15.7% room tax and Seattle Tourism Assessment fee. Our room ended up WAY more vs what we expected. The bar area although small is beautiful, but food was average and service was slow. We had to request items at reception to restock coffee and water since they won't come to your room to clean unless requested (totally understandable due to COVID).
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Date of stay: November 2021
Value
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sunny Joseph, General Manager at The Fairmont Olympic Hotel
Responded 22 Dec 2021
We thank you for celebrating your birthday with us. We never like disappointing our guests and hope you will give us the opportunity to better serve you in the near future.
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We spent one night at Fairmont Olympic hotel in Seattle for the weekend getaway with my daughters. We chose this hotel due to its history and we had a good experience before. The people at the front desk and the doorman were very professional and friendly. The room looked nice at first but after staying an hour or so we realized that our black pants and socks had white cat hair all over. I looked at the floor carefully and saw lots of cat hair. Obviously the housekeeping team didn’t vacuum the room. We called the front desk and requested a room change and they moved our room to a different floor. We made a reservation for using the pool and went there at the reserved time. We found that there were a lot of guests at the pool and jacuzzi and it was over the Covid capacity that was displayed on the wall. We felt uncomfortable and left the pool. It seems like guests were not following the time because there was no staff to check. We wanted to give the hotel 5 stars but not this time unfortunately.
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Date of stay: April 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I stay at this particular Fairmont about once a month. The rooms are spacious, service is excellent and on those evenings when I’m not able to get out and experience the wide array of restaurants in Seattle, room service food is top notch. One of the best things for me is that they have two Peloton bikes in the gym so I can keep my workouts going when away on business. I highly recommend this hotel.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from MarkusT977, General Manager at The Fairmont Olympic Hotel
Responded 14 Jan 2020
We certainly thank you for your loyalty to the Olympic and are very pleased to know you enjoy the hotel and all the amenities that go along with your stay. Thank you for sharing your recommendation with other TripAdvisor readers and users and we will look forward to seeing you soon. Regards, Markus Treppenhauer General Manager
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There are more places to choose from in the Seattle area.
PRICE RANGE
â‚ą23,418 - â‚ą31,733 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
the fairmont olympic seattle hotel seattle, fairmont olympic seattle, fairmont seattle, four seasons seattle, seattle fairmont
LOCATION
United StatesWashingtonSeattle
NUMBER OF ROOMS
450
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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