I have to confess that this is my least favourite Fairmont Hotel. It's well located, next to the Calgary Tower, a block from the Glenbow Museum, two blocks from the Jack Singer Music Hall, the Stephen Avenue Mall and maybe five blocks to Chinatown with a little further to Eau Claire. They also have a really good kitchen producing excellent food. Levels of service are excellent.
However, I find the rooms really dimly lit which makes the traditionally decorated rooms seem more old than charming. The plumbing is also the least updated across the entire chain. It also lacks the views that many of its Fairmont sisters enjoy, nor does it have the really dramatic entry and lobby areas which makes these grand old hotels special. I stay at Fairmont Hotels quite a bit, but I really don't think of the Palliser in the same class as the others. I'm sure that some if that feeling comes from downtown Calgary itself which makes the streets around the hotel rather bleak and sketchy at night.