The downtown San Jose Fairmont Hotel is a well-known destination for high-end travelers and business executives. I stay regularly at Four Seasons, Ritz-Carltons and Peninsula Hotels. I even stay at Fairmonts occasionally. Among its competitors, I find the Peninsula, Four Seasons and Ritz Carltons (in that order) to be the best properties. This Fairmont tries to compete, but falls short on several counts. My room, a King Executive Tower room, was small (450 sq. ft.) and incredibly hard to access. From the main check-in counter, I had to follow signs that eventually led me outside, across a pedestrian mall and into a neighboring building. There was key-card only access to this building at all hours, key-card access to all floors in the elevator and, of course, key-card access to the room. If you need to go back to the main building after hours, it is key-card access only, also. Parking is only Valet and is $26/night. You drop your car on the main level, but have to wind around and down to the parking garage whenever you want to pick it up. I have sore feet.
The service has been friendly and polite. The breakfasts I have had in the Fountain Restaurant were excellent. The restaurants, in general, at this property are pricey, but quite good. The quality of materials in the property are nice and are appropriate for a good hotel. The amenities, however, were all Rose 31 products. I smelled like a rose bush all day. Not my thing -- I'm a Bulgari guy. All-in-all, it's a good property, in a landmark location with lots of interesting things nearby, that has horrible accessibility and just doesn't measure up to what you would expect of a fine hotel. Save some money by staying somewhere else, then blow it all by eating at one of the great Fairmont restaurants!
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