Originally Posted by
songsc
When the AC is running, it muffles the noise from outside. You can definitely hear it if you stand near the window. When the terrace is busy, it's about as loud as a patio bar. Maybe I should call it sound from the terrace instead of noise.
I am staying at the Empress right now, and I would say the AC is the loudest noise I have heard so far, just like most other hotels with individual AC units.
If you're there now, I'm curious if the lounge is extra busy due to the Diamond access? It's a very large lounge, and even in the height of summer, I found it very open and never busy. Did you book the Gold room, or did they upgrade you due to the Diamond access benefit?
The new lounge benefit now opens up a nice opportunity there to use a SNU to get a harbour view suite and Gold. The only Suite available with a SNU on Fairmont Gold, is the Gold City View Suite. I booked that and was upgraded on arrival to the Harbour View. But, a One Bedroom Harbour View non-Gold Suite is included in the SNU upgrade options, which means I would probably book that next time, to guarantee both Gold and a Harbour View Suite at time of booking. And, the non-Gold Harbour Suite is larger than the Gold version, as it also includes a small dining table area. Sort of win-win-win, and about a 50% SNU discount on the non-Gold suite, and an ever bigger discount compared to the Gold Harbour View Suite, which you'd effectively be getting.