Sunday, 27 July 2014

A Traveller's Tale of Great Customer Service @ The Fairmont, Banff Springs!!

Once upon a time, we stayed at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, in Banff, Alberta, Canada!

Our experience was spectacular!!

On arrival we were offered a complimentary upgrade to a Mountain View Suite, an exclusive 'Club Room'. Keith did his best to decline, however a swift kick in the shins soon put that right.

There is much to tell of our trip but before I get into that, I just have to share my favourite, most memorable customer service travel tale ever.

Our free upgrade included valet parking, "not likely" said Keith, "I hate valet parking!"  On eyeing the long walk [uphill] to the car park, the gently fluttering October snow and -5C (23F) temps, we soon put that right and so he reluctantly handed over the keys of our very basic little saloon rental, to the pimply faced youth, obviously on a working holiday, posing as a valet before heading to college!

View from our room ...
All went well until day 3, we woke early, ready for the 4-hour drive to Jasper, ate a hearty breakfast and then it happened!

Keith was right!! Some might say, a momentous occasion in its own right!!

"I'm sorry Sir, there seems to be a problem, our valet has taken your car keys home and we have been unable to contact him"!

"Yes dear, you did say, no dear, I didn't think that would happen, no its OK, we can go to Jasper another day, yes dear, you were right, now take a moment."

Well obviously, we were disappointed and after an hour or two of futile attempts to wake or contact a sleepy valet, we were offered a replacement rental car ...
Our Ford Mustang rental!

"erm... ok, maybe, what with?"
 "Would a Ford Mustang be adequate Sir?  Of course, we insist you keep it for the remaining three weeks of your holiday, at our expense obviously"


Cheers Fairmont!




Dinner and drinks that night?  Complimentary!! To apologise for any inconvenience, as was dinner on our final night a few days later!

... and so why is this story so shareable? Did the penny drop yet?  Remember, our complimentary, zero cost upgrade to a Club Room?  Came with a free valet service? Now that's what I call customer service!

I have never been so happy that Keith was right!!!

Thank you Fairmont Banff Springs, our stay was out of this world, we loved the hotel, the staff were so helpful, our room perfect and if we make it to Banff again, you will be our first choice and may our next stay be as memorable!  We never hesitate to recommend you!!


Picturesque and eye-catching, Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel


... set amidst breathtaking scenery ...


Wednesday, 1 January 2014

Brisbane Fireworks - New Year 2014 or should that be 2013?

Brisbane New Year's Eve Fireworks overlooking Eagle Street Pier

 

Happy New Year Everybody!  May you have a fabulous, healthy, wealthy and, above all, interesting 2014!

EEEK Hurry ... only 358 shopping days to Xmas!




Firework display over Brisbane, viewed from Kangaroo Point on 31st December 2013

Sunday, 24 November 2013

Napa Valley - Wine Tasting....

And today?  It's Sunday....what's on the agenda?
Lunch and Wine Tasting @ Inglenook, a well kept secret and almost the "private" winery of Francis Ford Coppola, famous of course for The Godfather!  Difficult to choose, but for me, this was possibly the highlight of our trip!  If you have a little spare time, I recommend you read the history of this winery, fascinating.
Next up, wine tasting @ Paraduxx, famous for Napa Valley reds
... and finally ... wine tasting @ Silver Oak where we each were presented with a crystal glass each, somehow I inherited a second, so just two beautiful thin crystal glasses to pop in the suitcase minus boxes for safe travel home!  I am happy to say, they made it in tact!
Life's tough!

Francis Ford Coppola's winery and yet another beautiful blue November sky!


The little white house in the middle?  Home to Francis Ford Coppola.




Beautiful Redwood tree




Would you pay $1.2M for this car?




For lunch, we were fortunate in experiencing a private event in The Daniel Cellar, exquisite, we couldn't have asked for more.

A private tour followed by lunch, with our chef walking us through the dishes and our personal Sommelier talking us through the history of the winery from 1842 through today.

,


and on to ... Paraduxx to enjoy a few reds ...


... and finally ... a stop at Silky Oak winery ...






... and this I just have to share! that evening, we headed out to a nearby restaurant for dinner, our waiter recommended Chicken Pot Pie, "a traditional American dish" - until it arrived, I hadn't appreciated it would serve a family of four for a week!  Delicious but I confess, it beat me!  

I hope the many restaurants of San Fran at least offer returned food for the many many homeless people we noticed!


Saturday, 23 November 2013

Hop on - Hop Off in San Fran ...

Set the jet lag to one side, don't waste a minute... meet downstairs at 8, quick brekkie and let's hit the town!  With only a day to see the sights, options are limited, so first let's hop on a hop-on/hop-off bus tour... how to decide?  Come on girls, don't dilly dally, just do it...


The boys didn't wanna have fun, so here we are, from the left that's Hell's our favourite [and only] resident celebrity from MKR, Mel, Me and Shaden... girl's just wanna have fun...

 

Transamerica Pyramid Building, standing tall, once the world's tallest pyramid building until London's The Shard took over in 2012.


Remember the building covered in goo in GhostBusters II?


Mel and Shaden looking cool!  Actually, it was seasonally COLD!  
Double underwear weather at least!

... and Hel's with her warming coffee...

... pretty buildings ...
Saints Peter and Paul Church on Filbert Street


Love the architecture


Shaden gets up close and personal with dinner...


Good Pizza? Just look at that queue!


and, yay - this is it - we must be in San Fran... THE Bridge!

and real proof.. yes I was there...

Janet Sutherland, San Fran


Inspiration for Otis Redding's ... Sitting on the Dock of the Bay
Heading into Sausalito.  
A tragedy he died only 3 days after recording it and 6 weeks before it was even released.


So after a wander around beautiful Sausalito, a little town full of restaurants, cafe's and curiosity shops, a change of pace, all too soon, let's head back to San Fran on the ferry


Past Alcatraz...


... a perfect way to mix with the yacht's in the bay when you have limited time 

 



and finally... The Night Tour... drive past beautiful City Hall


... and did you hear the beautiful story of how San Francisco and its people turned San Fran into Gotham City for a day?  

To grant a wish for 5 year old Craig, diagnosed with Leukemia who wanted to be Batkid for a day and his wish came true, thanks to the Make a Wish Foundation?


A pretty city of lights....



More pics available <click here> 
Tomorrow?
Wine tasting in the Napa Valley!