Paul_H

Hi, my wife and I are traveling from Australia to Canada late February. We want to spend about 4 or 5 nights in Lake Louise and would like to stay somewhere really nice. Have heard mixed reviews about the Fairmont but it looks like it's in a spectacular location. Has anyone stayed in both Hotels and if so which would they recomend? Thanks.

meganoreilly

I will be staying at the fairmount lake louise next weekend in a deluxe lakeside room.
It is 1800 +change US for 3 nights.
I have seen the mixed reviews.
I will post my experience when I return

therenaissanceman

Unless you have trouble walking, stay at the Post Hotel. It is an easy short walk from the Post to the lake. It is far cheaper and much more quiet. The Fairmont has lots of tourist traffic all day. The only advantage to the Fairmont is the view, which you can get by strolling though the Fairmont, even if staying at the Post. Post food is also good.

cmcfong

I love the Post and its food. I once stayed at the Fairmont, splurged on a nice room...lucky us, directly above the kitchen...ah, the smell of elk grease at 9:00pm. It was noisy and there was a large tour group presence throughout our stay. For me, no contest, it's the Post.

poss

I'll be very interested in your report, meganoreilly. I don't horribly mind a "busy" feeling in the lobby of a place during the day. The most impt thing for us is that rooms be quiet, that we can get a great night's sleep. The room above the kitchen sounds awful, but if one can avoid that, I wonder if the rooms at the Fairmont are good and quiet. The place look so spectacular. If I can learn that the rooms are handsome and quiet (quiet hallways, quiet plumbing and heating, etc), I believe we'd opt for the Fairmont over The Post. Also, I'm concerned abt the road and railway noise at the Post-- even in the "preferred" rooms (where I think we'd be bothered by the river sounds anyway, in fact). In short, quiet is the primary factor for us. We're willing to splurge to get that. I hope I can get good feedback on this specfiic question. (Also trying to decide whether to plan our 9 days for early July or early September. Which has better chance of not getting rained out of activities?) Thanks to everyone.

hydra

By the sound of his description I believe "therenaissanceman", is referring to Deer Lodge -- not the Post Hotel in his reply.

The Post Hotel is located in Lake Louise town site which sits in the lower valley. It is NOT a short and easy walk from the. Its about three kilometres -- uphill from the town to Lake Louise (the lake) and the Chateau.

meganoreilly

Hi from the fairmont lake louise
The hotel is FANTASTIC.
I have a lakeside room that the view is awesome.
Go to the fairmont website and signup for the priority program, it is free.
I am in the new wing on the 5th floor with and INCREDIBLE view
More later

Paul_H

Dear Megan,

thank you for taking the time to let us know your impressions of the Fairmount. You sound very happy there!

tom22

The Fairmont Lake Louise Hotel is under construction since 3 years. I visited the area 2 weeks ago and they are still working. Seems so as if they are changing the garden. The outlook to the Lake is disturbed.

Ike

I stayed at The Fairmont Lake Louise two years ago for several nights and enjoyed my visit very much. I had a suite overlooking the lake and the view was fantastic. The restaurant and spa was excellent also. I stayed at The Post Hote two nights also. I enjoyed both. The food was outstanding at The Post and I could hardly tell you which one to stay at. The Post is much smaller and has no view at all other than a creek running through the property. There are some small cabins right next to the creek and we stayed in one but it was not very big. Nice but not a large room. I would try several nights at the Fairmont and maybe one night at the Post.............

Paul_H

Thank you. It is good to hear from people who have been there rather than making a decision based purely on photos viewed on Hotel websites.

poss

I couldn't find anything called "priority program" on the website. What is it, please?
Would also be interested in hearing about specific room choices at Fairmont Lake Louise. I get the sense that the rooms are quite diffeent from each other. What are the bathrooms like? Also (very impt to us): what is the noise level in the rooms-- from things like heating system, floors, soundprooofing between rooms, plumbing, etc. Thanks so much for responses.

Curt

We just returned from Lake Louise yesterday. We stayed at Deer Lodge which is 5 minutes walk from Fairmont and is a nice older hotel. It is not right on the lake but just up street and an easy stroll. Our room was in the original lodge so it was small but not tiny and had a nice bathroom. The rooms have no TVs so if that is critical stay elsewhere. The lounge area with the large fireplace is quite nice. The bar is a nice place for a drink and the menu looked interesting with lots of game dishes (we did not eat there however).

There is construction work taking place on the garden area of the Fairmont between the hotel and the lakeshore. It does not interfere with any views inside or outside. We found the hotel public areas to be quite nice but can not comment on the rooms. It is quite busy with tour groups during the day. We walked over in the evening for drinks and dinner and it was wonderfully guiet. Have a drink in the bar overlooking the lake in the lobby - what a view. The saloon bar has excellent and for the area reasonable prices on beer and food.

Depending on the rates you get you might be able to stay at Deer Lodge for less money and still basically be right on Lake Louise. The Post is in the village and you will have to drive to Lake Louise.

Be sure to see Lake Moraine as well and in the village shopping center go to the little bakery for wonderful pastries, sausage rolls, and coffee. It is quite popular in the mornings and very good. A day trip to the town of Banff is well worth it also.

laurelee

My husband and I stayed at the Post Hotel a few years ago for our 25th Wedding Anniversary. We've done LOTS of traveling, and it is one of, if not the favorite place I've stayed in.
A few things you MUST know though: be sure you have a room on the creek side of the hotel-NOT the parking lot side.
This is crucial-or at least would be for me. If you are on the creek side-you will hear the wonderful babbling creek below(or right beside you if you choose a cabin) and you can sleep at night with your windows open.
We stayed on the second floor of the preferred side of the hotel-which is the creek side. We just had an ordinary room-although you could request a room with a fireplace and I believe a jacuzzi. Our room had balcony that was so pleasant to sit out on a listen to the creek.
The interior of the hotel could be described as rustic elegance. It is small, but not too small-just very personable and warm. There is a lodge/bar on the lower level that is so cozy and you can get the same food that is served in the restaurant there.
I can't imagine anyone not loving this place--UNLESS, you are on the parking lot side.
Have fun.

poss

I love the sound of babbling creeks (and ocean waves) in the daytime. Could never ever sleep to those sounds, pleasant as they are. Need genuine quiet. Thus I suppose that Post Hotel is out for us (the views don't sound as fantastic as at Fairmont either)-- and that's why I'm eager to hear "sound" reports on the Fairmont. I don't awfully much mind if the place is crowded/busy in the day.

laurelee

You just might hear the train that goes by at the Post-although it never bothered us on the "preferred" side of the Post.
Sometimes older hotels have thinner walls so you will need to hear from someone who has actually stayed there.
One other thing, the area around the Post where there are comfortable lounging chairs has a spectacular mountain view-as does the restaurant.
We would go out there and sit in the evenings and look up at the mountains with a glass of wine-unforgettable!
Good luck with your decision.

craig91355

Stayed at the Post Hotel two weeks ago and it was outstanding (our fourth trip to the area). Had a room on the "preferred side" and it was very quiet. The Chateau Lake Louise has been getting very mixed reviews on some of the travel forums, with some negative comments on both their grounds and room renovation programs. Also,the Chateau is overrun during the day with tourists visiting Lake Louise (note--we spent five minutes at Lake Louise and the rest of the day at Moraine Lake). I agree with cmcfong--stay at the Post Hotel.

laurelee

There's not doubt in my mind-a preferred side at the Post Hotel is the once place I HAVE to got back to.

Birdie

We stayed on the parking lot side and never heard the trains at night. I can't say whether there wasn't any train traffic or that I slept through it.

meganoreilly

Lake Louise Trip report

I was vacationing at lake Louise September 9-12.
I stayed at the Chateau.
It was wonderful. I was on the 5th floor of the new wing with a beautiful lake view.

The beds were comfortable, the mini bar stocked, the bathroom AWESOME and the view, INCREDIBLE.
I had signed up for the presidents club (free) and had a fantastic view of the lake.
The service was impeccable.
I stayed at the Chateau. Since my trip I have met people who BUS TRIPPED the chateau, but a select few STAYED at the Chateau. There is panache and bragging rights to it.

I mountain biked BY the Post Hotel it looked okay, but like any hotel anywhere and it was IN TOWN not ON THE LAKE

The chateau was a wonderful experience

The tourist buses? I was out hiking the glaciers all day one day and mountain biking the next.
I shopped around 6:30 in the evening and had the stores to myself.

I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone would travel to lake louise and not stay at the chateau