Maiga

I am planning to take a trip to Banff Canada in september 1997. I would like to stay at a very good hotel.Which one are the best? Could anybody help with this? Thank you very much.

s. taylor

My wife and I stayed at both hotels back in 1991.
Although very interesting and worth a visit, we were
not impressed with the Banff Springs. The rooms
(at least our room) was old and musty! Of course it
is a very old hotel. Friends of ours were also not
impressed. I would inquire whether or not there's
a newer wing (I think there is) and ask for a room
there. It's, no doubt, a spectacular hotel from the
outside. We liked the Chateau Lake Louise much
better, although it's more isolated than the Banff
Springs. Try and get a room on the 8th floor facing
the lake. Wow! You may try the Post Hotel too. It
is a member of the Relais et Chateau group, so you
know it's first class. Regardless of where you stay,
this is one of the most beautiful places in
North America. Have a great time!

dave mooney

I stayed at the Banff Springs Hotel in 1994. Its great if you like older, grand locations. Its a wonderful place, but the rooms are small. I didn't notice much about the rooms, but then again I was never in it. Too many activities in the area! Lake Louise may have a nicer (and newer) hotel, but there is less in the way of nightlife, shopping and food. Its hard to go wrong with either place

Jackie

My husband and I have stayed at both the Banff Springs Hotel and the Rimrock Resort within the last few years. We were very disappointed by the old, small rooms at the Banff Springs and found the Rimrock to be much nicer and less expensive.The Banff Springs has had a new spa addition opened recently - I still wouldn't recommend staying there.

Kimmy

My family was faced with making the same decision when we went in 1994. Banff Springs or Chateau Lake Louise? We finally decided on Chateau Lake Louise and were not at all disappointed. The hotel is great, lots of restaurants and shops. The view is out of this world and I agree with the other responder that you should definitely get a lake-view room. We did and it was worth every penny. If you're into hiking, the Lakeshore Trail is great. We did go to the Banff Springs Hotel just to check it out. It was very big, old, dark and barronial. Although it was nice to visit, and we did do a horseback ride from the stables there, we were glad we didn't choose to spend a week there.

Wherever you decide to stay, I hope you have a great time. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.

Perry Miller

We just got back from a week in Banff and Lake Louise. We did not stay at the Banff Springs or the Chateau LL. Too expensive. But we enjoyed the real stuff you go to see, the mountains, waterfalls, lakes, trails, etc. In Lake Louise, we stayed at the Mountaineer Lodge in the "village." We had a HUGE room (#38)with great housekeeping. It was $202 with tax (two double beds, two sofa-beds, mini-fridge, big bathroom and sitting area with TV).
We spent a lot of time at Lake Louise, canoeing and hiking. We ate two great meals in the Chateau's "Poppy Room" restaurant. We had a wonderful canoe outing on the lake. And I'll never forget my hike to the tea-house at Lake Agnes (uphill) but worth the view.
At Banff and Lake Louise, you can enjoy the experiences without having to pay top-dollar for the big hotels that are filled with tour-bus groups.
Good luck.
Incidentally, we stayed at the Swiss Village section of the "Inns of Banff", a basic motel unit in a property that includes more upscale rooms and condos. We enjoyed the roof-top hot tub with views of the snow-capped mountains.

Perry Miller

The $202 referred to in the above note is in Canadian dollars. It's 25%25 less in US money. Also, the Mountaineer Lodge has less expensive rooms. Ours was the "family" room. Our favorite restaurant at Lake Louise was "The Station," converted from the train station that used to serve the area.
If you get to drive the Icefields Parkway north from Lake Louise, there are wonderful sights along the way. In Jasper we had supper at the beautiful Jasper Park Lodge, which looked like a nice place to stay. The Lodge at Emerald Lake in the Yoho National Park, 30 minutes from Lake Louise, also looked neat.

Jon

I would recommend Chateau Lake Louise for its setting and restaurants. Banff Springs has nice shopping and good deli on lower level. For dinner at Lake Louise, try the Walliser Stube: wonderful BC salmon and the biggest wine list I've ever seen. Take a side trip to Moraine Lake for scenery even better than Lake Louise; lake looks like liquid turquoise. Food at Moraine Lake Lodge is good; tour buses there are often a pain.

Lynn

Toured the Canadian Rockies in August '96 and stayed at both the Chateau Lake Louise and Banff Springs Hotel. Chateau Lake Louise is a beautiful place, especially if you get a room with a lake view, which is a must if you stay here. It is worth the extra money. I expected a lot more from Banff Springs because the pictures are so enticing, but the rooms are very small and average at best. I would recommend a hotel down in town since if you stay at the Banff Springs you must walk or catch a shuttle into downtown. Another area in Canada which I would recommend is Jasper. We stayed at the Chateau Jasper and got bumped to the Royal Suite. What a room! It had a living room with big-screen TV, a huge bathroom with a large sunken tub and king size bed. Wherever you go and stay at these places, you will NOT be disappointed with the scenery!

Dennis Holland

Our last visit to the area was in March 96. We stayed at the Rimrock which was less expensive and had big rooms, nicely furnished, great views and nice health club facilities. The Banff Springs gets lots of tour groups and conventions and they tend to close off public areas to other guests. We did eat at their German restaurant at the golf course which was great.
In 1984 I visited the srea for the first time and couldn't make up my mind regarding Banff Springs or Lake Louise so I stayed three nights in each. There is certainly more going on in Lake Louise now than back then but it is still quiet compared to Banff. You are closer to the Columbia Icefields and Yoho Park in Lake Louise. Either way the scenery is incredible so you won't be disappointed.
Dennis

Anita

The Banff Springs Hotel IS filled with tour groups and not worth staying at. But it is worth a visit and look around. The individual visitor is treated badly since they cater to tour groups. Chateau Lake Louise and the Jasper Park Lodge are definitely worth two or more nights. The scenery between Lake Louise and Jasper is breathtaking - stop at the glacier for an interesting experience.. don't miss this area. Banff is nothing compared to this so give it up if you're making a choice. Take lots of film.

claire mcnaught

I highly recommend the Post Hotel in Lake Louise. I also loved the Banff Springs, our rooms on both visits were fantastic. On the other hand, I had a very poor room at the Chateau Lake Louise

Susan May

We enjoy the Buffalo Mountain Lodge in Banff. It is on a lovely, quiet street in the National Park where the elk graze on the grounds and you can take wonderful walks and enjoy the peace and quiet. Best of all it is only 5-7 minutes from the heart of downtown Banff. Lake Louise is lovely, but I would recommend for a day trip. It is very isolated and also very crowded during peak seasons. Banff offers many restaurants, movies, shops etc. The perfect place to go to enjoy the quiet and still know there is activity close by. Check the Buffalo Mountain Lodge on the internet.

nancy

Just visited both hotels this week. Banff Springs had much more character and was less overrun with tourists. Chateau Lake Louise was almost like something in Vegas or Disneyland. I don't know that I would actually want to stay in either place for their prices. High tea at Banff Springs was very nice and only CAN$15.

Maiga

Hi. I'm Maiga and I started this page. I went to the Rockies and I hightly recomend The Post Hotel ( try the streemside log cabins) in Lake Louise and The Rimrock Hotel(very,very beautiful) in Banff. The are fantastic. Both the Lake Loise hotel and the Banff Springs are filled with tour groups. I didnt't like it at all.