jodiexplores

I am travelling to Banff for the first time in January 2015 as a couple (both 21) we plan on staying for 10 nights and skiing for 7 days while we are there.

I am looking for some recommendations for accommodation which is close to bus stops for accessing the ski fields and main areas of shops/restaurants without being more than $200 a night. We would also like breakfast included or facilities to make our own.
thanks

kgsneds

Greetings

Most of the accommodations in Banff are within easy reach of public transport, shops & restaurants - the townsite is compact and covered well by the ROAM bus.

All legit accommodation options in Banff are listed here: http://www.banfflakelouise.com/ Take a look, and maybe come up with some options and we can give you more specific advice.

Winter can be cheaper, but I suspect that $200 a night will probably be mid range or lower in terms of hotels. Though, for 10 nights, you might be able to come up with a deal. For that long, you might look at B&Bs or a condo, as a long stay could mean you can work a good deal. Be aware that you cannot do private rentals in Banff due to national parks rules - all legit rentals will be listed on the above website.

January, other than weekends, should probably be fairly reasonable pricewise, but if prices in Banff seem steep, you might try Canmore. It's outside the park, so rentals are allowed and prices tend to be less expensive. I think there are ski shuttle from there as well, and it has nice, less commercial feel to it and a nice vibe & wider range of nightlife.

snowgirls

We have stayed here http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant...k_Alberta.html
and then skied both lake Louise and Sunshine. You can get tri area tickets that include Norquay, but we did not ski there. If you can get a good price, this hotel location and ambiance was great. Are you flying or driving in? For the length of time you are staying, stay in Banff , way more things to do, clubs, places to eat and party après ski.

Myer

I've been to Banff twice during the summer and stayed at Charleton Courts. Pretty reasonable, breakfast was included and the rooms were nice and convenient.

Are they even open in winter? Call.
Are they convenient for buses? Call.

I'd stay there again in summer if I go back.

ltt

some considerations. unless you take a shuttle, i would not stay in canmore for the 10 days. doing that drive back and forth every day would not be enjoyable to me. staying in banff, you can walk to a lot of places. restaurants get really busy when everyone returns from a day of skiing. i'd try to find a place that you could do some cooking in your room. january can be pretty cold. make sure you stay close enough to town so that you aren't walking too far. your budget will be limiting. a place with an outdoor hot tub is always nice.

limalberta

In case you decide to stay in Canmore, and want to use public transit - Roam bus service link - http://www.nextbus.com/predictor/sto...or.jsp?a=banff

kgsneds

I think anywhere near downtown Banff will be convenient to one of the ski shuttle stops. There are also shuttles from Canmore, which is just 15-20 minutes further down the Trans-Canada.

The extra distance to Canmore may not be for everyone, but plenty of people stay there for ski trips. It was a suggestion in case prices in Banff are beyond the OP's budget, or a condo rental might be of interest. Most places in Canmore are within walking distance of the downtown (parking not a problem), and there's a nice selection of restaurants and shops.

if you intend to ski most of the time, I would suggest looking for ski & stay deals. Some hotels will offer packages that include lift tickets, and you can usually find deals at the TravelAlberta website. There are often excellent deals, especially considering the cost of buying lift tickets separately.

One other affordable option could be a private room at the Banff Hostel. A private room with it's own bathroom would run around $120 per night, and they even a "cabin suite". The hostel attracts all ages, and tends to be quieter in the winter. You would have all the amenities of the hostel - cooking facilities, TV room, free local bus pass, cafe etc. The offer packages which include the room, lift ticket and transport to the resort.

jessenewmarch

I recently came through the area and my gf and I opted to stay in Lake Louise at the Alpine Center Hostel:

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Revi...k_Alberta.html

If you have any interest in staying in Lake Louise and want to save a few bucks to spend on other high end activities I would definitely recommend it.

http://banffandbeyond.com/ has some very useful info as well.