The Top 8 Places to Stay When You Visit Banff
Tucked away in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta is Banff, a resort town that is living its best life. Once a winter playground, Banff is now a year-round vacation destination with some of the most breathtaking natural views that can make you feel like you’ve stepped right into a postcard. It also boasts an array of amazing lodges and inns that offer guests more than just a place to rest their heads. Here are eight of the best hotels you should consider when you travel to Banff.
Rimrock Resort Hotel
Located inside Banff National Park, Rimrock Resort Hotel features amazing vistas of the mountains and the valleys below its spot on Sulfur Mountain. This prime location is perfect for trying a new or favorite winter sport, indulging in fine dining, or just enjoying the view from the comfort of your elegantly appointed room.
Buffalo Mountain Lodge
This resort, located on Tunnel Mountain, balances modern convenience with the traditional look of a rustic mountain lodge. It is close to downtown and its shops and restaurants, but also a short shuttle ride away from skiing and other outside activities. Be sure to look around the property to catch a glimpse of the elk and deer that frequently visit the grounds.
Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel
Being in a national park doesn’t mean you have to rough it; in fact, this hotel may be the most luxurious in all of Banff. Known as the “Castle of the Rockies,” this hotel is modeled after a French chateau nestled in the mountains. With an award-winning golf course, pampering spa, and access to world-class skiing, the Banff Springs is popular with tourists every season.
Sundance Lodge
For a more authentic, immersive lodge experience, you may want to book a stay at Sundance. This back-country wilderness ten-cabin lodge can only be accessed by horseback or hike in the summer or cross-country skiing or snowshoeing in the winter. It’s a must for people who literally want to get away from it all.
Fox Hotel and Suites
Lots of hotels in the Banff area offer a cabin mountain feel, but only one features a cave-style hot pool modeled after Cave-Basin Hot Pools, Canada’s first national park. This hotel is also convenient to downtown, so you can take advantage of the nightlife, shopping, and dining when you aren’t skiing the slopes or soaking in the pool.
Sunshine Mountain Lodge
For some people, a trip to Banff is all about the skiing; luckily for them, and you, there is Sunshine Mountain Lodge. This boutique hotel is located at the top of a mountain, so you can be first on the slopes before you relax later in the outdoor hot pool or unwind with a warm beverage by the fire. You don’t have to rough it here; the rooms and common areas are elegantly appointed, and the lodge also features fine dining with stunning mountain views right outside the window.
Storm Mountain Lodge
If you are looking for a cozy spot to spend with your family, you may want to book your stay at the historic Storm Mountain Lodge. Built in 1922, this hotel offers private log cabins as well as rooms in the main lodge building, making it both romantic for couples and comfortable for families and larger groups.
Deer Lodge
You don’t have to be on the side of a mountain to get a fabulous view of the Canadian Rockies; you can appreciate both the lake and the mountains at Deer Lodge. This resort, with a prime location on Lake Louise, is open year-round for guests to take advantage of its rustic charm and elegance. You can enjoy summertime hiking around the lake or use the shuttle to the mountain for wintertime skiing.
What makes travel to Banff so fantastic is that you can find plenty to do and see in any season. Whether you want to step off the grid and into nature, experience the rich history of a by-gone era, or test your mettle on the slopes, you can do it all while without compromising your comfort or privacy. Many of the lodges, cabins, and hotels of Banff are also eco-friendly so that generations to come can enjoy the natural beauty that makes this area a bit of heaven on earth.
