Seven hotels you can't miss in Alberta

1. Fairmont Banff Springs

Nearby restaurants:

• Grapes

• 1888 Chop House

• Rundle Bar

Nearby attractions:

• Bow Falls

• Tunnel Mountain Drive

• Mountain Galleries at the Fairmont Banff Springs

Let’s see how people review this hotel

Wonderful experience. Truly first class.  Friendly staff. Nice restaurants with very good food. Interesting shops. Indoor & outdoor heated pools +. Very convenient to town and other sightseeing places. Highly recommend a visit to this unique historical hotel with renovated rooms - paulcB6604SH

My octogenarian mother’s long-held dream was to travel on the Rocky Mountaineer and visit old friends out west. I encouraged her to seize the day and planned a luxurious getaway for us both. We rented a Mercedes SUV from Calgary and set off for the beautiful Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel for a few nights, before boarding our train. We generally never splurge on valet service, but the kid-glove treatment from the folks at the front came in very handy. A flight delay almost made us miss our dinner reservations at the lovely Swiss Waldhaus Restaurant, behind the hotel. They instantaneously parked the car, brought in our luggage and popped my disabled mom and me into a golf card to get us there comfortably and expeditiously. They even had a shuttle bus waiting, just as we were ready to leave. I kid you not, it was ‘Radar’ like service (for all you M*A*S*H fans)! After our meal we checked in and were put into a ‘wheelchair accessible’ room outside of the main building. Despite my disappointment at being ‘off campus’ as it were, I tried to keep an open mind. Sadly, the room was underwhelming at the eye-watering rates necessary during high season at this landmark institution. Don’t get me wrong, the view was great, but the room satisfactory at best. The main issue though was the magical mystery tour to get there. Technically it was scalable with loads of time and perhaps an electric wheelchair or savvy/youthful aid, but I’d advise this extended wing be a better bastion for those quite able, fit and wanting a good amount of privacy. By morning, we realized the gauntlet was too much to manage for every meal, as well as getting repeated access to hotel facilities and grabbing our vehicle. After a bit of discussion at the front desk about capacity issues, etc. manager, Emma (extraordinaire) stepped in. This is when you find out what Fairmont service is truly all about! We were elevated to an incredibly large and beautiful room that also had a jaw-dropping view. We were compensated generously for the inconvenience and all staff took great pains in making the rest of our visit absolutely flawless. Sure, it would have been great to avoid any hiccups, but they made it right and then some, immediately. I’m sure it took a bit of juggling, but when things go wrong, you really find out what a stellar brand is truly made of. Of course, the facilities themselves are like something out of a fairy tale. This grand dame is definitely an experience that must be added to any bucket list worth dreaming about. The amazing views, grounds, restaurants, spas, pools, bar, golf course, common areas, etc., etc. should not be missed. The nearby village is its own little idyll too. The rest of our stay was nothing less than perfect (and trust me, Mom’s not an easy lady to please)! I applaud the FBSH for their amazing responsiveness and for making lemons into the sweetest lemonade ever. It must be difficult to manage a hotel that size, whilst keeping everyone happy at peak season, but they accomplished that and much more. Air Canada can take a few tips from these professionals. To that end, Fairmont has always been a favourite brand of ours and continues to be. They are a luxury brand and thus a bit pricier than some options, but worth every penny. Thanks to all the staff that went the extra mile and made sure this special trip memorable for my mother and I, for all the right reasons. Kudos to you all and keep up the fabulous work – my husband and I will be back to this and other Fairmont properties, as soon as we possibly can! - CKimoff

First time in Banff and at the Fairmont and it was a trip I won’t soon forget. Truly amazing experience all the way around and the hotel was simply magical. The hotel offers everything you need yet it is a short and beautiful walk in to town for a change of pace.  - coreyl473

Hotel Info

• view website
• 1 (833) 697-1106
• 405 Spray Avenue, Banff, Banff National Park, Alberta T1L 1J4 Canada

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