Fairmont Banff Springs

We stayed for one night, 4 of us sharing a suite. It was a nice room, despite an older style set-up and decor. We agreed that's what you get in an old castle such as the Banff Springs. But for the cost (about $1000 for one night), it could probably use a bit of an update. We immediately went to the hot pool, which was amazing with the ultimate mountain view and the ability to bring cocktails in with us! The only glitch during that experience was the food. For the extraordinary price of a sandwich wrap, it was not just bland - it was downright terrible. None of us had a good experience with our food at the pool. At one point we asked for another wrap and the lady told us it would take an hour to get it down from the kitchen. Not acceptable for such a nice hotel. But she was lovely and made sure our drinks were always topped up, so that made up for it a bit! That night, we went to Grapes for some wine, and the Italian place for dinner, then ended our night at Rundle Lounge. All were great! The charcuterie at Grapes was amazing, as was the atmosphere. And Rundle is honestly one of my favourite places on earth. Amazing view of the mountains from one end, but there's a hidden speakeasy behind the bookshelf (SO Harry Potter!) and they serve THE BEST COOKIE YOU'VE EVER HAD. All 6 of us agreed with that, so you know it's legit! The chocolate gooey cookie is honestly unreal - so delicious we shared 2! (They're big) The next day, we went to the Waldhaus restaurant, which was a bit of a trek down the hill from the hotel but it was well worth it. A truly German-inspired gem, with great fondue and beer! We also did the hotel tour with Scott, who was amazing at presenting the history and great stories of such a historic hotel. The only real drawbacks of this experience were (1) the cost - for $1,000/night, the rooms need updating and the hotel food should be stellar - it wasn't; (2) the pool bar needs a lot of work. The food options weren't great and the food itself was awful, and (3) when we checked out and split our bills 4 ways, they accidentally charged me twice and 2.5 weeks later, I still haven't received my refund. I'm not sure why they couldn't have done the refund as soon as it came to their attention. This just shows they don't really care once you leave their hotel. Not cool. Otherwise, this was a great trip and the majestic Castle is worth a stay at least once in everyone's lifetime!!!

A very mediocre stay at the Fairmont Banff Springs-Gold Level. I have to start by saying we love Fairmont and its partner brands through AllAccor. We have stayed regularly at Fairmont Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto and Lake Louise and always been extremely pleased with the Gold Experience. We choose gold because of the elevated customer experience and amenities. Fairmont Banff Springs failed to meet the standard we have become accustom to. Don’t get me wrong the hotel is beautiful, a true gem located in the jewel of Canadian parks, Banff. In other locations the connection and care experienced from staff is part of the allure of gold. Yes it comes with great food, access to drinks and a few perks within the levels but the staff is always the heart of the experience. We did not experience this at Banff Springs. It felt over full, more like a school cafeteria where staff were very busy, run down and didn’t offer much for attention. It was missing the feeling we come to enjoy. Here are a few pros and cons from this experience. Pros Jen from the Gold level was the lone standout, going a few steps out of her way for great guest care Our corner room had breathtaking views and was very much appreciated Gold courtyard valet was extremely friendly and went the extra mile Baggage service upon arrival and departure were very professional Good food, the spread consistent with brand Turndown and housekeeping staff were friendly We ordered a shave kit got a bag of toiletries Cons Impersonal Gold Staff experience (minus Jen) Food left in hallways for hours on floor Staff felt run down and lacked the spirit especially at check in We asked for late check out in person however the Gold staff couldn’t answer us , rather had to “put in computer and wait for a response via text tomorrow ” we received no response and opted to leave early No candy or snacks, in other locations bar snacks, candy and chocolates are made easily available especially for those looking to watch a movie in room. Beverages in fridges less elevated than others No in room bar options In the end, we will always return to Fairmont, we probably will skip Fairmont Banff Springs-Gold moving forward.

Had the most incredible anniversary at the Banff Springs. From the moment we checked in the trip was magical. Drew and James helped us with all our questions and needs when we arrived. They went above and beyond to wish us well and get all plans and reservations organized. The views are hard to describe, and pictures don't do justice to the beauty of the landscape. Lots of things to do, the hotel offers so many activities and the lounges are great! Definitely recommend taking the hotel tour with Lucy!! We do this at the Farimonts we visit. It is a great way to get to know the history of the hotel and Lucy made it so much fun. If you like a great martini see Marek in the Rundle Room, he makes an incredible dirty Martini!!! Angelica,Kylie,Morgan and Jess in the Rundle room are all just so lovely and gave us so many tips for the area and advice on things to do. The staff there never made us feel rushed and answered any questions we had and gave us so much great advice on waking paths, christmas events etc. The service was absolutely incredible and they all made us feel celebrated! They took their time in a busy environment to make us feel welcome! Max was so incredibly friendly in the Ramsay Lounge, he was patient and as with all staff took a ton of time to get to know us and make us feel so welcome. The Ramsay bar was all decked out for the holidays and was such a fun experience. The trip was so amazing, the hotel and service was incredible, the views are absolutely magical. The favourite part of our trip though was the incredible staff. We could not have felt more welcome. The only thing to keep in mind is the extra charges for tourism and amenities along with the Banff toll fee's etc. This does add a lot to the final total of the bill. Not a deal breaker for us but something to really understand before you go. We love the Fairmont brand and had such an incredible time at the Banff Springs. Definetly add to your bucket list!!!

Fabulous peaceful location with walking trails leading from the grounds. Superb staff including concierge team: Don was outstanding in his help regarding a Rockies helicopter flight. You can do an accompanied or self-guided tour of this lovely old 'castle'. It's an easy walk downhill to the town or if you prefer the buses are very frequent and reliable. Housekeeping team was excellent, especially the lady who hailed from Tockwith, Yorkshire! The heated outdoor pool at night is a must. 'Noodles' can be used just to float along gazing at the stars/mountains or talking to the great people you meet doing the same!

Grand castle hotel. Distinguished by excellent service best exemplified by its excellent adventure tour guide Alex Mowat. Family went on a hike around Banff National Park guided by Alex and what a day of adventure it was. Alex was by far the best and most knowledgeable guide we ever had. His enthusiastic and love for his native Banff area and its wildlife was nothing short of infectious. You should stay at the Fairmont and try to get Alex Mowat as a guide. A truly unforgettable experience.