The Fairmont Experience

The Fairmont Experience - Banff and Lake Louise

The plan for Banff and Lake Lousie wasn't meant to be very touristy, it was planned to only spend two nights at each and just enjoy the hotel.

Banff Springs, Amy's dream hotel, was literally a castle in the woods with magnificient views of the mountains and valleys.  We checked in on a Friday night, along with 600 other people, our bags were taken by the bell boy and we went inside to check in.  We expected a long wait with so many people however we only had to wait for one person to be served in front of us plus they were handing out hot apple cider and a cookie to the guests.  A very warm welcome (the apple cider was definitely great relief after the freezing cold outside) for the start of our experience at the Fairmont.  When checking in we were upgraded to the Royal suite, the wing of the hotel where the Queen and her staff stayed when they were in Banff.  The furnishings have been left as they were since the Queens visit.  Including all Royal artwork, photos and portraits, stone carved royal crest each side of the lobby.  This section of the hotel has remained in a very different decoration to the remainder of the hotel.

Fairmont Baff Springs

The Royal Wing

That night we dinned at the Waldhaus Restaurant, located just a short stroll down the mountain at the rear of the property.  The property, originally the golf club, has been converted into a fine dining restaurant.  Sitting in front of a large open fire with a Christmas tree in the corner and mounted animal heads on the wall, awesome (sorry Leanne).

The next morning we decided to check out the Banff Hot Springs.  The number one tourist desination of the area, located a short taxi ride up the mountain from the hotel.  The springs and facilities are man made however the water is 100% natural mineral water from the mountain themselves.  The water was at a constant 39 degrees C.  In major contrast to temperature outside the pool somewhere in the region of -10 degrees C, with snow lining the outside of the pool.  The view across the mountains and valley from the pool were just spectacular.

Hot Springs Banff - What a view!

That afternoon we took part in the castle tour hosted by the hotel.  Our tour guide outlining the history of the castle and guided the group around the main guest floors, including the dining and lounge rooms as well as the numerous elaborate ballrooms.  Very castle like.

Banff Springs Foyer

That evening we took a trip in to Banff village and wandered around the 3 blocks of the village street.

The view from our suite - Fairmont Banff Convention Centre

At noon the next morning we headed to the Lake Louise Chateau, my dream hotel.  Set on the edge of Lake Louise, surrounded by mountains, the Chateau is set in a winter wonderland.  Our room overlooked the lake which had almost entirely frozen over and was covered in snow.

Fairmont Lake Louise Chateau

Chateau foyer

We took a stroll to the middle of the lake for a better view of the surroundings and a view back to the magnificent Chateau.  Some people were skating on the hotel maintained rink (on the lake itself), others playing a friendly match of ice hockey, other people cross country skiing and others hiking around the edge of the lake.  After our short walk on the lake, we warmed up with a hot chocolate and a bowl of fries in the Glacier Saloon.  That night we dined in luxury at the Fairview Dining Room.  That night, for the second time in as many Fairmont's, I ordered the roast duck.  Simply devine!

On Lake Louise

The next day we went on a sleigh ride.  One of those things I just had to do! What I had always dreamed would be magical was one of the coldest experiences of my life!  It was -22 degrees C plus as we were moving the wind was blowing straight through us.  We were rugged up, with multiple layers, coats, scarfs etc. plus we had a blanket to share and we were still frozen!  We went around the edge of the lake and we able to have a short photo stop at the opposite side of the lake with a view across the lake to the Chateau, the mountains and a frozen waterfall.  Typically the sleigh ride would return back to the Chateau across the lake itself however as it was still early in the season and not cold enough for the lake to be solid enough (can you believe it, it was still too warm) so we returned down the same side of the lake.  The views despite the cold were spectacular!

Our transportation

Sleigh Ride

All rugged up on the sleigh ride

Frozen water fall

We had planned to spend the afternoon tobogganing, however we decided we needed to warm up instead and found our way to the hotels pool and spa to relax.  Having opened our mouths and the other guests hearing our accents and determining we were Australian, we started a conversation (Canadians really like our accents, which is a good thing because their accents are really good too).  We found out that the Today show (Australian morning show) were filming at the ski fields in the town that day.  We decided to rug up once again and head out to the ski slopes to take our chances at seeing them film.  By the time we arrived at the ski lodge, they had gone.  The lodge however was stunning and another beautiful example of a Canadian lodge.  The Lake Louise ski area was a bit smaller than Whistler, but allot less commercial.  We had a light dinner upstairs at the lodge before returning to the hotel for our last nights stay.

Lake Louise Ski Area Lodge

The next morning we were up before sunrise for our transfer to the Calgary airport for our last flight to Amy's new home and my stop for Christmas and New Year.

Till next time

Luv always
Heather