Canadian rockies- ideas for accommodation

[Travellinghopefully2018]

Hi all, thinking about a summer holidays trip to Alberta next year, flying into Calgary and exploring Banff/Lake Louise/Jasper area.

I have been surprised at how expensive accommodation is since my last Canadian holiday but guess summer hols are peak time and this is a very popular area.

Considered camping but have done motor home holidays before and often find by the time you’ve hired, paid campsite pitches etc it’s as expensive than some accommodation and you’ve got all the faff of camping and a huge vehicle to park in towns! I would rather do motels or even little cabins on campsites and things to have the flexibility of a smaller car and some home comforts. We do a lot of camping in the UK and I’d like this to feel more like a holiday.

I’m looking for some suggestions for where you would base yourself in the area, if anyone knows of more motel like places or campsites with basic cabins / glamping type thing, and also any inspiration for maybe getting out of that area to lesser known places that are equally beautiful but not part of main tourist route?

We are really limited due to kids various summer commitments and DH work to when we can go - it would likely be last two weeks of summer holidays.

Thanks in advance!

Last time I went I did an Air B&B condo in Canmore. Loads of buses to Banff and Lake Louise

I would second Canmore, it seemed a popular chapter alternative when we were there this Summer

Yes, Canmore, it wasn't as pretty as Banff, but the accommodation was absolutely fine and much cheaper

Thanks all, really helpful - will focus on Canmore!

Moved Canmore and some great restaurants there too.

We hired camping equipment and camped, booked through the National Park. You can now rent basic cabins in one of the Tunnel campsites in Banff. A grizzly walked through one evening!

We stayed in Canmore, can’t fault the place.
Loved Banff, such a beautiful part of the world.

Welcome to my neck of the woods. Canmore is a little cheaper than Banff. Plenty of AirBnBs. Dead Man’s Flats is a little outside Canmore.
As a PP suggested the transit from Banff to Lake Louise and Johnston Canyon is recommended.

How old are the children?

We stayed in an Airbnb this summer in Canmore.. a great decision as Banff was rammed!! A great town, lovely restaurants and had a lovely vibe.

Ah it looks beautiful! The kids will be 15 and 12. They are excited about possibility of bears! Hoping to do some walking and maybe canoeing as well as seeing the sights!

There’s plenty of safety information and warnings! We only stayed at the bigger campgrounds with proper showers and campwardens, but there are plenty of wilderness ones with just bear poles for your food and a composting toilet. The advice from the warden who had come round to tell us there was a grizzly in the area was just to get in your car and wait and get your camera out. Canadian National Parks is a great source of information about camping and being bear aware.

Thanks good thinking on the backpack! The first time I went to Canada with friends we took a tent and did a mix of camping and hostels. We booked it as sports equipment with the airline so it didn’t affect our luggage allowance. That was 20 years ago though!

You can’t just pitch a tent anywhere unless you’re on crown land/backcountry camping. You need to reserve a pitch in a campsite. Check out the Alberta Parks website. Pitches in the Rockies go very fast. Very few places are FCFS.

Banff Canoe Club does rentals. The Fairmont Hotels in Lake Louise and Jasper also do them, but it won’t be a peaceful and serene experience as you’ll be fighting with hundreds of other tourists. Kananaskis Outfitters on Barrier Lake is more off the tourist trail.

For something different, check out the Via Ferrata at Mt. Norquay in Banff. Two routes can be done from 12. The others are 14. I also recommend Canmore Cave Tours.

We stayed in Canmore too this summer and thought it great too. Lots of lovely lodges too in places like Jasper. We saw a back bear from our car! Information notices will inform you of recent sightings and it’s recommended you carry bear spray (we never did). While hiking it’s best to travel in groups and make noise so bear disperses.