The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

What do you get here? You get views so pleasing to the eye, they could be mistaken for a glimpse of heaven. The atmosphere is so relaxing, yet invigorating, the body and mind synchronize in blissful harmony. You feel joy, contentment, pure and unadulterated happiness.

Well, yes, although we were just referring to the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, but the town is pretty cool, too. Ok, let’s be fair, the spectacular village of Banff, set amidst truly breathtaking, unspoilt mountains, lakes and countryside, is the draw for literally millions of tourists each year. That’s all the more reason to spoil yourself in a luxury hotel that is as regal as its location.

The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel blends into the beauty of Banff, complementing rather than detracting from the gorgeous surroundings. Styled along the lines of a Scottish Baronial castle, the Fairmont was built in 1888, and its opening effectively marked the birth of Canadian Rocky Mountain tourism.

About the Area

The Fairmont Banff Springs is set in the heart of Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The list of things to do while visiting Banff is as long as your imagination allows it to be. There’s hiking and skiing, golf, river fishing, swimming in hot sulfur springs, taking a gondola cable car ride to the summit of Sulfur Mountain, then getting off and having coffee and cakes while enjoying the mind-boggling views…as we said, the list is endless. Nature lovers enthusiastically scout out the plethora of wild animals that still roam in this area, including caribou, otter, grizzly bears and wolves. Those who might want to take part in all the area has to offer, but who would be nervous about setting out on their own, can still take part in white water rafting tours on the Kicking Horse River, fishing tours, or get ski instruction on the slopes overlooking Lake Louise, on what is consistently found to be the best white powder snow in North America. Literally, and without exaggeration, if you can’t find something you enjoy doing in Banff, you might want to check to see if you still have a pulse.

The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel offers 786 well-appointed guest rooms, throughout the resort, each with acharm and beauty befitting a mountain castle setting, and with all the traditional amenities and services one would expect from a luxury hotel. Every room in the resort has a coffee maker, phone, high speed internet access and cable TV. Most importantly, though, they also have windows that open to let in the fresh, sparkling mountain air. The Fairmont Rooms offer a variety of bedding options and are located on the mountain side of the resort. The Fairmont Viewside Rooms have the same lay-out and size (approximately 250 square feet), but also boast amazing views of the Bow Valley, Spray Valley or Tunnel Mountain.

Those preferring something a bit larger can select one of the Deluxe or Deluxe Premier Rooms, which start at 385 square feet, offer larger bathrooms, a wider variety of bed configurations and, in the Premier Rooms, a seating area with sofa and arm chairs. Then there are the Fairmont Signature Rooms, which offer old world opulence and striking architectural treats, like ornamental fireplaces and beautiful chandeliers, as well as artwork depicting the history of the hotel. Located exclusively in the hotel’s main building, the Signature Rooms all offer sublime views of the mountain valley.

Facilities

Not that visitors to Banff require any more choices of how to fill their days, but regardless, the Fairmont Banff Springs also boasts the magnificent, award winning Willow Stream Spa, where attentive staff are waiting to provide guests with a full range of treatments guaranteed to relax, refresh and rejuvenate the mind and body. What’s more, the Fairmont also boasts its very own 27-hole championship golf course, and the hotel frequently offers “Golf For Free” packages to guests, so be sure to enquire.

Dining

Once again, the variety is as vast as the panoramic mountain views. The Fairmont Banff Springs can offer access to no less than 11 restaurants, grills, pubs and cafes throughout the resort. From healthy cuisine to traditional Canadian fare, to mouth watering steaks and seafood, to a delightful little bakery- cum-deli that serves wickedly delicious cinnamon buns, apple turnovers and freshly baked scones, they have it all. It’s possible to make dining reservations on-line when booking your stay, and particularly in the summer, this would be advisable. Of course, if the hiking and white water rafting have used up all your energy, the Fairmont Banff Springs also offer an extensive in-room dining