OverviewThe Banff Caribou Lodge & Spa is in the medium price range for Banff hotels and is ideal for those looking to stay in Banff at a more affordable rate. It is located at the edge of Banff, within a 15-minute walk of downtown.
Recently renovated (2011), the 100% smoke-free and pet-free hotel offers 184 rooms and 6 Loft Jacuzzi suites, none of which are air conditioned. Standard hotel rooms have a view of the courtyard and come with a choice of two double, two queen or one king bed, a mini-fridge, a hair dryer, an in-room safe, a 32" LCD TV, a coffeemaker, a tea kettle and a sitting area. Superior rooms offer the same amenities, have an exterior view and may have a balcony.
Corner Loft Jacuzzi Suites come with one king bed in an open loft, the standard room amenities, a living room with a gas fireplace, a sofabed (upon request) and a two-person hot tub with mountain view. Mountain Loft Jacuzzi Suites come with an additional floor-to-ceiling picture window with a mountain view and a wet bar.
The Caribou Lodge offers free Wi-Fi in all spaces, free heated underground parking, Roam Bus passes for downtown and nearby attractions, and the Best of Banff Discount Booklet which offers discounts on restaurants and other services.
Other hotel amenities include a large hot pool, a steam room, an exercise room and a full-service spa. On-site dining is available for breakfast, lunch and dinner at The Keg Steakhouse & Bar.
The Caribou Lodge is within a 15-minute walk of the restaurants, pubs and shops of Banff's town centre. Banff Upper Hot Springs and the Banff Gondola are about 9 minutes away by car. The ski shuttle to the area's major ski resorts can be accessed from this hotel (confirmed with 2012-2013 schedule). (All travel time estimates: Google Maps.)
Confirmed with a front desk agent on October 2, 2012: the lobby and restaurant are air conditioned but the hotel rooms are not, there is free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and free wired internet is available to guests in the lobby.
The GoodThis hotel was enjoyed by the majority of its guests who recently reviewed their stay in online reviews used for this analysis.
The staff were very highly rated for their level of service, friendliness and professionalism. Guests cited instances where the staff went out of their way to help, serve and show hospitality to them.
The hotel's on-site restaurant, The Keg Steakhouse & Bar, was highly praised by the many guests who paid compliments to the food, large portions and friendly service provided by the restaurant. Room service and the buffet breakfast were also enjoyed by many guests.
The location of the hotel was considered close enough to downtown to walk (15 minutes) but well away from the bustle of downtown.
Some guests were happy about receiving free Roam Bus passes that allowed them the option of riding to and from the downtown core. Others appreciated the free parking, free Wi-Fi, and free coffee and tea provided in the lobby.
Many guests enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere of the hotel, the well-appointed rooms, and the comfy beds. Others said that the hotel was clean, well maintained, and afforded them a comfortable and relaxing stay.
A couple of guests mentioned that Wi-Fi worked well, with fast connection speeds.
The hotel's spa services were deemed excellent.
Many reviewers highly recommended Banff Caribou Lodge to others and said they would definitely return.
The Bad
Although most reviewers spoke favourably of the hotel, some guests provided negative feedback in recent reviews sourced for this summary.
Several guests complained that their rooms were smaller than expected and a couple of guests said their room was too small to add a crib.
Summertime visitors were disappointed to discover that their rooms were not air conditioned. This led to guests having to deal with noisy fans, and those who opened their windows for relief had to further endure outdoor noise from trains and traffic. Others were troubled by noisy guests who were allowed to party and cause noise in the hallways until the early morning hours.
A few guest reviewers said their rooms were dark due to small windows, and others complained of odour from fireplace smoke that wafted into their guest rooms from the chimney on the roof.
A few guests remarked that the underground parking was tight for larger vehicles.
Mixed reviews were given regarding value for price, and although most thought the hotel was economical and well priced, there were a few guests who thought it was expensive and slightly overpriced.
TripAdvisor.com ranked the hotel #7 out of 32 properties in Banff, with an average guest rating of 4 out of 5 from 714 reviews.
Expedia.com guest ratings averaged 4 out of 5 from 188 reviews with 88% of guests recommending the hotel.
Hotels.com guest scores rated the hotel 4.1 out of 5 from 259 reviews.
Confirmed with a front desk agent on October 2, 2012: the lobby and restaurant are air conditioned but the hotel rooms are not, there is free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and free wired internet is available to guests in the lobby.
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