OverviewLocated near the heart of town, the Banff International Hotel is in the lower to mid-price range for Banff hotels and offers a budget-friendly option to visitors who come to ski, hike and explore the area.
The 100% smoke-free and pet-free hotel has 170 non-air-conditioned guest rooms and suites, all of which include free Wi-Fi, a 37" flat-screen TV, a seating area, a ceiling fan, a coffeemaker, an iron and ironing board and a hair dryer. Most rooms come equipped with a mini-fridge but they can also be obtained without charge from the front desk.
Hotel amenities include free heated parking, a large hot tub, a steam room, a sauna, an exercise room, coin-operated laundry facilities and dry-cleaning services. Computers are available for use in the lobby for a surcharge of $3.00 per 15 minutes. On-site dining is available at Ricky's All Day Grill for breakfast, lunch and dinner, while beverages are served at RG's Lounge.
The hotel is located about a 5-minute walk from the shops and restaurants of Banff's town centre. The Banff Park Museum is about an 8-minute walk from the hotel, while the Banff Upper Hot Springs is about a 9-minute drive away. The ski shuttle to the area's major ski resorts can be accessed at Banff Ptarmigan Inn, less than a minute's walk away (confirmed with 2012-2013 schedule). (All travel times: Google Maps)
Confirmed by a front desk agent on August 27, 2012: free Wi-Fi is available throughout hotel, only the hotel lobby is air conditioned, mini-fridges can be requested free of charge and computers are available for use in the lobby for a surcharge of $3.00 for 15 minutes.
The GoodBy and large, the reviews sourced for this analysis were positive, with guests finding the hotel to be clean and in an excellent location. Couples and families gave this hotel its highest ratings and praised the hotel's location on the main street of Banff, citing easy walking access to the shops and restaurants of the resort town.
The staff were highly praised by many reviewers, who found them to be friendly and helpful.
Many guests enjoyed the rooms and described them as spacious and the beds as comfortable. Many guests spoke favourably about the room amenities such as the mini-fridges, the mountain views and the furniture.
Free underground parking was appreciated by several guest reviewers and some guests thought the hotel offered good value for the price, compared to the other hotels in town.
Many guests said they would return to the hotel if they visit Banff in the future.
The Bad
The most common complaint by guest reviewers concerned the lack of air conditioning in the rooms, which gave rise to some difficulty sleeping at night in the summer months. Guests complained of having to endure noisy fans and hot rooms.
Noise from outside the hotel was another problem for several guests of the hotel, which is on the town's main street. Cited sources included shoppers, tour buses and late-night revellers.
Several guests complained that the Wi-Fi was slow and some had difficulty getting it to work at all.
The restaurant and lounge received mixed reviews. Although some guests enjoyed the food and service, a few complained about the food or some aspect of the service.
A few guests complained of dirty carpets, plumbing issues with toilets, and dated wallpaper and carpets.
TripAdvisor.com ranked the hotel #20 out of 33 properties in Banff with an average of 3.5 points out of 5 from 129 reviews.
Booking.com guest ratings averaged 8.5 points out of 10 from 132 guest reviews.
Hotels.com guest rating scores averaged 4.1 out of 5 from 188 reviews.
Confirmed by a front desk agent on August 27, 2012: free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, only the hotel lobby is air conditioned, mini-fridges can be requested free of charge and computers are available for use in the lobby for a surcharge of $3.00 for 15 minutes.
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