OverviewIrwin's Mountain Inn is located on Banff Avenue, three blocks from the downtown core, which may appeal to those wanting to be within a 10-minute walk of that area.
This hotel offers 65 rooms over three floors. Standard room features include an LCD TV, a coffeemaker, a hair dryer, a mini-fridge, air conditioning and either two queen beds or one king bed. Upgraded rooms may feature a microwave, a jetted tub, a sofabed, a sitting area and/or a patio. One-bedroom suites sleep up to six people and feature a fridge, a microwave and a countertop with sink. Iron and ironing boards are available upon request.
Free Wi-Fi and local calls are available in every room. Pets are allowed in certain rooms for an additional $10 each per night (must be arranged at the time of booking).
Amenities at this hotel include a hot tub, a sauna, a fitness centre, a ski room with lockers, a coin-operated internet kiosk, coin-operated laundry and a conference room. El Toro Restaurant is on site, open for breakfast and dinner. Complimentary underground parking is available to all guests.
There are many shops and restaurants within a few blocks of the hotel. Banff Centre is a 5-minute drive away while Banff Gondola and Banff Upper Hot Springs can be reached in 10 minutes by car. Mount Norquay is a 15-minute drive away. The Trans-Canada Highway is a 5-minute drive from the hotel and Calgary International Airport (YYC) can be reached in an hour and half by car. (All distance and travel time estimates: Google Maps)
Verified by hotel staff on February 27, 2013: 65 rooms over three floors, pets allowed in certain rooms for an additional $10 each per night (must be arranged at the time of booking), suites feature fridge, microwave and countertop with sink, local calls are free, hair dryer included in every room, iron and ironing board available upon request.
The GoodThe majority of reviews used for this analysis were positive and focused on the rooms, the staff and location.
Although some guests felt that the rooms were a bit dated and worn, many said that they were clean and comfortable. Some rooms were also described as spacious. Guests appreciated the view from certain rooms, as well as the jetted tub, sitting area and/or kitchenette included with some.
The staff were complimented by many guests for being very friendly and helpful. Guests noted that the staff were always smiling and helped to make for a great stay with their accommodating and welcoming service.
The location was a plus for many guests who appreciated the convenience of being within walking distance of many shops, restaurants and the downtown core.
The Bad
Although the majority of reviews used for this analysis were positive, some negative comments focused on noise and parking.
Some guests felt that the hotel had very narrow hallways and didn't have much for soundproofing, resulting in disturbances from guests in adjacent rooms and hallways. Several guests complained of people partying late at night.
Some guests were frustrated that the underground parkade was only suitable for smaller vehicles, requiring those driving bigger vehicles like SUVs and trucks to park in a small lot outside which had limited parking spots.
TripAdvisor.com ranked this hotel #11 out of 33 hotels and rated it 4 out of 5, based on 220 guest reviews.
Hotels.com rated this hotel 3.9 out of 5 based on 144 guest reviews.
Booking.com rated this hotel 8.2 out of 10 based on 422 guest reviews.
The author called the hotel on February 27, 2013 to verify some information.
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Analyzed by Steph J.
Stephanie lives on Vancouver Island, BC, where she enjoys all things West Coast. She has daydreamed about travelling since childhood and has visited over a dozen countries since, but Canada is always at the top of her list.
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