Banff Boundary Lodge - Harvie Heights

We stayed here 3 nights. Looks like the offer I got from Expedia.ca was worth it after all. It turns out I got upgraded from a 1 bedroom to a 2 bedroom suite, which made for a really comfortable stay (we did not have to use the sofa bed anymore). The rack rates for this place are high in my opinion, and I would never pay that much with the online booking systems offering so much less.

This is a good place for a family, especially if you are the independent sort (i.e. make yourself at home but don't expect to be served). The rooms are clean and the kitchen well-equipped (includes dishwasher). You get lots of space, free coffee and tea, and the beds are comfortable. The bathroom has an effective (though rather loud) ventilation fan. There is a convenient coin operated laundry room for the use of all guests. If you are interested, there are also a shared outdoor hot-tub and barbeque that you can use. The location is extremely convenient, just outside of the Banff National Park gates, and 5 minutes drive from shops and restaurants in Canmore. Not as convenient as staying in Canmore itself where you can walk to the shops, but close enough.

However, you have to be happy with some quirks and limitations. For example, check-in time is 4 pm. The front desk is open only from 3 pm to 10 pm. So checking in before 3 pm or after 10 pm is basically impossible (don't try it, I saw some people arriving at 10.30 pm and not being able to reach anyone). Most of the units require traversing about 6 to 10 steps, so this is not the place for you if you are unwilling to carry your luggage up that number of steps. The door/door closer/door frame to our unit was tight/heavy/well-sealed so it requires a decent shove to get open. The place is just off the highway so if you are looking for complete peace and quiet, this is not possible. Nevertheless, I found it reasonable quiet, but I do come from a city. Since the units share common walls (or are upstairs/downstairs of each other), you also run the risk of having noisy neighbours although we had none during our stay there. There is no daily maid service (unless you stay 1 week or more in which case a maid will come mid-way through your stay), although you can request one for $30. Towels will be replaced if you put them in the specified basket and leave them by your front door before 11 am. If you need supplies such as soap/shampoo, just walk over to the front desk during opening hours and you will be given more than you need (but you do have to walk over). There is no air-conditioning in the rooms, which is fine for this time of the year, but perhaps not in mid-summer. www.banffboundarylodge.com