If you don’t visit the Fairmont Banff Springs when you are in Banff, did you EVEN go to Banff?
This iconic resort is a Banff staple and also a pinnacle property in the Fairmont portfolio. Located in the heart of the Banff National park, the hotel is perched above the Bow Falls river offering stunning views of both the water as well as the mountains!
Nicknamed “The Castle in the Rockies”, the property literally looks like it was transported from an estate in Scotland where a King and Queen used to live. It’s enormous! My husband also accurately pointed out that it gives off lots of “Harry Potter” vibes which says a lot. Despite how grand and big the resort is, it still feels cozy and intimate. There are so many nooks and crannies to explore and if you pair that with the Fairmont’s top notch hospitality, you truly get a personalized experience.
THE GROUNDS
With restaurants, a spa, shops and views, you can post yourself up and never leave the place if you want ( and trust me when I say we found it hard some days to get moving!!). On the other hand, if you aren’t staying there, there are many ways to still experience the resort and many reasons to make your visit worth it!
The back side of the resort features the hotel’s pool ( that is very heated during the cooler months), the Rundle Bar patio and the Vermillion Room restaurant. This was my favourite area to hang out and explore. With the mountains in clear focus out back, I found it hard to pull myself away from these captivating views. It was like something I have never seen.
With that being said, the main lobby is also a real draw here. It sets the tone upon arrival with such a grand and inviting staircase, Gothic chandeliers, exquisite stonework and high ceilings which allow so much light to spill through. You then can head up the stairs to the next level which features the hotels unique history. We found so many of the details truly fascinating and it made us appreciate how lucky we were to be staying at such an established property! Everything from the hotel being named a national monument by the Canadian government in 1988 to Marilyn Monroe being a regular back in the day to finally learning about the hotel being haunted by ghosts, it is a place that has been captivating it’s guests for decades ( even when you die you wanna come back LOL)
The hotel’s Willow Stream Spa is also an integral part of the hotel’s grounds as there is a whole dedicated wing for it and covers 40,000 square feet ( yes, really!). It is a world renowned spa in every way and it is the perfect spot to sooth sore muscles after hiking or skiing. We were lucky enough to have a couples massage in one of their newly renovated suites and let me tell you, I will be talking about the treatment for years to come. My husband claims it was the best massage of his life which says a lot because he is very picky! We later relaxed in the spa’s thermal waters for 20 minutes which are filled with crystals and minerals from Europe
Lastly, I need to touch on the numerous restaurants that are housed inside the resort. There are over 7 restaurants to choose from so again if you don’t want to leave the resort you do not have to. They have such a unique variety of offerings but besides that, the settings of each of these places feel truly different. One night we were inside the Waldaus Pub which is a Bavarian biergarden style pub ( think schnitzel and lots of beer) set in a romantic and enchanting house. This restaurant in particular is a good 5 minute walk from the main resort building and has you walking through lots of greenery to get there. Definitely adds to the charm of this place. The Vermillion Room was another one of our favourites which is a brasserie style restaurant. The bistro has an upscale feel and we again felt like we were transported to another world- Paris to be specific. It features lots of french specialties ( still dreaming of the steak and frites) and in terms of decor, features lots of velvet and brass accents. Also bonus points for having an epic view of the mountains!
THE ROOMS
With over 700 rooms, the options in terms of room types are endless here! We stayed in a cozy corner unit that overlooked the Bow valley. Each morning we woke up to a bit of fog hanging over the mountains and it felt like a true fairy tale setting.
We planned to bring our daughter originally and forgot to take the crib off of our booking so even with the crib in the room, we still felt like we had plenty of space! The bathroom area had two separate areas equipped with a vanity area/sink and then another room made up for the shower and toilet. My favourite part of the bathroom area ( and any Fairmont property in general) is the fact that they use Le Labo products. If you know, you know. Literally a reason to book the hotel alone in my eyes and I may or may not have gone home with a heavier luggage!! haha
We were given a welcome snack in our room as shown above ( the way to my heart is through dessert so this was a fitting welcome snack!) and we were also given a little teddy for Chloe. It was such a sweet gesture and it really showed how the Fairmont brand goes above and beyond to make their guests feel special.
The decor in the room is pretty simple but with the rest of the resort being so amped up and rich in design, you really don’t need anything more in the rooms. It almost feels calming to have it as simple as it is.
If you don’t want to wait any longer to stay here, book your stay NOW
IMPORTANT TIDBITS
| PRICE | Rooms range from $350 CAD and upwards depending on room type and the season | MINI BAR | Yes! And all items are free and re-stocked daily. Beer, water and pineapple juice included! |
| WIFI | Yes ( Also a business centre) | YEAR OPENED | 1888 |
| POOL/GYM/SPA | Pool, gym and full service spa | LOCATION | Located 5 minutes from downtown Banff |
| CHILDREN | Yes! There is TONS of kid friendly activities on site. We cannot wait to go back with Chloe and see the experience through her eyes | RESTAURANTS | Yes. 5 full service restaurants. Room service all day. |
10 Comments
Oh my❤️ What a beautiful getaway. Canada has so much to offer and seeing this retreat we definitely will be putting Banff at the top of our list to visit. Thanks to @daydreamdairies for unveiling such a neat destination 🇨🇦
[…] the Fairmont always offers top notch service, I have to say it was above and beyond while we were there as of […]
[…] the Fairmont Banff, this Fairmont too features a grand staircase in the lobby. Although we didn’t need to use it […]
Oh my goodness what a beautiful place to stay in Banff! Thanks for sharing all the insider tips!
It is SUCH a gorgeous hotel! I would not mind staying there at all…but I’d have to reeeeeally stretch our budget to stay overnight. The last couple of times we were in Banff we stopped in for food/drinks instead so we could at least soak up the atmosphere. They have suuuuch good views!
p.s. that must be the cutest welcome snack in history!
I want to visit here so bad! Your article made we want to go even more!
This looks wonderfully relaxing. Pool is perfect especially after a hike in Banff. Now all we need is borders to open. A nice getaway to celebrate some special occasion.
We only did a day trip to Banff from the Glacier National Park area and I really want to go back and stay properly! Thanks for all these wonderful suggestions which only make me want to fo back sooner!
[…] Visiting the Iconic Fairmont Banff Springs Resort […]
[…] Visiting the Iconic Fairmont Banff Springs Resort […]