Hotel Review: Fairmont Banff Springs

The Fairmont Banff Springs is nicknamed the Castle in the Rockies. And rightfully so, the resort goes out of it’s way to bring the medieval castle to the 21st century with modern necessities, and somehow keeps all the grandeur of a castle. This hotel is spectacular and truly a once in a lifetime experience.

The Location:

The hotel is on the outer side of Banff but it’s still within walking distance of Downtown Banff and right off Bow River Falls. It’s in a great location because you’re close enough to Banff to enjoy the town but far enough to where you still feel secluded and quite. Banff is a traditional ski town but every building falls in the same vibe of woodsy mountain town. There is a mountain backdrop on every corner makes it ideal for taking pictures.

The Property:

This place really is a castle, not just on the outside but on the inside as well. Every hallway I went down felt like I was in a medieval castle.

The Room:

We booked out room with Chase Ultimate Rewards and booked a king room with a mountain view. It was beautiful and and we got an awesome view of the mountain and sunset. Now the rooms are very traditional and don’t flow in with the castle vibes but I liked it just the same. Honestly, if the rooms were decked out like a medieval castle, I would have felt like I was at Disney World and not a luxury resort in Canada.

The Food:

One thing that I’ve learned about Canada is that the food is crazy expensive, we had a hard time eating for less than $100 USD a meal (1 appetizer, 2 entres and 1 dessert). So I guess just be prepared.

That being said, we only ate at one of the seven restaurants on property.

The Spa:

When I’m traveling, one of the first things I want to do is hit up the spa. The Willow Stream Spa at this hotel is amazing, and rightfully so as it’s rated the best hotel in Canada. The spa is beautiful and grand and oh so relaxing.

One thing that’s kind of a hit or miss with spas is knowing the dress code. In Europe, you never wear a swimsuit and most people just go nude. But in the US, almost everyone wares a swimsuit. I brought a swimsuit just to be on the safe side and I’m really glad that I did because some of the pools are co-ed, only the hot tub, sauna, and steam room are women-only.

Pro-tip: book your spa appointment first thing in the morning so it’s not crowded.

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