Banff - A skiers dream (Banff)

Member Name: kent-ledger

Product:	Banff
Date:	25/10/05 (2149 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Freindly- beautiful-perfect

Disadvantages: none

If you like skiing you really cannot go wrong with Banff. There are runs to suit all sorts from the steep and the scary to the long easy and wide. Each day you are guaranteed to find freshly groomed pristine pistes . The only thing to remember is if you are going in January/ February take some quality kit and wrap up warm. It is bitterly cold due to the winds that whip over the continental divide - They really are strength sapping (but not to put you off they don’t blow all the time). There is no good or bad time to go during the ski season which runs from November till May (However Mt Norquay the closet mountain to the town does not open till December the 10th) as the snow is always abundant and sure. If you go in April/May take lighter clothes for the town as you will be blessed with some gloriously worm spring weather that the normal ski gear will have you melting in.

LIFT PASS
Open to Dec.21, 05 Dec 22, 05 to Jan 4, 06 Jan 5 to April 1, 06
/April 2, 06 to Season Close
3 out of 4 Days $195.00 $207.00 $204.00
4 out of 5 Days $260.00 $276.00 $272.00
5 out of 7 Days $325.00 $345.00 $340.00
6 out of 8 Days $390.00 $414.00 $408.00
7 out of 9 Days $448.00 $476.00 $469.00
8 out of 11 Days $504.00 $536.00 $528.00
9 out of 12 Days $558.00 $594.00 $585.00
EXTRA Days $62.00/day $66.00/day $65.00/day

During the skiing season your tri area lift pass provides you with free transport to the three mountains on the pass. Norqway 10 mins from the town. Sunshine 20 mins away(my favourite) and Lake Louise about 40 mins away. The tri area lift pass is excellent value for money but my advise if you are going for 14 days is to buy a ten day pass. Then you can spend some time visiting local attractions- after all it’s a long way to go just to ski
Banff is about an hours transfer from Calgary slightly more if you are one of the hotels ant the end of the drop off (Inns of Banff is always the first and Rimmrock and Chateau are last - who says money can buy you everything!!).

Should you wish to there are other ski areas not included in the lift pass all within half a days travelling from Banff these are
Kicking horse
Panorama
Whitewater
Nakiska

You will be able to book trips to these resorts through your hotels or several of the sightseeing companies within the town -But if you have your own transport then you can drive and make the most of the stunning scenery along the way

HOTELS

Good reasonable hotels are bountiful -They all will deal with you individually ,so if you want to try booking without a ski company go for it or buy your flight from one of the ski companies (they really do get the cheapest flights or you can also try Zoom for cheap flights) and call the hotel to see if they will do you a deal- they often do. Carlton cedar court is great a real feeling of style on a reasonable tariff - Banff Inn is a family run hotel that goes out of its way to help- nice rooms - nice bar - so hot tub, give the breakfast a miss on some days and go next door to the local dinner (pancakes to die for). Inn of Banff is a large international hotel but prides itself on its price and service. I have stayed there twice and would recommend it every time. The outdoor hot tub is amazing and the views from it are spectacular. Plus it is the very first building you come to as you enter the town. The only downside is it is a good 15 min walk into town although there is a free shuttle bus or pay as you ride trolley bus that picks up and drops of all over the town.
For really cheap accommodation there are even two hostels although space can be limited peak season due to the backpackers staying. But that adds to the enjoyment as you meet people from all over the.
world. I just thought I would add here that the Voyager Inn would also fall into the cheep category if you are staying there do not expect luxury it really is very standard- probably low standard compared to the rest of choice on offer in Banff (The prices in all of the brochures do not seem to take this into account - You will be paying the same as if you were staying in a better hotel)

EATING OUT & DRINKING
Alberta is famous for its beef and you can’t go wrong with any of the beef dishes- Personally I would recommend the “Albert beef melt” it chunky beef and cheese sandwich that you dip in gravy- full of carb’s great when you‘ve had a hard day skiing. But here’s a few restaurants to give you an idea of what’s available

Melissa upstairs bars - Good home cooking (cracking breakfast menu)
Bruno’s bar and grill - Lots of meat but good choice of other options
Wild Bills - Excellent menu choice - regular life music
Magpie stump - Mexican
St James gate (Irish pub ) - Good pub fare and huge choice of beer (live music)
Rose and Crown - Good food - Good beer - Good Music
Bumpers Beef house - Name says it all (bit out of town good position for First hotels ie,Voyager and Inns of Banff)
Salt lik - Steaks
The Keg - Steaks
Pad Thai - Very small Thai restaurant in the clock house mall - The food was phenomenal go there it is a must (also possibly the cheapest restaurant in Banff)
Typhoon -The other Thai restaurant - good food - bit on the expensive side
Silver dragon - Chinese restaurant - great food - does take out

There are loads more but then I would be typing for ever. This is just to give you an idea.

I would really recommended this destination as an ideal skiing holiday whether you want to learn or can already ski it has something for everyone. Do take the opportunity to go on excursions offered as it is a long way to go and not see something of what this amazing place has to offer. A one week break is not enough really I would recommend two weeks at least.

Summary: good value for money, Something for every one