Banff Hotel & Ski Packages

With the fantastic early season snow at the ski areas around Banff, now could be a good time to plan your next Banff ski trip. To narrow your choices, we have featured ski packages from 3 standards of hotel, each of which offers savings compared to booking accommodation and ski passes separately.

If you are looking for a good standard of hotel in downtown Banff, the Mount Royal Hotel has a great deal for a 3 night stay with breakfast and a 3 day tri-area lift pass (which can be used at Sunshine Village, Lake Louise, or Norquay) including ski bus, costing from $784.56 to $994.56 plus taxes for 2 people in a standard room.

At the luxury end of the market, the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel is offering its Ski for Free Package which is valid for stays of 2 nights or longer. A 2 night stay qualifies for 2 tri area ski passes (ie one day of skiing for 2 people) including ski bus, and for each additional night 2 more ski passes are provided, so a 3 night stay would allow for 2 days of skiing for 2 people etc. Rates start at $299/night plus taxes for 2 people in a Fairmont Room, and the offer is valid until April 30th 2010.

The Homestead Inn is an affordable Banff hotel with a central location and is offering ski packages of various durations, which include accommodation and lift pass. For example, lodging for 3 nights including 3 days of skiing, Sunday to Thursday during ‘value season’ starts at $564 plus taxes for 2 people in a double room.

The above ski packages are all subject to availability, and can change without notice. To confirm pricing and for reservations, please contact the hotels directly.

Superb November Skiing in Banff

It’s been a great start to the winter for Banff and Lake Louise ski resorts, with both Sunshine Village and Lake Louise already having all lifts open thanks to some fantastic early season snow. Norquay has also been open at weekends since October 31st and will open fully on December 4th.
Sunshine Village is reporting a 107cm snow pack, while Lake Louise reports 65cm mid mountain and 93cm at the mountain top.
To get you in the mood for skiing and riding, check out these recent photos from Lake Louise.
Judging by the amount of snow already on the ground both in the Banff and Jasper areas, it looks like we’ve got yet another excellent winter ahead of us in the Canadian Rockies!

Banff Springs at Christmas

For anyone lucky enough to be staying at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel during the Christmas or New Year period, there is no end of fantastic activities and wonderful dining experiences to be enjoyed. From Christmas Parades to Carol Singing, from Snowshoeing to a Gingerbread House Workshop, their Christmas at the Castle brochure is jam packed full of special holiday events right through the month of December.
Below, the team at Banff.mobi has highlighted some their favorite activities and the main dining options for the Christmas period December 24th to 26th 2009.
Christmas is a very busy time at the Banff Springs and it is strongly recommended that you make reservations for any events and all dining before you arrive at the hotel.

Christmas Eve Activities

Christmas Day will no doubt involve indulging in some terrific food, so why not get out for some exercise on Christmas Eve by joining the Winter Wonderland Wilderness Walk from noon to 1pm. Christmas Cookie Decorating looks like a fun event for the family and takes place from 1-3pm and costs $25 (all inclusive) per family tray. Santa’s Workshop (3-5pm) is sure to get the kids excited for the big day, and the Great Santa Send-Off (5-5.30pm) is a fun and lively event with hot chocolate and carols. The Traditional Christmas Sing Along (9.30-10.30pm) has taken place at the Banff Springs for years and is a wonderful opportunity to sing and hear all your favorite carols in a very festive atmosphere.

Christmas Eve Dining, December 24

Alhambra Dining Room
5 course table d’hote dinner with live entertainment and dancing.
Seating times from 6.30 to 8.30pm
Adults $120 (incl. service charge and GST)

Bow Valley Grill
A Taste of the Castle International Dinner Buffet
6-9pm
Adults $82 (incl. service charge and GST)
Children 6-12 $41

Christmas Day Activities

After a morning of swapping Christmas presents, you might feel like some fresh air, so why not join the Christmas Day Skating Party with Frosty at 1pm on the Waldhaus rink, where there will also be a fire and hot chocolate to warm you up! If you don’t have skates, they can be rented from the ski rental shop at the Conference Centre. If you want to stay indoors why not try your hand at Bowling, which is available at the Conference Centre from noon to 11pm, and to wind down after an action-packed day, the children may enjoy listening to Bedtime Stories from 8-8.30pm.

Christmas Day Dining, December 25

Christmas Day Brunch with Santa
Christmas style brunch buffet with Santa giving out treats to the kids.
9.30am-2pm
Mezzanine 2
Adults $67 (incl. service charge and GST)
Children 6-12 $33.50

Family Christmas Buffet with Children’s Entertainment
5.30-8pm
Alberta Room
Adults $80 (incl. service charge and GST)
Children 6-12 $40

Bow Valley Grill Yuletide Buffet
6-9pm
Bow Valley Grill
Adults $82 (incl. service charge and GST)
Children 6-12 $41

Alhambra Dining Room
Four course table d’hote dinner with live entertainment and dancing.
Seating times from 6.30 to 8.30pm
Adults $120 (incl. service charge and GST)

Boxing Day Activities

If you haven’t yet had your Heritage tour of the Castle, Boxing Day (4-5pm) could be a good opportunity to do so, while the Family Skating Party sounds like a fun outdoor event from 4-9pm. Bingo Night (7-8pm) is sure to provide some light-hearted fun for all, and a couple of drinks at the Live Entertainment in the Rundle Hall (8pm-12am) would be a great way for the adults to wind down on Boxing Day night.

Boxing Day Dining, December 26

Boxing Day Brunch - Bow Valley Grill
Amazing brunch buffet with spectacular views.
10am-2.30pm
Adults $67 (incl. service charge and GST)
Children 6-12 $33.50

Apart from our picks above, there are many other festive events happening at the Banff Springs throughout the Xmas period. For full information, see the Christmas at the Castle brochure at the Fairmont Banff Springs website.
While we have made every effort to provide accurate information, we recommend that you confirm all events and pricing directly with the hotel.

To make reservations for Christmas events and dining, call the hotel dining reservations directly at 403 762 6860.

For information about Banff Springs Christmas Packages click here.

Christmas in the Rockies

Christmas celebrations in Banff start on December 5th 2009 with an exciting range of family activities including cookie decorating, Christmas crafts, a Bow Valley Chorus performance, Christmas tree decorating competition, and photos with Santa, all taking place between 1-4pm in Cascade Plaza.
Also, outside along Banff Ave there will be an ice carving demonstration, carol singing performances, free wagon rides and a puppet show.

The main event of the day is the Santa Claus Parade of Lights which starts at 5.30pm and runs from Elk St to Buffalo St via Banff Ave. The parade will include festive floats and Christmas lights and will no doubt be the highlight of the day for all the children.

To continue the celebrations, on December 6th, from 11am to 12pm A Mountaintop Christmas Sing-Along takes place at the Regal View Garden Restaurant at the top of the Banff Gondola. It promises to be a festive occasion with children’s entertainment and Christmas songs combined with some of the most impressive views in the Canadian Rockies.