Fairmont President's Club - Banff Springs, Lake Louise & Palliser-recommendations & tips?

Visiting the above properties this December. Your input regarding activities and dining would be most appreciated.

Enjoy the forum and LOVE the Fairmont hotels - look forward to hearing from all of you!

Seasons greetings FPC members ;)

Cheers,

Mrs. P

The best brunch in Western Canada is at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in their Bow Valley Grill Restaurant. They run their brunch on Saturdays, Sundays, and select holidays. If you're on the breakfast package, its only $12 pp to upgrade, and worth every penny.

Do the Escape to Willowstream Package at Fairmont Banff Springs. For about $50 more per night than rate of the day, you get 2 massages, breakfast for 2, self parking, room and gratuities included. Retail on the massages would be equal to the rate you're paying.

Don't even know where to start!

I suggest checking out the thread for Banff Springs. It has lots of info.

For food in Banff, I would highliy reccomend going to the Grizzly House. It is a fondue restaurant, and personally, my favorite restaurant in Alberta (mostly for the atmosphere - but the food is great too).

In Lake Louise, the restaurant at the Post Hotel is AMAZING!! You would be shorting yourself of a great trip if you did not go for at least one dinner there. Also, it is worth paying for a Lake View room. Very nice to wake up to that.

Agree with AM, the Willow Stream Spa at BS is unbelievable. Plan a whole afternoon. You can relax in the spa area for hours on end. If a treatment isn't in the budget (or health plan), I would still say it is worth the $60 each just for spa access.

Other than that, just enjoy!

btw Mrs. Penner.. Welcome to FT! I've heard the Post Hotel restaurant is very good. We personally dine at the Spaghetti Factory in Banff.. we have two little kids, and the menu is perfect for them. There is also a free Tour of the Castle Monday to Saturday, where my friends David Moberg - Guest Relations Manager, and Tony - The Castle Relations Greeter.. heads up the tour. This is a must do if you don't go up to BSH too often.

^All really great suggestions!

We'll be sure to spend an afternoon at the Willowstream, have New Years Day brunch at the BSH and have lunch at the Post bar (did the dining room a few years ago-wow). We're also booked for a fondue/ice wine pairing at the Uniquely Local Wine Bar and have a Walhaus Fondue night planned at the CLL :)

The prime rib buffet on the mountain looked interesting - maybe we'll check that out as well.

The Grizzly was definately on the radar - the house cured meats and cheese are tempting. I've also heard good things about the pastries at Evelyn's - anyone??

Anyone have the pleasure of viewing the fireworks from the BSH?? We were thinking of perhaps ringing in the New Year in the Rundle Lounge or the Ice Bar Terrace at midnight.

1st trip to the Rockies in the Winter... super jazzed :)

For Banff dining I recommend the newly revitalized Juniper hotel's bistro. Have eaten there twice and it is very good.

We are staying there tomorrow night for my current client's Christmas party. To get in the goodbooks I booked myself and Mrs RoninTech in for a couple's massage at the spa. I found that if you sign up for president's club (free), you get 10% of at the spa. Plan is to drive out at lunch tomorrow, massage, pool lounging, nap then party. Also can't wait for the brunch on Saturday and the valet parking (never experienced that before). Will post back with our experience.

P.S. Totally concur with the Grizzly House recommendation!

^All really great suggestions!

We'll be sure to spend an afternoon at the Willowstream, have New Years Day brunch at the BSH and have lunch at the Post bar (did the dining room a few years ago-wow). We're also booked for a fondue/ice wine pairing at the Uniquely Local Wine Bar and have a Walhaus Fondue night planned at the CLL :)

The prime rib buffet on the mountain looked interesting - maybe we'll check that out as well.

The Grizzly was definately on the radar - the house cured meats and cheese are tempting. I've also heard good things about the pastries at Evelyn's - anyone??

Anyone have the pleasure of viewing the fireworks from the BSH?? We were thinking of perhaps ringing in the New Year in the Rundle Lounge or the Ice Bar Terrace at midnight.

1st trip to the Rockies in the Winter... super jazzed :)


Hunters Brunch New Years Day is excellent. I just booked my friend staying over New Years on the Escape to Willowstream Package.. I think the cost to the Hunter's Brunch is $49 pp.. to just pay a $22 pp upgrade to the brunch if you're on a package with breakfast.

We've seen the fireworks from the lounge/hotel on New Year's Eve and Canada Day Long Weekend Year's past. Its a nice view, and a nice way to bring in the New Year.

When you're talking about the Prime Rib Buffet, you're talking up the Gondola I believe. If memory serves me correctly, we did do their Prime Rib Buffet once and while it was good value, don't go to the restaurant for anything else, as its' dated, and the service was poor. The sun was in our eyes overlooking the view, and there isn't much to window coverings in the restaurant.

We are staying there tomorrow night for my current client's Christmas party. To get in the goodbooks I booked myself and Mrs RoninTech in for a couple's massage at the spa. I found that if you sign up for president's club (free), you get 10% of at the spa. Plan is to drive out at lunch tomorrow, massage, pool lounging, nap then party. Also can't wait for the brunch on Saturday and the valet parking (never experienced that before). Will post back with our experience.

P.S. Totally concur with the Grizzly House recommendation!

Our posts crossed.. Get the Escape to Willowstream Package if you still can. This is their loss leader package.

Our posts crossed.. Get the Escape to Willowstream Package if you still can. This is their loss leader package.

Thanks for the tip AM. If it was me I would but the client is taking care of everything else so I just need to cover a few $ for the massage, assuming insurance will cover most of it.

Thanks for the tip AM. If it was me I would but the client is taking care of everything else so I just need to cover a few $ for the massage, assuming insurance will cover most of it.

have fun! Don't short yourself time at the spa. A minimum of 3 hours is best probably!

have fun! Don't short yourself time at the spa. A minimum of 3 hours is best probably!

I would have to agree minimum 3 hours to properly perform the ascribed spa ritual.. have time to relax.. try each amenity.. and catch the latest sport score and financial update off of the private lounge tv (as a note women's private lounge does not have a tv.. women generally take longer on prep).;)

I would have to agree minimum 3 hours to properly perform the ascribed spa ritual.. have time to relax.. try each amenity.. and catch the latest sport score and financial update off of the private lounge tv (as a note women's private lounge does not have a tv.. women generally take longer on prep).;)

Ahh, the private men's lounge. WITH a view of the spa so you can see when your lady returns to the spa. Be prepared for the frequent "what took you so long" and ensure your answer is not "I was watching the last 3 holes of the Masters honey"

Ahh, the private men's lounge. WITH a view of the spa so you can see when your lady returns to the spa. Be prepared for the frequent "what took you so long" and ensure your answer is not "I was watching the last 3 holes of the Masters honey"

^:D.. However, usually its the men asking the women "what took you so long".. They always seem to say, "it takes time with the makeup, dear." But, what is the real answer we sometimes ask in our minds?:) Some sort of relaxation concoction, makes them sleep in their private lounge.. or maybe the key is no tv?:D

Had a blast at a Christmas party here this weekend. Definitely sign up for the free presidents club (https://www.fairmont.com/EN_FA/FPCPublic/FPCEnroll) as it gets you some perks (10% off at the spa and priority check-in/check-out). Worth it just to bypass the long checkout line when we were leaving.

The spa was great. Favorite bit was the massage followed closely by sitting outside (-18 deg C) in the hot tub watching my wife's hair freeze. The food was very well done.

Had a blast at a Christmas party here this weekend. Definitely sign up for the free presidents club (https://www.fairmont.com/EN_FA/FPCPublic/FPCEnroll) as it gets you some perks (10% off at the spa and priority check-in/check-out). Worth it just to bypass the long checkout line when we were leaving.

The spa was great. Favorite bit was the massage followed closely by sitting outside (-18 deg C) in the hot tub watching my wife's hair freeze. The food was very well done.

Good to hear.^ Love it in that hot tub, when the environment is ice cold and you're not.:D I like signing up for FPC because it gets you free internet and free local phone calls.. I sometimes hear people complaining about phone and internet charges.. hello! Sign up, and it's free! Oh! :cool:

Spend a wonderful morning/early afternoon at Willow Stream on Saturday prior to an Xmas party in Calgary that evening. As always, the massages were great, the service was impeccable, and it is an extremely relaxing afternoon, especially for anyone who has been working crazy hours prior to the xmas break.
Something I don't always do, but forgot how relaxing it was, was sit in the Sauna for about 20 minutes. It has a great smell, and is at a temperature that is perfect.

Good to hear.^ Love it in that hot tub, when the environment is ice cold and you're not.:D I like signing up for FPC because it gets you free internet and free local phone calls.. I sometimes hear people complaining about phone and internet charges.. hello! Sign up, and it's free! Oh! :cool:

More good tips. Does that include free WiFi? I was just using my iPhone's 3G connection. Good to know for "next time". :)

More good tips. Does that include free WiFi? I was just using my iPhone's 3G connection. Good to know for "next time". :)

Some hotels switched over to Wifi (free) and some haven't. The last time I was at BSH, the connection was manual.. but there could be public area wifi, I just don't leave my room to use internet.

Some hotels switched over to Wifi (free) and some haven't. The last time I was at BSH, the connection was manual.. but there could be public area wifi, I just don't leave my room to use internet.

The wireless is pretty hit and miss in the rooms at the BSH, but the hard wire connection is good.

The wireless is pretty hit and miss in the rooms at the BSH, but the hard wire connection is good.

Interesting.. I haven't been in a room yet this year where they've installed wifi to use.. Then again.. all we've stayed in this year are spa suites.:cool: