I am currently with my family at the Fantasyland Hotel in Edmonton (Trip Report later), and we are thinking about going to the Lake Louise/Banff area.

Question 1: Which route is easiest to drive to this area (i.e. no cliffs on the sides of the road)? After looking at the map and asking a few locals, we have decided we will either take 2 south to 11 west to the icefield pkwy south to Lake Louise, OR we could take 2 south to Calgary then 1 west to the icefield pkwy into Lake Louise. Which is better?

Question 2: I have looked at the Fairmont s in both Banff and Lake Louise and found that there is no availibity at either of these. What are some other good hotels in the area?

Thanks in advance,
GC