Where to stay in Banff and Canmore?

My daughter and two of her friends stayed at The Fox (Banff) in September of last year. Two bed suite, around C$300 per night midweek, don't know about now. Happy with the room and facilities.

Hello,

We usually are camping when we are in Canada, but in 2019 we stayed at the Tunnel Mountain Resort in Banff and while it's not fancy, we would stay there again.

We really enjoy hiking Johnston Canyon, and there is a lodge called Castle Mountain Chalets near there that gets good reviews. You would be close to several of our favorite sites in a few different directions if you stayed there. (Peyto Lake, Spiral Tunnels, Takakkaw Falls)

I hope that helps. Enjoy!

Not there, but 2 summers ago we stayed at the next-door Douglas Fir Resort. We were in Banff to see our son off on a bikepacking race, and he chose the place based o price. It was pretty basic, but the location, a bit out of town traffic, is good.

Buffalo Mountain Lodge looks much nicer and not too expensive. ( You can pay a lot for a Banff hotel if you aren’t careful). Looks like a good choice and one I would consider if we go back.

After our son left on his race we moved to Johnstone Canyou Lodge, about halfway between Banff town and Lake Louise, for 2 nights. It is a little quirky, but in a good way. And their restaurant is very good. We really like pd the proximity to the Johnstone Canyon trail, which we hiked several times to see it in the different light of evening and morning. We did a nice dayhike at Lake Louise from there.

Note that when looking on the various hotel websites, some may show the price in Canadian dollars and others in US dollars ( switching the currency based on the location of your computer). So be sure to check which you are looking at when comparing prices.

Is $300 US or Canadian? If that's your budget in American dollars you'll have a lot of choices. Prices have skyrocketed in Banff and Canmore in the past couple of years and $300 Canadian is entry level in September. Buffalo Mountain Lodge is what I'd consider slightly above average. What I don't like about it is the distance from town. It's too far to walk and you'll have to drive which limits its convenience if you choose Banff over Canmore. It's only a 5 minute drive but parking can be a challenge on weekends in town.

We are looking at going to that area next August as well and I've read about various closures/issues due to fires. Would those in the know advise staying away from Jasper? I'm unsure of the damage and impact on tourism in that area.
Thanks

Would those in the know advise staying away from Jasper?

Banff National Park wasn't affected and is fully open. On the other hand it's going to take years for Jasper and it's national park to fully recover. If you are going I'd book in advance as a lot of lodgings were lost and space will be tight. However businesses are hopeful tourists will come.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/jasper-alberta-wildfire-tourism-recovery-1.7323829

From the article:

"For those tourists who do go, know that you're supporting a community
in a time of need," Michelle Rutty, an associate professor of
geography and environmental management at the University of Waterloo
in Ontario, told CBC News in an email.

"Your dollars spent will have a meaningful impact in terms of
supporting Jasper in its efforts to recover and rebuild," she wrote.

Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland has described re-opening to tourists as a
delicate balance essential to the town's recovery. Premier Danielle
Smith, on her radio show last weekend, encouraged people to visit the
town.

Thanks for the information. Living very near western NC, my heart goes out to folks who have had their lives so severely impacted by natural disasters. I’m sure the Jasper area will feel the fire impact for quite some time.