Falcon Crest Lodge by CLIQUE

Falcon Crest Lodge by CLIQUE is a Canmore all-suite hotel on Kananaskis Way, close to the Nordic Centre and on the edge of the Bow Valley's best trails. The booking page counts 108 units across four floors, with studios, one-bedroom suites and two-bedroom suites that come with full kitchens, gas fireplaces, in-suite washer and dryer, private balconies or patios with barbecue grills, air conditioning and large smart televisions. There are two outdoor hot tubs, a small fitness centre, a restaurant, a library and a terrace. Parking is free, with height restrictions in the on-site lot and free parking nearby. Room types range from a deluxe room with a queen bed and sofa bed to a two-bedroom suite sleeping six, which makes the lodge a good choice for families and groups. The Canmore Nordic Centre is an eleven-minute walk away, Elevation Place and the Canmore Mountain Market are about fourteen minutes on foot, and Canmore Caverns is a short drive. The property is rated in the upper middle class on the booking page. Banff is about a twenty-two-minute drive from the lodge, and the Calgary airport is roughly seventy-six minutes by car, so the hotel works well as a first or last night near the airport route.

Suites and space. The strength of Falcon Crest is the amount of space for the price. A one-bedroom suite with a kitchen, a fireplace and a washer and dryer is usually better value than a comparable resort room in Banff, and the two-bedroom suite sleeps six. The deluxe room is the budget option with a kitchenette feel. Balconies with barbecues are a treat in summer, and gas fireplaces add comfort on cold nights.

Living here. Canmore is a real town rather than a tourist village, with a bakery, a brewery, grocery stores and a good range of restaurants, so cooking in your suite is easy and eating out is not expensive by Banff standards. In winter you can walk to the Nordic Centre for cross-country skiing, and in summer the trails begin nearby. Banff is a short drive or a ride on the regional bus, so you can enjoy the park without paying park-town prices.

Who should stay. Families, groups and long-stay visitors who want a suite with a kitchen and laundry, and who are happy to stay in Canmore and drive or ride to Banff, will find Falcon Crest an excellent value. The trade-offs are the twenty-minute drive to Banff, a modern but not luxurious building and a setting that is residential rather than central.

If you want to walk to Banff Avenue, stay in Banff; if you want space, a kitchen and quick access to Canmore's trails, this is a smart choice. Check parking height limits if you drive a tall vehicle.