Rimrock Banff

The Rimrock sits on the slope of Sulphur Mountain on Mountain Avenue, above the town rather than in it, and that position is its main selling point. With 320 rooms and suites it is one of the larger hotels in Banff, and its listing places it in the Sulphur Mountain district, a few minutes on foot from both the Banff Upper Hot Springs and the base of the Banff Gondola. The amenities read like a resort: indoor and outdoor pools with sun loungers, a hot tub and sauna, a bathhouse spa, a twenty-four-hour health club with yoga classes, two restaurants, a coffee shop and two bars, plus a terrace, a garden and a lobby fireplace. A free area shuttle and free bicycle rentals help you get into town, and there is an electric vehicle charging station. Room types run from classic rooms with a king or two queen beds through premium rooms with forest or valley views and luxury rooms with mountain views to studio, one-bedroom, terrace and two-bedroom suites. The hotel is pet friendly, with a limit of two pets and a per-pet charge. Parking is paid, with self-parking and valet options, so factor it into the budget. The property is listed in the highest class on the booking page, and rates reflect that, especially in summer and the Christmas weeks.

Rooms and views. The choice of room matters more here than at most Banff hotels because the hill position gives views that vary a great deal. Classic rooms are the entry point, premium rooms add a forest or valley outlook and luxury rooms look to the peaks, while the suites suit families and longer stays.

If the view is the reason you are paying a resort rate, book the higher categories and say so when you book, since the lower categories can face less dramatic directions. Cooked-to-order breakfast is available for a surcharge, and there are two restaurants if you prefer to eat in.

Living here. A typical day starts with a swim in the indoor or outdoor pool and a coffee, then a walk down to the hot springs or the gondola, both about three minutes away on foot, and a ride or hike from there. Downtown Banff is a short drive or a ride on the free shuttle, so you can leave the car parked and still reach the shops and restaurants.

In winter the hot tub and bathhouse spa are a warm reward after a ski day, and the hotel is a base for Sunshine, Lake Louise and Norquay by road or shuttle.

Who should stay. Couples, families and wellness-minded travellers who want a resort stay with the gondola and hot springs on the doorstep will enjoy the Rimrock. The trade-offs are the cost, the paid parking and the fact that you are above town and not on Banff Avenue, so evenings out depend on the shuttle or a short drive.

If you want to walk out into the shops and restaurants, choose a downtown hotel; if you want the mountain at your door, this is the one. Check the rates for your dates and compare room categories carefully.