An honest review
The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is a dreamy, castle-like structure tucked into the Canadian Rockies on the shores of some of the bluest glacier water you have ever seen. ?It’s a place I’ve dreamed of since I was 16, when dear friends of mine traveled there and returned home bearing photographic evidence (before blogs and Facebook existed- oye!).
Lake Louise lies within Banff National Park and is a little over 2 hours from Calgary International Airport. ?We rented a car at the airport and first visited Emerald Lake Lodge, then traveled south to Lake Louise.
While Brian parked the car, I headed into the lobby to get our room keys and take a few photos. ?Because I’m very mature and refined, the stairway reminded me of the movie Titanic. ?Haha. #jackandroseforlife. ?No, really, it is a grand staircase. ?Stately royal blue carpet says, “this place is fancy” while mounted elk and moose heads say, “but we’re in the mountains, eh.”
The Chateau felt stuffy, but down-to-earth (oxymoron, I know!). ?Even though we consider ourselves “travelers on a budget” we didn’t feel as though we didn’t fit in. The staff is overly friendly and accommodating AND there are people visiting from all over the world, so lots of different styles and tastes. ?The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is also an outdoor playground in the sense of all the hiking trails, ski trails, and the like, so even though the decor in the resort is very upscale, most people are just dressed for the weather!
Room
The room was adequate. Even though we *ahem*?stayed for free, I thought the room was a little small for the nightly rate of $669 Canadian. ?When we ordered room service (twice! ?also free!), they could hardly even get the table around our bed, and one of us had to sit on the bed to eat it. ?Only one chair would fit. ?#firstworldproblems
The bed was super comfy though, and the complimentary robes and slippers were a plus. ?There was also a small fridge in the room- just down the road in Lake Louise Village there are a few shops so if you wanted to save money on snacks and drink this could be helpful.
Booking.com
Location
The hotel‘s location right on the shore of Lake Louise can not be beat! ?You’re less than a 5 minute walk from your room to kayak and canoe rentals, hiking trails, and more. ?Unfortunately we hit Lake Louise right as winter hit Alberta, so we did not partake in any of the guided hikes or activities (mostly because we weren’t packed for snowshoeing, dangit)!
Dining
On our first evening, we enjoyed dinner at the Lakeview Lounge.? This business casual dining option is great for the scenery AND?the people watching (Hey you, people on their phones when you’re at one of the most beautiful places on earth, I’m talking about YOU). ?The prices are mid-range.
As I mentioned before, we enjoyed the in-room dining for breakfast and appetizers and ate two rounds of poutine. ?Have you had poutine? ?Your taste buds will thank you, but your gall bladder will not. ?I digress.
Overall
As much as I dreamed of this place, I wasn’t as awestruck by the resort as I was by Emerald Lake Lodge. ?While the views and the service are excellent, it felt like really any major worldwide resort.
However, we did find a?big perk in those extra amenities like room service.? The amenities afforded us the chance torelax and enjoy some peace and quiet away from the hustle of family life. ?We didn’t expect the weather to leave us wanting just to unwind, but sometimes those big resort treasures are worth the extra cost.
What do you think? ?Have you been to Lake Louise? ?Stayed at a Fairmont Resort? ?Eaten poutine?? Check current rates NOW
*This is not a sponsored post*
Great review. I stayed here as part of experiencing the Rocky Mountaineer, and was kinda bummed with my room. The whole building and common areas are nice, but the rooms are quite small AND mine had A) zero view and B) windows covered by construction paper since they were working on the exterior of the building.
It was also super expensive (and as my hotel was included in my train price, I’m speaking mostly to the food/drink options). That said, the location is pretty much unbeatable!
The rooms are super small! I couldn’t believe it! I would have been super cranky with no view at all, we at least had a view of the mountains. I really think you are paying for the history/location. Thanks for the comment! 🙂
My girlfriend and I went skiing there last year. We stayed at the Fairmont, it was one of the best trips of my life, the skiing was pretty good too.
So glad you enjoyed it!
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It looks amazing! I will definitely go visit in the next winter season!