Hotel: Fairmont Banff Springs

Address: P.O. Box 960, Banff, Alberta, Canada

Website: www.fairmont.com

TraveLife Ranking: 5 Stars

Rooms: 770

Room Rates: $219-plus (many packages offered)

Awards: There hasn’t been an award introduced that this hotel hasn’t won. Every major magazine has this hotel on its top list of Canadian properties and some even rate it among the best in the world.

Highlights: Everything’s a highlight at the Banff Springs. The breathtaking views of the majestic Rockies and surrounding valleys one gets from rooms and outdoor terraces are worth the price of admission alone. Add to that the castle-like surroundings and all the natural beauty one can handle and you get the idea why this “wilderness” hideaway has become such a favorite with world travelers. This is just one of a collection of “castle” hotels built in the Rockies back in the heyday of the Canadian railways. Banff Springs, along with nearby Chateau Lake Louise and Jasper Park Lodge, are legacies of a more gentle time when Canada’s railway barons and their wealthy friends would make the trek to the cooler West to escape the stifling summer heat in Toronto and Montreal. The Banff Springs is the king of these castle hotels, though. It sits perched on a hill like a jewel; sitting on green velvet and has become the defining landmark for the small holiday town of Banff and the amazing national park of the same name. The Banff Springs Hotel is one of Canada’s greatest historic treasures.

History: Originally built in 1888 in Canada’s first national park, The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel has grown to become one of the country’s most recognized landmarks. William Cornelius Van Horne, the man who opened the Canadian West while he was general manager of the Canadian Pacific Railway, one of North America’s oldest companies, was the man responsible for opening the “castle” hotels in the Rockies. The hotel has been used to host major international conferences. Banff National Park is one of the wonders of the world and was selected a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Interior Highlights: Everything about the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel is first class. The granite-lined lobby and its cathedral ceilings are fit for royalty but amazingly, despite its opulence, there’s a comfy feel about this place. Large public area fireplaces bathe the hotel in warmth that makes you feel like you’re at home. The terraces that line the exterior of the hotel are where you get those breathtaking views of the surrounding snowcapped Rockies. The hotel has recently undergone a $75 million facelift and it’s never looked better. As you’d expect in a property of this size and stature, it offers all the business and conference communities’ demand – right down to 105,000 square feet meeting and banquet space.

In The Next Room: On the hotel’s mezzanine there’s a grouping of photographs showing the Who’s Who list of guests who have stayed at the Fairmont Banff Springs. There’s an intriguing photograph of Marylyn Monroe trying her hand at golf. Speaking of golf, the greats of the game, including Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus have played here and major film stars can be seen here during ski season. And expect to see the odd member of Britain’s Royal Family patrolling the hallways here.

The Rooms: The mostly renovated rooms keep their historic charm but now come wrapped in lots of modern electronic conveniences. Most of the 770 guest rooms offer either valley or mountain views. The Presidential Suite has eight bedrooms, a living room, library, grand piano, fireplace and private elevator. For us mere mortals, the standard rooms are comfy cozy with lots of overstuffed furniture and bathroom amenities that rival any five-star European or Asian property. The beds are extra luxurious and there’s not a bad view from any of the rooms.

Amenities: This is the area where the Fairmont Banff Springs stands out from the crowd of luxury hotels. The hotel’s award-winning Willow Stream Spa and championship golf course, designed by the Canadian version of Donald Ross, Stanley Thompson, are simply magnificent. The spa utilizes the area’s healing mineral pools in many of its treatments and offers some of the finest treatments in the business, administered by some of the best therapists outside Asia. The treatments start at around $60 but the experience is priceless. That goes for the golf course as well. Considered one of the top resort courses in North America, the Banff Springs course meanders through thick forest where you you’ll seen elk and deer dancing on the manicured fairways and greens. You may even see the odd bear during your round. The course’s fourth hole has been selected by both Palmer and Nicklaus among the favorite 18 holes they’ve ever played. We think you’ll agree. There’s not enough space here to describe the magnificence of these facilities but suffice to say you’ll remember both for the rest of your life. The Banff Springs also offers lots of outdoor activities, a full service health club and swimming pool.

Restaurants: There’s no better dining establishment in the Rockies than Fairmont Banff Springs’ Banffshire Club. Vaulted ceilings and plush surroundings make this a place to be seen. The 56-seat, 5-diamond dining room serves up some incredible taste delights in an interior that compliments the hotel’s castle theme. There are 12 restaurants on property with the Waldhaus being our favorite for a relaxed meal of Alpine cuisine. The Bow Valley Grill is a California concept restaurant that serves up heaping helpings of great views along with some tantalizing meals.

Shopping: As part of the extensive renovations at the Fairmont Banff Springs a shopping concourse was added across the square from the main property. It offers lots of high-end shopping as well as a well stocked wine store and souvenir shops offering local crafts and lots of Native soap stone carvings and art. The village of Banff and its collection of souvenir shops along its main street is just a short shuttle drive away from the Fairmont Banff Springs.

Close By This is a natural wonderland that even Disney could not copy. The magnificence of Banff National Park and all it has to offer is just a short drive from the hotel’s entrance. Waterfalls, cascading rivers, snow-capped mountains, great scenic vistas … this is a place that qualifies as a “Heaven on Earth” location.

Tips: There’s never a bad time of year to visit Fairmont Banff Springs – but being a golfer this TNNworld correspondent favors the spring, summer and fall months. The hotel is always offering package programs that allow you to combine golf games and spa treatments during your stay. You can also combine a rail trip and a stay at the Banff Springs Hotel. It’s a great way to see the Rockies and one of the best hotels in the world all on the same trip.