Pros & Cons: Fairmont Lake Louise Accommodation

One of the star attractions of the Banff area is seeing the beautiful Lake Louise. To further enhance our visit, we booked two nights at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Was it worth the money? Check out our round-up of the pros and cons of this Lake Louise accommodation.

THE ROOM AT FAIRMONT LAKE LOUISE

PROS:

We booked the Fairmont Gold lakeview room and were upgraded to the one-bedroom lakeview suite! The suite contained a full bathroom, sitting area with dining table and fireplace, separate bedroom with king size bed and a half bath just off the entrance.

There were large windows in the seating area with views of the famed Lake Louise. We were there in May and temperatures were still quite chilly therefore the fireplace was a nice addition.

The bedroom was quite plain although comfortable. There was ample walking space throughout and room for luggage without feeling crowded in this Lake Louise lodging.

The bathroom was a highlight of the room. It was well decorated, had a huge shower and separate tub. It may sound crazy but the quality and size of bathrooms really set luxury hotels apart in our opinion!

CONS:

We were disappointed that the room set-up did not favor the lake views. The windows did not reach the floor, therefore, there was no area to relax in the room while admiring the view. The only way to enjoy it was to stand in front of the window. In our opinion, the added charge for lake views is not really worth it at the Fairmont Lake Louise. There are too many other spots to enjoy the lake views within the property.

THE LOCATION: LAKE LOUISE ALBERTA

PROS:

The hotel is the only Lake Louise accommodation that is right on the lake. It is wonderful to have views from many of the rooms and dining areas within the hotel. The hotel offers several walking paths to take in views of one of the famed Canada lakes from various vantage points.

Because you are located steps away from this popular Alberta lake, you can enjoy the changing views throughout the day. We even woke up early to have a personal photo shoot on the lake before the crowds arrived! We highly recommend doing this if you are on a Canada honeymoon, romantic Lake Louise trip or any other couple’s get-a-way in Banff.

As you can likely tell from the photos, the milky blue color that this lake is popular for is absent. We traveled here in mid-May, the lake does not thaw until June and the colors are most vibrant between July and August. We were quite surprised at just how frozen the lake still was during our trip. Just something to note as you plan your romantic getaway in Alberta.

CONS:

The flipside of being right on the lake is that it is one of the top things to do in Lake Louise and the busloads of people will come throughout the day. This makes not only the area surrounding the lake crowded but the restaurants within the property become crowded as well. Not a huge deal but something to note.

DINING OPTIONS IN FAIRMONT LAKE LOUISE

PROS:

There is quite a variety of dining options at this Lake Louise accommodation. Most of the restaurants have amazing views of the lake so there is a high probability you can get a window seat for a prime view. There is a nice balance of fine dining and casual spots within the property. The restaurants are also open to the public, however, priority is given to registered guests. We booked all our dinner reservations on the day of our arrival however if you have preferred dining times, it is best to book in advance.

One of our favorite dining experiences was at the Fairview restaurant. It offers gorgeous views from the large windows of the lake, craft cocktails and a variety of fine dining dishes. Brian had a smoked salted caramel old fashioned that was one of the best he’s had and believe me he’s tried many! It was made with Woodford Reserve, Laphroaig, salted caramel syrup and black cloud bitters. This is definitely a spot for a luxury, romantic evening during your romantic stay at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

Another favorite spot was the Lakeview Lounge. It has both indoor and patio seating with amazing lake views. We enjoyed cocktails or a bottle of wine before dinner each evening. Since the temperatures were still chilly, we took advantage of the heat lamps and complimentary blankets as we soaked in the views of Lake Louise in spring.

We really didn’t have any cons about the dining options. We found them to be plentiful, high-quality and delicious. Some may find it expensive but we really felt that the prices were in-line with the quality that was offered.

FAIRMONT GOLD AT FAIRMONT LAKE LOUISE

PROS:

We decided to book our room at the Fairmont Gold level. This offered us access to a lounge that included daily breakfast, refreshments throughout the day, private concierge services and canapes in the evening. We felt this feature was worth it. The breakfast had amazing variety! We took advantage of the concierge services to get our dinner reservations each evening and help plan our routes to explore Alberta tourist attractions throughout the day.

No cons for the Fairmont Gold level, it was worth it and we’d book it again!

SUMMARY OF THIS ROMANTIC COUPLES GETAWAY ALBERTA:

Overall we found the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise accommodation to exceed our expectations. It was truly a romantic Canadian getaway for couples and we will definitely return, although in the summer months when the lake is guaranteed to be thawed. Yes, this chateau Lake Louise hotel is expensive but a luxury stay comes with the price tag which makes it worthwhile!