Lodges at Canmore

Thankful to get a reservation on very short notice for two nights on the August long weekend. (Had to leave Fairmont Hot Springs on short notice due to a power outage caused by the BC wildfires). This meant a lot as our family vacation wasn’t cut short. We were a party of 6. 4 adults, 2 kids. The suite served our needs, however i would not plan to stay here again. Here is why: 1. Portable noisy air conditioner in the living room. It was hot, so we needed it. Did not cool off the bed rooms. 2. Twin beds in 2nd bedroom extremely uncomfortable. Maybe ok for kids but our two kids sleep on the pull out sofa and it was even worse. 3. There was a LOT of personal items in our unit. (Closets full) Assuming these lodges are individually owned and rented out when not being used by the owners. Even though we booked for 6 people, the unit was extremely small ( cluttered with personal items and a large table)

This is an account of our experience with Suite 322 at the Cougar Lodge, an AirBnB listing. At the time it was a combination of builder grade finishings with some upgrades such as counters, some flooring, and a new washer/dryer. The entry door opens onto a very small landing partially taken up with a bench, with stairs leading up and down. The accommodations are adequate, but certainly not “luxury” as mentioned multiple times in the AirBnB listing. It’s billed as a penthouse, which in this case means it’s on the top floor of the Cougar Lodge along with many, many other units. In fact sitting on the balcony you will be fairly close to your neighbor’s balcony. The rates do reflect them being modest accommodations, so I should not have been surprised. A few things were in disrepair or unclean, but a lot was quite worn or scuffed. The host said he could send cleaners and maintenance but to me that doesn’t address the general tiredness and deferred upkeep - neither of which should be on the guest to report and then have completed by strangers while on vacation. That all said, the artwork in the unit is interesting and there was plenty of parking in the garage. If you ignore the billing as “luxury,” the accommodations are fair for the price. Be sure to read the house manual and the messages you will get from the host reminding you to take off your shoes, wash your clothes after traveling or hiking, keep your luggage off the bed, wipe the washer after use, scrape your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, close the curtains when you’re away, etc.

Having read a few reviews on here made me feel a little anxious. No need, our apartment 229 in the Grizzly Lodge was perfect, spotless, spacious, extremely well equipped. The decor and furniture is fantastic, beds comfortable. The kitchen has a huge fridge freezer as well as everything required for a complete home from home stay. There is access to hot tub in building (didn’t use) as well as a small nearby outdoor pool(didn’t use) we stayed over a weekend in June for a family wedding. There did appear to be a few groups possibly wedding/hen in the complex, but that happens everywhere. Rules indicate quiet time is between 22:00 and 07:00. The complex is a few minutes walk from a small mall with groceries and off licence. I would definitely recommend this particular apartment.