Holiday Inn Canmore

Previously known as the Hotel of the Rockies, this budget property became a member of the Holiday Inn brand in 2012 and underwent a full renovation in 2014 -- though that isn't too obvious. From the outside, this quiet hotel reflects the area’s popular lodge-like design, but once you step into the lobby, it’s clear you’ve stepped into a Holiday Inn. The large lobby is home to a stylish double-sided fireplace and several cushioned chairs that have contemporary designs but still manage to feel dated. The space is an immediate introduction to the overall decor throughout the hotel and in guest rooms. Even though it’s a non-smoking hotel, some areas have a faint hangover of cigarettes. 

Summertime finds the hotel filled with older guests and business travelers, while the winter off-season brings in a younger, active crowd that uses the hotel as a home base for trips to Banff. Book early because this spot tends to fill quickly, especially in high season. 

Located just off the highway along on the northern outskirts of Canmore, there’s not much within easy walking distance of this Holiday Inn. The restaurants and shops of Main Street are a seven-minute drive or 25-minute walk. The Grizzly Paw Brewing Company and a few restaurants off Bow Valley Trail are about a 15-minute walk or three-minute drive away. The town plaza with a grocery store, bank, and liquor store are within a four-minute drive. There are several hiking trails and area attractions within a 10-minute drive, and the walkable/bikeable Legacy Trail to/from Banff is just across the highway. Driving to Banff takes about 20 minutes, and Calgary Airport is just over an hour's drive east. 

Guest Rooms here follow the expected Holiday Inn and budget chain hotel layout with the exception of the Loft and Honeymoon suites. Anticipate contemporary (though not too stylish) decor featuring faux-leather couches, Formica countertops, and carpeted floors. All 99 rooms come with large, wall-mounted flat-screen TVs, small shower/tub combos with big but old showerheads, Bath and Body Works toiletries, and a vanity kit. Kitchenette areas are convenient, with mini-fridges, Keurig coffee machines with free K-cups, and small microwaves. There are no balconies, but all units have mountain views of either Rundle Mountain and Cascade Mountain or Lady MacDonald and Three Sisters. 

Standard Rooms feel a bit cramped with two queens, but are the only two-bed room option. Upgrading to King Suites will get you separate living rooms, while stepping up to Loft or Honeymoon suites affords duplexes, adding an extra standing shower, an in-room jetted tub, and Bluetooth alarm clocks. Loft Suites have closets inside the master bathrooms, and all contain new irons and hairdryers. 

For a hotel that's just outside of town, the Holiday Inn Canmore serves up just enough features to cover your basic needs, including a one-way shuttle to town. The hotel restaurant has American fare for breakfast and dinner in a casual (and somewhat dark, pub-style) environment. In busy months you can expect a breakfast buffet, though most times it’ll be an a la carte affair that includes kids menus. Unlike some same-category spots, like Best Western Pocaterra Inn, there's no free breakfast. Grab your free towel from the hall before stepping outside on the deck and taking a plunge in the 10-person outdoor hot tub, or sweat it out in the 24-hour, small but decent lower-level gym, with mirrored walls, free water, up-to-date cardio and weight machines, and free weights. Down here you'll also find four meeting and event rooms that hold between 20 to 100 people and include coffee, tea, and AV equipment (hotel catering is available). 

Kids 12 and under stay and eat free with accompanying parents. Other family-friendly features include a pair of coin operated Maytag laundry machines (detergent is available for purchase at the front desk) and free rental of highchairs, cribs, playpens, and cots. Other freebies include outdoor lot parking, Wi-Fi throughout, and local calls in the Canmore area. This is not a pet-friendly hotel.