Samesun Banff

Samesun Banff is a fun and laid-back backpacker hostel that encourages guests to party and be social. The overall lack of style and visible wear and tear reflects the high foot traffic the hostel receives, especially during summer months. Every year the hostel does upkeep (in 2017 they upgraded the kitchen by adding an island, new cabinets, and pantry shelving), though it hasn't been officially refurbished since it originally opened around 2008. During our visit we noticed a general "used" feeling to the space, especially in the emerald green carpets and thin motel-like comforters, though the IKEA-style bunks and beds seemed fairly new. Compared to its direct competitor HI-Banff Alpine Center, the Samesun feels more like the transient home it is for most guests. Nights here get pretty wild in the small pub-style bar, though there's an enforced quiet time between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. 

Samesun Banff has an excellent location within four blocks from Banff's main drag of Caribou Street. You'll be able to reach restaurants, bars, cafes, tour operators, bike rentals, and shops within a 10-minute walk. Tunnel Mountain is further afield at a 20-minute walk away. For those who'd rather take the bus, there's a stop just two minutes from the hostel. Daily excursions through the hostel include transportation, giving easy access to the hot springs, caves, hikes, and other points of interest. There'a also a free shuttle that leaves from the local high school (a five-minute walk) to Lake Minnewanka. Canmore is a 25-minute drive south and Calagary Airport is a 90-minute drive east. 

If you're looking for a private room, you won't find it here. All 15 rooms at Samesun Banff are done dorm-style with six, 10, or 14 beds. Luckily, rooms with 10 or 14 beds are sectioned off into connecting rooms with no more than five beds to a section. There are lockers (locks are sold at the front desk), carpet that could use replacing, windows, and working gas fireplaces. The downside is that there's still just one bathroom for everyone to share, and sometimes it's got the shower, toilet, and vanity all in the same room. On the whole, rooms are surprisingly spacious with enough room to not feel cramped. 

Samesun Banff is housed in a small building, limiting the space for features, but it still manages to pack in a punch -- especially when it comes to fun. A standout feature for the hostel is its Beaver Bar, one of the two hostel bars in town (the other is on the other side of town). Though it's a relatively small space for the amount of beds in the hostel, the bar has happy hour specials, a shot wheel, nightly activities like trivia and karaoke, plus affordable dinner specials. But light sleepers beware, things get rowdy and being social is encouraged by staff. On the other side, there's also a quiet time enforced by the hotel staff. Every morning the hotel has a different organized activity ranging from yoga and rock climbing to hikes and caving. They are all either free or inexpensive and transport is provided in the hotel's van. Guests have free use of a contemporary kitchen stocked with lots of cookware, a four-top range plus two single hobs, a microwave, four-slice toaster, and kettle. There are also deli-style refrigerators and a large pantry. Next door there's a common area with a couch corner facing a large wall-mounted flat-screen with cable. In the other corner, there's a bathroom with shower and corner shelf stacked with games and books. The hostel has free and fast Wi-Fi. There are 10 free underground parking spaces, plus the parking area also has bike, luggage, ski and snowboard storage, and a table for waxing skis and boards.