We welcome another hotel review from Rewards Canada contributor Bill Wheatley:
This review was conducted when the hotel was still operating as the Holiday Inn Canmore. As of 2023, it is under new management and is now known as the MTN House Canmore. It is no longer affiliated with IHG Hotels.
The Holiday Inn Canmore is located just off the TransCanada Highway in Canmore, Alberta, virtually within site of the Banff National Park Gates. Nestled as it is into the side of the mountain with a great view across the valley, it is the perfect place to rest your head, whether just overnight, or for a few days while you explore the majestic Rocky Mountains on your doorstep. The access to the hotel is quite open and there is plenty of parking available.
This 3-story hotel has 99 rooms, an on-site Fitness Centre, outdoor hot tub, business centre and full service restaurant. The lobby area is very open and boasts a seating area with fireplace where you can come and relax after checking in. We were greeted very warmly by the Front Desk staff and were thanked for being a member of the IHG Rewards program. We had originally booked a single room with a King bed, but thanks to being a top-tier member, we were upgraded to a loft suite (one of 13 this location has available).
The room was located on the 3rd floor, close to the elevator. When you exited the elevator, instead of a long hallway like one would expect, you walked into a spacious lobby-like area with a couple of chairs and a table. Yet another place to sit and relax outside of your room. Upon accessing the suite, you were greeted with a spacious main level with a chair and couch (which contained a sofa bed), large flat screen TV, and wet bar area with fridge, microwave and coffee maker. There is also a full bathroom with tub and shower on this level.
On the upper level was a king sized bed, another flat screen TV and a bathroom, though this one only had a shower, no bathtub. There was an iron and ironing board located here along with space in the bathroom for hanging your clothes. (This could be quite advantageous if you chose to take a shower as the steam from the hot water will help to smooth out any wrinkles in your clothes).
The nicest surprise was the large Jacuzzi tub located on this level next to the bed. It was very nice to settle into it after a long day and just soak while enjoying a cold beverage. You could also watch the TV from here, though it was a bit hard to hear if you had the jets on in the Jacuzzi.
The selection of channels was very similar to what you would expect in a hotel. Most likely not as extensive as you might have at home, but enough of a variety that you could find something to watch. They also have on-demand movies, though at $25.99 you may be more inclined to turn to something on your computer or tablet. The Wi-Fi was adequate, though a bit slow in the early evening when the majority of people are most likely to be online.
The Trail restaurant was open for breakfast (6:30 – 11:00 am) and dinner (5:00-10:00 pm). They do not offer a lunch service. The atmosphere in the dining area was quite comfortable and the seating area well laid out so that you didn’t feel cramped while enjoying your meal.
The outdoor hot tub looked to be quite inviting, but due to the Jacuzzi in our room, we chose not to partake of this amenity. Unfortunately, this location does not have a pool.
The fitness centre has the usual equipment for those of you who like to work out during your stay. This equipment includes stationary bikes, free weights, treadmill, etc.
The business centre is located next to the Front Desk and offers 2
computers along with a printer. The computers are spaced well enough
apart that you can complete your work without worrying about interfering
with the person next you (unless you both decide to print at the same
time). It’s nice to have the printer as people who are leaving to catch a
flight in Calgary are able to check-in and print their boarding pass
right from the hotel.
Overall, we found the stay to be very relaxing. The hotel was quite quiet, though the full parking lot tended to indicate a high volume of guests staying that night. Even with the hotel being located on the highway (though it is well setback), the traffic sounds were minimal and non-intrusive. A great place to relax in Canada’s Rocky Mountains.
Hotel details
Holiday Inn Canmore (Book here)
Points required for a free night: 40,000 Points
Points+Cash Requirement: 35,000 Points + C$52 per night or 30,000 Points + C$91 per night
Talk to us! Have you stayed at the Holiday Inn Canmore? What are your thoughts of the hotel? Or are you
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