Hotel Review: The Post Hotel in Lake Louise, Alberta

A recent drive between Calgary and Vancouver was modestly shortened to include a night at the Post Hotel Lake Louise in Banff National Park. The Post Hotel is a member of the Relais and Chateaux group which bills itself as a collection of the ”world’s finest hotels and restaurants.” Members of the Relais and Chateaux group are supposed to uphold the 5C’s – courtesy, charm, character, calm and cuisine.

Courtesy was definitely in abundance. Energetic twenty somethings from around the world were employed in a variety of positions but were especially noticeable as doormen and dining servers. All were engaging, friendly and courteous. Sometimes the level of service is a bit over the top but I suspect that the majority of guests staying in this sort of hotel expect it. The two Swiss brothers who run the place were in evidence and were quick to engage in conversation.

The Post Hotel itself certainly exudes charm. Upon entering you find yourself in a bright and airy lobby. Comfortable chairs look out to the mountains and are set up so you can enjoy private conversations with your partner or friend. If it’s mid to late afternoon you can watch the comings and goings of guests while you enjoy tea, coffee and delicious pastries. There is a full service spa which according to my friend who visits often, is wonderful. There is a library a bar area too with more reasonably priced food. Look for a pool and a decent sized exercise room for people who want to maintain their workout regime.

Our room at the Post Hotel

Our room was a standard king. It was well appointed in a European style with white duvets, good pillows and a small seating area in front of a fireplace. The bathroom was fine, but not over the top in its size and it seemed a tad dated. Aveda bath products were provided. Robes were also available. A small balcony overlooked the parking lot but it’s not a place I would want to spend much time; views of the mountains from the balcony though were excellent.

Calm is the one word I would take issue with and full disclosure on the part of the hotel is in order. Nowhere on the website did I see mention of the frequent passing of trains, and hence the noise associated with their passing. I booked the hotel via a real person and she also didn’t mention trains. My husband and I were both woken many times during the night by the trains. All standard rooms facing the parking lot are going to be subject to train noise. Disclose and provide earplugs.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE_Vg6GxUVc

Our calm was also interrupted at 6:20am by the bloody alarm clock. Although turndown service was provided (complete with a decent sized Easter bunny – thank you) I and the people doing the turn down neglected to check the alarm clock which had obviously been preset. Perhaps a note by the side of the bed asking if one would like the alarm set or turned off would be worthwhile in a hotel of this caliber.

The Post Hotel is known for its fine dining and it lived up to its name.  The menu was interesting though not inexpensive …the sort of place that’s an occasional treat. The wine list was the size of a small book and was fun to read. A few interesting wines could be ordered by the glass as well as an assortment of half bottles. I would have loved to try many of the wines on the list but they were out of our price range. Dinner was excellent and very filling since portion sizes are large. You really don’t need a full appetizer or salad unless you’ve burned about 4000 calories.  I found the dining room to be very accommodating with friends who were late because of road delays due to avalanche blasting. Breakfast was also very good and daylight views from the table were particularly lovely.

The Post Hotel is in Lake Louise but not on Lake Louise. It doesn’t enjoy the amazing setting of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. They are about 5 kilometers apart – just so you know.

Would I go again? Yes, but probably in summer if I planned to do a lot of day hikes and for a real splurge I’d pick one of the cabins on the river so I wouldn’t have to deal with train noise. If you’re a skier though you’re only minutes away from the Lake Louise ski area and so it’s winter time location for some is first rate. At any time if you’re not traveling on a budget and you are planning to visit Banff National Park, then it would be a real treat to spend a few nights in a room on the quieter side of the Post Hotel.

Other posts in a similar vein you might enjoy:

• A Visit to the Banff Springs Hotel – A Rocky Mountain Classic
• A Perfect Winter Weekend at Mount Engadine Lodge

Leigh McAdam

HikeBikeTravel

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