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Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise: An Anniversary-Worthy Splurge

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Last week, my husband and I traveled to Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada for a kids-free trip to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. We stayed at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, which was about a 2-hour drive from Calgary YYC airport. While our stay was not cheap, the hotel was totally worth the price for our special occasion.

Booking and Arrival

I booked Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise last summer after we had to cancel our original anniversary trip to Santa Fe due to various reasons. The cost was $1000 a night for the lowest level room. The hotel is part of ALL Accor Limitless Live program, so it’s also bookable with those points.

Yes, that’s an insane amount of money for a hotel room for one night. But, this is no ordinary hotel. It sits on the side of Lake Louise:

A scenic view of a mountainous landscape with a turquoise lake nestled between forested hills. In the foreground, there are dense green trees, and in the distance, a large building is visible near the lake's edge. The background features rugged mountain peaks with patches of snow.
View of hotel from Lake Louise Summer Gondola

This is a view of the hotel from a hike we took. The scenery around the hotel is spectacular.

A scenic view of a turquoise lake surrounded by dense evergreen forests and mountains. In the distance, there is a large hotel or resort building near the lake's edge. The sky is overcast with clouds, and the landscape is lush and green.

Pulling up to the hotel:

A large, elegant hotel building with a light-colored facade and multiple windows is partially obscured by tall evergreen trees. The hotel has a distinctive roof with a flag on top. In the background, there are towering mountains with patches of snow and dense forest. A winding road leads towards the hotel, bordered by rocks and greenery. The sky is clear with a few clouds.
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

These purple flowers around the hotel were so fragrant!

A landscaped garden with a bed of purple flowers in the foreground, leading to a well-maintained lawn. In the background, there is a large building with arched windows and a blue roof. The sky is cloudy, and there are tall evergreen trees surrounding the area.

The hotel has a history that began in 1890 and has been reconstructed and updated over the years. The lobby is elegant and reminded us of a historical cruise ship:

The image shows a grand hotel lobby with a large, ornate chandelier hanging from a high ceiling. The space features a patterned carpet and a central floral arrangement. There are two levels with a balcony and wooden railings. On the left, there is a reception desk with people standing nearby. On the right, a staircase leads to the upper level. The walls are adorned with paintings, and the overall atmosphere is elegant and spacious.

The image shows an elegant interior of a building with a grand staircase. The staircase is carpeted in dark blue with ornate wooden railings. Above the staircase, there is a statue in an alcove. The surrounding architecture features arches and decorative moldings. There are two levels visible, with a balcony on the upper level. The floor is covered with a patterned carpet, and there are signs indicating directions, including one for a "Bell Captain."

Check-in was a breeze, and that’s when we first discovered that the hotel is staffed for the summer by young adults from all around the world. We met many staff members from Australia, New Zealand and Europe.

Our Room

We stayed in room 176 on the first floor (which is really the 2nd floor in US terms).

A hotel room hallway with a patterned carpet leading to a bedroom area. On the left, there is a wall-mounted TV and a shelf with a bottle and glasses. The room is well-lit with natural light coming through large windows covered by sheer curtains. A bed and a chair are visible in the distance.

Our room had a king bed as well as a small sitting area:

A modern hotel room with a large bed featuring white linens and a padded headboard. On the left, a wall-mounted TV is above a console with a champagne bottle, glass, and plate. The room has a patterned carpet and a seating area by the window with a chair, small table, and floor lamp. The window is covered with sheer curtains, and there is artwork above the bed.

The bed was very plush and comfy. We did get turndown service each night with a bookmark on the pillow.

 

The image shows a cozy hotel room corner with a light gray L-shaped sofa adorned with beige pillows. In front of the sofa is a round coffee table and a single armchair. A large window with sheer curtains allows natural light to fill the room. To the right, there is a small kitchenette area with a coffee maker, cups, and a set of drawers. A modern lamp hangs above the seating area, and a patterned carpet covers the floor.

The sitting area included a dresser with a safe, refrigerator and coffee maker.

I mentioned in our reservation that we were celebrating our anniversary, and we found this dessert and champagne in our room upon arrival with a lovely card:

The image shows a hotel room setup with a dark wooden console table. On the table, there is a bottle of champagne in a metal ice bucket, two empty champagne flutes, and a plate with a small serving of butter or cheese. A folded napkin and a small card are also on the table. A television is mounted on the wall above the console, displaying dining information. The room has a patterned carpet and modern decor.

Although our window looked out to the front of the hotel and not the lake, it still wasn’t a bad view:

A scenic view from a window showing a large, elegant building with multiple stories and a green roof, surrounded by a circular driveway. Several vehicles, including a white van and a white SUV, are parked along the driveway. The area is landscaped with tall evergreen trees and a grassy lawn. In the background, there are more trees and distant mountains under a cloudy sky. The foreground includes part of a stone balcony and a metal roof.

The bathroom was quite large, but that could be because our room was handicap accessible:

The image shows a modern bathroom with gray marble flooring. On the left, there is a toilet with a safety grab bar next to it and a roll of toilet paper mounted on the wall. In the center, there is a shower area with a curtain and a handheld showerhead, also equipped with grab bars. On the right, there is a sink with a mirror above it, and a shelf holding neatly folded white towels. A small trash bin is placed on the floor near the shower.

The image shows a modern bathroom with a marble floor and walls. On the right, there is a sink with a large mirror above it, accompanied by a magnifying mirror. The countertop holds two blue glasses, soap, and bottles of toiletries. On the left, there is a shower area with a handheld showerhead and a bathtub with a towel rack above it, holding neatly folded white towels. The overall design is sleek and contemporary.

The only complaint we had about our room was the water pressure in the shower wasn’t that strong. But everything else was outstanding.

Dining at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

The hotel has six restaurants plus a few bars, and we tried 3 of them. The Guide’s Pantry is a grab and go coffee counter with sandwiches, salads, pastries and drinks. This was very busy in the morning, but convenient for us.

On our first night at the hotel, we ate dinner at Walliser Stube, which featured Swiss and German food. The restaurant has large windows facing the lake:

A group of people is seated at a table in a restaurant with large arched windows. The windows offer a view of a scenic landscape featuring a lake and mountains. The interior has a warm, cozy atmosphere with a patterned carpet and wooden furniture. A ladder is visible on the right side of the image.

We ordered the 3-course meal which included fondue cheese, an entree, and chocolate fondue. It was delicious!

A table setting with a fondue pot containing melted cheese, surrounded by various foods for dipping. There is a plate of bread pieces, a small dish of sauce, and a glass of dark soda. A tiered stand holds pickles, cherry tomatoes, radishes, boiled potatoes, and a bowl of vegetables including cauliflower and broccolini. A person in a checkered shirt is partially visible, sitting at the table.

The chocolate fondue featured house-made marshmallows, which were the highlight for me. The restaurant included a special anniversary message with our dessert:

A white plate with "Happy Anniversary" written in chocolate sauce. The plate contains a variety of treats, including cream puffs, pink marshmallows, banana slices, strawberries, apple slices, and a piece of chocolate cake. There is also a white fondue pot filled with chocolate sauce on the plate.

The next day, we ate lunch at Lakeview Lounge. The restaurant reserved us this special table in front of the giant window since they knew we were celebrating our anniversary:

A couple is sitting at a table inside a building, silhouetted against a large arched window. The window offers a scenic view of a turquoise lake surrounded by pine trees and snow-capped mountains under a clear blue sky. A flag is visible near the lake, and people are walking along a path outside.

We ordered rotisserie chicken with Caesar salad. The salad was made table side for us, including home made dressing, by a staff member from Australia:

A person is preparing food at a table inside a restaurant. The table is set with various dishes and utensils. There is a large window with a view of a scenic landscape featuring mountains, a lake, and people walking outside. The interior is warmly lit with wall sconces.

The restaurant treated us to a complimentary dessert. The warm peach strudel with vanilla ice cream was divine!

A dessert plate with "Happy Anniversary" written in white chocolate. On the left, there's a stack of chocolate spheres topped with a white chocolate lattice. On the right, a bowl contains a rolled pastry with ice cream and caramel sauce, surrounded by crumbled toppings. A cup and saucer are in the background.

Hotel Amenities and Activities

While you can’t park your personal car at Lake Louise (unless you’re a hotel guest), the lake and the hotel are accessible through many tour companies and shuttle buses. Lake Louise does get a lot of day trippers. But staying at the hotel gives you access to special areas reserved only for hotel guests, and you can enjoy the lake in the early morning and later afternoon/evening after the crowds of day trippers have left.

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise has a lovely garden area facing the lake exclusively for hotel guests:

The image shows a scenic view of a lake surrounded by mountains, with a cloudy sky above. In the foreground, there is a paved walkway with people walking and sitting. A sign reads "Exclusive Guest Area" with additional text about key card access and public washrooms. There are two flags, one of which is the Canadian flag, and flower beds with red and pink flowers. The lake has a turquoise color, and the mountains in the background are partially covered with snow.

The area has Adirondack chairs, fire pits, and lots of flowers:

A scenic view of a mountainous landscape with a turquoise lake in the background. The foreground features a vibrant garden with red and pink flowers and lush green foliage. People are visible near the lake, and the sky is overcast with dramatic clouds. Snow-capped peaks and dense forests surround the lake, creating a picturesque setting.

Twice a day, hotel staff lit up the fire pits to roast marshmallows. The hotel provided us a list of activities when we checked in, which included daily polar plunges in the lake, history lessons and guided walks. On July 4th, the hotel had a cupcake celebration for U.S. Independence Day. We booked a hotel shuttle to Morraine Lake (which I’ll cover in a different post).

The hotel has a small gym:

The image shows a gym with various exercise equipment. On the right, there are several treadmills lined up against a window. In the center, there are stationary bikes. On the left, there is a weight machine and a rack with colorful exercise balls and weights. The floor is wooden, and the ceiling has recessed lighting.

And an indoor pool, hot tub and steam room:

The image shows an indoor swimming pool area with two pools. One is a larger swimming pool where a person is swimming, and the other is a smaller hot tub with a person sitting in it. The area is surrounded by large windows with scenic views of greenery and mountains. There are benches with cushions along the walls, and a large landscape painting is visible on one wall. A pool noodle is lying on the edge of the hot tub.

In the evenings, from 9:30 – 11;00 p.m., the pool, hot tub and steam room are reserved for adults only, which was nice. I also treated myself to a massage at the spa during our stay.

Service

Every employee we encountered was delightful. The hotel texted me after check-in to make sure our room was satisfactory. We utilized the hotel concierge desk several times for restaurant recommendations and hiking advice. The hotel let us borrow some bear spray for our hikes, and a staff member gave us a tutorial on how to use it effectively if needed. While we did see several bears on this trip, thankfully we did not need to use the bear spray.

Overall Thoughts

Even though we only had a short 3-night stay at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, it was totally worth the travel time and cost. We felt spoiled and pampered for our anniversary. The location of the hotel with the outstanding views and service was perfect for our special occasion.

However, if we had brought our 3 kids, we wouldn’t have stayed here due to the cost of two rooms. We’d like to return to Banff with the family, but we’d likely choose lodging in Banff Village instead.

 

Author: Nancy

Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.

Comments

  1. Lynn says

    Yes, ah, the memories! Used my fairmont nts in Hawaii, but Lake Louise was a close 2nd! I remember IHG pointbreaks and Club Carlson where you’d get the 2nd night free with Radisson. Used many of those. Good times!

    Reply

  2. ArkansasTraveler says

    You appear to have stayed in a newer room. When we’ve stayed, we’ve been in the original portion of the hotel, and I was never more amazed that you could sit on the toilet to take care of life’s necessities, reach the sink from the toilet to brush your teeth and place your feet in the bathtub to wash them all at the same time. I really enjoyed the hotel, its location and of course, the lake; however, the bathrooms in the original wing were the smallest of any hotel charging those prices that I’ve stayed in. The employees are from all around the world and that does add a certain charm to the stay.

    Canmore is another town just down the road from Lake Louise, and it has similar charm to Banff. Realizing that some of the employees who travel to work in Lake Louise also must work near Machu Picchu at other times of the year, I found a wonderful Alpaca wool jacket at a secondhand store in Canmore that looked very similar to one that I had purchased in Cusco. At that same store, my wife found a mink fur hat that matched exactly with her mink coat. It was in perfect shape, and it only cost CAD$20. It was the best deal of the year. That mink hat got us lots of special treatment in Montreal and Ottawa a few months. (That was the only thing different between us and others because the bellmen would bring us to the front of the lines, call us cars quicker, get us better tables, etc.) You never know what you’ll find on a trip.

    Reply

    • Nancy says

      @ArkansasTraveler Wow, sounds like you found some great deals in Canmore! Our room did seem updated…lots of charging options on both sides of the bed. I know the hotel is going through a renovation on all the rooms and adding a new spa.

      Reply

    • Nancy says

      @TravelBloggerBuzz I just read through your post, and your trip looks epic. I remember that Chase Fairmont card…wish it was still around!

      Reply

  4. Aleks says

    Very nice trip! I like the remoteness of the surroundings, seems like perfect for hiking and nature scenery. The pool looks good for dipping in afterwards. The area reminds me of Colorado Rockies and Chilean Andes. The resort reminded me The Broadmoor in Colorado, spent a day there once – it also historic, with a Gilded-age feel, and reflecting lake.

    Happy Travels!!

    Reply

  5. Leana says

    This looks amazing! I’m so glad you got to enjoy nice weather during your short stay. That’s always a risk, especially when dropping that kind of money.
    We got to enjoy lunch at this hotel ten years ago, and my husband still talks about the property and the lake. Everything about it is just perfect. I hope we get to stay here one day.

    Reply

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