The Septaway: Banff
For our third Canadian Septaway, we packed our shoes and headed to what CNN Travel News calls “one of the world’s 10 most beautiful ski lodges.”
Post Hotel & Spa Lake Louise
Set in the village of Lake Louise, in the middle of Banff National Park, The Post Hotel is much more than a ski lodge. It’s also a year-round destination. We stayed in September *(just got back) and the weather was perfect: cool but pleasant with lots of bright sunshine. This Relais & Chateau property also offers an incredibly luxurious spa, endless activities amongst jaw-droppingly beautiful scenery and some of the best food and wine we’ve experienced.
THE ROOMS
There are four options: standard rooms, cabins, family suites and the stand-alone Watson House, a 3,000 square-foot private lodge. All offer the perfect balance of rustic chic mixed with just enough five-star amenities, like whirlpool tubs, high-end bedding and fireplaces in most rooms. We stayed in the Temple Cabin, which had a walk-out deck with a view that was just as compelling as the room itself.
THE ACTIVITIES
The Post Hotel is internationally renowned as one of the world’s finest ski resorts, on par with storied European ones. However, we were there in the fall so our activities focused on cycling the trails around the villages (bikes are provided free of charge), whitewater rafting and taking in the spectacular scenery on a day-long hike – we recommend opting for a guided hike.
THE FOOD
Any resort with an award-winning wine cellar that boasts over 25,000 bottles takes its food seriously. The Post does and has all of the accolades to prove it. Every meal is meticulously prepared but never fussy. We loved the grilled BC wild salmon and the oh-so-Canadian maple tiramisu with black cherry compote. Breakfast’s brioche French Toast became a fast favourite.
THE TAKEAWAY
The Post Hotel offers European elegance in a stunning Canadian setting. It’s worth a stay just for the spa and food, though its fans swear by the ski packages. This is a place you can take the kids for the ultimate family vacation or leave them behind for a romantic getaway. We loved the service, never got used to the breathtaking scenery and look forward to our next stay which we’re planning for winter to check out the slopes!