How Good Is Banff?
Written: May 16 '00 (Updated Jul 07 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Inexpensive, beautiful scenery, wildlife, good skiing, wonderful hotels
Cons: snow conditions, lack of intermediate terrain, no nightlife
The Bottom Line: I would recommend Banff for the aforementioned reasons.
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| sunbuckles's Full Review: Banff-Lake Louise |
I have been to Banff and can say it is the best bargain in North American skiing. Most recently I was there in early April of this year (2000). I purchased a 7 nights/6 day ski pass ski package directly from Ski Louise(www.skilouise.com) central reservations for the astonishing price of $298 American. This works out to be about 50 dollars per day for hotel and ski ticket. Compare this to Whistler at 100 dollars and Vail for 150 dollars.
Upon walking into the hotel on the day of my arrival (after driving 2,000 miles to get there) I glanced to my left and saw a sign saying that the night skiing at Mt. Norquay was cancelled because of a 'private party'. After a few phone calls and some blustery idle threats I was able to get compensated by a very kind lady at Ski Lake Louise central reservations in the form of 1 day pass good for the next 2 years.
The hotel was acceptable with the exception of some pteradactyl sized ravens who kept stealing food that I had left out on the balcony, and a hotel clerk who had an uncanny resemblance to Lurch. This said, if one wants to opt for a fine hotel Banff and Lake Louise have many options.
The scenery is beautiful. When driving from Banff to Lake Louise there are two options-the main freeway and the off freeway(?). After driving through the woods for three days on the way to Lake Louise I was finally rewarded by seeing a 1,000 pound elk emerge from the darkness of the forest and walk up to the road and the car I was in. What a sight. Some friends of mine saw a grizzly bear on a previous spring ski trip. This made the trip more than worth it for me and them.
What about the skiing you ask? How can it be so inexpensive? Well there are some drawbacks. Is the skiing at Lake Louise as good as Vail? No. Why not? For many reasons-(1)The claimed 3,000+ vertical is only accessible on the far left side of the front face of Lake Louise by way of a 'poma lift'. What the heck is that you ask? Well basically it's like being dragged up the hill with a broom (yeah, frightening). Also, I might mention that the lift itself is rated double black diamond.(2)The snow conditions range from great to horrible. Because of the lower vertical of Lake Louise the snow has a tendency to melt and ice up very easily. Also, the grooming is not comparable to the top Colorado resorts (or almost any Colorado resorts). The skiing is way more European in this respect.(3)
To get to Lake Louise (from Banff)you have to drive for 40 minutes each way and the parking at the ski hill itself can be a problem. This can be a real drag-driving 40 minutes to and fro and then having to walk 500 yards to get to the lifts.
For experts and super experts there is some good terrain. However, that pesky lower vertical ice up problem comes into play. Like anywhere else, snow conditions determine the quality of the ski experience. For intermediates there are some good runs. There are not as many as at Snowmass or Vail.
What about apres-ski? There are plenty of fine dining and economical choices. As for nightlife for the 20 to 35 year old singles crowd this place is a wasteland-. There is one sorry excuse of a nightclub called 'outer limits' and a few pubs. If it is nightlife you want Whistler is far superior. As for families and couples, this place has plenty to offer and can be very romantic.
In the final analysis Banff is a great place for those who are on a budget, families, couples and nature lovers. There is terrain for hardcore boarders and skiers here, however, they may be better off at places like Whistler, Squaw Valley, Snowmass, Vail, Snowbird and Jackson Hole. For intermediate skiers trying to improve their skiing Vail, Whistler and Snowmass are superior. Likewise, for those who are not on a budget and want to ski 24/7 while on vacation there are better choices.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
sunbuckles
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Location: drtekno
Reviews written: 5
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drtekno
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