The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Banff

Where to Stay on Your First Trip to Banff

Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Are you looking for a hotel for your first trip to Banff, Alberta? With plenty of activities and sites, this is a great destination for first-time visitors. So if you're deciding where to stay on your first trip to Banff, don't worry, we've got you covered. We've analyzed the hotels in Banff to find out which are the best for first timers based on price, amenities, location, reviews, and guest ratings. In this guide, we'll be showcasing the best hotels for first-time visitors in Banff, taking into consideration all of these important factors. Whether you're traveling solo, with family, or with friends, there's a hotel that caters to every traveler's needs to make the most of your first trip here. So, if you're visiting Banff for the first time, the hotels below will be great options, as many of them have pools, breakfast, and plenty of comforts to help you relax. So, here they are, the best hotels in Banff for first time visitors.

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

Fairmont Banff Springs

4-star Resort with prices starting at $441 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Located at 405 Spray Avenue, Fairmont Banff Springs has great rooms from $441 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, skiing, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. It has a terrific 8.70 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 1.4 km from the city center, first time visitors will especially love scuba diving, a bar, parking, hiking, and child care at this relaxing hotel. Getting room service delivered is always a nice luxury.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Indoor pool
  • Horse riding
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Kids' club
  • Luxury


Rimrock Resort Hotel

4-star Resort with prices starting at $206 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Banff
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is Rimrock Resort Hotel which has nice rooms starting at $206. Offering skiing, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 8.60 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 300 Mountain Avenue. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers parking, a kid-friendly buffet, hiking, mountain views, and child care which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 2.8 km from the city center. You'll love relaxing in the heated pool after a busy day exploring.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Indoor pool
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Banff Ptarmigan Inn

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $131 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.

We found Banff Ptarmigan Inn to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $131. We loved that is has skiing, room service, a restaurant, a bar, and breakfast, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.10 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 337 Banff Avenue. You'll also find hiking, mountain views, laundry services, a free breakfast, and pet-friendly rooms which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 0.4 km from the center of town. Unwinding at the restaurant after sightseeing is a nice way to end the day. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Refrigerator


Banff Park Lodge

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $109 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Banff
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.

With terrific rooms from $109, Banff Park Lodge, at 222 Lynx Street provides skiing, room service, a restaurant, a bar, and parking. Its terrific guest rating is 8.10 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers hiking, child care, laundry services, golf, and city views. It's located just 0.3 km from the city center, too. That hot tub is terrific after a long day of sightseeing. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Indoor pool
  • Horse riding
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Hi Banff Alpine Centre

Hostel with prices starting at $34 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly

Hi Banff Alpine Centre has a great guest rating of 8.10 out of 10, and offers skiing, a water park, a restaurant, a bar, and breakfast. The great rooms here start at $34 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 801 Hidden Ridge Way. Furthermore, it also offers hiking, golf, a game room, free parking, and a pool table, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 1.8 km from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. The water slides are especially fun! We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Water park
  • Breakfast included
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop


Mount Royal Hotel

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $111 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

The great guest rating of Mount Royal Hotel is 8.70 out of 10. This place has skiing, room service, a restaurant, a bar, and hiking. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $111, and it's located at 138 Banff Avenue. We also love the mountain views, laundry services, golf, a hot tub, and a spa which are great for visitors. And since it's just 0 km from the center of the town, the location is great, too. The price of this hotel is less than average for first time trip hotels, which makes it a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
  • Family-Friendly
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Fishing
  • Refrigerator


Elk + Avenue Hotel

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $111 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Banff
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly

A cool place is Elk + Avenue Hotel because it has great rooms that start at $111. It has skiing, a restaurant, a bar, hiking, and laundry services, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.30 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 333 Banff Avenue. Only 0.4 km from the city center, travelers will especially love golf, pet-friendly rooms, a hot tub, a spa, and free parking at this convenient hotel. It's also less than the average price for first time trip hotels, so it's a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
  • Family-Friendly
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator


Fox Hotel and Suites

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $193 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Pool

Fox Hotel and Suites offers a pool, skiing, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $193 (before taxes). It's located at 461 Banff Avenue and has earned a guest rating of 8.10/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers a bar, breakfast, hiking, mountain views, and rooms with kitchenettes which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 0.9 km from the city center. It's always nice to have a kitchenette to cook some basic meals or have an easy breakfast.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Pool
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Kid-friendly
  • Family-Friendly
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


The Rundlestone Lodge

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $203 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Banff
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

Located at 537 Banff Avenue, The Rundlestone Lodge has great rooms from $203 (before taxes). It offers skiing, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and hiking. It has a terrific 8.30 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find mountain views, rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, a hot tub, and an indoor pool which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 1.2 km from the center of town. Having an indoor pool means that you can swim and have fun any time of the year.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Indoor pool
  • Kid-friendly
  • Family-Friendly
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground


Buffalo Mountain Lodge

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $114 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.

A great place to stay is Buffalo Mountain Lodge which has nice rooms starting at $114. Offering skiing, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 8.00 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 700 Tunnel Mountain Road. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers hiking, rooms with kitchenettes, child care, laundry services, and a hot tub. It's located just 1.6 km from the city center, too. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Also, take a look at the first time trip hotels in nearby destinations: Canmore and Radium Hot Springs.

For more terrific hotel ideas in Banff, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Banff, Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Banff, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Banff, Best Hotels for One Week in Banff, Best Hotels for One Night in Banff, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in Banff, Best Hotels for Skiing in Banff, or Best Business Hotels in Banff.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in Banff?

Banff Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$156

Travelers to Banff, Alberta will have a large number of terrific first time trip accommodation options with a variety of great prices. The price of first time trip hotels here can vary by amenities, dates, and the neighborhood. Based on thorough data from 23 first time trip hotels, their average price is a very reasonable $156. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Banff.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 4-star hotels: $257
  • 3-star hotels: $135
  • 2-star hotels: $135


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