My husband and I are currently at the Rimrock for our anniversary. We are partial to the Fairmont Hotels, but decided to give this place a try. The website said that the pool and outdoor space would be opening at the beginning of August, but being in that type of business ourselves we understand that things never go as planned and that there would be a possibility that the area would not be ready. If the hotel updated us saying it wouldn’t be ready we could always cancel right? Well, there was no message sent from the hotel saying otherwise and also no updated notice on the website so we were hopeful. It wasn’t until the day we arrived driving from Calgary that we saw an update on the website saying the outdoor area would not be ready until the Fall. Bummer! Not only is the pool outdoor space not ready, but other than a little patio near the road at the front of the hotel there is literally no outdoor space at all which was so disappointing. No discount offered either.
Check in was great and Jonah was very warm and friendly. When we entered the room we were impressed as it was beautiful with gorgeous views of the mountains outside. That being said, in the evening after a full day of activity when you get back to the room and just feel like watching a movie the couch feels like a wood bench with a low back. It is not a comfortable couch at all! The bed is super comfy, but there is no tv in the bedroom. Even the couch in front of the bedroom window where you’d love to sit and enjoy a coffee in the morning is not very comfortable. Two cozy chairs with a footstool would’ve been so much better. All in all the furniture looks cool but it’s not comfortable.
When choosing the Rimrock we liked the fact that it was just out of town away from the craziness. We are very active and while looking at hikes in the area we noticed a trail in behind the hotel that lead into town. We were very happy about that because we liked the idea of walking into town. When we tried to find how to access the trail we were told that there was no access to the trail due to the construction. She also told us that even if we could get on the trail it was for horses only and we could be fined and then also said it’s not safe due to bears and fire in the area. Like what??!! We’re in Banff with wildlife everywhere. We decided to take our chances and walk down the road where a construction worker guided us to the trail and told us it was fully open, not just for horses (follow the marker for the hiking trail) and there was no fine for being on it. It was a beautiful hike into town and then we even came back the same way after dinner. Highly recommend.
We tried Parker’s for breakfast and the service was great and food was pretty good. If you want an amazing breakfast head to the Bluebird Cafe. We didn’t eat anything else at the hotel because we felt it was way overpriced and the menu was just trying too hard to be upscale.
I hate to give only a 3 star review but at $10K for the week there is a lot lacking. If the hotel were fully up and running I wouldn’t balk at the price so much. Right now it’s way too expensive for what’s offered. Wait until everything is done and then book it! We will probably give it another go once renovations are fully complete.
This review is disappointing to write because this hotel has incredible potential, but it is simply not ready to charge premium rates.
When we arrived, we were told we had been assigned a "forest view" room. We had booked a "peak view" room, but the front desk assured us this was an upgrade. When we entered the room, however, we found ourselves on the ground floor overlooking an active construction site, with a backhoe, dirt, concrete, and pipes directly outside our window.
We returned to the front desk, where the staff member realized she had made a mistake and apologized. The manager kindly moved us to a beautiful suite with a large balcony. Although it was a significant upgrade, the room was clearly unfinished (missing curtains, paint spots, sticky areas on the floor, unfinished trim; see photos).
Because the room was not fully prepared, it was also missing basic amenities: no minibar items, no slippers, missing soap, and surprisingly no complimentary water. When I called the front desk, I was told water cost $6 per bottle. Two bottles were delivered, but with an $8 delivery fee and tip, we ended up paying $26 for water at a hotel charging over $1,000 per night. On top of that, the cleaning staff failed to show up to make-up the room, so we had to call them at 6 PM requesting room refresh.
The balcony had spectacular views, but two major issues ruined the experience. First, construction noise began early every morning, with heavy equipment, reversing alarms, hammers, and cement saws disrupting the otherwise peaceful setting.
Second, the balcony was shared with neighboring rooms because the privacy dividers had not yet been installed. We initially accepted this, but it became a serious problem. One night, while we were in bed with the curtains open enjoying the mountain view, a child appeared outside our window staring into our room. The next morning, while my wife and I were both nude after showering, she screamed that there was a man outside. A guest was casually walking along our shared balcony while talking on his phone. I had to bang on the glass and yell for him to leave while standing exposed in our room.
We reported this at checkout and suggested temporary barriers be installed until the permanent dividers were completed. The front desk employee was horrified and apologetic, but we have received no follow-up or apology from management.
Adding to the frustration, major facilities including the pool and fitness center were closed due to construction. Guests could use another hotel's facilities, but that required a 15-minute shuttle ride.
This hotel has the potential to be excellent once construction is complete. However, guests should be informed about the ongoing renovations, unfinished rooms, limited amenities, and privacy issues before paying full price. In its current state, it is not ready for a luxury hotel experience.
I left a review a few years ago with no response and hoped things would get better. I won’t go into too much detail here, but although the hotel itself is fancy and the views are unbeatable, the staff are extremely rude and it feels they are watching your every move. I was asked to leave the pool during the 18+ time (after 9pm I think) and I was not asked nicely. And I had to show my ID. After that, it felt no matter where I was a staff member was always watching what I did. I just wanted to explore the hotel’s amenities
"Before immigrating to Canada, I saw so many beautiful photos and thought the whole country looked like that. After visiting Banff, I realized, 'Oh wait, that was just Banff!' It is truly stunning. We stayed at the Rimrock Resort Hotel, and it was such a chic and nice hotel with great amenities. We had an amazing time there. Definitely try it—you won't regret it!"
