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We wanted to share with you how we recently planned an affordable winter weekend getaway.

This is how we organized our quick trip to break up the monotony of January in Alberta. In order to be cost effective, we did some research and found out about the Fairmont Alberta residents rate. This gave us 30% off the best available rate at select hotels. So we elected to stay at the Chateau Lake Louise, as this made a previously expensive option much more feasible for us. We began looking into dates and lo and behold there was the Ice Magic International Ice Carving Competition being held January 15-17. Thus we decided to drive up on January 18. This meant we would get to enjoy the finished products and see who won each category. 

That Saturday morning we got up a little early and had a quick breakfast of slow cooker oatmeal. Then we loaded up the truck. After food, the next priority was coffee. So we stopped at Starbucks (Alex got to try out the reusable cup program by bringing her own travel mug!) Then we started our trek.

Banff

Upon arrival in Banff just after lunch, we saw all the shuttle buses and overflow parking filling up. Lake Louise has gotten so busy that tourists wanting to view the area must park at the base of the mountain and be shuttled up to the lake. As we elected to stay at the Chateau Lake Louise, we were able to drive up and avail ourselves of their onsite parking. Just a note, take your parking ticket to the front desk and they will validate it. This means your parking is complimentary when you stay at the hotel.   Pro tip; if you don’t want to stay at the Chateau make a dinner reservation. Then you can enjoy a fabulous meal before heading back down.  If you have a reservation they will let you park at the hotel. We did this for our summer hiking trip, and you can check that trip out Here.

After we arrived, we checked in and received a lovely complimentary upgrade to a lake view room. Once we got settled in, we wandered around to see all the hotel had to offer. We couldn’t resist and had to stop at the Goodies Candy Shop to sample the chocolate bear claws. 

Braving the cold

Later, we layered up and headed outside to see the sculptures while it was still light out. Entry into the festival was $13 per person. However, if you stay at the chateau, wristbands are included in your room package. It was relatively warm with a balmy temperature around -10 degrees Celsius. The rest of the province was sitting at around -25 Celsius so we congratulated ourselves on our excellent timing. We spent some time on the lake, saw the sculptures, and enjoyed the complementary apple cider. They also had large fire pits and marshmallows to roast! There were people enjoying tobogganing on the hill and skating on the lake. You can bring your own skates or rent them at the Chateau. There were horse drawn wagon rides around the lake for an extra fee. After we started getting cold we headed back inside to warm up. 

Getting cozy

Overlooking the lobby, we found a lovely guest only area called the Living Room on the second floor. The cozy spot was littered with couches and comfy chairs, board games and cards. With a large gas fireplace and quiet music, it was the perfect spot to curl up and relax. In the background we could hear the quiet hubbub from the lobby as a comforting hum. While Alex settled in with a few good books and a cup of complimentary tea, Christy and Mike sat down to battle it out in games of crib and then chess.

After a long afternoon relaxing, Mike started getting hangry so we headed back to the room. There we set up our gourmet picnic that we brought from home. The previous day, Alex and Christy went on a shopping spree. Back home we bought specialty meats and cheeses, crackers and bread, dips and nuts, fresh fruit and chocolate. Without delay, we dug into dessert. Mike and Christy had individual lemon pies, while Alex enjoyed a small selection of macaroons. We can’t forget to mention the Prosecco we brought along! 

How did we manage all this you ask? During the summer we picked up an adorable little backpack picnic kit at a garage sale. It has a full set of dishes, cutlery, wine glasses and even napkins. We set the meat and cheese out on the wooden cutting board, and used the cheese knife to serve it all. This means we had a thrifty, yet absolutely delicious dinner. Included were our favorite food groups (Cheese, Chocolate, and Bubbly) for a reasonable price.

Nightlife

Eventually we packed up our dinner and went back out to appreciate the way the grounds and ice carvings were lit up in the night.

The Chateau Lake Louise is absolutely stunning in the dark with some Christmas lights still up. The ice carvings are all back lit so that they seemed to glow.

The ice castle on the lake stood out from the darkness courtesy of a flood light, while the rest of the lake faded into black. With no light pollution or traffic noise, it was so dark and silent it felt almost otherworldly.

We spent lots of time taking pictures of the sculptures and marveling at their intricacy.  Eventually we got cold enough that the hot tub called our names.

By the time we made our way down to the indoor pool and hot tub area, it was adult only hours. With a staff member there to monitor and provide fresh fruit infused water, it was delightfully spa-like. The pool was almost like a cold plunge, the hot tub was hot enough to meet our high standards, and the steam room was scented with eucalyptus. Eventually after soaking ourselves into raisins, we headed back up to the room to tuck ourselves in for the night.

Breakfast

The next morning, we had planned in our budget to enjoy the breakfast buffet at the Poppy Brasserie. Beforehand, Alex had called to ask and the fabulous staff informed us they had gluten free options at the buffet. Alex appreciated having a full breakfast with the comfort of knowing everything was clearly marked. The buffet was large and had many interesting choices such as locally sourced sausages, banana bread french toast, Eggs Benedict, and a smoked salmon bar with all the fixings.

After breakfast we hit the lovely row of shops inside the hotel to browse and pick up a memento or two. The stores are high end and pricey but fun to poke around. By the time we dragged Mike away from the souvenirs, it was time to check out and start the drive. Reluctantly we loaded the truck, (or at least the bellhop did) and headed home. 

Shoutout to all the staff at the Chateau Lake Louise! From start to finish they were polite, helpful, and went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and enjoyed our stay to the fullest. Their efforts are part of what makes staying at the Chateau such an experience.