Polaris Lodge

There was face painting and a big outdoor screening of Incredibles 2 on the deck last weekend. The staff are friendly, and the Polaris Lodge has good access to the hill and ski lift. In winter, you can ski right down onto the deck. The rooms are nice, and the restaurant inside has changed a few times but has always been good. The parking lot could be better, though overall it’s fine. The lodge is at the base of the Kimberley Alpine Resort.

The underground parking is heated, and the ski-in, ski-out access is very convenient. Our room was clean when we arrived and had plenty of space. If you plan to cook, though, the kitchen supplies are sparse: no basics such as salt, pepper, or oil, and only three bowls, a few glasses, and a few pans. Staff restocked the soap, but they don’t clean the room, and there’s no toilet brush.

We’ve stayed here many times over the years, but this week was a real disappointment. We requested a king suite and got a queen. The bed in 209 felt like straw, nothing like the usually very comfortable beds, and we also put up with a very noisy air conditioner and parking lot. We asked the office for a king on the ski side, but they said they weren’t cleaning because of CIVID. That makes no sense. The restaurant was closed Monday through Wednesday, and the pool and hot tub had boiler issues. We paid full price and won’t book again. There are plenty of condos to rent in Kimberly. With COVID and fewer people travelling, this was a chance to shine through word of mouth and reviews. They didn’t.

My girlfriend and I switched rooms, and they handled the change smoothly. We chose a room we’d stayed in before, and it was excellent, especially being right beside the hill. The only letdown was that the jacuzzi tub in the bathroom still wasn’t working, even though it had been a year since our last visit.