The Crossing Resort

The views from the restaurant and the rest of the complex are incredible, and the cabins have lovely gardens around them. We were really glad we chose The Crossing for an overnight stop, and would recommend it if you keep your expectations reasonable. If you're used to Fairmont standards, you may be disappointed. From the UK, it’s like an older Travelodge with amazing views. We arrived around 4pm, had a short rest before dinner, and were able to get ahead of the crowds at the first stops the next morning. Staying here also let us explore the Icefields Parkway from Jasper without trying to fit everything into one day. We chose the buffet. It wasn't gourmet, but there was lots of choice and some tasty food, and the breakfast buffet was good value. Staff were really friendly and helpful. The rooms are basic and a little worn, but clean, comfortable, and equipped for an overnight stay, including a coffee machine and fridge. Great stopover!

Right in the heart of the Rockies, with Jasper and Banff National Parks and other attractions all close by. It’s an ideal stop for gas, last-minute snacks, a meal, and a very comfortable bed. Our room had a mountain view, and there seemed to be mountains everywhere. The staff are tirelessly helpful, and the amenities are fabulous: a lovely pub with a tasty buffet, laundry, a games room with lots of information on local highlights, and a gym and sauna. I’ll definitely book again next time I’m in the area. Worth the drive!

The pub meal was good, and the bartenders gave us lots of travel tips and recommendations. You can grill your own steak, burger, or other meat there. If doing your own cooking on a grill doesn’t appeal to you or isn’t familiar, there are two other restaurants. We enjoyed our overnight stay on the Icefields Parkway. The rooms are basic, but clean and well-maintained, and all the staff were friendly and helpful. Some bad reviews seem to come from mismatched expectations. This is a motel in a somewhat remote area, not downtown Banff. For what it is, it delivers well. We’d stay again.

The main snag was not being told clearly about the food service changes. We checked in at 7:30pm and heard we could get dinner at the pub, since the restaurant was only open for breakfast and lunch at the end of the season. Nobody mentioned that the kitchen closed at 8pm. By the time we unpacked and changed, it was 8:05, too late for served food. The soup and salad bar stayed open until late, 10 I think, and there were steaks, hot dogs, and beef, chicken, or veggie burgers to grill indoors. Those options cost $27-$38, so we just ate another sandwich in our room and used our own supplies. The next night, October 15th, we went earlier, but the kitchen had closed for the season without warning, so the options were the same. Breakfast was included and great. The first morning’s buffet tasted good, though it could have been warmer. On the second morning we were told the buffet had closed for the season, and our voucher only covered a plated meal. A heads-up would have been nice. The food was delicious, though, and our server, Angelique I believe, was friendly and helpful. We paid $169+tax ($188) per night for two nights in a king room through the resort’s fall special, with breakfast included. We spotted the ad on FB and otherwise wouldn’t have known about the resort, so good advertising there. The location about halfway between Banff and Jasper can’t be beat. In my opinion, it’s also central to several of the best hikes and views, and the mountains all around the resort are spectacular. The rooms are dated, as others have said, but we expected that. Everything looked clean, which matters most to me, even with some wear and tear. The bed was comfortable, the sheets were clean and crisp, the mini fridge was useful but had no freezer section for ice packs, and there was in-room coffee. The electric baseboard heater kept the room cozy, and the wifi worked great. We had the best time on the medium-difficulty hikes to Chephren Lake and Peyto Lake, taking the shoreline route at Peyto rather than the viewpoint. The pullout was 2.4km north of the viewpoint. We also saw all the easily accessible views and are looking forward to coming back for more.