Found a last minute deal on a cheap room here as we would arrive late and leave early... no need for anything fancy. Perfect location, good customer service, very clean room. Parked downstairs at the Banff Park Lodge, so my car was warm in the morning.
My only minor complaint (and my wife's) was that the walls were a bit thin... could hear people in other room and in the hallways.

In a town like Banff, it can be tricky to find decent accommodation for under $80/night if on a budget. BVL offers excellent value. I was offered the best online rate as a walk-in. Upon entry, the room was clean and had a smart layout. Real glasses, not plastic. Nice to park the car and walk to local shops, a hop and a skip away. Pros: very clean, great location for walking along the river, shops and restaurants, access to modern pool & steam room facilities next door, free parking, free wifi, in-room fridge & dining table, coffee maker- all you really need. Loved the steam room & pool!
Cons: train noise can be loud at night.
Been staying here for years and have tried many other area hotels with higher cost. What I love about BVL is the quiet location, not being nickel and dimed and having money to spend on other things like eating out and visiting the Whyte Museum.

The Bow View Lodge is a great place to stay for a couple, its a fantastic price for its location. The river view rooms are delightful and the rooms are very clean. We booked a room with a queen size bed and it was very comfortable and the linen was nicely washed. Don't let the size of the rooms or the age of the hotel fool you, the stay is grand and concierge was very polite and helpful. One problem however is the parking lot near the hotel, very close fitting and difficult for trucks and the shower is weird to run haha. Other than that the stay was wonderful and I would go back here again.

My family of four (two teenage sons) stayed one night here as we travelled through Alberta last summer. The hotel was basic, but roomy enough for our family. Parking was an issue...they have free parking, but not enough of it. However, there is lots in the Banff Park Lodge next door, under the building. We would have preferred the convenience of parking right by the hotel, but it all worked out. There are no frills with this hotel and alas...no air conditioning. Dont listen to what they say about cool mountain air. There was no cool air the 2nd week of July 2012. I couldnt sleep, though my husband and boys could, so I took a hand towel and wet it and kept it by my bed...The hotel did not provide any fans when I asked. I am sure this policy might be the same for other hotels as well. Otherwise, it was clean and I would consider it again. Great location very near shopping and restaurants.