It's a nice hotel about 15 min walk from the busiest part of downtown Banff.
Room decoration is simple, but rooms are comfortable.
Service is efficient but not exactly welcoming: you're just another tourist for them. At least that was my impression during my check-in.
Computers with internet access are available but you have to pay (you pay directly in the machine).

We travelled to Canada in April 09 to get married in a Heli-Wedding just outside Canmore. Having stayed at the Caribou Lodge on a few occassions before I really couldn't think of a better, more relaxed hotel to stay at in the area. In fact it was Jim, the Front of House Manager, that originally gave me the idea of Banff for a wedding, when I was over on a boarding holiday a few years prior - I went home and proposed to Helen a few days later! It was just myself, and Fiance/Wife who were there, and from the minute we arrived the hotel staff made us feel at home. From sorting us out with a fantastic room, to helping us arrange romantic dinners and even the spa staff helping Helen out on the morning of our wedding.

We owe a huge a huge thanks to Jim and all the staff of the Caribou, Spa and the Keg for making our wedding/honeymoon the most perfect time we could have ever imagined.

If you are travelling to the area the Caribou should be your first choice hotel - it will always be ours.

The Caribou Lodge is grouped with the other main tourist hotels about a 10 min walk from central Banff, or use the complimentary pass provided by the hotel on the frequent bus service. If you have a car, there is complimentary parking in the underground garage, and free parking all over the town.

The lobby at the Caribou is huge, but unfortunately the rooms are not. Our top-floor room was barely big enough for the 2 beds (it would have fitted 3 times into our room at Vancouver's Blue Horizon!), but also had a small sideboard and dining set. There was no fridge or, surprisingly, wardrobe, just an alcove with a rail. No wonder the walls and furniture were showing signs of distress, particularly in view of winter sports usage and all that clobber! Also lacking is aircon, just a table fan provided for those hot summer nights. Having said all of that, we did enjoy a very comfortable stay.

The bathroom was probably the smallest we have come across in all our travels, being tucked away under the eaves and so small the door would not fully open. If space is so tight, it would surely be better just to provide a shower, and no bath.

The on-site restaurant is The Keg, and it is excellent. We found the buffet breakfast OK but not particularly sparkling, but in the evening, the meals really are worthwhile, in terms of quality, size, and service. There are also on-site spa and leisure facilities, which we did not sample and cannot therefore comment on. The hotel is heavily used by British tour companies so constant comings and goings, and very often corridors littered with luggage awaiting collection. One evening we looked into the Fox Hotel just a block away, and were surprised to find it almost empty. In contrast, the Caribou was rocking!

Although we enjoyed the Caribou, there are other nearby hotels in the same group we would probably try on another occasion. This time, notwithstanding the small rooms, the Caribou fitted the bill very well.

We had travelled to Canada to meet up with out daughter who lives there and had mixed results with other hotels in Jasper and Lake Louise - my daughters reaction when entering the Hotel was - well this is more like it! And it only got better, very pleasant young man offered to upgrade our room for 25$ a night, by the time we decided it was $15 - lovely room with views over the mountain. Breakfast was good value too. Only slight downside is the cramped parking area underneath the hotel - we are pretty sure our rental car received its dent there. However I would not hesitate to stay at the Caribou again.