Since my last stay in a Howard Johnson was in Hamilton about 7 years ago and it wasn't a pleasurable experience, I was a bit reluctant in booking another stay. But the 89$ rate was cheap and I decided to book it. What a beautiful HoJo! My economy room wasn't huge but still, it suited all my needs. The mattress was simply incredible. No need to go to a Westin to get a Heavenly bed. Free local and 1-800 calls, very practical to call for information on local attractions. Room was clean. The bathroom only had a step-in shower and I actually liked that better that a full bathroom because it gives you more room to move around and I never take baths in a hotel anyway. Continental breakfast was included and for a little 5$, you had a full buffet. It's centrally located in Canmore too, restaurant, banks and the main street are within walking distance. The kids I saw seemed to enjoy the 3-storey waterslide a lot. I'd say the hotel is perfect for about any kind of travellers, except the older crowd perhaps who might not like the fact that they are lots of kids in the hotel and also a load of tour buses.

We stayed there in August 2003.

Ask for a top floor facing the front (back faces railways but there is hardly any trains and you can also see the mountains so it's ok to) Rooms are clean and average size. A little dark but ok.

The kids loved this hotel because of the indoor water slides ...they never wanted to leave the place!

Close to Banff it was an excellent base for visiting Banff for a fraction of the price. This hotel is worth 3 stars in my book.

Stayed there in August 2003 with 3 kids. Great location..15 minutes from Banff, reasonable price, kids loved the pool. Canmore is much less crowded than Banff and is just as beautiful. Would highly recommend this hotel for families.

The rooms were clean and comfortable BUT sleep was an impossibility because the front of the hotel is on a main road, the hotel backs onto a busy Canadian freight railway line, the hotel has a very loud air conditioning unit located by the lifts which cannot be turned down or off (apparently due to fire regulations). The hotel also caters to bus loads of students who stampede up and down the corridors.

Additionally, there is an automatic $2.14 daily charge for the use of the safe in the room. We did not use the safe so asked that the charge to be removed. Apparently, we should have been informed at check-in about this charge (we were not) and the sign detailing the 'Traveller's Protection Scheme' (i.e. safe) we later noticed was placed behind a brochure stand. Some of the staff we encountered needed training in courtesy and customer care.