I found the location to be perfect right on Banff ave. The rooms were very clean and the staff were very friendly and accommodating. One of the girl's at the front desk named Sophie even brought us around Banff on her day off.

Cheap prices and a great stay!

This motel is a dump. It is owned and run by the Ptarmigan Inn next door and they really don't care about you if you're staying here, absolutely no service. Housekeeping was ok, but since none of the empoyees are in this building people get really loud, and also the building is so old that you can here everyone talking in their rooms, walking around, and going up and down the stairs. I guess I would compare this to staying in a loud cabin. Also, there is no heat in the room and no A/C in the summer so be aware. During my stay it got really warm on some days, but when it got really cold I went to turn the heat up but I guess the controllers are just there for decoration since they don't work at all.

It's an old hotel that really looks like some minor changes could make better, but it seems no one is interested in fixing the carpet, broken lamp wiring, cracked sinks and such. It wasn't that dirty, but it wasn't that clean either. I only used the ice for my cooler, no drinking. I didn't trust it (one of those old ones that you reach into to get so no control of what goes in).

It was one of the cheaper places to stay in a really expensive city. I will say that it is well located near the Safeway grocery store which is the only moderately affordable way to eat. If you don't want to pay $25(CAD) for a regular 12-pack of beer, bring your own. The Voyager Hotel has the cheapest alcohol around (but that's still $20-21) unless you can pass for a local at the liquore store in the basement of the shopping center.

Comparing to Montana costs (same type of out-door activities), Banff is a very nice city but the gas is 1.4x, food is 1.5x, hotels are 2x-3x and the beer 4x those in the States. Quaint & cute just didn't do that much for me, I would rather have stayed around Glacier National Park. Also, Banff is about $20/day to be in the park for a family. Glacier is $20 a week per car and $35 a year (or $80/year for all NP's). I'm glad I went but don't expect me to return. I guess if you like high-end shopping and pampering, this is for you.

Unexpectedly decided to stay in Banff and was aware of how expensive hotels were so were pleasantly surprised to find the Driftwood Inn (on the internet) at such a reasonable price. Was a bit hard to find but knew, through the internet reviews, that you had to book into the Ptarmigan next door. The room was spacious and clean and the location was great, close to all the shops along Banff Avenue. The only down side for us was one of us is not very mobile and there were no elevators. But we got around that and only took what we needed for the night to our room in our backpack.