Paradise Lodge and Bungalows, Alberta

The nastiest desk worker we ever met. If you want to be threatened, or insulted, this is the place to go.

Paradise Lodge and Bungalows has been a fixture in Lake Louise for as long as I can remember. I believe I first stayed there in the early 70's, and it was more rustic then. Now the rooms are beautifully upgraded but the utility of the place is just a great as it always was. It's about as romantic as 'outdoor types' will tolerate. By that I mean, it's beautiful, but not pretentious. Paradise does not offer a lot of services, and it doesn't have a restaurant, but it's an incredible base of operations for people who have a car and are doing recreational things (hiking, etc.) or sightseeing. There is enough of a kitchen to do daily breakfast and lunches and the best location in the park for getting around. That helps save a bit of money, which you'll need because staying anywhere in Banff Park is expensive. The owners could not be nicer, and during it's open season, there's nowhere else up there I would stay.