Hotel Windtower Lodge & Suites (Canmore, Canada)

Look out of the hotel from almost any vantage point and you're greeted with a landscape that looks like it's come straight out of a Hollywood movie. This shouldn't come as a surprise really as the likes of Ha Ling Peak, Rundle Range and the Three Sisters have provided the backdrop for such cinematic treats as 'Brokeback Mountain', 'Legends of the Fall', and 'Snow Dogs'.

If you're a fan of hot, substantial breakfasts then you'll be in your element here. If you're looking for a modest, light-bite option then you probably won't be quite so enamored. It's free though and it's well worth getting up for.

With two golf clubs (one of which also offers curling) close by, a raft of hiking trails within easy reach and all manner of sports and activities available throughout the year, this hotel makes a great base for anyone who enjoys active vacationing. Having Banff just ten-minutes' away is pretty cool too.

Whilst the suites at the Windtower deliver a more than adequate amount of square footage, the same cannot be said of the hotel's standard room offerings. Compact and then some.

A large number of guests have drawn attention to the fact that - balconies notwithstanding - there is no effective form of air-conditioning available in the hotel accommodations. Needless to say, this can make things pretty uncomfortable during summer visits.

Having to pay separately for parking at a hotel like this seems a little bit mercenary, especially when the rates of some of the room options are taken into consideration. Happily, it is quite possible to park out on the street during the warmer months.