“Ski and Stay” in the Canadian Rocky Mountains

December 4, 2007

The snow is already piling up in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, launching another one of Canada’s legendary six-month winters. Alberta’s Sunshine Village and Lake Louise Mountain Resort have kicked off their 2007-2008 season, and skiers and snowboarders are already hitting the slopes.

To help visitors experience a real Canadian ski holiday for less, Hostelling International is offering "Ski and Ride" packages at their HI-Banff and HI-Lake Louise Alpine Center Hostels. Packages start at around CAD$100, and include one night’s accommodation in a shared room and a lift ticket at any of the Tri-Area ski resorts. HI-Banff packages also include a hot breakfast, and transportation to the hill comes with most packages. You can easily upgrade to a private room, or even a private cabin at HI-Banff or a family room at HI-Lake Louise, so grab a few friends and get ready for a snow-bound adventure.

HI-Banff is located only nine miles from Sunshine Village, and HI-Lake Louise is right in the Lake Louise Village, just 2.5 miles from the Mountain Resort. These ski chalet-style hostels are both equipped with cozy fireplaces, lounges with vaulted ceilings, secure ski and snowboard storage areas, and equipment tuning facilities. Visitors can take a break from the slopes on HI-Banff’s 40-foot ice climbing wall, or head out cross-county skiing or snowshoeing from HI-Lake Louise’s front door. Both hostels have on-site, licensed restaurants, and HI-Banff boasts a pub where the pool, foosball, and darts are always free.

Other HI hostels offering "Ski and Ride" packages include HI-Fernie and HI-Nelson in British Columbia and HI-Mont Tremblant in Quebec. If snow sports aren’t really your bowl of powder, you can still soak up some Canadian-style wintertime fun with other adventure packages, including relaxing spa weekends in Quebec or tickets to see the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Center.