Mountain Travel Review

ALL ABOUT BANFF

This week, Moguls' Mountain Travel Review visits scenic Banff, Alberta. Of all of the great ski resorts I have visited, Banff is definitely one of the most beautiful. However, to call Banff a "ski resort" is a bit of a misnomer. The area is made up of 3 ski areas, Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Banff @ Norquay, the mountain hamlet known as Lake Louise and the town of Banff itself. Each of these lies within Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. This fact is what makes Banff the special place that it is. Being in a national park means uncluttered natural scenic beauty. It also means you don't have many of the traditional ski resort amenities like sprawling base areas, McTaco joints or condos as far as the eye can see (much less, ski-in, ski-out condos!).

Instead, most lodging is in the town of Banff with a few lodges in Lake Louise including the fabulous Chateau Lake Louise. What this means to the skier is a lively social scene in town, an array of lodging options and a scenic drive or shuttle to the slopes each day. What you won't find are slopeside condos, gridlock traffic or mere fleeting patches of "nature". A ski vacation in Banff is definitely unlike skiing anywhere else. Read on to learn more!

THE RESORTS OF BANFF

The 3 resorts of Banff offer a variety of skiing options. Lake Louise is one of Canada's largest resorts with over 4,200 acres of terrain. For expert terrain, this is the place. Of course there is plenty of beginner and intermediate terrain as well. The high-alpine resort Sunshine Village has a European feel. Well known for great intermediate terrain, Sunshine now boasts some excellent expert terrain on Goat's Eye and Lookout Mountains. New this year at Sunshine is a modern gondola with increased comfort and capacity. With 190 acres, Banff @ Norquay is the feisty little sister of the three. Just 10 minutes from the town of Banff, Norquay is the closest skiing to Banff. This hometown hill is a local's favorite, offering something for everyone in the family.

In planning a trip to Banff, it helps to understand the layout of the area. For most visitors, the town of Banff is home base. From there, Norquay is 10 minutes away, Sunshine Village 30 minutes and Lake Louise 45 minutes. If you prefer your own vehicle, the drive is easy on the well-maintained, four-lane highway. If you would rather leave the driving to the professionals, shuttle service to each of the resorts is included in the price of your lift tickets! Shuttles pick up at or near all lodging in the Banff area. Either way, the drive is so pretty that the time flies by. If the drive from Banff really discourages you, consider staying at Lake Louise, only 5 miles from Lake Louise ski area.

$499 Banff Caribou Lodge The Banff Caribou Lodge is conveniently located in downtown Banff, close to the shopping, dining and socializing that help make Banff such a special place. This package includes:

5 nights lodging at the Banff Caribou Lodge
4 days skiing Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Banff @ Norquay
Valid Dates: 2/2/02 - 4/5/02

* This land-only package is priced per person based on 2 people traveling. Be sure to ask about our wholesale airfare from points throughout North America.
http://moguls.com/ski/nl_Banff447

$369 Banff Douglas Fir Resort The Douglas Fir Resort is a great option for families or groups who prefer mountain seclusion to the nightlife of Banff. Located outside the city of Banff, the Douglas Fir offers lodge rooms and suites in a quite mountain setting. A large indoor pool with fun waterslides will help keep the kids entertained! This package includes:

5 nights lodging at the Douglas Fir Resort
4 days skiing Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Banff @ Norquay
Valid Dates: 2/2/02 - 4/5/02

* This land-only package is priced per person based on 4 people traveling. Be sure to ask about our wholesale airfare from points throughout North America.
http://moguls.com/ski/nl_Banff627

BANFF'S GRAND HOTELS

I have to admit, I am a little biased when it comes to staying in Banff. Two hotels stand head and shoulders above the rest, the Banff Springs Hotel and the Chateau Lake Louise. Built in 1888, the Banff Springs Hotel is steeped in history. The massive stone building reminds one of a grand castle. No stay here is complete without a visit to the spa and it's Hungarian mineral baths. The Chateau Lake Louise is the sister hotel of the Banff Springs. Seated on the shores of Lake Louise, the Chateau enjoys one of the most stunning backdrops of any hotel in North America. Originally built in 1890, a series of renovations led up to 1982 when a major renovation and upgrade created the Chateau as we know it today.

These two hotels share a rich history and a tradition of excellent service, superior accommodations, succulent dining and unparalleled beauty.

What is the ideal Banff ski vacation? A split trip with nights at both hotels! Check out Moguls' exclusive Classic Canadian Snofari.

http://moguls.com/ski/nl_CanadianSnofari

Banff Special for MasterCard Users

The Banff Springs Hotel, the Chateau Lake Louise and Banff's three ski resorts have offered and exclusive deal to Moguls and our clients who use their MasterCard to pay for their ski vacation. Stay in a deluxe room at either hotel for the price of a regular room. MasterCard users also receive 3 free breakfasts during their stay, one at each of Banff's 3 resorts. Prices start at $389 per person and packages are based on 2 people traveling. For more details, click here:

http://moguls.com/ski/nl_MC_Banff

VISIT OUR GEAR SHOP!

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Visit GearDrect here:

http://moguls.com/ski/GearDirect

WIN A FREE SKI VACATION!

Grab your camera and head for the slopes! Dust off that pen and paper! Show off your amateur photography skills or send us a "journal entry" and let us experience the mountains through your eyes. When you share your vacation photo and/or mountain trip memories with us, you'll be entered into our contest for a free mountain vacation for two, complete with lodging, lift tickets or activity passes and ground transfers. This month's lucky winner gets a FREE trip to Telluride, Colorado! Enter now!

www.Moguls.com/Contest

Customize Your Winter Vacation
Since 1982, Moguls has been offering expert advice for mountain vacations the world over. We specialize in creating customized mountain vacations designed to meet YOUR needs. Moguls combines a variety of lodging properties and a wide range of pricing, location and amenity options with bulk airfares to create competitively priced, well-thought-out mountain vacations. Whether a party of one or a group of 500, Moguls can make your mountain vacation dreams a reality.

To have an agent contact you, visit our website and fill out a trip quote request form. You may also explore our numerous mountain vacation packages on-line. If you prefer the direct route, give us a call to speak directly with a reservations specialist.

Have a group of 20 or more? Direct inquiries to: groups@skimoguls.com

1-800-6-MOGULS (666-4857)