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Bad Rate: Banff Rocky Mountain Resort

Where: 1029 Banff Avenue, Banff, AB, Canada, T1L 1A2

[Ed. Note: This is the Bad Rate in our Good Rate/Bad Rate feature. This rate was valid on October 17, 2006 and is subject to change. Enjoy.]

Would you like to spend the night in a castle of a hotel in the Rockies, or pay the same price for an iffy 3-star hotel? Get the latter at this week's Bad Rate: Banff Rocky Mountain Resort.

When the pictures of the best newly renovated rooms on a hotel's web site look tired and ugly, you know you're going to be in trouble. At this hotel the worries are amplified by the obvious use of wide-angle lenses in the room photographs.

If you're not in a renovated room, better check it out first before signing the credit card slip, as one guest found out.

"When I went to pull out the couch, something had eaten half the matress, the stuffing was all over the place. The rug was not clean. When I had a shower, I went out into the kitchen and the vent in the kitchen had leaked water all over the floor and stove. Had I turned on the stove without looking , I could have been electrocuted. When this was mentioned to the desk they just stated that they would make a note of it. Not even an 'I am sorry.'"

Plus plan on shelling out some extra loonies at this "resort." There are squash courts and tennis courts, but both come with a $5 fee. Some guests on TripAdvisor have been none too pleased with the facilities either.

"The spa/pool which look so big on the website are across the parking lot (or the road if you're on that side) and are also very,very small and unimpressive, never mind the filthy floors in the change room."

In another sign that the place has a bit of catching up to do, you can't make reservations at all on the web site: only by phoning or sending an e-mail. You can see prices and make a booking at Expedia, but we suggest if you're heading that way, take that $120 a night and enjoy this week's Good Rate at the Fairmont Banff instead.

Related Stories:
· Banff Rocky Mountain Resort reviews [TripAdvisor]