Best Pet-Friendly Stays in Banff for Your Dog

Hotel Canoe and Suites in Banff gives rooms balconies with mountain views, the detail I would mention first, since a balcony makes a family room feel much bigger. After a day outdoors, the hot tub, sauna and outdoor fireplace are where everyone gathers. The restaurant, bar and coffee shop on site cover breakfast through dinner without driving around town. Private parking and free WiFi keep logistics easy, and the hotel welcomes pets.

Otter Hotel is a comfortable Banff base with air-conditioned rooms that each have a balcony, a nice place for parents to sit with mountain air once children are asleep. The restaurant on site serves dinner, which saves heading out after a long day, and the hot tub and fitness centre help tired legs after hiking or skiing. WiFi is free and there is an electric vehicle charging station. A guest score of 9.0 from 605 reviews is excellent.

Moose Hotel and Suites is a four-star hotel in Banff with two rooftop hot pools and mountain views, and I would recommend it to families who want a pool and a spa in one place. There is also an indoor pool, and every unit has a patio or balcony. The heart of Banff is a short walk away, and the on-site Italian restaurant keeps dinner simple. Pets are welcome.

Banff Aspen Lodge is a three-star lodge that I would recommend to families who want breakfast included and a hot tub. Each room has a balcony or patio, a mini-refrigerator and a coffee machine, free WiFi is available, and a full breakfast is served with a café on site. Ski storage and a launderette help on winter or longer trips. It is a practical, well-liked base rather than a resort.

Canalta Lodge Banff includes a complimentary breakfast, the first thing I would mention to families planning early starts in the national park. After a day on the trails or slopes, the hot tub and sauna help everyone recover, and ski storage keeps equipment out of the room. Rooms are air-conditioned with a seating area, giving a little extra space. The on-site coffee shop is handy, and pets are welcome. It sits a short drive from Banff centre.

Brewster Mountain Lodge is a three-star historic lodge in downtown Banff with ski-in/ski-out access, and I would recommend it to families who like heritage character. A spa and wellness area has a hot tub and sauna, free WiFi is included and a daily continental breakfast is served. Pets are welcome. It is a lodge with character rather than modern resort polish.

Balconies with mountain views and an outdoor hot tub make Moxy Banff easy to like for families, and the family rooms have a private bathroom, air conditioning and a refrigerator. The on-site restaurant serves American dishes and an à la carte breakfast, so mornings need no search for a café. Pets are welcome, and an outdoor fireplace gives evenings a focal point after a day in the Rockies.

Storm Mountain Lodge & Cabins suits families who want a quiet mountain base rather than a town hotel. Family rooms have a private entrance, outdoor furniture, a fireplace and a private bathroom, which gives children space and parents a calm evening. Hiking, cycling and skiing are the activities on offer, and there is a garden, a bar and a coffee shop. Pets are accepted. Its 8.4 score from 276 reviews reflects a setting that guests appreciate.

The hot tub and sauna are what families use most at Elk + Avenue Hotel, a practical Banff base rather than a resort. They help after a day on the trails, and some rooms look out to the mountains, so I would ask for one when booking. The tour and ticket desk saves time when planning outings around the park, and the hotel accepts pets. Parking on site is paid, which is worth budgeting for if you arrive by car.

Best Western Plus Banff International Lodge is a three-star hotel ten minutes on foot from Banff town centre, and I would recommend it to families who want a pool. The indoor pool and hot tub keep children busy, a daily breakfast is included and pets are welcome. Rooms are air-conditioned with free WiFi and cable TV, a few have a spa bath, and ski storage is available in winter. The walk into town is easy.

The Rimrock Banff sits near the Banff Upper Hot Springs, a short drive from the town centre, and gives families an indoor pool, a hot tub and a sauna for the end of a mountain day. There is a restaurant on site and a wellness centre for parents. Rooms are air-conditioned with a seating area, a desk and a flat-screen TV. With an 8.3 score from 477 reviews, I would choose it for a comfortable Banff stay with a car.

Banff Ptarmigan Inn is a three-star hotel I would recommend to families who ski, hike and travel with a dog. The hot tub and steam room help after a day outdoors, a ski storage room keeps equipment out of the rooms, and heated underground parking is a real comfort in a Banff winter. Local attractions and the ski areas are within walking distance. Pets are welcome, so the whole family can come.

The Hidden Ridge Resort suits families who want space and a kitchen rather than a standard hotel room. The apartments on Tunnel Mountain have full kitchens, balconies and wood-burning fireplaces with firewood included, so breakfasts and quiet evenings in are easy with children. The outdoor hot tub and barbecue facilities fill the hours between outings, and the free shuttle saves the trip down to Banff town. Check the shuttle times before you plan dinners in town.

Banff Caribou Lodge and Spa is a three-star mountain lodge in Banff city centre, and I would recommend it to families who ski and like warm water after the slopes. It has ski-in-ski-out access, an indoor pool, a hot tub, a hot pool and a steam room, plus a full-service spa with six treatment rooms for the adults. Pet-friendly rooms are available, and some suites have fireplaces. Ask for a fireplace suite when you book.

Fox Hotel and Suites is a four-star hotel in Banff with a cave-inspired hot pool that children and adults remember. A free shuttle runs to downtown and to the Banff Ski Gondola, which spares the walk with ski gear. Rooms have a flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, a coffee maker and a sofa bed, useful for a family of three or four. A gym and an on-site restaurant are included, and pets are welcome.

Charltons Banff is an Alpine-style hotel on Banff Avenue, with a choice of deluxe rooms, lofts and kitchenette units that suit families of different sizes. Lofts give children their own sleeping level, and kitchenettes help with breakfasts. The indoor pool, hot tub and sauna fill the evenings, and ski and golf storage keeps gear out of the room. Some rooms have gas fireplaces and mountain views, and bikes can be rented in summer. A guest score of 7.9 from 750 reviews.

Irwin's Mountain Inn is in central Banff, with shops and restaurants a few minutes' walk away, which keeps family evenings simple. For ski trips, the ski room with lockers keeps boots and skis out of the room, and transport to the ski areas leaves from nearby. After a day on the mountain, parents can use the hot tub, sauna or fitness centre. Pets are welcome. A guest score of 7.8 from 812 reviews suggests practical rather than polished comfort.