Juniper Hotel — Hotel in Alberta

My husband and I spent 2 nights at this hotel. We were really looking forward to staying here as the pictures online looked wonderful. When we entered our room for the first time, we both stood there for a second and began complaining about how it did not look like the pictures at all.

The room was very unwelcoming. Dark, outdated, lifeless and half the size we were expecting - I’d was quite small! The pillows were very lumpy and flat. The pillow itself had a couple of what seemed to be blood stains.

The shower must’ve been the worst part. We couldn’t even adjust the shower head which was pointing to the corner of the shower, forcing you to shove your face on the glass door just to get your back cleaned. The shower head is also covered a thick coat of limescale. I’ll also just throw in the mention of half-ply toilet paper.

There is no ceiling light so we had to rely on the night table lamp. There is also one floor lamp but the switch is far under the desk, I had to awkwardly lean my leg far under there just to reach the peddle switch.

The view outside the balcony is nice, beautiful sky full of stars can be seen at night. But their photos did a great job at hiding the highway right outside your balcony! It was always loud and you can’t really sit out there to enjoy the view without being disturbed by all the passing cars. Worst of all, you can see your neighbours’ balconies too and unfortunately you can even see into their rooms if they haven’t closed their curtains!

We haven’t stayed at many hotels but we were also surprised that we were not offered help with our luggage. There is no elevator so we had to lug 4 luggages up a large flight of stairs.

We had dinner at the bistro on our first night. The service was slow, but we had a great waitress to keep us entertained. The food was just ok, nothing special and not good enough to return a second time.

The room did come with a safe, a closet, and bathrobes which was nice. But the quality of the room was very disappointing, especially for $1000/night. We then left for another hotel in Jasper for a few hundreds cheaper and it was so much better, we couldn’t help but compare.

Unfortunately we will not be...

The Juniper Hotel has proven itself to be excellent in every regard since our very first visit here. Full review ahead!

Our initial concierge Mickey, was incredibly kind over the phone, addressed any questions we had, and gave us an honest and quick rate. She was wonderful informative when prompted about the local activities, hikes and trails, and recommended some great food over the course of our stay. Overall, she was a fantastic presence and was incredibly accommodating. Consistency is often hard to find, but upon our second and third visit, I can say without any doubt that all of the staff there are genuinely great people who have gone above and beyond any of our needs. Special thanks to Jason as well for being kind, humorous and helping answer questions we had and recommending places when we needed a quiet space.

The hotel itself is exceptionally clean, located right near downtown and has beautiful forest, trails and Mount Norquay overlooking it. They take safety precautions seriously with sanitization stations available on every hallway, safety measures in renting rooms, and socially distancing for accommodations, staff and guests. Ensuring that guests and staff all wear masks and general areas are cleaned regularly is reassuring for anyone who is concerned about staying in a hotel.

The rates are fantastic in comparison to many other hotels located in or around Banff with a view that far surpasses it. Being able to see the sun rise over the mountains, Banff, and gorgeous scenery that is Alberta- all within a minute walk to the tables and benches located right behind the hotel is a treat like no other. I’ve heard amazing things about the bistro, but I haven’t had the chance to try their meals yet. Having just been able to glance at the bistro and staff while walking through, I can say that the restaurant is very clean and that staff are working hard to keep social distancing, sanitization and all other precautions there as well.

Fantastic rates, views, staff and a hotel that takes everyone’s safety seriously makes this hotel a wonderful stay, and certainly somewhere I will consistently go to anytime I...

The Juniper is perhaps an unconventional spot for an intimate winter wedding, but wow, our choice in the Vermillion Room at the Juniper was the best decision I could have made for a mountain venue. Within one convenient location it was a place for all of our attendees to stay, get ready, have brunch, take phenomenal pictures with a convenient entry/exit for the cold temperatures, have a ceremony with a breathtaking backdrop, a mouthwatering, memorable dinner with local, seasonal food, and unwind for the evening in the cozy, sumptuous three-bedroom suite that fit our whole wedding party. It made our special day perfect not only for us, but also a relaxing affair for everyone who came as a result - something that isn’t too common with most weddings, let alone one taking place in the winter in the middle of a pandemic!

For this I would completely credit the staff. Each person we worked with was flexible and accommodating, so even last-minute changes to meet COVID protocols were handled with ease, allowing our attendees to relax knowing their safety was well taken care of. I really can’t emphasize their quality of service enough. I understood when I started this process that the Juniper wasn’t traditionally a wedding venue, so I’d prepared myself for hesitancy and limitations, but received only flexibility, consideration, and kindness instead.

Also, I can’t not mention the food. The quality of food and mountain vistas were what led us to choose the Juniper in the first place. Our guests were practically licking the plate, commenting on the unconventional but delightful pairings between each of the elements - suffice to say, the food served set the bar not only for what “wedding food” could be for both sides of our families, but even date night places for the mountains where competition is fierce. Many of our attendees noted that they would go out of their way to return to the Juniper Bistro, sampling the seasons through their creative, evolving menu.

With the service, delicious food, and care we received, my partner and I will regularly be returning to the Juniper for our many...