Slumming it

It was shortly after returning home from Whistler last January when I knew what I wanted to do to mark my 50th birthday.  I really enjoyed my time in Canada and knew I wanted to return.  But not to Whistler, not because I didn't enjoy it there, I thought Whistler was really neat, but I had wanted for very many years to stay at what I think is one of the most iconic and recognised ski hotels in the world.

Let's go to Lake Louise for a week and stay at the Chateau Lake Louise, I suggested to Karen.  But my birthday was in the middle of January and that presented two problems.  First, Lake Louise is very cold in March and April, its absolutely blooming freezing in January.  Second, middle of January is awkward as there are no school holidays.  So we decided to push it back to March/April when the weather should be a little more pleasant and we can take advantage of the early Easter school holidays this year to make a more extended trip and maybe do something for more than just a week, maybe a twin centre holiday with one of the other Canadian ski areas. Possibly stay for 10 nights or two weeks at a stretch.

It was then when we started looking at which other ski resort to include to make it a twin centre trip when we got to that "spoilt for choice" conundrum.  So many options came into play.  I had also wanted to visit Fernie for so long so this was high on the list.  As was Jasper, and then Revelstoke, Kicking Horse and Kimberley. And then Panorama, Red Resort and Whitewater equally came into the equation.  This was starting to build into something bigger than I ever imagined.  But all the while, it was important to me that whatever compromises had to be made the one dead cert was that at some point in the trip we would be staying at the Lake, at the Chateau.

And so as the plan evolved and as we fine tuned it, it felt fitting that Lake Louise would be the final stop on our itinerary.  Finish with a blast, or so we hoped.  It felt like a good way to mark the end of a memorable holiday.

I remember driving in Switzerland one August, winding our way up the Val d'Anniviers towards Lac de Moiry.  I had read beforehand that the view of the lake would take your breath away, what with it's turquoise waters and snowy mountain backdrop.  As the road climbed up to the lake it passed through a short tunnel and at the end of the tunnel the incredibly bright sunshine made you close your eyes for a split second, than when your eyes re-opened the sight that greeted you was like nothing before. I'm going back almost 20 years now, but still remember the moment I exited that tunnel for the very first time. It was, and I'm sure still is, jaw droppingly beautiful.

And today I think we all experienced something very similar.  Despite having seen a million photos of the Chateau Lake Louise and it's surroundings and having all the resources of the internet to hand, nothing can quite prepare you for the staggering, staggering, staggering beauty of this place.  From the drive up to the main entrance, to the grand main atrium, to all the little bits of detail dotted around the hotel ... and that's before you take a look out of the dining room window.  And then you can take a wander outside and revel in the splendour in every single direction, the lake deep in ice, narrowing in distance all the way back to the Victoria glacier.  A narrow path leads down the middle of the lake to the far end and at the forefront of the lake are four natural ice skating rinks with people skating, playing hockey or just being there doing their own thing.  Horse and carriage rides around the lake.  It really is the winter wonderland.

We arrive a little before our room is ready, so we have some lunch in what may possibly be the best located restaurant on the planet.  It is that good.  The food wasn't too shoddy either.  And then we are told our room is ready.  Room 330.  We don't have a lake view, we knew that, but was secretly hoping for an upgrade.  It didn't happen, so if anything this is the only disappointment.  When we booked we had to choose between 2 x standard rooms with a lake view, or a larger 2 bedroom suite without a window onto the lake. Our budget wouldn't stretch to both.  So we decided on having more space and boy oh boy are we happy with that choice.

Quite without doubt, the best hotel room we have ever stayed in.  Just brilliant.  Two huge bedrooms, each with en-suite, plus a third bathroom (thats what they call toilets over here, it doesn't have a bath in it).  Then there's a lovely sitting room with everything you could ever want for.  The view from the room isn't quite what it could be, but it 'aint bad.  The valet parking that comes as part of the Suite Life package is ace, just pull up at the entrance and the guys unloaded all our luggage from the car then they went and parked it.  The next time we saw the bags they were all in our room, don't know what we've been doing wrong all these years lugging them up and down hotel corridors.  How the other half live eh?  Could get used to this.  We're only here for three nights though, then it's back to a very stern reality check.  And a credit card bill.

After settling into the room we went out for a walk on the lake.  Fin loved watching himself "walk on water" as I showed him exactly where he was using google maps on the phone. Right in the middle of the lake, that's clever!

Today has been wonderful.  This evening we had dinner in one of the hotel restaurants and we spoilt ourselves silly with cocktails, fondue and chateubriand. Tomorrow we are off to ski again, at Lake Louise ski resort, it's just a short courtesy bus ride from the hotel and the snow conditions up on the mountain really do look excellent. Cannot wait.

Hope you enjoy the pictures.  Some of the ones out on the lake aren't too shabby, I hope you'll agree.

It is Easter

View from the dining room

Fin explores

Sitting room, Suite 330

Not a bad view form the room.  Had worse.