Banff and Lake Louise are located just a mere hour and a half from Calgary, making it a popular destination with local Canadian skiers and Calgary weekend warriors. This is good news for the budget-conscious, as they’ll find plenty of affordable lodging and dining options. Plus, the convenient Calgary International Airport is under two hours from Banff Lake Louise—which reduces your travel costs. Banff and Lake Louise are full of affordable dining options from the Cascade Food Court, which is home to a multitude of cheap, tasty eats, to a host of inexpensive grills and pub joints to choose from in downtown Banff. Don’t forget, staying in a condo allows you the ability to cook your own meals, and with two Banff supermarkets—Nesters Marketplace on Bear Street and Safeway on Elk Street—you’re sure to find plenty of affordable, healthy options.

Banff Budget Hotels

When we say you can find suitable Banff lodging on any budget, we really mean it, and here we’re going to highlight some of the most economical ways to spend the night in Banff National Park:

• Experience warm hospitality and exceptional comfort from an ideal location at the base of downtown. The Banff International Hotel is modern, spacious and richly decorated with lots of wood and warmth to blend into the local surroundings. Ski and sightseeing buses offer curbside pickup. Spacious and modern, the hotel’s elegantly decorated and luxuriously appointed guest rooms have been designed with comfort and convenience in mind.
  
• Located in the heart of Banff, the Banff Park Lodge is just steps from the lively social scene that downtown offers and the serene ambiance of the glacier-fed Bow River, the Banff Park Lodge offers the best of both worlds.

Banff Affordable Restaurants

If you’re in the mood for some Asian persuasion, Banff has some great choices, including Pad Thai, at the back of the ClockTower Mall, Chaya, a sushi and noodle joint on Banff Avenue, and Sushi House, which allows you to pick your favorite sushi on a mini train as it rolls through your area. If you’re looking for a place that offers quality food, at a great price, then Paddock Grill will please. This budget-conscious restaurant, in the Mountain Royal Hotel, serves up sandwiches, soups, pizza and paninis. Old Spaghetti Factory is a favorite for simple, good pasta dishes that locals and visitors alike love.