Frequently Asked Questions

Are men allowed to stay at the YWCA of Banff? Yes, the YWCA of Banff and Banff Y Mountain Lodge is open to all men, women, families, groups, travelers and short-term residents.

Do I need to have a YWCA or YMCA membership to stay at the YWCA hotel? No you don't. Anyone can stay at Banff Y Mountain Lodge. However, if you purchase a YWCA of Banff membership you are entitled to 10% off rooms and meals at Banff Y Mountain Lodge. We also honour the YWCA of Calgary's memberships and International Hostelling memberships for discounts on rooms (only) at our facility.

Why don’t you charge GST or Hotel Tax on rooms? The YWCA of Banff (and Y Banff Mountain Lodge) is a not-for-profit organization, therefore exempting us (and you) from tax surcharges. There is however, a 5% GST tax on all purchases from the Sundance Bistro.

What currency are your rates in? All rates and quotes are in Canadian funds. There are several currency exchange centres in Banff.

What is the tax in Canada? Alberta? The tax (GST) in Canada is 5% and is applied to all goods and services rendered. Alberta is fortunate not to have a provincial sales tax (PST).

Where does the money from the hostel (Banff Y Mountain Lodge) go towards? 100% of the funds generated from the hostel go towards funding the programs and services provided by the YWCA of Banff to members of our community. The YWCA of Banff builds a healthy community by helping to stop domestic violence, providing affordable housing and by serving people at critical turning points.

What is Gingerbread Housing? The Gingerbread Housing program offers safe, affordable housing for seasonal and industry staff in Banff. Gingerbread provides residents with a private bedroom, common living room, shared kitchen and bathrooms.

Do you have a restaurant? We have a full service, licensed Sundance Bistro that serves breakfast from 7am to 11am and a lunch and dinner menu from 11am onward.

Can I bring my pets? Unfortunately pets are not allowed within our facilities. Pets are strictly regulated in Banff due to its location in a National Park.

Do you have a gym? Yes, we have an onsite gym. A day pass costs just $5. Monthly passes are available for $32.50.

Do you have swimming facilities? In Banff your swimming options include the Banff Upper Hot Springs, the Douglas Fir Waterslides and the Sally Borden Recreation Building at the Banff Centre. Y Mountain Lodge does not have a swimming pool.

Are there TV’s in the rooms? You are welcome to watch TV in our common room on the main floor, and sit on our comfy couches. Rooms don't have TVs.

Are bed linens and towels included? Yes, we provide all bed and bath linens during your stay, except for participants of our Gingerbread Housing program. Dorm room beds are charged a key and linen deposit of $15.

Why do you need my credit card number when I book? We process a deposit of one night's charge to guarantee your reservation. If you decide to cancel your reservation, you must give us 48 hours notice, or we reserve the right to withhold your deposit.

What is your damage deposit policy? Damage deposits are refunded in full after the rooms are inspected on the morning of your check-out. Damage deposits of $250 are required for all youth group bookings and $50 for private room bookings.

What time is check-out and check-in? Check-in for all rooms is 3:00 pm. If you arrive at that time the room should be ready for your check-in. If you arrive earlier and a room is ready you can check-in when you arrive. We ask that you check-out of your room before 11:00 am on your departure day.

Can I store my luggage if my room is not ready? Yes, the front desk will provide a space until check-in.

Do you have parking available? We have plenty of free parking on our property. Vehicles can only be left for 72 hours on Town of Banff public streets, or they will be towed and impounded. You need to ask the Front Desk staff for a parking permit to display on your dash.

How many rooms share one bathroom? Do you have bathtubs or showers? 12 rooms do not have a private bath. There is access to 5 securely locked bathrooms with private showers. Rooms without a private bath have their own sink.

How far are you from downtown Banff? Most of the core services and hotels are within a 3 km radius and downtown is less than a 5 minute walk away. There is a public bus system at a cost of $2 per ride and taxis are plentiful.

How far are you from the Calgary International Airport? Airport shuttles services leave the airport in Calgary on a very regular basis from about 6am to 10pm daily. We are approximately 2 hours west of Calgary.

How long does it take to drive from Vancouver? The drive can take as little as 9 hours in excellent conditions (i.e. summertime, light traffic, etc.) However, it can a lot longer if conditions are not ideal. Take your time, and explore your surroundings on the way. Check out our events and attractions page for more.

What is the weather like in Banff? Banff is located on the east side of the Continental Divide of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. We have a generally cool, dry climate with winter temperatures that can dip to -40 Celsius and summer daytime highs that can rise over 30 Celsius. Night time lows can drop to 5 deg C even after a very warm summer day. Our hostel does not have air conditioning.