Name: The Dorothy Motel
Address: Marmont Cres, 250, Banff, Banff, Banff, T1L 1B3, Canada
Rating: 8

24-hour reception

Smoke-free property

Heating

Terrace

Express check-out

All Spaces Non-Smoking (public and private)

Outdoor furniture

No elevators

General

Non-smoking rooms

Fridge

Cable TV

Hairdryer

Shower/Bathtub

Toiletries

Rooms

Accessibility features

Accessibility

Safe-deposit box

Telephone

Services and amenities

Vending machine

Microwave oven

Kettle

Meals

Free Wi-Fi

In-room internet

Internet

Hiking

Recreation

Free parking

Parking nearby

Free Parking on Premises

Parking

Cycling

Sports

Skiing

Winter sports

Pets allowed

Pets

Extra decontamination measures

Additional measures against COVID-19

Health and Safety Measures

Location

At the mini-hotel

Room amenities

The Dorothy Motel

Banff

Great room! We used the pet friendly option and it was great. The room was clean and cheery with the art work. Beds and pillows were soft and comfortable. Enjoyed the Rocky Mtn Soap company products and absolutely LOVE my mug!!!!

You get a mug!!!

I am going to give the Dorothy Motel a mixed review. We stayed there twice during our recent trip. The first time we stayed for three days and had a bright, open room on the second floor. It had a great bathroom with a big airy shower. On our return trip after doing the Icefields parkway we were given a first floor room on the side of the building that was inadequate. (Room 116) The ceiling was low and there was an air vent blowing very close to the head of one the beds. (The air vent cannot be turned off.) The shower in that room was small and appeared to have been built incorrectly. The shower pan had a center cut out for the drain set in a way that would make it a fall risk situation for anyone with mobility issues. That room felt like staying in someone’s renovated basement.
Fortunately, we were able to get the room changed and moved to a second floor room. There is no staff on-site at the Dorothy Motel so this meant driving a couple of blocks down the road to talk to the front desk staff at the Caribou Lodge and exchange keys. (Note: There is no elevator—you need to carry up your own luggage to the second floor.)
Overall we liked the Dorothy Motel and would stay there again if we could be assured of having a second floor room.

Great if you get the right room. 

What a delight it was to walk into a quaint hotel with a charming feel!  We were impressed by the clean room, the crystal glasses near the ice bucket and the complimentary coffee mugs that were next to the coffee pot! Each room had a balcony that opened out into an enclosed area decorated with flowers and small tables for coffee or wine!  The check in was simple.   Any additional extras we asked for were met with "no problem" and a quick response.  The hotel was a ten minute walk from town center and easy access to public transportation.  

Would recommend it to anyone!  The price was extremely economical for the area.  Staying there made our trip all the more special!  

Quaint, quiet, charming and economical! 

Our tour company booked this room for us. We are very happy with it! Looks to be just renovated with a 60's era motif. Room is spacious, coffee and microwave plus a nice TV. Out door sitting area is beautiful and they have bicycle stands and repair station. Oh there is a convenience store 200 yards across the street  that does not sell beer!

Great motel

Please don't be fooled by the outside appearance. You have to check in at Caribou Lodge (a couple of minutes walk away) The spacious rooms are fabulous, with 2 double beds and a large bathroom. There is a private garden to enjoy. It is about a 15 minute walk into Banff town centre or the motel provide you with free bus pass into town, which stops outside the motel. There is also a petrol station very close by, with a small supermarket and a fast food restaurant. Highly recommend staying here. Good value. 

Highly recommend 

Very reasonably priced (by Banff standards), clean, comfortable. All you need when you will be enjoying Banff and area.  Block off Banff Avenue. Lots of stores, restaurants nearby. Cute courtyard. Free parking.

Why pay more?

Stayed 2 nights over the holidays - paying a typically high rate. Fumbled our way through check in but were aware of this at booking. Noisy on/off heating system. Bathroom floor was FILTHY,  corners of bathroom counter grungy - like nothing was ever moved so they could be wiped. . Toilet rocked and clanked every time anyone sat on it. Glass on shower looked like it was wiped with random dirty cloth used on everything else. Stained sheets and grungy extra blanket. We tolerated but did no enjoy our overpriced stay. We don't mind " basic" but cleanliness should not have to be sacrificed for >$400.00 for a 2 night stay. Avoid - we will not be back. Room 103. Will also reconsider any future stays at hotels in the same "family" ie. The Caribou - you are judged by the company you keep!

Has potential - Filthy bathroom, stained sheets.

There is so much going for the Dorothy Motel - rooms are large and well designed, clearly newly renovated with all the modern amenities you’d hope for and some you didn’t realize you’d want.  Hip retro vibe, good soaps, coffee, etc.  And such a reasonable price! Check in was a little odd but as long as you download the app in advance and know what you’re in for, it’s fine.  We also picked up bus passes and real keys at the sister hotel later on.  Flooring is heated in the bathroom, but not elsewhere so bring slippers or sandals.

All this to say, we had booked in for two nights and left after one.  The reason: the HVAC/heating is rough.  It was pretty cold out and the little heater/ac unit was just blaring - it was like being inside a hair dryer at night, with the cycling on and off - even with earplugs it was rough.  Meanwhile, the overhead vent seemed to be blowing colder air in.  So it was alternately too hot and cold at the same time.  And loud.

The motel is also quite far from the center of Banff but this was manageable and wouldn’t have been a deal breaker for us - really it was the heating system.  I can’t imagine what it would be like if it was really cold out.  

Shame as otherwise, The Dorothy is actually a pretty cool place.

Lots of potential but heating system needs a rethink

Clean motel about 20. minutes walking distance to Banff main area

Value for price good within Banff‘s high price region

Very noisy all-night in-room air ventilation (not the controllable AC) - requires several attempts to get access staff knowing how to turn it off. Afterwards very quiet location.

Clean motel in walking distance to main area

We spent two nights at the Dorothy Motel. It's a recently renovated, old style motel. The room was large, comfortable, clean, and designed with a bit of whimsy. The motel is one block off the main drag and a handful of blocks north of Banff's busy tourist district. For some, it's well-located, for others it's a 7-minute walk that they'd rather avoid. There is ample parking at the motel. The key system is a bit wacky because there is no front desk at the motel and therefore you use your phone to enter your room. Not to worry, you can get a key from a nearby affiliated hotel. The value was very good. Remember, when you're in Banff you are hopefully spending much of your time out in the fresh mountain air so the motel room need only be clean and well located.

The Dorothy Motel

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