FAQs

We’ve compiled answers to some of our most frequently asked questions. 

Our team knows our properties inside and out. We spend a great deal of time speaking with our potential guests to make sure they’re choosing the right property for their family’s needs. Sometimes, this takes hours as we highlight every walking trail and restaurant in the local area. If you keep asking us questions, we’ll keep giving you answers.

Before you book

  • There are so many properties to choose from! How I choose the one that is right for me?

    Our team knows our properties inside and out. We spend a great deal of time speaking with our potential guests to make sure they’re choosing the right property for their families needs. Sometimes, this takes hours as we highlight every walking trail and restaurant in the local area. If you keep asking us questions, we’ll keep giving you answers.

  • Is a Vacation Rental the Right for Me?

    Only you know the answer to that frequently asked question. Here are some things to consider: How long is your visit? Typically, vacation rentals are enjoyed by people staying 2 or more nights. Many properties have a minimum night’s stay. Often, the longer you stay, the lower the nightly rate. How many people are you travelling with? Vacation rentals tend to be larger than a standard hotel room, and can offer great value when travelling with others. Perhaps you want grandpa to be nearby, but not snoring in the hotel bed two feet away. Are you travelling with children? Put the kids to bed in their own bedroom, while mom and dad enjoy a movie.  Many of our vacation rentals also supply books, games, movies, cribs, toys, you name it! Do you like to eat? One of the biggest advantages to a vacation rental is having a fully equipped kitchen to prepare your own meals. Eating every meal out can become very costly while on vacation. Even if you like to eat out, just having snacks and cold beverages available can make a large difference in your travel budget. If you’re only visiting for a night or two, and plan to eat out, a hotel would likely be a better choice.  If you like personal service and unique accommodations, a Bed & Breakfast or Inn is a better choice for a 1- or 2-night stay. The longer you’re visiting and the larger the family group, the more sense a vacation rental property makes. Vacation rentals often offer the greatest flexibility while also feeling like a home away from home.

  • Can I Stay for Fewer Nights Than the Minimum Night Stay? 

    Do you want to stay in one of our properties but the minimum stay is too long for you? Please get in contact with us. We can put you on a waitlist in case the minimum stay is shortened, or we add a new property to our inventory that has a shorter minimum stay.

  • I’d Like to Visit for 3 Nights, But the Property I Like Has a 30-Night Minimum Stay?

    Some of our properties require a monthly rental contract. We like to equate the experience they provide to our guests having an opportunity to own a second home in the mountains. The ways you can enjoy this home are endless, as it is exclusively yours for the month of your rental. You could move your whole family to the mountains for the month - work from home, and have your extended family or friends come and visit on the weekends. Or if you live near by (Calgary and Edmonton, we're looking at you) you can come out on the weekends, or stop here after a long day of skiing instead of making the full tired drive home. If you’re looking for specific dates and aren’t able to extend your time in Canmore, maybe someone you’re travelling with does live nearby and wants to split the cost of the booking for the chance to extend their time. If a second-home opportunity isn’t for you, we’d be happy to find a comparable property in our inventory that CAN be rented for shorter periods.

  • Can I Bring My Pet?

    Our booking agreement does require the disclosure of any furry family members that will be joining you. While some properties are not advertised as pet friendly, the owner may be willing to consider allowing a pet on a case-by-case basis and with the inclusion of a pet fee. If there is a property you’ve got your eye on and you’re not certain, we encourage inquires!

  • Do Your Properties Have Hot Tubs?  

    A prized-few of our private homes have hot tubs, they are drained and cleaned between each guest and made available with the expectation that you’ll use them respectfully. We also manage a few condos that have access to resort facilities and/or shared hot tubs. Visit “Properties with Pools/Hot Tubs” for an inclusive list. If you’re staying at a property without one, and are in need of a soak - we suggest you visit the Banff Hot Springs. In Canmore, Elevation Place has an indoor lap pool, water slide, spa and sauna. (Check websites for opening details)

  • The Maximum Occupancy is 8 Guests, we have 10 Guests.  Can you Provide Air Mattresses and Extra Bedding/Towels/Dishes? 

    Due to local regulations, our operating license stipulates that the maximum occupancy cannot be exceeded at any time. Our insurance only covers registered guests. So unfortunately, this rules out any event where the maximum occupancy could be exceeded. …But We’re Really Clean! We Can’t Find Anywhere Else to Stay! We’ll Pay Extra! There are no exceptions. Here’s why... homeowners rely on vacation rental income to pay for their home, and our staff are relying on us to provide employment. We’d be risking people’s livelihoods. So, the answer is no.

  • Can I Host an Event at a Vacation Rental Property?

    Technically, you can!  But the guest count needs to stay within the maximum occupancy and be within any provincial health regulations that are in effect. We get it! Our Canmore homes are cool properties, and you’d like to have a few people over to have a good time. We don’t want to limit having fun, but each property has a maximum occupancy that must be followed. This includes anyone (adults and children) sleeping there, stopping by for 2 minutes or 2 hours. … But, They Won’t Be Staying Over! Think of it like a nightclub. The maximum occupancy doesn’t change if some of the guests aren’t drinking. Maximum occupancy is the maximum number of people that can be inside the property at any one time. Even if they aren’t staying over. Even if they’re children. Even if it’s your cousin’s new girlfriend that you really don’t like anyway.

  • Why can’t I find the property address? What are you hiding?

    That’s easy: we’re hiding the property address until one week prior to your stay. There are a few reasons we do this: Many of our properties do not have staff on site (ie Front Desk).  Publishing a list of addresses next to a calendar of when the property is vacant is a big security issue. If you want to verify the property exists and that we have the right to rent it, we’d be happy to provide a list of organizations that will confirm that we are a business owner in good standing. Many of our guests have booked a vacation rental because they value their privacy.  Privacy means not having other guests drive by the property, peer in the windows, or knock on the door. It is also quite bothersome to the neighbours in these communities to have strangers cruising the neighbourhood.  If you’d like to view one of our properties, we’d be happy to arrange a time to escort you when the property is vacant.

  • Do You Have Vacation Rental Units in Banff/Lake Louise?

    Unfortunately, no. Banff and Lake Louise are located inside the boundaries of Banff National Park. Vacation Rental Units are not permitted inside the Park Boundaries. Canmore is located directly outside Banff National Park, and has the same great views, access to recreation and outdoor lifestyle. Canmore has its own Vacation Rental Restrictions (see below).

  • Is It Safe to Reserve Online?

    The short answer: With us, yes. The long answer: Absolutely! But if you’re at all concerned about booking direct, please feel free to call our office and speak with a real human. We’ll be able to provide a list of organizations and references that can confirm that we are a business in good standing in our community. There is also the option to book through a third-party website if that makes you more comfortable. We have worked hard to make sure that our rates and cancellation policy are the best deal when you book direct, but we understand there is no substitute for feeling secure.

  • Do Provide National Park Passes?

    No, our properties don’t come with National Park passes. There are a few reasons for this. Firstly, they are non-transferable between people. Parks Canada like to confiscate passes if they have been shared with someone else. Secondly, park fees are the magic behind why the Canadian National Parks are so well preserved. We locals like to think of the park pass less like a “fee” and more of a donation towards protecting the natural area and wildlife for future generations to enjoy. For your stay to continue to be good news for the wilderness and wildlife, you need to be responsible for your behavior, and that of your group. We know we sound like lecturing parents but you’re visiting a very unique and special place! Visiting a Canadian National Park is a real luxury and a responsibility not to be taken lightly. We’re surrounded by wilderness and the creatures that inhabit it. Parks Canada does a fantastic job protecting wildlife and maintaining the area. We are all responsible and we all need to do our part to keep this beautiful area wild and healthy. With education and responsibility, we can take great care of the stunning wilderness that surrounds us.

Okay, we’ve booked – Now what?

  • We’d like to check in early. What do we do?

    We will do our best to accommodate all early Check-In Requests. However, we do need to allow the Housekeeping and Maintenance Staff ample time to do their thing. If the unit is available early, our staff will notify you by email or phone. You can also call our office after 2 pm on the day of arrival to see if the property might be ready early.

  • We’d like to check out late. What do we do?

    Please contact our office to give us some advance notice. We will do our best to accommodate all Late Check Out Requests. However, we do need to allow the Housekeeping and Maintenance Staff ample time to clean the unit for the next Guests (who may have already requested an Early Check In).

  • We have a property emergency! Now what?

    This one of the most important FAQs! If it is an emergency that requires emergency services (ambulance, police, fire brigade), please dial 911 immediately. There is a hospital, fire station and police station in Canmore. The location of the first aid kit and the address of your property are located in the guest directory in the kitchen. Every property is different, so in your Guest Directory in the kitchen there is a troubleshooting manual that is specific for your property. If you are having a serious issue with your property, such as, flooding, plumbing, electrical, you are locked out etc., please refer to the Guest Directory or Arrival Information Email- both of which will also recommend you call our on-call # 877-222-1545 (select the extension for On-Call staff) If you are having not-so-serious problems such as turning on the coffee machine, figuring out the TV, locating your park pass etc., we would greatly appreciate it if you called or emailed us during regular business hours.

  • Uh Oh! We broke/stained/misplaced something during our visit. Should we try to hide it so that we don’t get hit with a big charge?

    Remember what your parents said: Honesty is always the best policy. Telling us in advance allows us to prepare to fix/clean/purchase the ‘something’. We understand that accidents happen. Guest are only charged for damage if they were truly negligent, and deceitful. We are an honest bunch, and we expect our Guests to be the same. Please just tell us. It’s less stress for everyone involved.

After Your Stay

  • Whoops, I left something behind! Can I get my favourite things back?

    Guests can fill out our lost and found form and we can arrange postage for any items lost and found during your stay. Please let us know within two weeks if you would like the items returned. Unclaimed items will be donated to the local Thrift Store.

  • Whoops, I took something that doesn’t belong to me! How do I return it?

    Let us know immediately, and we will send instructions. Please don’t mail it to the property (it doesn’t have a mailbox), or leave it outside (no one lives there).