Frequently Asked Questions

The Low-Down On Check-In:

Check-in is inside Creekside Lodge at the gondola base. Guests are greeted by a Front Desk Agent and the reservation, including the ski and lift ticket information, is confirmed. Once the guest has checked in and checked their luggage, we will transport any checked items to the Lodge.

For those wanting to get on the slopes straight away, we have dressing rooms available at the base check-in. All checked luggage will be placed in your room. We recommend that you carry all essential and/or breakable items with you. Day storage for these items is available at the Bell Desk, located on the Lobby level of the Lodge. Please note check-in time is 4:00 PM.

Guests skiing or riding day will be required to purchase a lift ticket for each day on the slopes.

Please also note that access to lodge rooms is not guaranteed until 4:00 pm.  

Getting to the Village: The Gondola Ride Up

WINTER: Guests will be directed to the gondola for the scenic ride to the top. They should dress warmly and carry along any breakables or valuables. 

** Please note that for planning purposes, Sunshine Mountain Lodge is ONLY accessible by gondola during the following hours:

Saturday - Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday: 8:00 am - 10:00 pm

So Where Exactly is the Hotel?

Once at the Village Level (at the top of the Gondola), the hotel is a short walk away. Proceed to the Lobby, where you'll complete the check-in process. At the Front Desk, guests will give name and credit card details, receive room keys, and more info on the hotel experience and facilities. 

Where do I park?

Preferred hotel guest parking is close at hand. When you check-in at Creekside Lodge, you'll be given a parking pass and shown where to park. 

Do I need to buy a park pass when travelling to Sunshine Village?

Yes, anyone staying in Banff National Park is required to purchase a park pass. For information and rates click here. 

How long is the gondola ride from the base to the village?

Approximately 15 minutes. 

Are the gondolas heated?

No, they are not. We strongly suggest you bring warm clothing as weather conditions can sometimes reach below -25 Celsius. 

What are the gondola hours?

Daily: 8 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Fridays Only: 8 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

What happens if we cannot make the gondola hours?

Transportation may be available after hours for a fee, and must be arranged at least 24 hours prior to arrival. If possible, we strongly recommend you schedule your arrival and departure times in accordance to the gondola hours. 

Do you allow pets?

No, we do not allow any animals to be brought into Sunshine Mountain Lodge.

Can we go into the Town of Banff?

Day trips are available via car or bus into Banff, about 15 minutes away. On Friday evenings, you can visit town for dinner and return by 10:00 p.m. to catch the gondola back up to the village. 

Can we bring our own alcohol? 

Guests of Sunshine Mountain Lodge are asked to bring only limited quantities of alcohol with them to the hotel. Alcohol is only permitted in guest rooms and is prohibited in all other areas of the hotel including, but not limited to: hallways, lobbies, common rooms and food & beverage outlets.

WHAT CAN FAMILIES DO AT THE HOTEL?

Guest staying at Sunshine Mountain Lodge can enjoy a wide array of both winter and summer activities that are perfect for guests of all ages – and are family-friendly.

Staying in winter, enjoy slope-side access to the 3,358 acres of terrain. In the summer months, we invite all guests of Sunshine Mountain Lodge to join us on a hosted hike. Year-round to stop by our firepit for an evening s'mores, or to join us in our large outdoor Hot Tub for a game of Hot Tub Bingo.

Looking for an indoor activity, cozy up in our Sunshine Mountain Lodge Family room for a movie or challenge your family to a board game.

Can I get wireless?

Full wireless Internet is available.

Can I bring my skis into my room?

For every room we have a dedicated locker located in the West Wing, and our Bell Desk team are happy to bring your equipment there after a long day on the slopes.  Skis and snowboards are not allowed in the rooms. 

Do you have cribs for my young child?

Cribs and high chairs can be arranged for guests. Please advise the hotel 24 hours in advance, if possible. 

Do you offer babysitting?

Babysitting available through a 3rd party service, please visit https://myhotelsitter.com/  for more details.

Housekeeping

The housekeeping team will clean your room every day which means:  the mugs will be cleaned, the coffee station will be refilled, your bed will be re-made with sheets, towels that are on the floor or in the bathtub will be replaced (for water saving efforts we ask kindly that if you would like to re-use the towels to hang them up), the bathroom will be cleaned and amenities replaced if needed, dusting and vacuuming will be performed. Should you have any special request, please let the front desk know and we will arrange for it to happen with the Housekeeping department.

Sunshine Mountain Lodge offers a nightly turn down service for all guests. During the turn down service, a member of our housekeeping team will come by your room and will check if you need any additional amenities for a good night’s rest.

drone policy

Sunshine Village Ski and Snowboard Resort is located wholly in Banff National Park and adheres to all federal and provincial laws and regulations concerning use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which includes personal drones. The National Park Air Access Regulation prohibits all recreational use of drones in national parks. 

Further, out of safety concerns for our patrons and our resort property, Sunshine Village prohibits all operation of drones and similar model aircraft by the general public at our resort. 

Anyone found operating a drone on our premises without prior authorization will be requested to cease all operations and asked to leave the resort area.