Post Hotel & Spa
banff, canada · ★★★★★
The Verdict
Worth it for your honeymoon?
The Post Hotel & Spa is the quiet honeymoon move in Lake Louise — a 98-room Relais & Châteaux lodge across the village from the Fairmont Chateau, founded by Sun Valley ski-school director Sir Norman Watson in 1942 and owned since 1978 by the Swiss-born Schwarz brothers (André in the kitchen, George the iconic owner-host who passed away in 2024 but whose sons continue the operation). The Post's claim to fame is its dining room and wine cellar: one of only a handful of Wine Spectator Grand Award holders in Canada, with 25,000 bottles across an 1,800-label list that includes verticals of Petrus, Mouton Rothschild, and DRC that would not be out of place in a 3-Michelin Paris dining room. The five-course tasting menu with the sommelier-selected pairing is the most ambitious dinner in the Canadian Rockies, and the wine-cellar private dining room (Cellar Table) is one of the great honeymoon-night-out experiences in North America. The hotel itself is a log-and-stone cluster of buildings on the banks of the Pipestone River (the back of the lodge gives onto the river — not the lake, which is a 10-minute drive away), with a heated indoor pool, a steam-and-sauna spa, and Temple Mountain Spa for couples treatments. The rooms range from the small original lodge rooms (lovely but cosy) to the cabins (standalone log structures with fireplaces and Jacuzzi tubs) and the new Riverside Suites (private balconies over the Pipestone). What the Post sacrifices vs the Fairmont Chateau: lakefront. What it gains: a smaller, more intimate Relais & Châteaux operation, dramatically better dining, and an adults-leaning vibe. The smartest Lake Louise honeymoon move is 3 nights at the Post (for the cellar dinner, the spa, the cabin fireside) + 3 nights at the Chateau (for the lakefront canoe-from-bed mornings). One without the other misses half the magic.
- ✓Trust couples-verified reviews
- ✓Prioritise spa & wellness
- ✓Are willing to invest in once-in-a-lifetime
- →Need a strictly adults-only resort
- →Want a direct beachfront
- →Prefer boutique & intimate properties
Score Breakdown
90/100
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At a Glance
Room Recommendation
Which room to book
A Cabin (standalone log cabin with fireplace, river view, Jacuzzi tub) is the honeymoon room of rooms — total privacy, fireplace, the Pipestone River outside. The Riverside Suites in the newer building have the largest space and best river views. Avoid the small original Lodge rooms unless budget is tight.
No Surprises
True cost breakdown — 7 nights for two
Based on mid-range rooms, premium-economy flights from Europe, full dining and signature experiences. Adjust for your actual travel profile.
| Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Room (7 nights avg $1,275/nt) | $8,925 |
| Flights (2 pax, economy/premium) | $1,800 |
| Airport transfers / seaplane | $200 |
| Dining & drinks (beyond room) | $13,388 |
| Excursions & experiences | $700 |
| Spa / signature treatments | $300 |
| Tips & service (8%) | $1,785 |
| Total estimated | $27,098 |
Day by Day
Your 7-night honeymoon itinerary
Arrival and Cellar dinner
Arrive from Calgary (2h drive), check-in to your cabin. Cocktails in the Outpost lounge. The 5-course tasting at the dining room with the sommelier wine pairing.
Lake Louise sunrise and Plain of Six Glaciers hike
5:30am drive across to Lake Louise for the dawn light. Hike Plain of Six Glaciers to the Lake Agnes Tea House (14 km return). Back for the spa.
Moraine Lake and Larch Valley
Pre-booked Parks Canada shuttle to Moraine Lake. Hike Larch Valley/Sentinel Pass (Sep–Oct for golden larches) or the lakeshore loop. Lunch at Moraine Lake Lodge. Return for fireside dinner.
Icefields Parkway day trip
Drive Highway 93 north to the Columbia Icefield — Bow Lake, Peyto Lake. Lunch at Num-Ti-Jah Lodge. Back for the spa.
Helicopter to a glacier
Drive 1h 15min to Canmore for Rockies Heli — 90-min glacier picnic. Late lunch at Eden in Canmore. Return for a quieter night, in-suite room service.
Slow morning, spa, Cellar Table dinner
Long morning at the river, spa couples treatment, private Cellar Table dinner booked in the wine cellar (the most romantic dinner in the Rockies — request at booking, only 2 seatings per night for two).
Slow departure
Final breakfast in the dining room, last walk along the Pipestone, 2h drive to Calgary.
Honest Assessment
What to know before you book
Not on Lake Louise itself — 10 min drive to the lake. Combine with the Fairmont Chateau if a lakefront morning matters.
Original Lodge rooms are small and dated — pay up for a Cabin or Riverside Suite.
Cellar Table books out months ahead. Email reservations at booking, not on arrival.
Pre-Arrival
Email to send the hotel
Subject: Honeymoon inquiry — Post Hotel & Spa, Lake Louise Dear Post Hotel reservations, We'd like a Cabin or Riverside Suite for our honeymoon [DATES], 3 to 5 nights. Could you confirm rates and any honeymoon package? Questions: 1. Cellar Table dinner reservation on a chosen evening (we'd love the 6:30pm seating)? 2. Honeymoon arrival turndown? 3. Spa couples treatment? 4. Transfer help from Calgary Airport? Thank you, [Your names]
Send 2 weeks before arrival. Fill in names, dates, and preferences. Hotels respond to personalised requests.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Good for honeymooners?
Yes — the Post is the most intimate, food-driven honeymoon address in the Canadian Rockies. The cabin + wine cellar dinner combination is unique in Canada.
Best time to visit?
June–September for hiking. Mid-September for golden larches. December–March for skiing and fireside cabin nights.
Book in advance?
Cabins and Riverside Suites for July–August: 6–9 months ahead. Cellar Table dinner: book at the time of room reservation.
Adults-only?
No, but the property is small and dining-focused — naturally adult-skewing. Families with young children are rare.
Best room type?
A standalone Cabin (fireplace, Jacuzzi, river) or a Riverside Suite. Skip the original Lodge rooms.
How to get there?
Calgary International (YYC) is 2h drive. The Post arranges private transfers (~$400 one-way) or you rent a car at YYC.
Same Vibe, Different Destination
