CANMORE – There are two new hostels on the block.
Utilizing one of the oldest buildings in town and the newest building in town, the Canmore Hotel Hostel and the Canmore Downtown Hostel opened their doors earlier this summer.
"Growing up in Alberta, we have fallen in love with this part of the world over the years and want to share the experience with as many people from different parts of the world at an affordable price," wrote Robby Aurora, owner of Canmore Hotel Hostel, located on Main Street.
"If we were to be a traditional hotel that would make the cost per night a barrier for some to visit us."
Renovating the 1890 building, the new Hotel Hostel is adding 75 overnight beds to the valley in five different dorm style accommodations with additional beds in five private rooms.
"We wanted something on Main Street, really downtown Canmore, close to transit and where most guests want to be," he said.
Open since May, the owner said the place has been close to fully booked with prices ranging from $38 to $55 per bed a night.
"We are just one option in a fantastic market. We feel we are just an additional choice guests to Canmore and surrounding area have," he said.
The Hotel Hostel offers complimentary linens, blankets, pillows, a private locker, free Wi-Fi, a full service kitchen and a common area.
Meanwhile in the Shops of Canmore on Old Canmore Road, the Canmore Downtown Hostel also opened its doors in May welcoming visitors from all over the world in the brand new building.
Adding more than 80 beds to the valley, the Downtown Hostel has nine eight-bed dorm rooms with shared and private bathroom options, along with options to sleep three to four people, two rooms with two single beds and one accessible room with a barrier free bathroom.
"We have a sister hostel in Jasper, so we came in more prepared and have really thought everything through," said Marie Pierre Boissonnault, general manager and shared owner of Canmore Downtown Hostel.
Offering guests linens, plugins, lights, shelves, hooks and curtains for each bed there is also a kitchen with five cooking stations and space for food on shelves and in the fridge or private lockers available for food storage, along with a common area.
With flat rates ranging from $50 to $55 per bed in dorm style rooms, and $185 to $216 for private rooms with two to three beds that can sleep up to four, Pierre Boissonnault said the hostel would also consider renting out at monthly rates after reading about the rental situation in Canmore.
"I saw an article that talked about the shortage of housing and we would consider renting longer term for people in need," she said.
The general manager also noted the proximity to local and regional bus routes which customers have loved.
And the big seller for both hostels, the unbeatable mountain views.
For more information on the Canmore Downtown Hostel visit www.canmoredowntownhostel.ca, or for more information on the Canmore Hotel Hostel visit www.thecanmorehotel.com.
