Escape to Fernie's Mountain Paradise: Unforgettable Stay at Best Western PLUS!
Escape to Fernie's Mountain Paradise: Unforgettable Stay at Best Western PLUS!
Escape to Fernie's Mountain Paradise: Best Western PLUS - My Slightly-Chaotic, Utterly Charming Review
Okay, folks, buckle up! I've just emerged, blinking, from a Fernie adventure at the Best Western PLUS, and I’m ready to spill the beans. Forget perfectly polished travel blogs – this is the real, messy, and frankly, quite lovable truth bomb.
First Impressions (and the Initial Panic)
Driving up, the hotel looks promising. Big, sturdy, nestled against those breathtaking Rockies. My first thought? "Holy crap, I hope I brought enough socks." Because, let's be honest, Fernie is that kind of place. The whole "Mountain Paradise" thing? Yeah, it’s legit. The mountain views from the outside? Stellar.
Accessibility: Navigating the Hotel…and My Own Sanity
Right off the bat, cheers to the elevator. Needed that. My knees are… well, let's just say they appreciate elevators. And hey, they've got facilities for disabled guests! Excellent. Didn’t need them personally, but it's reassuring to know they're there. The entrance seemed easy enough, but like, my brain was already halfway through my itinerary of the day. I'm pretty sure I almost ran into a potted plant because I was daydreaming about waffles (more on that later).
Cleanliness and Safety: Germs vs. My Perpetual Sneezing
Okay, this is where I get serious…ish. Anti-viral cleaning products, daily disinfection in common areas, individually-wrapped food options… they’re taking this seriously. And I appreciated it. In the current climate, it’s a genuine comfort. Felt like they were genuinely trying to protect us from the germs. They also had hand sanitizer everywhere! The rooms sanitized between stays? Double thumbs up. I mean, I'm no germaphobe, but I'm also not trying to swap spit with the entire population, you know?
The staff trained in safety protocol were good too. They didn't seem panicked (which is always a good sign), and everyone wore masks.
The Room: My Temporary Fortress of Comfort (and Snack Stashes)
The room! Oh, my sweet, sweet sanctuary. Had the usual suspects: Air conditioning (thank goodness), a desk (for pretending to work), a coffee/tea maker (essential for a caffeine addict like me). My room also had a refrigerator (perfect for hiding emergency chocolate). We had free Wi-Fi in the room! They also had internet access – wireless and internet access – LAN. It felt private and roomy and the blackout curtains were a godsend.
The bed was comfy, although I had a moment of panic thinking I'd forgotten to pack a decent pillow. Turns out, the hotel provided them. Win. The shower was good, hot water and all. No complaints there - the basics were covered. A good shower is underrated.
Things to Do: Activities, Relaxation, and My Inability to Relax
Right. The hotel's got a fitness center. I glanced at it. Twice. Briefly considered it. Realized my vacation goals didn't involve a treadmill. (Sorry, gym bunnies!)
They have a pool with a view! Gorgeous. And a sauna and spa/sauna! The steamroom? Didn't make it there. Spa treatments like massage, body scrub, and body wraps? Tempting… but my wallet shuddered. I did make it to the swimming pool [outdoor]. It was glorious. Cold, but glorious. One great moment: someone tried to do a backflip and almost drowned. I'm not proud, but that was some good entertainment.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Fueling My Inner Bear
Breakfast! The Breakfast [buffet]! That was where the magic happened. (Well, for me anyway.) Western breakfast with everything you could want. I devoured a small mountain of buffet in restaurant goodies, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. The Coffee/tea in the restaurant was pretty decent. The vegetarian restaurant? They had something! The Asian cuisine in restaurant was great too!
They also had a snack bar and a poolside bar. I may have indulged in a few poolside snacks and a questionable cocktail. But hey, it's vacation! Room service [24-hour] was also a major plus. After a long day of…well, mostly relaxing, I splurged. Bottle of water was there!
Services and Conveniences: Making Life Easier (or at Least Less Annoying)
Daily housekeeping was great. The concierge was helpful. The dry cleaning and laundry service came in very handy. They had a convenience store that I needed. They even had an elevator!
There was a doorman who was very friendly. They also have a gift/souvenir shop.
For the Kids (and the Kid in Me):
While I don't have kids, I noticed they had a babysitting service! They’re definitely family/child friendly, and I saw kids meal options at breakfast.
The Unexpected Quirks and Imperfections (Because Life Ain’t Perfect)
Okay, here's where things get real. I'm not gonna lie…one morning, the coffee machine in the lobby was out of order. The horror! The sheer caffeine withdrawal symptoms were almost unbearable.
Also, I struggled a bit with the alarm clock. (Maybe it was the altitude?) But hey, it's the little things that make a trip memorable, right?
Final Verdict: Slightly Flawed, Utterly Fantastic
Would I go back? Absolutely. Despite the occasional minor glitch, the Best Western PLUS in Fernie delivered on its promise of a mountain escape. The location is unbeatable, the staff is friendly, and the breakfast… well, let's just say it's worth the trip alone.
SEO & Metadata Optimization:
- Keywords: Fernie hotel, Best Western PLUS Fernie, British Columbia, mountain views, Rockies, ski resort, accessibility, pool, spa, fitness center, restaurant, breakfast buffet, clean hotel, safe hotel, family-friendly hotel, pet-friendly hotel.
- Metadata:
- Title Tag: Fernie Mountain Paradise: Best Western PLUS Review - Honest & Unfiltered!
- Meta Description: My messy, funny, and honest review of the Best Western PLUS in Fernie, BC! Explore the amenities, accessibility, dining, and the REAL experience.
- Focus Keyword: Best Western PLUS Fernie
- Alt Tags for Images: (Use descriptive alt tags for any images uploaded, such as "Hotel entrance in Fernie," "Pool with mountain view at Best Western PLUS," "Breakfast buffet at Best Western PLUS Fernie.")
- Internal Linking: Link to other relevant pages on your website (if applicable), such as your travel blog, other Fernie reviews, or hotel booking pages.
- External Linking: Link to the Best Western PLUS Fernie website, other relevant travel resources, or local attractions in the area.
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your perfectly curated travel brochure itinerary. This is… well, this is me trying to survive a ski trip at the Best Western PLUS Fernie Mountain Lodge, and trying not to completely unravel in the process. Let's see if I can even remember what day it is…
Day 1: Arrival (and a Panic Attack or Two)
- 1:00 PM: ARRIVE in Fernie. Ugh, already. The drive was a blur of "are we there yet?!" from the kids (ages 8 and 6, for those of you who like to know the demographics of a potential mental breakdown) and my own internal monologue of "Did I pack the right socks? Did I remember the avalanche beacon? Did I leave the stove on?!" (Spoiler: I probably didn't pack the right socks. And no, I did not leave the stove on. I think.)
- 1:30 PM: Check-in at the Best Western. Okay, the lobby is actually… kinda nice. Cozy fireplace, friendly staff. Score one for not-looking-like-a-motel-from-a-horror-movie. But the room… Ah, the room. It’s a family suite. AKA, a battleground. There's a mini-fridge. YES! I'm thinking I'm going to stock that with some of my favorite drinks, but after a minute of looking around, I know I might need to double the amount of those drinks for my sake.
- 2:00 PM (and onwards): Unpack, unpack, and (more) unpack. The kids immediately declare war on the living room, launching a full-scale LEGO invasion. Husband, bless his heart, tries to help… mostly by asking where things should go, which is code for "I'm going to stand here and provide moral support while you do all the work. Good going!"
- 3:00 PM: Quick dip in the pool: It's small, but hey, a win is a win. The kids are thrilled, which is good because I need a win. It's also a good break to cool off from the stress of the room. Also, the hotel offers a free continental breakfast. Sounds great! I love the idea of not having to cook.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner at the Lizard Creek Lodge Restaurant. (Across the street from the hotel). I'm starving, but the kids are suddenly "not hungry" and morph into tiny, whiny versions of themselves. After an hour of negotiations (and near-meltdowns), we finally get the food. The food is good, and I am in heaven! The kids… well, they survived. So, a win-win. (I think)
- 8:00 PM: Bedtime. For the kids, at least. For me? I'm on "emergency clean-up and plan-for-tomorrow-level-survival" mode. Maybe I’ll sneak a glass of wine later. Maybe two. Don't judge me.
Day 2: Skiing (and Mild Chaos)
7:00 AM: Wake up! Wake up! The kids are already awake, bouncing off the walls. I'm pretty sure they have some sort of internal alarm clock that goes off 2 hours before anything else. Oh, and the continental breakfast? Let's just say the "continental" part included a lot of sugary carbs and an almost concerning amount of caffeine. I'm starting to understand that my mental stability rests on the balance of my caffeine and sugar intake. Today, the balance is off. I'm already wired.
7:30 AM: Gear up. This is a disaster. I'm a "pro" at fitting the kids into all of their gear. "Where's your other glove?" "Did you put on your long johns?" "Wait! What did you do with your helmet?" Why does this have to be so hard?
8:30 AM: Finally, finally, we're at the ski lift! The weather is beautiful, sunshine, blue skies! But the lift lines are LONG. Like, "I'm going to lose my mind soon" long. I'm already feeling that caffeine crash.
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Skiing. (Or, more accurately, the illusion of skiing). The kids are a mix of exhilarated and terrified. One minute they're zooming down the bunny hill with glee, the next they're face-planting and sobbing. I'm trying to be encouraging. But also, I really, really want to get to the top of the mountain.
12:00 PM: Lunch at the base lodge. Food is overpriced. The kids are somehow still hungry. I'm starting to question my life choices.
1:00 PM - 3:30 PM: More skiing. The older child is starting to get it--and I feel some motherly pride. I'm trying to get a few runs in and I have to say, Fernie has some pretty amazing views.
4:00 PM: Apres-ski. (AKA, collapse on a comfy chair). The kids get hot chocolate. I get a beer. I've earned it. It's going to be a long walk back.
6:00 PM: Dinner at the hotel's restaurant, The Brickhouse. It's casual and familiar, and the food is exactly what a weary skier (and mother) needs. (Burgers and fries all around!)
8:00 PM: Bedtime… or, at least, that's the plan. More like, "bedtime, followed by a toddler who wakes up because they had a nightmare". Cue the frantic search for a night light and the comforting of a small child. Okay, now my anxiety attacks.
Day 3: REST DAY! (HAH!)
- 9:00 AM: Sleep in! (Kidding). The kids are still up at the crack of dawn because, science. After breakfast, we take a relaxing stroll to the shops.
- 10:00 AM: Explore the shops in Fernie. Buy a few souvenirs and chocolate. The shopkeepers are friendly and charming. I kind of like this quaint little town.
- 1:00 PM: The kids have a meltdown. They're tired of walking, of being around other people, of everything. I'm tired of, well, everything. I take a deep breath and channel my inner zen master. (It doesn't work).
- 2:00 PM: We are back at the hotel. The pool is open. More relaxing!
- 6:00 PM: Dinner at Raging Elk Hostel. One of the town's popular pub-style restaurants.
- 8:00 PM: Bedtime… or, at least, that's the plan. More like, "bedtime, followed by a toddler who wakes up because they had a nightmare". Cue the frantic search for a night light and the comforting of a small child. Okay, now my anxiety attacks.
Day 4: Heading Home (and the Epilogue of Exhaustion)
- 7:00 AM: Wake up!
- 8:00 AM: Pack everything. This is a terrifying experience. Did I pack everyone's clothes? The camera gear? The chargers? Oh my god, did I forget the important stuff?
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. The continental breakfast is actually kind of amazing the last day. Maybe it's because I know I'm going home?
- 10:00 AM: Check out of the hotel. The staff is friendly and efficient. Check-out is smooth. A win!
- 10:30 AM: Start driving home.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch stop. The kids are eating fast food, and I'm exhausted.
- 6:00 PM: Home. The house is a disaster. A mess of clothes, toys, and general chaos. I want to sleep.
- All day: I sleep, and try to relax.
Final Thoughts:
Fernie was… an experience. There were moments of pure joy, like watching the kids' faces light up when they finally "got it" on the slopes. There were moments of extreme frustration, like when I realized I'd forgotten the sunscreen. But hey, that's life, right? Messy, beautiful, and utterly unpredictable. And as for the Best Western? It served its purpose. It was a comfortable (enough) basecamp for our family adventure (or, as I like to call it, "surviving the ski trip").
Would I go back? Absolutely. Maybe next time, I'll sneak in a solo spa day. And definitely pack more socks.
Escape to Paradise: Bear Hill Lodge Awaits in Jasper!
Escape to Fernie's Mountain Paradise: Unforgettable Stay at Best Western PLUS! - FAQs (and My Ramblings)
So, like, Fernie… is it REALLY worth the hype?
Okay, real talk. Fernie? Yeah, the hype is… mostly justified. Look, I went in expecting postcard perfection. And while it's not quite that (nothing ever is!), it's damn close. The mountains are just… *whoa*. Seriously. They just loom, these massive, jagged things, and you're just… small. It's awesome and slightly terrifying, all rolled into one. Especially when you're driving in and the road starts winding… and your stomach decides to join the party… Ugh, car sickness is the worst!
But yeah, Fernie. The town is cute as a button, kinda got that whole "ski bum chic" vibe nailed, ya know? And the air? Crisp. Clean. Smells faintly of pine needles and… well, probably a bit of après-ski lingering on the breeze. Highly recommend!
How’s the Best Western PLUS? Is it… you know… *nice*?
Alright, the Best Western PLUS. Let's be honest, you don't go expecting a 5-star resort, do you? But honestly? It's way better than I anticipated. We ended up there because the fancier hotels were booked solid, and I was preparing for a major disappointment. But it was actually… pleasant! The rooms were clean (a HUGE win in my book), the beds were comfy (slept like a log after a day of shredding!), and the staff were friendly as heck.
Okay, so the breakfast situation? Not exactly gourmet. But the waffles! Oh man, the waffles were AMAZING. Golden brown, crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside… I ate, like, four. No shame. And the pool! It's small, but warm, and great for soaking those aching muscles after a day of, ya know, pretending you're a downhill ski champion.
What are the rooms like? Are they… cramped?
Cramped? Okay, so I might be used to shoebox apartments in the city. The room wasn't exactly a ballroom, but it was perfectly fine! We had a king-sized bed, which was glorious, and enough space to spread out a bit. I mean, we didn't have to climb over each other to get to the bathroom. That's a win, right?
The view? Well, it wasn’t *mountain* view. We got the parking lot view, which was… functional. But honestly, who cares? You’re in Fernie. You're gonna spend most of your time outside, soaking up the actual mountain views. It felt spacious enough to unpack, which is all that really matters to a person who packs way too many clothes for a weekend trip. Plus, the little seating area was great for kicking back and planning the next day’s adventures (and maybe sneaking another waffle).
Seriously, about the breakfast. Is it JUST waffles? (Asking for a friend…)
Okay, look. The waffles are a highlight. Let’s just… get that out of the way. But no, it's not *just* waffles. There’s your standard continental fare. Think: cereal, muffins, some sad-looking fruit (mostly apples…), yogurt, and pastries that were… edible. There was also scrambled eggs and sausage. Basic, but hey, it filled the hole. And the coffee? Surprisingly decent.
But honestly, the waffles. They're the draw. They're the reason I got out of bed every morning. I even considered packing some in my bag for the drive home. (Don't judge me!). So, yeah. Waffles. And maybe a sausage or two. But the waffles. Oh, the sweet, sweet waffles… (I'm getting hungry again).
What’s the parking like? Is it a nightmare? (I’m terrible at parallel parking).
Parking? Thank the heavens it's not a nightmare! There's plenty of free parking right outside the hotel. I'm not a parallel parking pro, and I had no issues. The lot is well-lit and relatively spacious. So, no need to stress about that, at least. Just remember where you left your car. (I may or may not have spent a good ten minutes wandering around the lot the first night… it was dark!). And hey, that's a total me thing, not a reflection of the parking situation.
Okay, but *really*, what was the best part of the whole trip?
This is a tough one. Okay, okay, I'll give you a real answer, not just, "the waffles." (Though, seriously, the waffles…) I think… honestly… it was the pure, unadulterated joy of a day on the slopes. I'm not even a *good* skier! I fall down a lot. But there’s something magical about being out there, surrounded by those mountains, the fresh air whipping your face… the feeling of freedom and the sheer, goofy fun? Unbeatable.
One specific moment? Okay. Picture this. I'm struggling down a blue run (that's, like, "intermediate," for the record - I'm more of a "beginner who pretends to be intermediate" kind of skier). I'm going too fast (as usual), about to eat it… and. I. Don't. Eat. It. I actually *stayed up*! For, like, five glorious seconds! It felt like I’d conquered Everest. The sun was shining, the snow was sparkling, and I let out a whoop of pure, unadulterated *triumph* that echoed across the mountains. And I really needed that moment! It’s why I go skiing.
Afterwards, I found myself in the hot tub at the hotel, and the muscles were *screaming* (and the hot tub was a little too hot, tbh). But I didn't care. I was smiling like an idiot, reliving the moment, the victory. That, right there? That's why I'd go back to Fernie, and the Best Western PLUS, in a heartbeat. Even if I *did* have to deal with the parking lot view and slightly-too-hot hot tub. And, okay, the waffles. Definitely the waffles.
Are there any restaurants nearby? And are any good?
Oh, yeah! Loads of restaurants. Fernie has a surprisingly vibrant food scene. You've got everything from cozy pub fare to some surprisingly fancy spots. We tried a few places, and the results were… mixed. One place, whose name I can't remember, it was this rustic-looking place, had the BEST poutine I've ever tasted. Literally, cheese curds that squeaked... perfectly. The gravy... oh my god, I'Escape to Tuscany: Agriturismo La Pieve's Unforgettable Italian Getaway
Post a Comment for "Escape to Fernie's Mountain Paradise: Unforgettable Stay at Best Western PLUS!"