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No breakfast as advertised (only found out after booking), the espresso machine was out of order, the coffee was keurig and not local as advertised, and no access to the honour bar. The rooms were quite dark. There was nobody onsite to ask questions or make requests to. It was clean and comfortable otherwise, but seems quite different from the experience I had heard about under previous management.
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Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from The Paintbox Team, Owner at Paintbox Lodge
Responded 1 week ago
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We genuinely appreciate all input, whether positive or constructive, as it helps us enhance our services. However, we are truly sorry to hear about the misunderstanding regarding our breakfast and coffee offerings. Breakfast has not been offered in quite some time and the espresso machine is now operable. We will work diligently to remove that information in all places and to take the necessary steps to ensure our guests have accurate information about our amenities. We would like to thank you again for your feedback, and we appreciate the opportunity to address this matter. Your feedback helps us provide a more transparent and accurate experience for our guests.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I have stayed numerous times at the Paintbox Lodge over the past 5 years and I am still satisfied because of the great location, rooms are cozy, lobby is charming, paintings are beautiful, and has a welcoming space for my morning coffee. The Paintbox Lodge is located downtown and near many cafes, pubs, shops and restaurants. Free parking. I park my car and travel by foot when I stay. Lovely nature river boardwalk trail nearby for walking or trail running. Close to recreation centre with pool and indoor climbing wall. I will stay again!
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Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Time to update your site. This place has new management and has gutted the entire experience. Just a way-overpriced hostel now. No one on site at any time and occasionally available by phone. And No Breakfast, as they are still promoting!
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Date of stay: August 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Avoid it. you will be greatly disappointed.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are two words that describe our recent stay at Canmore’s Paintbox Lodge, “so disappointed.” We have been staying at Paintbox for years and have come to anticipate the cozy rooms, amazing breakfasts and the many nice touches that make the lodge so special. As soon as we arrived, we knew something was different. We now know that the lodge has changed ownership and is being operated by Elk and Owl Mountain Retreats, a property management company. When we called Elk and Owl to inquire about breakfast being discontinued and why we had not been notified, we were told: “It was AHS (Alberta Health Services), it’s circumstances beyond our control, that no one wanted to come in at 6:00 am to make breakfast.” During our three-night stay, we didn’t see any staff. The Mielle coffee station was out of order, tea tins were empty, the microwave was dirty, our room fridge had 2 inches of frost/ice built up in the freezer, the blow dryer didn’t work (we borrowed one from another room) and there were no flat sheets on the beds, only duvets. It’s sad to see a beautiful lodge like the Paintbox being poorly managed and let go. According to Elk and Owl’s website, “their mission is to provide owners with the highest return on their investment while offering guests a premium mountain retreat in the Bow Valley.” Our experience was certainly not premium. We won't be staying at the Paintbox again, nor any of the other 27 properties managed by Elk and Owl Mountain Retreats. …
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Date of stay: November 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Be aware lodge management has changed
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Paintbox has been the place for our annual girls' getaway for a few years now. We enjoy the European flair, convenient location and relaxed vibe. We enjoyed ourselves there again, but breakfast is no longer included nor was there access to the Miele coffee machine (out of order), while we paid a slightly higher rate than last year. The coffee on offer via the Keurig just doesn't compare. A Paintbox pleasure was making a morning cup of great coffee downstairs to take back to our room, and not leaving the premises in search of drinkable coffee. May seem like a small issue, but the quality and convenience of the coffee machine was one of the reasons we've stayed there.
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Date of stay: July 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paintbox is one of the best hidden gems in Canmore, tucked away right in the heart of the city, but super cozy and with that rustic feel. It's also right next to the best restaurant in Canmore, Sauvage.
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Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:There is no front desk, or anyone around, it's like staying at an AirBnB.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We , my wife and I drove from Vancouver to Calgary through the Rocky - Mountains and Stayed at several guest houses, Motels and Hotel, but in Canmore the Paintbox was the worst stay we had.We paid 666,00 CAD for 2 Nights which was not worth at all.The Room was in a bad State, the tube from the Air Conditioner which was placed through the window was unprofessional fitted with Plastic Tape. The view and atmosphere in the Room was no motivation for linger or stay or rest in the room. There was no Service at all and we were disappointed there was no Breakfast. The Owners didn't even respond to our Complain.We are not recommending Paintbox as a place to stay.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My sister & I have been staying at the paintbox lodge for at least 10 years and it WAS a wonderful place, sadly no longer, the box has changed owners the attention to detail is no longer. We enjoyed a lovely breakfast and we lovely the coffee ☕️ from the Miele coffee machine, no breakfast, the coffee machine is a Substandard Keurig and the tea containers are mostly empty, our suite was so dim we had difficulty seeing things, the kitchen was not very as clean. The attention to detail is sadly gone and we will not be back as the ‘box’ is just average.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Very disappointed. We have been regulars for over a decade, and I happily booked for my sister’s birthday, expecting the usual welcome and charming B&B experience. Nope. No greeting; had trouble getting into the lodge; surprised to find that breakfast is no longer provided (with no notification of this by the way); and the marvelous Miele coffee maker out of service. No hairdryer; some lights not working. Will definitely not be back.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Rooms are comfortable but overpriced given the lack of breakfast.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My family and I have been using the Paintbox Lodge accommodations for many years. The lodge is located in Downtown Canmore and offers beautiful rooms, free parking, bicycles, made freshly every morning daily breakfast with local products, home made breads, buns, juices, yogurts, specialty coffees, and more. But not this year. As the building itself is still standing, unfortunately the core of the whole experience has been lost or forgotten. This July we found a note with a phone number that suggested a call if assistance is needed. Inside the common area the coffee maker was marked as “out of order”. A simple alternative was provided. Unfortunately limited amount of k-cups last only for one morning. During or 3 night stay we have not seen one staff, the room wasn’t attended ones, and the breakfast become a wishful dream, as the stack of unwashed coffee cups was sadly staring at us every morning in an empty and dark kitchen, where we used to experience a wonderful morning meal. Everything comes to an end, and sadly for us it was the last time staying at this one time great place. …
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Date of stay: July 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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