Transport and Facilities
Four Greyhound buses a day ($8) link Banff and Lake Louise (50min) and stop in the Samson Mall car park at the little office known as The Depot (tel 522-2080); three continue to Vancouver and the west. Four buses a day return from Lake Louise to Banff and Calgary. Laidlaw (tel 762-9102 or 1-800/661-4946) run one bus daily ($8) and Brewster Transportation (tel 762-6700) three buses a day from Banff ($11), and also continue to the Chateau Lake Louise (a good way to get up here if you're without transport - you can walk back down to the village). Note that there are also direct Brewster and other connections to and from Lake Louise and Calgary airport . Brewster also run one daily service to Jasper from Lake Louise village and lake ($44; departs Samson Mall at 4.15pm) as well as bus tours on the Icefields Parkway (8hr one-way; $82, $112 return excluding accommodation in Jasper). If you need a taxi to ferry you to the lakes, call Lake Louise Taxi & Tours (tel 522-2020). The only car-rental agenc y is National at The Depot (tel 522-3870), but you're better off renting in Banff or elsewhere as their cars go quickly. The Samson Mall takes care of most practical considerations including a post office (daily 6.30am-7pm; tel 522-3870). Behind The Depot, which doubles up as a bag storage and booking office for coach tours and river-rafting trips, are a laundrette (tel 522-2143) and (downstairs) public washrooms with showers. The general store is good and has a money exchange . There's also a currency exchange at the Chateau Lake Louise hotel . For the police , call 522-3811. The nearest hospital is in Banff. Excellent basic food - snacks and coffee - can be had at the always busy Laggan's Mountain Bakery (daily 6am-7pm) on the corner of the mall opposite the general store. For something more substantial than snacks, wander to the relaxed and reasonably priced Bill Peyto's Cafe for full and varied meals (daily 7am-9pm; tel 522-2200), within the youth hostel but open to all; in summer the nice outdoor eating area makes a good place to meet people. The unique Lake Louise Station Restaurant (tel 522-2600) is housed in the restored 1909 station building - choose between hearty Canadian fare in the informal station building (garden dining in summer) and the more formal and expensive restored railway-dining carriages. Some of the best (and pricier) meals can be found in the Post Hotel (daily 7am-2pm & 5-9.30pm; tel 522-3989) - reservations are essential for dinner. The best local's hangout is the hotel's Outpost Pub (tel 522-3989), a snug bar that serves light meals from late afternoon. Other good drinking spots include the Lake Louise Bar and Grill (tel 522-3879) upstairs in the mall, and the lively Explorers Lounge (tel 522-3791) in the Lake Louise Inn , 210 Village Rd.
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