I recently spent two nites in the Driftwood, I knew it was an older hotel and actually the rooms were nice and clean, the location was great., but..... when it is hot in the summer the rooms were like an oven and a simple fan in the window just didnt cut it. It felt like 80 degrees in the room at midnite and it was hard to get a comfortable nites sleep. Get some small airconditioners, and you would have the best bargin in Banff. I know hot nites are not the norm but you have to be prepared for when you do have them . You have a lot going for you, please do something to address this problem

From what I have read, it seems that the driftwood inn is the worst hotel in the world!
This is not the case. I'm sure that the other reviewers expected perfection on account of where they were. This is never going to be the case as it is clearly a budget hotel.
Add this to the fact that people tend to want a party on new year's eve, nobody can get away from the fact that trains run through Banff, and if their was mildew I didn't see it!
As for the "70's decor" erm, can't say that I saw that myself!
I spent two days in a more upmarket hotel in Banff and all the time I wished i'd stayed in the driftwood!

On account of the perks you get from the Caribou Lodge and the Ptarmigan Inn this is the ideal hotel for the budget traveller, and if you don't appreciate the value, I suggest you loosen the purse strings a little!!!!

My fiance and I chose the Driftwood Inn during our stay in Banff over the New Year. We bought a package that included 2 days of skiiing at local resorts. We stayed 3 nights. The Inn itself is just fine, what you would expect from a ski lodge. Over priced, yes, but it is Banff remember. The real problem started at 2am on New Years day. Obviously The Driftwood Inn is in the habit of renting their rooms out to groups of 20 18-year olds <per room i might add>. There was yelling, music, running, and general drunken rowdiness until 5:30am. We called the front desk 3 times and the first time management came by to tell them to keep it down. But the party started back up immediately after they went back to their office. We called again, and management came back to talk to them again. And they admitted to us that several complaints were being called in. And still the party continued. But the time 4AM rolled around, and we called again, they finally called the RCMP who came around to evict them. But all that consisted of was loud banging on doors, and hearing officers yell "RCMP!! OPEN THE DOOR" It took an hour for the cops to evict these idiots, but all the while we had to listen to their protests of "BUT where will we sleep!!???" Funny, i didn't get the impression they were trying to sleep!!
The next day, when we complained - the only thing they were willing to do --- they gave us free coffee for our drive back to Edmonton. woop-di-do.
To be honest - if it wasn't for that - i would go back. I can take overpriced given the beautiful setting, I can take mismatched 70's style furniture, and I can take the musty rooms!! I CAN'T take full on - kick down the door - RCMP take downs, followed by an unsympathetic gesture of crappy coffee.

I won't go back. Not a chance.

On our arrival, our room was in need of some serious cleaning. In recompense, we were offered a complimentary breakfast, which was good.
There is no air conditioning. Our room on the first floor was unbearably hot, even though it was quite cool outside (June). Opening the windows was not an option, as many noisy trains pass through Banff overnight! Overall, the hotel was in need of a good clean and redecoration.