Not really sure if this will be of any help to you at all but here goes. I have been to Banff three times now as my niece lives there during the winter. She is currently in the UK with her hubby for the summer but returns every year Nov. 1 for six months. BEAUTIFUL place. I personally am not a skier - I am a brilliant observor from the Lodges!!!My neice is a ski instructor up on Sunshine so I know a little about getting around. All the ski buses will take you to the various slopes i.e. Sunshine, Norquay etc. but not sure if they go to Lake Louise although I am sure they will. Taxis are readily available and cheap. There is a Safeway supermarket in town which sells everything you could want. As for which type of vehicle to hire I am not much use there. My neice has a 'truck' out there but on her return this year they are trading it in as it consumes gas like I do vodka and they are talking about buying an 'all weather type car'. With the exception of the Airporter bus I dont recall seeing any other buses other than coach trip buses. I remember struggling to visit Canmore wihtout my neice taking us so I think other than organised trip buses, taxis were the only other option.

Although I have no interest whatsoever in skiing Banff is the most wonderful place I have ever visited and my neice is so priviledged to live out there.

Sorry if this is not a great help to you but if there is anything else you would like a specific answer to please feel free to ask and I will enquire of my neice to give you a more positive answer.

Anita.