Hilton Whistler Resort & Spa {CAN}
Jan 2, 2006, 6:02 pm
#31
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Charleston, SC, USA
Programs: Avis Pref+, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Life Gold, Honors Silver, IHG Plat via MC.
Posts: 6,786
I have just checked the reward calendar & NO availability now until April 21 nor Dec. 2-8, but PS are available April 22--Dec. 1 & Dec. 9--Jan. 1/ 2007. I advise anyone to grab next winter dates now or 364 days in advance before it dawns on the manager to black 'em out!
Jan 2, 2006, 6:59 pm
#32
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: long beach,ca
Programs: hilton diamond, hyatt platimum,best western diamond elite
Posts: 189
thanks sabrina...have booked for 12/26 thru 1/1...see you there! now i just have to find airfare from lax or orange county......looks like a great place....i don't ski, but everyone else in my party does...hope i can find something to do (but relaxing is ok also)
any suggestions would be appreciated
any suggestions would be appreciated
Jan 2, 2006, 7:03 pm
#33
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: SWUSA / AA PLAT, SPG PLAT, AMEX CENTURION, HHONORS Diamond
Posts: 1,420
Hilton has take a play from Westin's playbook down the street...between the mandatory resort fee (ski valet and bottles of water and access to the pools) ($20 CAD/day) and parking ($25CAD/day off the top of my head), the Westin rakes in $45+ CAD per day for very little effort above what is normal and customary for a hotel anywhere in the world. Pity the rooms that aren't skiing that day...they still are forced to pay the resort fee / ski valet charges (we skied only 3 of 6 days). Add on $15 CAD (approx) per day for Westin for high-speed internet (not even free in the lobby like in the USA), Westin/Whistler can knock out as much as $60CAD/day in things that are expected as part of the basic room rate in many if not the majority of US hotels. Add in the mandatory 6 day mini reservation during the holiday period, and wow...lots of forced revenue. I would understand if this were NYC where parking is a true expense too the hotel, but my hunch is this Westin long ago paid for the parking and now simply consider this another revenue source. They have taken "captive audience" to a new art form, and you can be sure a "free award stay" definitely has some expense to it. Hilton is merely following standard practice for this resort city.
And we're still 5 yrs from the 2010 Whistler Olympics.
And we're still 5 yrs from the 2010 Whistler Olympics.
Jan 2, 2006, 8:04 pm
#35
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,834
Originally Posted by sabrina
On my past trips to Whistler, I would envy the people staying at the Delta Whistler Resort -- the location is superb.
I was just putzing around tonight on the Hilton site and checked room rates -- yowza! Very pricey. So I decided to check award availability for the fun of it -- and I booked a six-night Poinstretcher award for 12/26 - 1/1 -- NYE in Whistler -- I'm totally freaking out and I can't believe I have to wait a year to go on this trip!
The Pointstretcher award was only 144k vs. 175k for the GLONP award.
I am soooooo psyched!!! And I'm still in disbelief! I had previously booked a GLONP for Paris over Labor Day, but this is a much better value.
-Sabrina
I was just putzing around tonight on the Hilton site and checked room rates -- yowza! Very pricey. So I decided to check award availability for the fun of it -- and I booked a six-night Poinstretcher award for 12/26 - 1/1 -- NYE in Whistler -- I'm totally freaking out and I can't believe I have to wait a year to go on this trip!
The Pointstretcher award was only 144k vs. 175k for the GLONP award.
I am soooooo psyched!!! And I'm still in disbelief! I had previously booked a GLONP for Paris over Labor Day, but this is a much better value.
-Sabrina
Jan 2, 2006, 9:31 pm
#36
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Lafayette, CO, USA
Programs: SPG Lifetime Plat, AA Gold, UA Gold, DL Silver, HH Gold, Vail Epic
Posts: 9,096
Originally Posted by todd-r
A big thanks to sabrina for sharing the news of the point-stretcher.
We just picked up 2 nights (12/30 - 1/1) for new years 2006/07 (next year) for a total of 48,000 points (vs 80,000). In checking the regular rates, they want $599 per night!
We just picked up 2 nights (12/30 - 1/1) for new years 2006/07 (next year) for a total of 48,000 points (vs 80,000). In checking the regular rates, they want $599 per night!
Jan 2, 2006, 9:44 pm
#37
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 163
Awesome -- I'm so glad some of you could take advantage of this as well!
See you there!
And if you don't ski (or snowboard!) -- there is a ton of stuff to do in Whistler. You can go dogsledding, snowshoeing...and of course, you can eat amazing food, do some incredible shopping, and spend some time at one of several spas. I love Whistler!
-Sabrina
See you there!
And if you don't ski (or snowboard!) -- there is a ton of stuff to do in Whistler. You can go dogsledding, snowshoeing...and of course, you can eat amazing food, do some incredible shopping, and spend some time at one of several spas. I love Whistler!
-Sabrina
Jan 2, 2006, 9:55 pm
#38
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Lafayette, CO, USA
Programs: SPG Lifetime Plat, AA Gold, UA Gold, DL Silver, HH Gold, Vail Epic
Posts: 9,096
Originally Posted by Brendan
BTW, why does almost every hotel in Whistler charge for parking 
(C$20 self at Hilton)?
Land is not in short supply there as it is downtown in a metropolis!
(C$20 self at Hilton)?Land is not in short supply there as it is downtown in a metropolis!
Free overnight parking is available in the village's Lot 4 which is about a 10 minute walk from the Hilton and neighboring Westin.
http://whistler.com/playhere/info/pa...portation.html
Parking at the major hotels seems to be outsourced to Advanced Parking Systems Ltd.
http://findwhistler.com/page.cfm/2881
I agree that the prices should be less for hotel guests, though. And the resort fees at the Hilton and Westin really tick me off.