OT: Whistler BC - Tips on Saving?
 

Hi All,

My husband and I and a few friends will be heading over to go snowboarding in Whistler in mid Jan '08. We'll be using our aeroplan miles for the flight. Does anyone have any tips for us for saving on accomodations/lift tickets? We're on a bit of a tight budget, and Whistler being as expensive as it is, any help/advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Allura Direct are normally good for accommodation. They specialize condos rented by the owner. They also sell lift tickets and rental packages at a discount if you book accommodation through them.

In January, if it has been a bad season the hotels may have good offers - but that will not be known until much closer to the time.

Discount lift tickets are also available from 7-11 in Vancouver and Squamish (but not in Whistler). These state that you must be a Canadian or Washington State resident but I have never heard of that being checked (unlike with the Edge Card where there do check for residency)

http://www.snowbus.ca/snowbus/_cont/bookstep1.aspx


tix & transport

(disclaimer: I do not ski or snowboard) :o

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but by "7-11" do you mean the convenience store?

Is Allura Direct reliable? Anyone used this site before? Thanks

You can bid for hotels at Whistler on Priceline and get very good deals. See Bidding for Travel and Better Bidding. This thread should be in one of the travel forums where there is more interest.

Yes, the convenience stores. Some other discounts exist, but they tend to be for BC residents only (either early passes).

If you want more than one day of skiing, tourism vancouver can have some cheaper tickets.

Tangoer: That bus link is great :)

redflagger, yes Allura Direct is great, I haven't used them persoanlly but know of many others that have, no problems, generally a bit cheaper than a travel agent.

My thoughts on doing Whistler on a budget, is it likely to be a place that you will go to once, just to experience it ? If so splash out and stay in style so that you will rememeber it. Just my thoughts.

I've used Allura Direct and they have been reliable. However, they are basically an agency setting up the link between the owner of the unit and the renter of the unit. Therefore it is possible that there could be problems with a particular owner, although I have never heard of such problems

Tight budget and Whistler do not go together.

Asides from hype, brand name and being able to say been there done that, why would you want to go to Whistler?

If skiing or boarding are your priorities their are any number of excellent choices in both BC and Alberta. You will get in just as much vertical, less crowds, more real skiers/boarders as opposed to posers, all for a fraction of the price.

A search of the AC forum yielded these results. http://flyertalk.com/forum/search.php?searchid=1721281

True, I decided not to go to Whistler in my upcoming trip due to the crowds, busy runs, lift lines, poor quality runs , extra cost etc

Choose Big White and Silver Star instead :)

Looking forward to the flight from MEL-YVR though, my first international paid business trip !

Got a great deal on an AMEX companion fare, allows me 3 items of checked baggage as well, allowing me 2 suitcases and my skis as well all free.

Yes I am paying a few extra thousand $ to be in business but with limo transfers to and from the airport from my home, extra baggage, nice new 777 seats, it's well worth it :D

Wish there were a few more trip reports on here with pics and food served in Exec class

For some real skiing/boarding, travel a little further down the valley to Apex Mountain Resort. Steep and deep without all the traversing that BW and SS have. Lots of trees, lots of steeps, great bar, choice of condos, cabins, hostel or hotel. BW is known for it's fog/cloud.

Although I have had a fun time skiing at Apex it is not a place that I would book far in advance for mid-January.

When the snow is good, the skiing is great, when the conditions are poor (no big dumps of lovely fluffy snow) the skiing is so-so because of the relatively small number of groomed runs and smaller overall terrain area.

What's the cheapest way to go from Whistler to the Airport (not renting a car)? Are there buses from the airport to Whistler and back?

Thanks

Cheapest way? Stick out your thumb ^

Directly opposite YVR Domestic baggage pickup is the YVR Airporter ticket counter - the bus waits outside and will take you downtown for around $13-14.
It can take you to the Pacific Central Station Bus/Train Depot. From there catch train or bus to Whistler.

Or directly: http://www.perimeterbus.com/express.html

High-end: take Helijet from YVR

http://www.helijet.com/charter/charter.php?pageID=27