Hello,

I'm sorry for asking such a noob question but I did a google and come up with this cool forum.

I'm planning a trip for myself and 5 other friends to Whistler, BC for snowboarding. We booked accomodations at Legends for January 3-7 at $299 per night.

What I'm looking for now is other ways to save money. We need plane tickets, minivan rental and lift tickets (for 3 days). Here's what I found so far:

Flight (from Toronto, where I live):
Harmony Air ~ $560.06 each
Jetsgo ~ $569.47 each
Westjet ~ $676.47 each

Minivan Rental
Budget ~ $200 (taxes in), unlimited km's

Lift Tickets:
From Whistler ~ $197 each (taxes in)

Can anyone help me find some better deals? I'm hoping to save a bit more on the flights. What are my chances of getting 6 tickets for that time frame during a seat sale?

I appreciate your help.

You also might want to consider a 4WD SUV rather than a minivan. Price should be about the same.

Aren't there any ski wholesalers that could package this for you (and that you'd have recourse if anything goes wrong?!)

Check with the airlines' vacation desks for complete packages.

I wanted an SUV for safety reasons (i.e. snow) but it wouldn't be large enough to haul 6 adult passengers plus snowboad equipment.

I have tried booking through wholesale packagers and airlines but after comparing the deals I could find to theirs, I was able to save a couple hundred dollars planning on my own. I'm just looking to save even more if possible (which I'm sure it is).

Thanks for the ideas though.
Keep 'em coming!

There are SUVs made specifically to hold 7 pax, and have a roof rack (e.g. Isuzu). Suburans are also available for rent, but often more expensive. Probably not really needed at Whistler, the road is mostly at sea level and not bad conditions most of the time; any big storm closes the road for all vehicles (unlike Tahoe where often 4WD w/chains can get through while 2WD/chains cannot). Whistler is one of the finest ski resorts in the world, truly wonderful. Just remember their slope ratings are down-rated a notch (all their blue slopes would be black at most other resorts, for example, and their double-diamond are Olympic class). Costs are very high but worth it. Doubt you will get any kind of cheaper package for Jan; they are available, but for fringe skiing time only. Often very cheap in April when Whistler still has excellent skiing on some slopes.

Every year you are able to purchase discount lift tickets at 7-11 - I'm sure it will be available this coming season also. The catch is - you can't get them anywhere North of West Vancouver - so make sure you buy them in the city before you head up.

Also - food and liquor prices are astronomical during that time - if you have a van and you are planning on purchasing groceries instead of eating out all the time...shop in Squamish.

I go up a few times a year - feel free to drop me an email and ask any questions.

BH

I would second the lift ticket advice. I am a UK skier but had the opportunity to get a BC residents ski pass due to very accomodating folk who rented my accommodation. It has saved a huge amount and I have been able to renew it online for the past two years. Like the previous poster said you can by them from various places in BC including sportsmart.

Huh? I wouldn't trust this advice. You will need either a 4WD or to have snow chains and be prepared to use them. The Sea to Sky Highway (99) between Vancouver and Whistler is mountainous.

You can call the BC highway department to confirm or read what's on some of their websites: BTW, the roads are closed at Tahoe before 4WDs need chains.

Which is why there are hundreds of road signs, on rotating poles, which read "4WD with chains required" -- rotated into view as conditions worsen and well before roads close. But I suppose you don't drive in the mountains during those kind of conditions (as you think the Whistler road is tough). The pacific storms are not to be under-estimated, and whistler gets an incredible amount of snow bordering on glaciation, but the road is very easy for those conditions. Of course chains are required -- that is a given -- but minivans are normally OK to Whistler. My own preference would be for a 4Runner though.

Whatever you say number_6. My Tahoe comment comes from 20 years of driving to our cabin in Tahoe, and 15 years that my brother's lived there and has never had to put chains on a 4WD. Those "hundreds of signs" you're thinking of say "Chains required - 4WD with snow tires OK." R3 conditions would require 4WDs to chain up, but you can look at Cal Trans' website to see the road will be closed first (in 20 years I don't know of a time it wasn't). Aren't you also the person who said chains/4WD are only required in Tahoe in mid-February? Too funny.

As for the Sea to Sky Highway between Vancouver and Whistler being mostly at sea level (Whistler Village is at 2000 ft), I'm not sure how this is relevant, even if it was true. Haven't you ever seen it snow at sea level before? Or at least heard of it?

I don't think you have a future as a mind reader. The road's not tough - just subject to snow and chain controls. I'd much rather skip slogging along with chains and go with a 4WD.

mykeylee: Since it's probably unclear who to trust after this littlle debate, I hope you'll at least trust the BC highway department's advice, and carry chains. Chaining up is a pain, but if that's your only option on vehicles, be sure and have the chains reserved, and that they're even available from Budget for your minivan. It would be a drag to get there and not be able to get up to Whistler.

Back to saving money ... there is a 7-11 in Squamish (near McDonald's) on the way to Whistler that has sold the discount tickets in the past, including this past year. I'd give them a call in late November and see if they have them again. That way you'll know if you can count on that or if you should pre-purchase the 3-out-of-4-day pass, it will also keep you from going out of your way to find a 7-11.

You are 100% correct. I have a 4WD Explorer and have never had to put on chains even during the worst of snow storms en route to Lake Tahoe.

I would strongly recommend NOT attempting to cram 6 adult men into an SUV for the 3 hour trip to Whistler. We actually traded our SUV rental for a minivan rental at DEN because the SUV was too cramped - and that was only for 4 guys. The minivan has a lot more space, and you won't need to drive once you get to Whistler. It is possible that you will need chains though I didn't see any cars with them during my last trip to Whistler.

You can also buy multi-day discount lift passes from the whistler.com folks and other canadian travel agencies.

Whoa, didn't mean to start a flame war.

I will definitely consider getting chains. I'm quite experienced driving in winter conditions in Toronto but I'm sure that's a lot different than Vancouver and their mountainous roads. Besides, it's better to be safe than sorry. Maybe I can get lucky and get a minivan with AWD.

I'll call around some 7-11's during the season to see if they have this deal again.

Thanks for your help and if you have more ideas, please share!

I drive from Seattle to Whistler a couple of times a year and never had a problem. Legends at Whistler Creek looks nice, I've not stayed there, but I think it is probably one of the best values in the Whistler area. Only downside being it is at Whistler Creek and not the village. Whistler is a great ski area, and the village is fantastic.

If you are renting skis you can get a 10% discount just be asking for a discount (at least that was the case at the ski shop across from the gondola). Maybe your week in Jan. will be a slow week and prices will ease a bit, over Christmas/New Years it is very expensive. However I do think it is the best resort in the Americas, huge area of ski-able terrain but pay attention to the wind and cloud conditions. Quite a difference between areas and really affects the ski conditions. Thankfully Whistler has been getting rid of some of their extreme moguls and flattening the slopes (which are quite challenging as it is, being the 2010 Olympics site). I am a poor skier (lack of practice as I only get to ski a few days a year) but Whistler is great fun. Well worth the trip. A good skier would get a lot more out of it, some really great (but difficult) slopes there. BTW Creekside is the original Whistler, then the developer ran out of room and got the bright idea to move the resort one valley over and we have the modern Whistler; you can take the lifts up at Creekside and ski over (much cheaper to stay at Creekside, though I haven't done that, only stayed at Westin which is OK but not great except for the location).