Resort Guide: Whistler

Nick Hewitt

ifyouski,com Marketing Executive

"It's easy to love Whistler. This lively and popular resort attracts people of all abilities with its massive terrain variety and excellent snow consistency. Once off the slopes, you'll also find an abundance of restaurants, bars, spas and adventure activities."

Introduction to Whistler

Whistler Blackcomb's two mountains offer over 8,100 acres of well-linked terrain, making it the ideal host venue of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Now established as a key ski destination, Whistler has drawn many top quality hotels, bars and restaurants into the village, but this hasn't come at a high price. Whistler remains accessible to a range of budgets and is accompanied by warm Canadian hospitality.

Why we love Whistler

Whistler is the definition of a flexible resort. From large groups of twenty-somethings who want to hit both the slopes and the apres scene at full pace, to young families who want the comfort of friendly ski schools and the convenience of a mountainside resort, Whistler caters for everyone.

When you combine this with the enviable snow consistency (averaging 35.8ft annually), Whistler has the potential to ruin all other ski resorts for you.

Whistler is best for...

Variety on the slopes. Partly through design and partly through use of natural features, Whistler Blackcomb offers a large array of pisted runs, extensive back country areas, glacier skiing, multiple terrain parks and more tree runs than you can shake a stick at.

5 Things you may not know about Whistler

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Telus Ski and Snowboard Festival is a free event in Whistler that runs for a couple of weeks in April and features plenty of ski/snowboard competitions and live music.
The transfer is extremely picturesque as you head alongside Horseshoe Bay and into the Coastal Mountains.
If you can eat your way through the infamous "Phatty" at Dups Burritos (located near Market Square), your picture goes up on their wall of fame, alongside several other very full people.
A fire in the summer of 2009 left a section of the CBC Trees significantly burnt. This area now makes for an eerie but very cool tree run on any given powder day.

The Hair Farmers are a popular local band that you'll find all over the Whistler apres scene. They cover a range of songs and often integrate them with drinking games, making them a "must" on anyone's apres schedule. You'll find them at Merlins Bar and Grill (at the base of Blackcomb) most Fridays, where you can sing along whilst tucking into a mountain of nachos.

What's new in Whistler for Winter 2012/13

The Whistler Blackcomb iPhone and Andriod App. has been updated, giving users the ability to track their runs and check live snow reports, lift states and grooming conditions. You can even use it in place of your lift pass, but be careful of the charges you may incur using your phone abroad (Free wireless internet is available at Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler Mountain and the Rendezvous Lodge and Glacier Creek Hut on Blackcomb Mountain).

Lift Pass Prices in Whistler

Regular Season (5 January - 8 February 2013)

	Adult (19-64)	Senior/Youth (65+/13-18)	Child (7-12)
6 of 7 Days	£297	£252	£148
7 of 8 Days	£346	£294	£172
8 of 9 Days	£388	£329	£194
9 of 10 Days	£391	£334	£195

2012/13 Whistler Offers

		Westin Resort and Spa Whistler 50% off accommodation rates Based on 2 sharing a Studio Junior Suite, this offer includes return flights and transfers, 7 night's accommodation and FREE airport lounge access, when departing on 8 Dec 2012. More info				From £1,150pp Based on 2 sharing SAVE £295pp Kids Ski FREE*

		Fairmont Chateau Whistler 45% off accommodation rates Offer Includes return flights and transfers, FREE airport lounge access and 7 nights' accommodation. Prices are based on flights departing from London Heathrow on 8 Dec 2012. More info				From £1,070pp Based on 2 sharing SAVE £190pp Kids Ski FREE *

		Tantalus Lodge Whistler Stay 7 nights and pay for 5 Based on 4 sharing a 2 bedroom condo, this offer includes return flights and transfers, 7 night's accommodation and FREE airport lounge access when departing on 8 Dec 2012. More info				From £1,045pp Based on 2 sharing SAVE £200 Kids Ski FREE*

		Four Seasons Resort Whistler SAVE £720 Per Person Based on 4 sharing a 2 bedroom condo, this offer includes return flights and transfers, 7 night's accommodation and FREE airport lounge access when departing on 8 Dec 2012. More info				From £1,370pp Based on 2 sharing SAVE £720pp Kids Ski FREE*

* Kids get a FREE ski pass (ages 7-12 years) when an adult purchases one