Whistler is perhaps
North America's best ski resort; certainly there is nowhere
close for vertical drop, acreage of groomed runs and variety of
expert terrain. However there is also a tremendous variety of
rental accommodation, and before you make a choice it would be
as well to be educated about the options and their implications.
Whistler properties vary along 3 key dimensions: size,
quality/style and location. We don't need to say much about
size; there are properties on the rental market ranging from
shoeboxes of 350 sq. ft to imposing chalets of 6000 sq. ft. or
more. Quality is another question altogether. Much of the
Whistler rental inventory was built in the 80s and 90s when the
profile of the resort was lower and cost was the name of the
game. Most developments were built with indifferent design,
cheap materials, poor quality fixtures and fittings and décor
that is unimaginative at best. You do not want to spend your
vacation in a condo with a blue carpet, magnolia walls, formica
countertops, shiny brass bathroom fittings and garishly-coloured
sofas. So you need to seek out either one of the more recent
developments, such as Taluswood, that were built to a much
higher specification, or you need to find a unit that has been
recently renovated (or 'Whistlerized', as the local term has
it). 'Whistlerization' typically involves installing slate
floors, granite countertops, stone fireplaces, wooden cupboards,
beams and trim, and painting in earthy autumnal tones of
café-au-lait, caramel and burgundy. These units have a much more
mountain-cabin feel. The top-of-the-line properties in Whistler
go a stage or three beyond this, with spectacular designs and
extremely high-end finishes, although only a few of these
properties are on the rental market.
Location is perhaps the key issue in choosing your Whistler
rental. Although only a small town, there are many different
areas you can choose for your vacation, and each of them has
advantages and disadvantages.
The Village is the place for proximity to bars and restaurants,
and for being a relatively short walk to the lifts. However most
of the inventory in the Village is small, with one or
two-bedrooms units dominant in the mix, and it was all built to
a cheap standard. It is critical to find a unit that has
received a recent quality renovation. There are also one or two
units that are larger, but you may have to search hard to find
them.
The Upper Village is on the lower slopes of Blackcomb Mountain.
This is the location for ski-in, ski-out units that are also
reasonably accessible to the Village. However, if you want
ski-in, ski-out make sure that you check what this means. Some
properties are actually on the slopes; others, still styling
themselves 'ski-in, ski-out' may be up to 5 minutes walk away.
Still others are ski-in, but not ski-out.
The second main location for ski-in, ski-out units is Taluswood
on the lower slopes of Whistler Mountain. This is a very upscale
area with a variety of accommodation, but all of a high quality
standard using peeled logs, natural materials and quality décor.
Access to the slopes is very easy, with no more than a 2 minute
walk from most properties. However you need a vehicle to get to
shops and restaurants, as this area is not served by either the
free shuttle or by municipal buses.
The fourth location is Creekside, the original location of
Whistler. This used to be a very downmarket area, but recent
heavy investment has made it a decent alternative to the
Village. The Creekside gondola is always less crowded than the
lifts in the Village, and there is now a great selection of
shops and restaurants in town. The quality of accommodation is
very mixed, with many unattractive older properties and a few
newer, luxury chalets that are equal to any in Whistler. You can
walk to the lifts from most locations in Creekside.
Finally, there is a selection of other locations, including
Blueberry Hill, Nicklaus North and Alpine Meadows. Here you will
generally find larger homes, but they are not ski-in, ski-out
and you will have to drive to the Village as well. However, you
will get more for your money in terms of the quality and size of
the property itself here.
As with most things, it pays to consult an expert. If you are
looking for Whistler
ski accommodation, give a call to the folks at Holiday
Whistler. They will be able to help you out with sound
advice.