Whistler Deals Do Exist
Knowing where and
when to look for Whistler deals is the key to saving yourself a bit of
money on your next Whistler vacation. And the best place to start is on
you big ticket items like accommodation and lift tickets.
Now, I'm not promising you any bargain basement prices, but there
are a
few ways to save yourself a few dollars while you visit.
For example, if you are a AAA/CAA member, one of the top resorts in
Whistler will offer you a 20% discount off their best available rates.
Are you a senior (at least 55 years old)? You may qualify for
discounts on Whistler hotels (up to 15%), lift tickets (up to 90%) and other activities.
If you are going to book a hotel in Whistler, you won't want to do
it without reading this tip. And if you want to save up to 35% on hotel
accommodation, then make sure you know which hotels offer this deeply
discounted type of reservation.
View
Of The Roundhouse Day Lodge, Whistler
Mountain
Know When
To Visit Whistler Blackcomb
Probably
the best way to find Whistler deals is to visit during the "shoulder"
seasons. ie. before Christmas and after the end of March. You will save
on just about everything from accommodations to lift tickets by
visiting during these times. And lest
you think the skiing is "sub-par" those times of year, I assure you it
is not. In fact, early season skiing at Whistler can be some of
the best, as this is when the resort gets most of its snow. And spring
skiing can also be excellent. The snow at the top of the mountains
(where you will do 95% of your skiing) is still great in late
March/early April. And when the sun
shines it's even more spectacular.
Finding Deals On Lift Tickets
One
of the biggest expenses that you will likely incur on your Whistler
vacation is buying your lift tickets. A family of four, skiing or
snowboarding for a week, can easily spend $2000 or more to get up the
mountains. Having said that, here's a few tips to save some money while
riding the lifts.
1) Purchase your
lift tickets
before
you get to Whistler. There are two ways to accomplish this.
First,
you can purchase discount lift tickets at 7-Eleven stores in Vancouver
or Squamish. (Squamish is about half way between Vancouver and
Whistler) You will save about $15 to $20
per day per ticket
in peak ski season compared to buying your tickets at the mountain.
Again, for a family of four the savings can be in the $400 to $500
range.
Second,
you can
purchase your lift tickets as part of your accommodation package. For
example, if you were to book your vacation through Expedia (which I use
all the time to book Whistler accommodation for our family), you will
have the option during your booking to purchase discounted lift
tickets. These
discounted
tickets are only available if you purchase them when you
book your accommodations, but it can be worth it.
If
you are traveling to Whistler during peak season (usually any time
from the week before Christmas through to the last weekend in March)
you won't save a great deal on Whistler/Blackcomb lift tickets this
way, but during the shoulder seasons (see above) you can. If you are
travelling during peak season you are
much
better off buying your tickets from 7-Eleven once you arrive.
Finally,
and this doesn't happen often but... I have come across offers through
Expedia for free Whistler lift tickets when you book certain hotels.
For example, last March our family booked five nights at the Fairmont
Chateau Whistler through Expedia, and not only did we get a great deal
on the room rate, they threw in a free day of skiing! Again, you don't
find free lift ticket offers that often, but I have found
that of all the travel sites, Expedia consistently has the best
Whistler
deals, for both room rates and incentives.
2) For Residents of
Canada and Washington State.
If
you are a resident of Canada or Washington State (you will need proof
of residency and photo ID) you can purchase a Whistler Blackcomb Edge
Card and enjoy savings every day you ski. The cost of the 1 day Edge
Card includes one day of skiing and is usually about $10 less than the
cost of a full price ticket. After the first day, you will
automatically receive anywhere from 25-50% off the price of the rest of
the lift tickets you purchase throughout the season.
View
Of Seventh Heaven, Blackcomb Mountain
Form Whistler Mountain
Whistler Hotel Deals and Other Accommodation Deals
Because
my family and I usually stay in hotels or condos when we ski on the
weekends, I am always looking for Whistler deals on hotels and
accommodations. And believe me, I have checked and cross referenced
just about every site that offers Whistler accommodations.
So where can you find the best Whistler deals?
Well, unfortunately, I can't give you
one
definitive place to look, but as I mentioned above I almost always
start at Expedia and work from there. If I find a deal on Expedia that
looks good, I might go to the hotels website directly and check if
there is a better rate or a price guarantee. One hotel that I know
offers a great price guarantee is the Pan Pacific. If you find a better
rate than they offer, they will match it
and take off 10%! I have actually
taken advantage of this guarantee myself.
Another
way to potential save some money on Whistler accommodation is to look
for condos that you can rent directly from owners. Often times this is
the best option if you have a larger group that can't fit into a hotel
room.
One final piece of advice when your looking for Whistler
deals on hotels is to keep checking the prices. Many sites like Expedia
and Travelocity are constantly offering different Whistler deals on
accommodation that can change from day to day.
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