Brrrrr…..what just happened? One day we had that nice sunny warm weather here in Whistler, and now, well….we still go the sun but that cold breeze brings back memories of last years fall season. That’s right, it’s that time of year again. Fall is back and winter ski and snowboard season is right around the corner, and the local BC ski resorts are getting prepared.

For those visiting British Columbia for the upcoming ski season, be sure to visit the winter vacation resorts in Whistler, Squamish, Pemberton and Big White. And while your planning your winter vacation, be sure to book your accommodation and lodging early. Whistler has a range of luxury accommodations to rent to those owner-direct condo’s and lodges to pile the friends and family in for a week of winter fun.

So if you’re travelling to BC, Canada for this winter season, have a peak at the North West Telegraph Traveller’s Guide To: Skiing and snowboarding in North America.

Only 4 years away from Vancouver 2010 Olympics and accommodations in Whistler and Vancouver are already starting to book.

As the Olympics approach, places to rent in Whistler (hotels, owner direct, cottages, cabins) and accommodations in Vancouver (owner direct, hotels, etc.) will book fast.

Vacation rentals in Whistler will be limited as the city can only host so many places to stay, and tourists to Whistler may have to accommodate and find a rentals in nearby cities as Squamish and Pemberton.

The good part - the Olympic events in 2010 will take place both in Whistler and Vancouver - so why not call it Whistler 2010 and Vancouver 2010 - well, either works fine with locals.

2010 Whistler accommodations and 2010 Vancouver accommodations will be in high demand, and securing a place to stay with the best ameneties as a hot tub, 2-3 a bathrooms and bedrooms, luxury kitchen and more will become scarce.

On the best places to stay during the 2010 Olympics may just be Squamish (ha ha Squamish 2010). Why? Well, Squamish resides inbetween Whistler and Vancouver - so anyone travelling to check out the Olympic events will have a perfect fit right inbetween the two cities, with immediate acccess along the sea to sky highway.

If I were to find a 2010 vacation rental - I’d opt for Vancouver and find someone to swap for the remainder in Whistler (Whistler 2010 accommodations for rent)- though finding someone will be difficult. Alternatively, get online, make some new penpals in Whistler and Vancouver and stay at their place - a cheap way to go.

So if you’re thinking of visiting Vancouver in 2010 and Whistler in 2010 and seeking accommodations for 2010 Olympics, I’d suggest booking now - and go the route of Owner-Direct so you get all the amenities privately to yourself.

Whistler resorts 2010 Olympic athlete village is going to cost Whistler $11 million in change. Well, these are the most recent figures released in the business plan for the re-development of Whistler for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. The community who lives in Whistler, in their homes and condo’s, will likely feel the impact when the 2010 Olympics come to Whistler. If you’re considering staying in Whistler for the Olympics, this is an opportune time to avoid the tax gouge expected to hit the tourists and visitors to Whistler, but booking an accommodation for rent with a owner-direct home. Owner-direct accommodations in Whistler may provide an advantage to Whistler travellers for 2010 by avoiding the increased costs the Whistler hotels are expected to pass onto the visitors.

Personally, if I were staying in Whistler I’d opt to rent out a cottage or condo by a local Whistler or Vancouver owner. Not only will you get more space and improved ameneties, such as hot tub, ski-in/ski out, extra beds, etc., the tipping and services you’d typically pay for at a hotel would be avoided. Ok, well you’d still need to leave a the $$ for the clean up service when you leave, but speaking from someone who has visited the various accommodation rentals in Whistler, I would recommend to any traveller to go the route of a vacation rental property rather than a hotel - though both have their advantages.

So when Whistler 2010, or Vancouver 2010, whichever you want to call it, comes to the city, where will you stay? Well, it’s guaranteed prices will be jacked in both hotels and owner direct rental accommodations (condos, cabins, Whistler 2010 accommodations for rent, etc.), but you may get better bang for the buck by staying in a Whistler condo rental. And if Whistler is booked solid - which it will - you have Pemberton, Squamish and Vancouver accommodations to stay. Rentals in Vancouver, rentals in Squamish and rentals in Pemberton, all can be found at Bamja.com.

Staying in Vancouver this week, or maybe your a local Vancouverite. Well if you are, be sure to visit the Olympic 2010 discussions as the 2010 committee arrives in town.
A team from the IOC arrives in Vancouver Monday for two days of meetings with leaders of the 2010 Olympics, the chairman of the group telling Around the Rings he expects “good news” this week.
Now me personally I wouldn’t rent a place in Vancouver to catch a glimpse of these proceedings, but if you are staying in a Vancouver accommodation - hotel, apartment, condo, etc., it’s something to do to help support the 2010 Olympics coming to Vancouver and Whistler.

Rene Fasel says he is hoping for a quick resolution of the lease and compensation agreement with the owners of main Olympic hockey venue for 2010, General Motors Place. The arena is also the home the NHL Vancouver Canucks, who will need a temporary home during part of January and all of February 2010.

“When we awarded the games, nobody could expect the costs be so high as they are today,” Fasel said. “That’s the challenge for everybody, to find ways to find good balance.”

Fasel acknowledged the environmental protest which delayed expansion of the Sea-to-Sky highway for more than a month, but “(protesters) went to court, they lost.”

Protesters of the Olympic highway wanted a forest-destroying overland route to be stopped and a tunnel built instead. This route would be providing access to Squamish and Whistler, and Pemberton if you’re going to take the long treck.

“It’s not easy to make decisions,” said Fasel. “You can never satisfy everybody.”

Fasel will stop in New York en route to Vancouver to meet with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. They’ll discuss ongoing talks for a player transfer agreement with the Russian Hockey Federation. Fasel is hopeful new RHF president Vladislav Tretyak’s influence will hasten an agreement. IIHF’s 2007 World Championship is in Russia. Without a deal, Russian NHLers could be disqualified.

Here’s an interesting website, OwnersDirect Vaction Rentals. This site at first appears to provide a global view of vacation rentals directly by owners, but after some further drilling into the site, the majority of the accommodations for rent appear to be for British Columbia, with focus on places to stay in Vancouver.

You can rent a vacation rental home in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, directly from owners at OwnerDirect. The lower mainland area of BC offers something for everyone - skiing, beaches, fishing, hiking and more. The accommodations for rent in Vancouver also cover vacation rentals in Langley, Richmond, Burnaby, White Rock, Abbotsford and more. These may include staying at a home of another BC resident, or the full rental of a condo or bed and breakfast (B&B). British Columbia, specifically Vancouver, is famous for its natural beauty, world class culture, entertainment, dining, sports, and festivals. Rent holiday lodgings directly from owners of bed and breakfast, cabin, home and condo accommodations in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Plus, as I’ve mentioned before, if you’re coming to Vancouver and wanting to visit Whistler or the Vancouver Islands - staying in Vancouver is a fabulous central place between the two. While whislter accommodations may get beyond your budget, remember Whistler is only 2 1/2 hours drive up the scenic route of the sea to sky highway - and you pass right through Squamish (places to stay in Squamish) Why stay in a Vancouver hotel when you can rent a vacation rental? Owner Direct has been matching holiday guests with privately-owned short term and long term vacation rentals since 1994.