Who hasn’t dreamed of having a truly white Christmas? A Christmas vacation at beautiful Whistler in British Columbia, Canada is one way to ensure you do!

As one of the largest and best known ski resorts in Canada, Whistler is truly the ideal place to enjoy a winter vacation. With thousands of acres of snow, and slopes designed for the complete beginner ranging to double black diamond slopes for experienced skiers and snow boarders.

What’s Happening over Christmas in Whistler?
Over the Christmas period in Whistler you’ll find a special village animation, train rides through the village, a Christmas tree lighting ceremony, caroling, dog-sledding, Christmas story reading, as well as activities for the children.

Naturally, if you’re going to be staying in Whistler over Christmas, you’ll need to book in a Whistler vacation rental for the period that you’re staying. Fortunately, Whistler has plenty of great accommodation options ranging from hotels, to condos, cabins, B&Bs, and more.

Many of the finest accommodation spots in Whistler include true ski-in ski-out convenience, so any time you want to go skiing, you can go outside, put on the skis and head straight for the slopes.

The Greystone Lodge Whistler Accommodation
The Greystone Lodge is one of Whistler’s finest small lodges, with a family oriented atmosphere, you can ski straight from the lodge to the Wizard Express Chair on Blackcomb Mountain. There are privately owned condos available for rent, and are all comfortably and tastefully decorated.

The Greystone Lodge offers one and two bedroom units, as well as loft units. It provides free wireless Internet, so you can stay fully connected even when on vacation, a year round outdoor hot tub and outdoor heated pool, indoor hot tub, fully equipped kitchens, all towels and linens supplied, and a gas fireplace in each unit.

The Marquise Whistler Accommodation
The Marquise is another of Whistler’s finest accommodation rentals. It’s located on  Blackcomb Mountain only 150m from the ski slope’s entrance. Not only do you get fabulous views of Whistler Mountain and the other surrounding mountains, but also of the picturesque village and valley beyond.

The Marquise has one and two bedroom units, as well as lofts available. It also has an outdoor heated pool, hot tub, private ski lockers, secure underground parking, fully equipped kitchen, fireplace, some suites with washers and dryers, a private balcony, and of course Cable TV/VCR and a CD stereo.

There are many other fine Whistler accommodation rentals available for a fantastic Christmas vacation in Whistler, the only requirement is that you book quickly before the entire resort is booked out!

A holiday in Whistler involves so much more than just hitting the slopes for skiing or snowboarding. In fact, there are a ton of fantastic winter activities that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

Ski and Snowboarding Instruction
If you’ve never been skiing before, or are a beginner, there are adult ski and snowboarding schools, as well as ski and snowboarding schools for the kids, too. Even if you’ve had some skiing experience, it never hurts to get a refresher or take an advanced class which will bring your skills to the next level.

Other Winter Whistler Activities
Other activities that can be enjoyed at whistler are Heli-skiing and boarding, which is something exciting for those who haven’t tried it before! Not only do you get the chance to go up in a helicopter to see the mountains from an entirely new angle, but you get a new skiing experience too.

Another great activity is snowmobiling, which is something fun and different for the whole family. There are tours that cater for people of all skills and interests. Something for the whole family, is the tube park, located in Base 2 Zone on Blackcomb Mountain, it provides an activity the entire family can enjoy, even those with no experience.

For something truly different, try a horse drawn sleigh ride. This is a great way of experiencing the beauty of the mountains, but also gives everyone a taste of a truly authentic Canadian experience. You’ll be treated to hot chocolate and blankets, while experiencing the natural beauty all around.

Whistler Vacation Condos
Naturally, if you’re planning your winter vacation at Whistler, you’ll need somewhere to stay. A Whistler condo is a fantastic form of accommodation, especially if you’re planning on staying for a long time, or are bringing along the whole family, or even a large group of people.

There are several fantastic luxury Whistler condos, ranging from smaller one bedroom condos, right up to five bedroom condos. The Orca is a five bedroom townhouse, which has been fully renovated and includes hardwood floors, quality appliances, entertainment rooms and an HDTV, bar, and quality designer furniture. It’s conveniently located to the ski slopes, and is close to Whistler Village.

There are many other such Whistler condos available for your Whistler vacation, but it’s important to book early as the ski season is beginning, and if you wait too long, you’ll miss out.

You’ve planned to take your winter vacation in glorious Whistler, now the only thing you need is to find a great Whistler rental which will suit all your needs for the time you’re there (whether you plan to stay for a night or two or several weeks).

Your needs may differ depending on whether you’re planning on traveling alone, as a couple, with the kids or with a group. Of course, your budget will also be a consideration. Of course, there are Whistler rentals that suit people with very high budgets and high expectations, and there are rentals for people on the tightest holiday budgets.

Whistler Condo Rentals

There are numerous Whistler condo rentals available for the winter months (some are available all year round, for those who are happy to enjoy Whistler’s mountainous beauty when it’s not covered in snow).

There are over 500 Whistler condo rentals available, but of course, if you want your choice you have to be quick, because some book out very fast.

Some Whistler rentals are truly luxurious condos, many as large as your average home and with every amenity you could imagine. These Whistler condo rentals may range in size from single bedroom condos to those with four or more bedrooms (which is great if you’re part of a group).

For Whistler rental accommodation that can’t be beaten for price or convenience, you really can’t go past a fantastic Whistler condo rental.

Private Home Whistler Rentals

Many people rent out their private homes in winter, at competitive rates. These Whistler rentals are a great idea for the family or for a small group. The great thing about these home Whistler rentals is that they are competitively priced, they come in a variety of styles (whether you want something old fashioned and traditional or something ultra modern there will be a Whistler rental to suit), and they offer a real atmosphere of home.

If you’re on a tight budget you may prefer not to eat out for every meal, and when you have a home rental complete with a kitchen, you can do your own meal preparation, saving you a ton of money, especially when you’re with a large family or group.

Private home Whistler rentals are a great way to enjoy your winter vacation at Whistler at a great price, and they offer all the comforts of home too.

Invited to a friends cottage or accommodation in Whistler, BC, Canada this summer? Below are a few tips when staying at a friends place of Whistler lodging over the summer holidays.  

I don’t own a cottage or a cabin, but several of my friends do and I am one of those lucky people who get invited up for a weekend.

Now, anyone can get invited up once, the trick is getting invited back. Here are some tips to guarantee that your weekend at a cottage won’t be a fleeting memory in your past.

Food Tips:

– Ask what the host would like you to bring. If they say “Nothing” they’re lying. Every host wants you to bring something, they just don’t want to sound like they want you to bring something, but believe me, they want you to bring something, unless they’re independently wealthy and they love (more…)

Changes of rental accommodations in Whistler could put British Columbia resort’s reputation for quality service at risk

Whistler officials are struggling to work out how to allow homeowners to rent rooms and accommodations in 2010 without shoving the resort’s 10,000 employees out in the cold.

“Staff is preparing a report that will go forward to council and for public consultation on how to implement a short-term rental program for properties that are currently zoned residential,” said Diana Waltmann, spokeswoman for the Resort Municipality of Whistler.

“For us the challenge is that we don’t want to adversely impact our employees. We have workers renting suites in these residential-zoned properties.” (more…)