SPRING SKIING IN WHISTLER, BC!
This March Jason wanted to take a ski trip for his birthday. As we looked at all of the options out there, Whistler Blackcomb quickly became the most appealing! From the mountains, to the exchange rate, to the four seasons, Whistler has so much to offer! Enjoy the vlog below of our time in Whistler, and keep reading for my thoughts on our experience traveling out of the country to ski!
FOUR SEASONS RESORT Whistler EXPERIENCE
Our Experience Staying at the Four Seasons Resort - Is Staying at the Four Seasons Resort Worth It? What’s Included When You Stay at the Four Seasons Resort?
Is staying at the Four Seasons Resort Whistler Worth The Price? This all depends on your vacation priorities! If you’re looking to have a very catered to & luxurious stay in Whistler the Four Seasons is exactly that. With over 270 rooms the Four Seasons Whistler Resort you will surely be taken care of to the highest level. From the moment you arrive to when you leave all of your needs will be met with care and top professionalism from the hotel staff. They truly go above and beyond in all of the tinest details to make sure you enjoy your time staying at the resort.
Why we loved our stay at Four Seasons Whistler:
The service - every need is met to the highest level. From bags being delivered to your hotel room from the car, to having your ski equipment ready for you at the Four Seasons Ski concierge at the base of the Blackcomb mountain. If you need anything - they will literally make it happen!
The Rooms & the Bed - When booking your stay at the Four Seasons you get to request what kind of pillow you would prefer to be in your room when you arrive (talk about attention to detail). The room is cozy and luxurious feeling - we got a room with a fireplace, the perfect thing to come back to after a day in the snow. The actual bed is a DREAM (like I’m looking at buying the sheets and pillows at this point, which they sell here.)
The Spa - What would a resort be without it’s crown jewel, the spa! We had another couples massage on the last night of our stay, and it was divine! If you don’t feel like booking an additional massage you can still use the spa as much as you’d like while visiting! There is also a cedar outdoor sauna located outside by the 3 hot tubs & giant heated pool which is open to any guest even if you don’t book a service with the spa. I will admit to you, I felt as though the four seasons vail spa was more complete. They had indoor hot tubs and a private sauna, and I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss those offers during our stay in Whistler.
Whistler Ski Concierge - This is probably the best part about staying at a four seasons hotel in a ski town. The Ski Concierge is a building located directly at the base of the main Blackcomb gondola. If you don’t have your own board, skis, or equipment you can easily get fitted down at the pro shop in the lower level of the building. They will measure you for your gear and have it ready right at the base of the mountain in their on-site ski rental building. In that building you will be taken to get your gear and receive a basket to put your belongings in that you don’t want with you on your ski journey. When you are done for the day you can return your skis and gear to the Four Seasons Rental & they will have them ready for you the next day. Should you bring your own gear they’ve also got you covered! When you arrive to the hotel they will send it over to the rental building so you don’t have to lug it to the mountain and will send it back to the hotel when you are ready to leave. This is truly the best part of the four seasons Whistler experience, and it makes the steep price tag of the rooms feel worth it, as all of these services are complimentary!
Four Seasons Whistler vs Four Seasons Vail
Now that we have stayed at the four seasons in Whistler and Vail, I thought it would be worth while to discuss how the two resorts compare to each other.
Price - At the time of writing this, Four Season’s Whistler is 70% more affordable then Vail due to the exchange rate between USD and CAD. This was awesome because everywhere we ate, played and rested was 70% of the cost of what we were used to! This may not be true when you are reading this article, so check here for current info on exchange rates!
The Rooms - The rooms at both hotels were pretty similar in size and features. Both offered fireplaces, a covered balcony with an outdoor tables + two chairs, and tub and a shower, as well as a sizable walk in closet. Nespresso coffee & tea was complimentary in both. Both rooms included two of the four season’s famous robes, which we lived in!
The Spa - The spa was the biggest disappointment for me at Four Seasons Whistler. When we stayed at Four Seasons Vail in November, I was floored by the size and amenities of the spa. They had private indoor steam rooms & sauna. They also had an indoor hot tub. There was complimentary tea and essential oils everywhere. At whistler the spa felt more like a locker room for the outdoor pool then a spa. It was more crowded because the physical footprint was smaller. They had a single steam room inside, and then everything was outside.
The Vibes - The Four Seasons Whistler is a bigger hotel, both in number of rooms and foot print of the campus. We noticed a lot more families with kids at Whistler then we did in Vail, but that could have been due to the time of year we went. Both hotels had been recently renovated in the last 3 years, and are stunning! To me, Vail felt a little more well-to-do, where at Whistler people were walking around in their robes pretty much all day! We were cracking up at how many people we saw in robes. Again, this could have to do with the specific time we were there, and both resorts are incredible!
What to do in Whistler
What should I do in Whistler Blackcomb? Best Skiing for beginners? Excursions in Whistler?
Ski - This one is obvious, but I can not stress enough how incredible the skiing is at Whistler Blackcomb! The 2010 Winter Olympics was at Whistler, so you can expect truly world class skiing! Not only is it incredibly beautiful, but the lifts and facilities are top notch! We enjoyed lunch everyday looking at the mountain top restaurants at the top of each gondola. I am not the most advanced skier in the world, but both mountains have tons of greens! Our favorite run on Blackcomb mountain was Green line to expressway to Sunset Boulevard. Our favorite run on Whistler mountain was Burnt Stew Trail. The views are incredible!
Snowmobile - Jason had the idea of booking a snowmobile steak dinner through Canadian Wilderness Adventures. We loaded up in a shuttle that picked us and 8 others up in Whistler village. After arriving at the basecamp lodge (a 20min bus ride), we suited up in our gear. They had lots of jackets, snowpants, boots, goggles, gloves, helmets, etc for us to borrow! After a quick training we were off! I am sometimes skeptical of touristy things because I am always worried I may be getting ripped off. This was not the case here! We got to ride for what felt like an eternity into the deep woods up the mountains of the whistler valley. March was the perfect time because not only was it warm, but as we went up, the sun was setting! We arrived to the one room cabin where we ate our steak dinner after an hour of riding, and warm butternut squash soup was waiting for us! The meal was honestly incredible, and so were the staff! We rode back down under the stars. This was truly an unforgetable experience that I can not recommend highly enough!
Shop - Whistler Village has all kinds of cute shops and familiar brands! While we were there we couldn’t resist grabbing some new pieces from Lululemon (my weakness). They also had an Aritzia and Northface!
WHAT TO PACK FOR Whistler, bc, Canada!
What should you pack for visiting Whistler, BC? How to dress for a vacation to Whistler Blackcomb in March?
Think layers! It was warm while we were there, high 30s in March, so having layers means you can shed one in the afternoon when it gets warm! Also be sure to pack leggings to wear under your snow gear!
A hat and gloves - you wont regret packing these!
Lip balm & hand cream - Be sure to prepare for your skin to get dry and bring lotion and chapstick!
Snow Gear if you’ve got it - I’ve actually gotten so much wear out of my Free People snowsuit (linking it below if you’re looking for a good one!)
