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Advantages:
Two excellent mountains, plenty of snow, night life, wonderful people, wonderful food, excellent accomidation, plently of room on the slopes
Disadvantages:
Expensive, very long distance and traveling time
Went to Whistler originally as one of my mates decided to do a year out there and then another decided to go out and meet him. From the feedback i was getting while they were there i thought what a fantastic place and i really couldn't belive that it could possibly be that good.
I thought about it for a good long time and eventually decided to take the risk and book my flight, all the way there i was wondering if i had done the right thing. the 22 hours it took me door to door didn't help along with me traveling by myself. Gave me plenty of time to think about things but got there late at night and every one i met seemed to be really nice. went out for a quick drink and with a snowbase of 3M+ and average snow fall of 20cm it looked just like a winter wonderland and this was March by the way. A few nice beers later, this is now around six in the morning by the way, for my body clock that is! then a trip back to the house were i met all my fellow house mates and my excellent matress on the scruffy floor but i didn't car as it cost me nothing compared to the hundereds the hotels were charging. Besides theres just something about the
feeling of staying with so many people and the house was fantastic anyway so couldn't complain.
anyhow the first morning it was snowing nicly and we had a trip in to the town, only about a five minute ride from were we were, £25 for a monthly bus pass and i got plenty of use. Went to go get my pass, board and various other things to get my arse on the slope. Bus back to drop it all off and get kitted up then back to the village.
The village is a nice place however it has been constructed all at once by a company so every thing looks the same. got up the slope about midday and couldn't belive the size of it.
The gondolas are usually very busy on a morning but it dosen't take too long to get on one. Theres a very nice building at the top however seen as though this is the only on on whistler top it is very very busy.
Theres plenty of snow and tracks all over the place and the ski school looks excellent for all and is still set in a excellent location for the amazing views.
The food is pretty simple, burgers, ribs etc however there are some specialised places for food which is very nice and you should definitly go to the best place in town which is mongoli grill which is just above the cinema.
Waking upevery day with snow falling heavly and all around is amazing, i much prefered this to a full time there which i think would have been a much different experience but just as forfilling and enjoyable as i know how much fun everyone has out there and all the benifits.
Everyone seems to be like a big family, helping and supporting everyone and all the locals are very nice and helpful to. You'd be amazed by the amount of english and australians there is out there.
I know know that i shouldn't have bought so many days on the slope tho, it is alot and it takes a intermediate rider about a hour to ride down and a experienced rider about half that. theres lots for every one and this is due to the sheer amount of area the resort covers.
The mojority of the music is Indi type and a lot of live bands but there is a few places that do play dance music and cheesy american stuff.
theres plenty of coffe shops, not too many real shops but enought that you can get what you need, the food in the supermarket is pretty boaring so don't expect much.
Overall you cannot get a better or friendlyer place its just the time that it takes to get there and back as it was another 23 hours for me to get back. And i know people don't like to book things in advance as you don't know if your flight will be delayed but i reccomend howevery your going to do the two and a half hour trip to whistler from vancouverairport you book it or even think about staying a few nights in vancouver. It's a nice city so long as you stay in the city and don't wonder in to the "bad lands".
A lot of the city is still under construction but the sky scrapers and stuff that is already there makes for a few interesting days.
I flew with ZOOM AIRLINES and booked my extra leg room, the flights were the very cheapest and i din't expect much but there was a amazing amount of room even with out the extra leg room and there was four films either way on the 91/2 hour flight. It was a very long way for me as the longest flight i've had was 6 hours with my mates so if your going by yourself then take lots of stuff to entertain you... lots!
bus from the airport to whistler was around £40 for a single adult one way but it was a nice trip and a ok view but a little reppetive after so long. and the view of green land was amazing as we flew over it so try and sit on the correct side of the plane, its a big place so you wont miss it but the ice fields are simply amazing.
The below prices are guestimates: -
£400 Flight £80 Transport £25 Local bus for a month £Free Accomidation £450 Ski pass/Lift passs £850 Really good boots, board, bindings, socks, bag. £100 Jackect -17oC you'll need it belive me on the peak! £120 Trousers you'll need good ones so you dont get a wet bum] £60 Gloves - Gortex burton you need to keep your mits warm £4500 about that for four people in a hotel... I know! really good places tho! Just make sure you get really good kit because its a long way up there and you really don't want to get cold or wet, the more you spend the better the experence trust me.
Well i hope i've covered everything about that oh and by the way, i'm already saving for the next trip the same time next year!
See you there!
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Advantages: Friendly, informative, good snow, excellent skiing, cheap meals, quick moving queues Disadvantages: long journey and price of flight, we had to get a bus to the lifts
Helenp59 13.02.2001 ·
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Review of Whistler (Canada)
May 21st, 2006
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