Ski Fitness Training Program

Blackcomb Ski Accommodations

Ski Accommodations At Blackcomb
By: Jewel Montoya

On the Blackcomb side, the largest lodge is The Aspens. Over 300 one and two-bedroom apartments, a large swimming pool and several outdoor hot tubs, plus a large and comfortable lobby, a ski rental/tuning shop and several other onsite facilities comprise the Aspens complex. It is right on the edge of the slopes and just a 20 second ski down to the Blackcomb Base. For easy access to skiing, there is nowhere better than the Aspens. However the apartments in the Aspens are fairly small (the two-bedroom units are around 850 sq. ft.) and often furnished in a Spartan fashion. One or two have been extensively upgraded, and these are the ones to go for.

Next to the Aspens, and also equipped with a pool and hot tubs, is Greystone Lodge. Some people prefer Greystone Lodge since it is smaller and less like staying in a large amorphous hotel, and its proximity to the slopes is almost equal.

If you need a larger unit, a little further up the hill is Woodrun Lodge. This is a cut or two above the Aspens, and has units of up to 4 bedrooms and 1800 sq. ft. Go for one of these if you are a larger group and want to all be in the same place. However, the truly premium building on the North side of the Wizard run is Cedar Creek. A beautiful building, with very few units in the rental market, this is the crème de la crème of multi-unit ski-in, ski-out complexes in Whistler.

At the bottom of the Wizard are a couple of popular buildings which are very convenient: the Le Chamois Hotel: really a glorified apartment building, and Glacier Lodge. These contain a variety of accommodation right at the Blackcomb Base

On the other - southern - side of the Wizard lies Pinnacle Ridge. Pinnacle Ridge is a townhome with over 40 units, some of which are a lost closer to the slopes than others. Also, some have been extensively upgraded (sometimes to the tune of over $1m in renovations), while others are totally original (read: cheap fittings and drab décor). Further over again, and a little lower, are Cedar Ridge and Cedar Hollow. Of the two, Cedar Ridge is somewhat closer to the slopes (but they are both pretty close), whilst Cedar Hollow has the edge in design and interior space. Cedar Hollow and Cedar Ridge have the great advantage that you can ski down to the top of the Village, not just to the base of Blackcomb: this gives you the option of skiing up Whistler as well as Blackcomb mountain.

Further down from Cedar Ridge and Cedar Hollow lies Snowy Creek, often considered the best location in Whistler, since uniquely in Whistler it combines ski-in, ski-out with just a two-minute walk to the Village. Again, the Snowy Creek homes vary greatly in attractiveness, since the ones which haven't been renovated are fairly grim. However, due to their proximity to the Village, these are some of the most sought-after units in town.

So if you are looking for ski-in, ski-out accommodation in Whistler make sure you understand exactly what you are getting.

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Skier Fitness Training - Unique Skiing Program

Let's face it. A ski vacation to the world-renowned Whistler resort in BC, Canada is expensive. The stunning mountain vistas, unique restaurants, and various types of accomodation will have you wondering what happened to your money.

Yet, like all premiere vacations, where there's a will, there are tips to stretch your dollars and still enjoy your trip.

Tip 1 - Avoid Hotels & Book Your Whistler Accomodation Directly with Homeowners

Booking your Whistler accomodation directly with homeowners and small companies saves you money by avoiding layers of middle agent fees. Most owners also do not charge the non-refundable 10% hotel tax, and prices are quoted for up to the maximum sleeping capacity of the property, not per person.

Renting a vacation condo instead of a hotel room also gives you the option to cook your own savory meals, saving you heaps of money on restaurant bills. You can save even more on groceries by ordering them online, or by buying them in Squamish on the way up to Whistler. And don't forget, most owners have free parking, whereas most rental managers and hotels have additional nightly parking fees.

Tip 2 - Plan your Whistler Accomodation Dates Around Seasonal Lift Ticket Pricing

Did you know that that your Whistler lift ticket's total price depends on the season in which your start day falls? Shifting your Whistler accomodation dates by as little as one night can save you hundreds of dollars due to seasonal nightly pricing.

Even if your ski ticket starts on the last day of a cheap price season but the majority of your skiing/riding days fall in an expensive one, your entire ticket will be priced based on the cheap season pricing. Plan your skiing/riding start day in a cheap season date, and you could ski/ride through the most expensive seasons at a fraction of the price.

Tip 3 - Plan Your Vacation Around Special Whistler Accomodation & Resort Promotions

Plan your dates around Whistler promotions to layer more savings onto your early booking discounts. For example, during Discover Whistler Weeks you can save up to 50% on adult and kids snow school programs. It's by far the least expensive way to introduce yourself to the slopes and learn to ski or snowboard.

Tip 4 - Don't Rule Out Lofts Or Dens As Bedrooms In Your Whistler Accomodation Choices

Did you know that lofts and dens can often serve as comfortable bedrooms? Don't rule out this option, because booking a 2 bed + loft home, rather than a 3 bedroom home, could save you thousands of dollars. After all, there are a lot more interesting ways to spend a thousand dollars.

Tip 5 - Consider Alternative Locations To Ski-In/Out Or Slope side Accomodations

Whistler's excellent free shuttle system quickly links most areas to the Village and the gondola bases. You'll end up paying a lot less money while remaining close to everything, or at least a short shuttle ride away. As well, it's possible to score a bigger property and more amenities for the same amount of money.

Remember, slope side locations are only valuable when there is sufficient snow. With downloading in effect for most of November, December and April, you may be paying a lot of money for poor ski-in/out conditions.

Tip 6 - Invite More Friends And Share The Cost

When searching for your Whistler accomodation, check out the larger properties and consider inviting a good friend, another family or favorite family member! Getting a bigger property and adding an extra two people could save you a few hundred dollars by spreading the cost out. This is especially true if the larger property is almost the same price as the slightly smaller one.

Tip 7 - Take a Limo or Charter A Van Instead of Renting a Car

Whistler's excellent free shuttle system means that renting a car may not be necessary while you are in the resort. If you don't rent a car, how do you get there? Consider sharing a limo or chartering a van. It is often cheaper than renting a car or taking the bus, when divided among all the people in your group or family. You can relax and enjoy the scenery on your way up to Whistler, after your exhausting travel day.

Tip 8 - Watch For Typical Whistler Accomodations Scams

There are many Whistler promotions out there that either sound too good to be true, or weren't quite what you expected. Here are some things to watch out for:

• Hidden nightly parking fees
• Prices quoted per person, and not for up to the total maximum sleeping capacity of the property
• Deals where availability is suddenly sold out, so you have to call someone-watch out, you will be upsold.
• Hidden sales taxes, like the 10% non-refundable sales tax.
• Blind booking, where you are not given the name of the property you are staying in until after you have paid for it.

Devon O� Malley is a staff writer for AlluraDirect.com, a vacation rentals website offering powerful search and instant booking features for owners and guests alike. On your next Whistler vacation, check out their Whistler discount lodging directory and Whistler money saving accomodation tips.

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