November 11, 2004 -- Whistler is to Canada what Aspen and Vail are to United States. Add an Olympic Games only 6 years away to Canada's British Columbia and you have an increase in business services, accommodations, activities and the huge anticipation of skiing where the world's best will soon ski. For hardcore skiers and beginners alike, Whistler remains one of North America's best ski towns. Deals this winter to the tony ski resort, also known for its ritzy nightlife, are down in price. With a lift capacity of 60,000 skiers per hour, they better be.
Whistler.com (tel. 877/932-0606; www.whistler.com/accommodations/packages/early/index.html#5) has deals with several rental locations and ski lodges ripe for the picking. Several package vacations for the early season, lasting from November 25 to December 23, 2004, are currently available. A five-day "Stay and Play" combo where lift tickets are delivered to your hotel starts from $404 per person with travel good from November 25 to December 22, 2004. The package includes different hotels at a choice of three to four-star locations and four- or five-day dual mountain lift tickets good for Whistler or the adjacent Blackcomb. Add-ons are available for equipment rental, airport transportation and ski or snowboard lessons. A similar seven-night package starts from $546. All prices are in US dollars. Hotel taxes are not included. Bookings for early season travel must be made as soon as possible to ensure availability. Don't worry about snow. The mountain is usually covered with man-made or natural flakes by late November. The site says booking the early season package deals saves 34 percent. Also important to note is that kids get free accommodations and ski rental.
The same site offers the "Winter White" sale with travel good from February 1, 2005 to March 24 at the same hotels starting at $685. The seven-night trip starts at $951. Why Winter White? You guessed it. You're only going to see white powder on those trails.
Leading ski travel site www.skicentral.com (tel. 800/778-8589) offers package deals as well as up to date information on trail openings, snow amounts and other important information pertaining to most particular mountains worldwide. A five-night package where kids ski free and you get the fifth night free is available for $619 per person with double occupancy. Travel must be booked by December 1, 2004 and is good from January 3 to February 4, 2005. Lift tickets are good for four days. Air is available from most major United States' gateways. From Chicago, the site is offering an airfare add-on for $389. The child ski free deal applies for one child per one skiing adult.
A mid-week trip to Whistler from February 4 to March 18, 2005, again for five nights, costs around $679 without the same airfare addendum tacked on. Plenty of hotels, lodgings and rentals to choose from, most of which offer the same deals for children and the fifth night free. The same ski perks apply, too, including the four day lift pass. The excellent site also lists deals to other North American ski destinations such as Steamboat Springs, Colorado and Lake Tahoe in Northern California.
Another site to check out for deals to Whistler and Blackcomb is www.skiremotehorizons.com (tel. 866/938-1929). For the pampered skier looking for a luxury deal, the site offers a package to the beautiful Four Seasons Hotel with a six-day lift ticket and seven-night stay beginning at $1,722 per person. Airfare is not included in this deal, neither are hotel taxes, but a customer service representative can price all-inclusive packages that include air travel. Travel for this deal is available February 1 to March 26, 2005. Less expensive and luxurious deals are also available at the site. While the site doesn't list a date you must book by, it does advise to book now to ensure availability.
Happy skiing!
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