Whistler BC trip

**Droopy** · 09-02-2004, 12:19 AM

I'm heading up there with in January with my friend.

I got the price down to about $900 american dollars per person for a flight from Baltimore Maryland, 7 nights housing, and a week of lift tickets. If you think I can do better give me some tips, every penny counts and i have a long time to plan it. Also realisticly how much are we going to blow on food and drink (mostly drink) in a week??

O-Canada land of molson and labatt blue

Edit: The plane tix were $460+/pp, $28 an night for a place to stay, and $230ish for lift tix

**BakerBoy** · 09-02-2004, 12:41 AM

Poor guy. If you guys are into having some fun, its pretty easy to go thru $200 CND a night in Whistler. The key of course, is to drink liqour, and drink as much as possible in your rooms before you go out anywhere. And change it all outside of town. If you're REALLY smart, you bring the booze in from Squamish or something.

**White Chocolate** · 09-02-2004, 12:52 AM

Originally posted by BakerBoy
Poor guy. If you guys are into having some fun, its pretty easy to go thru $200 CND a night in Whistler. The key of course, is to drink liqour, and drink as much as possible in your rooms before you go out anywhere. And change it all outside of town. If you're REALLY smart, you bring the booze in from Squamish or something.

just remember that beer is NOT affordable in whistler, unless you like spending $10 on a 6 pack of shitty beer. The hard stuff however is cheaper then in the states. Like bakerboy said, get drunk in your room, then just bring enough money for cover's and a couple drinks for the ladies.

JR · 09-02-2004, 12:57 AM

Originally posted by Droopy

O-Canada land of molson and labatt blue

Oh man, that is enough to make a grown Canadian man cry or make a Canadian man groan.

Try some real beer, Okanagan Springs, Sleemans, ....................

Damn, now I'm going to have to go down to the liquor store just to make a list of real beers for ya. Oh the sacrifices I make.

JR · 09-02-2004, 01:00 AM

Originally posted by BakerBoy
If you're REALLY smart, you bring the booze in from Squamish or something.

We have these things called Government Liquor Stores in BC and the price is damn near the same whether you buy it in Nelson, Cranbrook or Whistler. Now cold beer and wine stores might be a different story.

**huck4bucks** · 09-02-2004, 08:23 AM

I concur about the liquor...it's NOT cheap. A sixer of cans is $13+tax. The US dollar is shit right now too. Buy your stuff in the states and bring it in. I think you're allowed 1000ml of hard liquor per person, but google it for sure.

Otherwise, check out the Pique--the local newspaper. Look in the back for what bars are having specials that night.

For $28 a night, you must be staying at the Shoestring Lodge...nice move. The rooms are good, you have your own shower, and you can walk/stumble to and from the village.

**glademaster** · 09-02-2004, 08:27 AM

Nice dood! You'll dig it, W/B is unreal, you just hafta hope you had better luck than me snowwise. According my Extremely Canadian coach, the week we were there was "The worst condtions I've seen in 20 years of living here." I'm sure your timing is better, we have shitty snow luck. Let hope we have better luck in Ootah [anitjinx]

**Shredhead** · 09-02-2004, 09:36 AM

Originally posted by Droopy
The plane tix were $460+/pp,

Have you thought about taking Southwest out of BWI to Seattle
and renting a car.

**CantDog** · 09-02-2004, 09:38 AM

There is a brewery in Squamish, at the end of main street facing the Chief. A combo brewpub/restaurant/hotel. Anyway, its a nice spot to grab a brew on your way up to Whistler.

Yeah, the beer selection in those liquor store sucks.(Maybe why they call them liquor stores?)

**milkman** · 09-02-2004, 10:11 AM

Originally posted by JR
Oh man, that is enough to make a grown Canadian man cry or make a Canadian man groan.

Try some real beer, Okanagan Springs, Sleemans, ....................

Damn, now I'm going to have to go down to the liquor store just to make a list of real beers for ya. Oh the sacrifices I make.

Word. Labatt and Molson are both piss (unless you're a real fan of Bud). Granville Island and Vancouver Island brews are beautiful as well. A six of bottles (good stuff) runs about $12 CDN after deposit and taxes.

**skieast** · 09-02-2004, 10:26 AM

For some reason I've grown fond of Mountain Ale (on tap) or Granville Island Honey Lager. Mind you at 5.00 a pint I'm not that fond of it.

It feels great at the end of the day, checking into Dusty's for a few, just have to watch that the few doesn't keep extending into pitchers and pitchers.

**Droopy** · 09-02-2004, 04:56 PM

yeah i went up to Mount Teremblant last year and droped an easy 200 a day, but that was only for 3 days so it didnt hurt to bad

**Droopy** · 09-02-2004, 05:19 PM

Good looks on the rent a card and drive from WA it will save us about 100 per person, how long is the drive about 4.5 - 5.0 hours? and for mid-January will a POS economy car make it to whistler or will we need a full-size car or an SUV. basically is it mostly highways up there?

have any of you ever had Yuengling, cuz thats one nice beer

**PlayHarder** · 09-02-2004, 05:22 PM

basically is it mostly highways up there?

Nope, dog sled run.

**skieast** · 09-02-2004, 06:36 PM

What's a highway?

Mostly open fields, some moose, occasional caribou.

i've done it in a rented minivan, no snow tires, and lots of white knuckles.

best time is when the road conditions are 'compact snow'

**The AD** · 09-02-2004, 07:49 PM

Originally posted by Droopy
Good looks on the rent a card and drive from WA it will save us about 100 per person, how long is the drive about 4.5 - 5.0 hours?

Yeah, that's about right. Probably five from SeaTac since that's south of Seattle.

In general the road conditions are good. There are no mountain passes to go over. I'd say it's very unlikely your economy rental will have any problems.

Check out Whistler's web site for driving directions. You will probably want to exit I-5 north and take the truck border crossing. This allows you to bypass Vancouver.

Hopefully you make the drive between Vancouver and Squamish during the day at least in one direction. Truly one of the most beautiful drives you will ever see.

**Toque** · 09-02-2004, 07:57 PM

Originally posted by JR
Oh man, that is enough to make a grown Canadian man cry or make a Canadian man groan.

Try some real beer, Okanagan Springs, Sleemans, ....................

.

I would give my left nut right now for a Molson. All I can get is Blue and beer flavoured water with alcohol in it. I've had enough of both.

**Snow Dog** · 09-02-2004, 08:01 PM

Originally posted by Droopy
Good looks on the rent a card and drive from WA it will save us about 100 per person, how long is the drive about 4.5 - 5.0 hours? and for mid-January will a POS economy car make it to whistler or will we need a full-size car or an SUV. basically is it mostly highways up there?

You can also fly to Bellingham for the same money as Seattle and it's 2 hours closer. If you fly to Vancouver you can take a shuttle to Whistler. At Whistler you don't need a car. Decisions, decisions. When renting a car sometimes you have to pay extra to drive to another country so ask. The rental company will try to sell you insurance (which is more than the rental). Unless you can transfer your car insurance or your employer has a deal or your credit card covers you then you're stuck with it. If you're under 25 then you can't rent a car at all.

if you meet some girls then you'll blow all your cash that night.

**Toque** · 09-02-2004, 08:03 PM

I heard a rumour that peeler bar was closing.

True???????

**cab9** · 09-02-2004, 08:12 PM

Originally posted by skieast
What's a highway?

Mostly open fields, some moose, occasional caribou.

i've done it in a rented minivan, no snow tires, and lots of white knuckles.

best time is when the road conditions are 'compact snow'

I didn't see a little winking face, so I thought you might be serious. There are very few animals near the highway in winter, and there are no Moose or Caribou around ever, the closest migration would be 100km/60miles up the Ashlu or Squamish Valley.
The highway will have a lot of new 4 lane sections as there is a huge upgrade going on for the Olympics.
If you are in a little economy car, get chains, don't stop on hills in the snow, or its over for the budget car.
January rocks here, I am sure you will be stoked.

**cab9** · 09-02-2004, 08:14 PM

Originally posted by Toque
I heard a rumour that peeler bar was closing.

True???????

Its still open, but that rumour is still flying. There are new owners of the Shoestring lodge where the Boot Pub is aka Peeler Bar/Boot Ballet. If they develop a new hotel I think the Boot will be gone and the last little bit of Whistler culture will be gone.

**skieast** · 09-02-2004, 08:25 PM

Regular season pass prices will stay at $1,639, with an early bird offer of $1,329, the same as last season. (from the pique)

**PlayHarder** · 09-02-2004, 08:33 PM

If they develop a new hotel I think the Boot will be gone and the last little bit of Whistler culture will be gone.

That sucks. Stayed in the Shoestring my entire first summer up there.

**milkman** · 09-02-2004, 09:04 PM

Originally posted by skieast
Regular season pass prices will stay at $1,639, with an early bird offer of $1,329, the same as last season. (from the pique)

That's a new one. No price hike? What is Whistler coming to?

**Toque** · 09-02-2004, 09:49 PM

For all students in the area the 4x4 pass is the best thing going. I had one 2 seasons ago. Can't remember how much it was but it was less than 300 cdn for skiing into June.