As winter approaches, a palpable excitement fills the air in Whistler. Locals along with travellers and workers from all over the world come to live, work and play in one of the most famous ski resort towns in the world. Whistler is by no means an inexpensive place to visit, but the 2-3 weeks right before the mountain opens for the ski season is a great opportunity to take an affordable Whistler weekend getaway before the whole world tries to crowd into this beautiful resort town.
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November, and the endless dreary rain and cold that come with it, typically marks the end of weekends outdoors that Vancouverites delight in during the summer and fall. Not wanting to spend yet another rainy weekend cooped up inside with Netflix, Jens and I decided to take advantage of the low season prices in Whistler to go on a weekend getaway before things get expensive on the mountain.
Hotel prices in Whistler are actually very affordable outside of the ski season. We booked a studio suite that includes a full kitchen at the Blackcomb Springs Suites for only $150 a night. The same room in high season (any time in December until April) would cost three to four times more – if there’s availability at all. Parking was an additional $25 a night at the property – which is the going rate for virtually all hotels in Whistler.
Making our own “spa” vacation:
Aside from skiing, there’s nothing more ubiquitous about a Whistler experience than hot-tubbing outside with snow falling all around. Our number one criteria for selecting a hotel was that it had to have an outdoor hot tub. Blackcomb Springs Suites had two hot tubs – one adults only – and a heated outdoor pool. We were sold.
Spa Scandinave offers Nordic style outdoor baths, and a variety of steam and sauna rooms. The beautiful facility is technology-free, and is a silent facility – so talking is not allowed in most areas. There are a number of indoor and outdoor relaxation areas. Purchasing WaySpa certificates at Costco, and using the gift certificates to pay for your visit can give you a 25% off discount for the entry fees, as two $50 certificates (with total value of $100) costs $74.99.
Jens and I preferred to have the option of chatting while we hot-tub, so the outdoor tubs and pool at Blackcomb Spring Suites worked well for us. The hotel had a reservation system so there were never more than 12 people in the tub. The staff don’t seem to mind when people bring a hydrating beverage in a non-breakable container to enjoy in the hot tub, so long as you don’t go overboard.
The hot tubs were the perfect temperature, and it even started to snow during our trip, so we got to experience the magic of hot-tubbing in the snow. The pool was also very well-heated, and was a great place to swim off some heat when we got too warm.
Our suite at the hotel had a fireplace and had a “fancy cabin-chic” feel. The full kitchen was well stocked, with cutlery and a dishwasher, which allowed us to cook our own cozy meals. We brought most of our groceries from Vancouver, but if you need supplies, there’s a grocery store and a liquor store a 5 minute drive away in the Whistler Village. If all else fails, the hotel actually has a vending machine that vends actual groceries like cartons of milk, eggs, even packages of bacon!
There are lots of hiking opportunities around Whistler, from beginner to advanced. On the Sunday, we did a couple of smaller hikes when when the rain finally eased up. First up was the Rainbow Falls. This is a short 2km loop hike along the banks of Twentyone Mile Creek and that offers views of Rainbow Falls.
Next up was a visit to the Whistler Train Wreck. In 1956 a freighter heading south from Lillooet lost control, and the subsequent crash wedged three cars together so tightly, they had to be pried apart with heavy machinery. Once pried loose, the damaged train cars were simply rolled off the tracks and into the forest where they remain today – that’s how things were done 60 years ago I suppose. The forest grew around the remnants of the train wreck and local artists have come in to leave their art on the train wreckage which stands in stark contrast to the lush forest that surrounds it. The Whistler Train Wreck is now a Whistler tourism icon. There’s a short 2KM hike to get there and you have to cross a beautiful suspension bridge to reach the site. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area!
November is a hard month in Vancouver. Pleasant fall outdoor activities are pretty much washed out by the rain; and ski season has yet to start. If you’re looking for a nice weekend getaway to breakup the couch and Netflix routine for your November weekend consider a low-season weekend getaway in Whistler, there’s no skiing yet, but the snow may be falling and the hot-tubs are calling.
