Two hours north of the city of Vancouver in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, you’ll find Whistler Village. A place that looks like it should be placed in the centre of a snowglobe.
With a backdrop of snow capped mountain peaks and seemingly sugar-dusted fir and spruce trees - there is something quintessentially ‘Christmas’ about this place.
Walking through the village with a hot chocolate in hand will have the lyrics to a Bing Crosby Christmas song on repeat in your head.
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It’s an ideal destination for a girly weekend of ski, spa and relaxation. A friend and I spent three days here in late November just as the resort was opening for the start of ski season.
In the village you’ll find plenty of cosy coffee shops and restaurants to pass the time in between ski sessions and bars to quench your thirst after a day spent on the slopes. But with mountain biking and hiking on the cards in the summer months, Whistler can be an all-year round destination too.
We checked into Fairmont Chateau, in Whistler’s upper village. A short walk from where the bus from Vancouver will drop you - at the Gateway Loop. It’s a very scenic drive from the city.
The Chateau is considered a ‘ski-in-ski-out’ hotel and you can hop on the Blackcomb Mountain Gondola right beside the hotel’s side entrance to take you up to the slopes. It’s hard to think of a better location for skiers. There’s also a shuttle bus to the main street that leaves every 15 minutes from the hotel to help guests avoid the cold.
Our first evening in Whistler was spent cosied up by the roaring fire at the centre of the hotel in the Mallard Lounge and Terrace. The restaurant has a first class menu but the atmosphere is still casual and comfortable, some diners are still in their outdoor gear after a day on the mountain with hot toddies in hand.
The food at the Mallard lounge was so good we had dinner here twice during our stay. I highly recommend the honey whipped ricotta and prosciutto on grilled sourdough off the sharing plate menu, ideal with a glass of red wine. From the cocktail menu, we tried the ‘White out cosmo’ and ‘Chilli Chilli Bang Bang’ which tasted like a spicy, grown up hot chocolate.
I’ve been told a trip to Whistler isn’t complete without a visit to its award winning spa, The Scandinave. The 20,000 square foot outdoor Nordic-inspired day spa is found in a spruce and cedar forest with a stunning view of the mountains as its backdrop.
It was 0 degrees Celsius when we visited Scandinave on our second day in Whistler and the experience involves moving between hot and cold cycles to relax the muscles. Hot cycles take place in eucalyptus steam rooms, outdoor hot baths, a Finnish wood-burning sauna or a dry sauna. Cold cycles are bracing, Nordic waterfalls, rain showers and cold plunges. The discomfort in the freezing cold water was a necessary step and despite the obvious initial hesitation - there is certainly something to it as I felt like I’d had a two hour massage after our spa session.
Scandinave also has a strict silence policy which really helps you soak up the beautiful surroundings and focus on full relaxation.
I was a little apprehensive about day three in Whistler. It was my first time skiing and as someone who is generally challenged when it comes to coordination I wasn’t expecting to become the next Lindsay Vonn by the end of my lesson. But I was excited to be skiing in the best ski resort in North America, according to Condé Nast Traveler's reader choice awards.
After meeting my Whistler Blackcomb instructor Claudi Sala, I felt completely at ease. Claudi came up to ski for one winter season… nine years ago but he and his wife fell in love with the mountains and decided to stay permanently. He is now starting to teach his three-year-old daughter how to ski. His passion for skiing and the mountains is just infectious.
While I don’t think you’ll see me in the winter Olympics any time soon, Claudi’s guidance meant after a few hours I was actually skiing which I really wasn’t expecting.
After lunch, we took to Whistler’s famous peak to peak tour which is a cable car between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains offering stunning alpine views and over 200 runs to choose from. Though I think my next step will be trying a ‘Green’ run after I master a bunny slope, I’ll leave the ‘Black Diamonds’ for the experts.
For those who would like to just enjoy the village, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to galleries and museums to visit. One of the highlights of our stay in Whistler was learning about the indigenous communities native to the Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. Just a three minute walk from the Chateau you’ll find the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre (SLCC).
The centre is the first of its kind in Canada and here you’ll learn about the shared, traditional territories of the Squamish and Lil’wat nations. All proceeds from the SLCC are invested in cultural revitalisation programs for the two nations.
Our final night in Whistler was spent enjoying some delicious Italian food in Il Caminetto, found along the Whistler Village Stroll. I highly recommend the salumi misti, a selection of italian cured meats, pickled garnish and house made crostini and the tiramisu for dessert.
And for a daytime treat, head to Purebread, a lovely little family run bakery with a massive, moreish spread of baked goods on display. Try the outrageous chocolate brownie and the white chocolate and raspberry scone.
If you’re planning a trip to Whistler, Air Canada operates a route to Vancouver from Dublin from €714.07. Each time I’ve travelled to Vancouver to visit friends, I’ve flown with Air Canada and found the experience seamless.
When it comes to airline services particularly on long haul flights, I tend to think about five things cabin crew, aircraft comfort, cleanliness, food offering, and onboard entertainment. Air Canada always performs very highly in these categories for me compared to other airlines.
They also offer nonstop year-round services between Dublin and Toronto, as well as non-stop summer seasonal services from Dublin to Vancouver and Montreal. All customers have the opportunity to collect and redeem Aeroplan points when travelling with Air Canada, and eligible customers have access to priority check-in, Maple Leaf Lounges, priority boarding and other benefits.
Air Canada is also revamping its Economy Class menu on all international flights departing Canada to feature a hot entree created by Montreal Chef Jérôme Ferrer.
Return fares from Dublin to Vancouver via Toronto start at €714.07 in Economy, inclusive of all taxes and 1 x checked bag, and €1954.07 in Business, inclusive of all taxes and 2 x checked bags.
Getting there
Book Flights from Dublin to Vancouver with Air Canada from €714.07
Book your bus from Vancouver with Epic Rides
Accommodation
The Fairmont Chateau , 4599 Chateau Blvd. Whistler, British Columbia, V0N 1B4
Canada, +1 (604) 938-8000
Food
Il Caminetto , 4242 Village Stroll, Whistler, BC V8E 1E3, +1 604-932-4442
Spa
Scandinave Spa , 8010 Mons Road, Whistler, BC V8E 1K7
Visit
Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre 4584 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, BC V8E 0Y3
For more information
Check out www.whistler.com
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