Party in Whistler

Westin Whistler is a very comfortable and homey space to occupy. Since I stayed in a junior suite, the room has a fireplace where you can warm up after skiing all day long. There is a king-size bed, a sofa bed, and lots of storage space to put your clothes. As for other suites, they are similar in furnishings but vary by size. This resort is extremely convenient being less than 100 feet away from the Whistler and Blackcomb gondolas. Each suite has a kitchen, which is great, and you will save a lot of money by not eating out for every meal. If you do not enjoy washing dishes, you may want to bring some paper plates, plastic utensils, etc. The hotel does provide dishwash detergent tablets so you do not have to bring some yourself. Also, they have a valet service to hold your skis every day. You will have to bring your ski boots with you in the room. Rent your skis from the Salomon store in Westin. Ask for Hutch from Sydney, Australia, to help you out. Not only is he nice, but he's super cute, too! If you are a Starwood Preferred Guest, you receive free water bottles each day. The staff is extremely friendly and helpful. The vast majority of the employees thru out the whole resort area are in their 20s. This resort is wonderful for all travelers, and you will find comfort in your stay.

The food at Araxi was wonderful and tasteful. It was a very light meal but very filling. Their specialties consist of oysters. This restaurant has a knowledgeable staff and offers an abundant amount of fresh seafood daily. They serve everything from Char to venison. It is all very tasty and fresh. Also, they have wonderful dessert choices. There is a sampler that has all of their desserts in miniature form. Most of the desserts are between $10 and $30 U.S., which is reasonable.

The conditions in Whistler are very different. It does not snow there... it ices. The trails are VERY fast, which I do not recommend for a beginner. Definitely, practice in the Olympic Village to build the confidence. You will not want to be one of those people on the Ski Patrol gondola. Definitely study the trails (provided trail maps available) and know your limitations. The green trails are more like blue trails in Colorado. These mountains are both exhilarating and scary, but it's worth the trip and money. Do some research on the www.whistlerblackcomb.com website to gain more knowledge about the trails.

For a ski town, Whistler has wonderful stores where all the employees enjoy their jobs. For both gals and guys, check out lululemon. This is a yoga store that sells yoga attire and other things. If you do not do yoga, you should check it out anyway. The warm-up suits are really comfy, and they compliment the majority of body types. Also, check out the Salomon store in the Westin hotel. They sell ski equipment, clothes, and other accessories. Prices in retail stores are comparable to any city. Some of the funky clothes are at Wild Willie's. This is a spin-off of Urban Outfitters. They sell vintage-type t-shirts and all other clothes. They are reasonable in price and very trendy. Of course, you have to check out Roots Canada. I love their track pants and baseball caps. If you love to shop, then you'll love it here.

I would definitely recommend taking the Perimeter shuttle bus from Vancouver to Whistler. They pick up at the airport and select Vancouver hotels. Taking the shuttle is cheaper because: 1)you don't have to deal with parking and its fees, 2)you do not need a car in Whistler because it is pedestrian-friendly, 3)driving there in a car could lead to motion sickness because it is a windy road, 4)people respect bigger vehicles than cars, and 5)if you do need to drive around, the village provides a free shuttle. Stay at the Westin because it is the most convenient resort and in the prime spot.