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Where to Stay in Whistler for Skiing

Where to Stay in Whistler for Skiing

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Whistler is a very popular ski town, in fact, it’s known around the world for being a top ski destination! Whistler is one of those destinations that you want to visit in the winter. It’s an absolute winter wonderland home to tall mountain peaks covered with perfectly powdered snow great for hitting the slopes.

There are a ton of winter activities in Whistler, and tours you can do year-round, but skiing is certainly the most popular (thanks to the massive ski resort, Whistler Blackcomb.) So if you’re heading to Whistler for your ski holiday and not sure where to stay, I have you covered!

I mean, the last thing you want to do is book a hotel in Whistler that makes it difficult for you to get to the ski resort each day …am I right?

The best hotels in Whistler for skiing are going to be “ski-in, ski-out”, as it makes them very close to the chair lift. I have hand picked the best hotels and hostels in Whistler for visiting on a ski holiday. Are you ready to experience world-class skiing along with the most magical sights and nature in the perfect hotel for your needs? Let’s get to it!

The Best Areas to Stay in Whistler for Skiing

Whistler Village in winter
The gorgeous Whistler Village! Photo credit – Mardzpe Depositphotos

You have two choices when it comes to choosing the right area to stay in Whistler for your ski holiday, Whistler Village or Creekside.

Whistler Village is the main center of town full of bars, restaurants, and shops. It is lively and a fun place to stay. Some of the hotels in Whistler Village are so close to Whistler Village Gondola that they are ski-in-ski-out. The only downside to staying in the Village is that it can be quite loud and busy.

Creekside is a few minutes’ drive from Whistler Village. Here, it is much quieter with fewer hotels to choose from. From here, you can access the Creekside Gondola which will take you right up the mountain.

Check out this trail map to see exactly which area connects with which chairlifts and trails.

Related Read: Another awesome town for skiing in BC is Revelstoke. Check out this road trip guide from driving from Whistler to Revelstoke including all of the best stops along the way!

5 BEST Places to Stay in Whistler for Skiing

Below are the absolute best 5 hotels in Whistler with prime locations for skiing at Whistler Blackcomb. With any of these 5 hotels, you’re sure to be impressed.

1. Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre – $$$

the outside of Pan Pacific Whistler Hotel and how the chairlift is right next to it
Just look at this huge hotel…and the chairlift right next to it!
Photo Credit: Pan Pacific Whistler

The Pan Pacific Whistler Village Center is located just a short five-minute walk from the Whistler Village chairlift. Aside from the solid location, I think you will really enjoy this full-service, all-suite European-style hotel. It offers a breakfast buffet, complimentary wireless Internet access, and slope-side valet ski and bike storage.

During your stay, you can enjoy their heated outdoor saltwater pool, one of their two hot tubs, or even pamper yourself in the sauna. This is a luxurious and romantic place to stay – perfect for anybody visiting Whistler on their honeymoon!

Don’t miss out on enjoying the views on their sundeck that overlooks the mountains! They also have a free in-resort shuttle you can take advantage of during your ski trip.

The suites at the Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre come in various sizes, with studio, one, two, and three-bedroom options. Within the modern rooms, you’ll find seating areas with fireplaces, a fully equipped kitchen, a balcony, and breathtaking mountain and city views. You can also enjoy a flat-screen cable TV and free local calls.

If you’re wanting to get out and explore the surrounding area, you’re in the perfect central location for exploring all of the best things to do in Whistler.

Rooms start at $225 CAD per night.

Check availability and prices for the Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre

2. Evolution Whistler – $$$

inside the one bedroom suites at Evolution Whistler
The cozy one-bedroom with fireplace. Photo credit: Evolution

When is comes to finding a great hotel for skiing in whistler, Evolution is perfect. Sitting within walking distance of the Creekside Express Gondola (one of the main chairlifts), Evolution is a modern condo-style accommodation provider for families of all sizes. It features kid-friendly facilities, such as a media room with daily movie screenings and a game room with Nintendo Switch consoles. 

There is also an outdoor heated swimming pool and two hot tubs on-site, as well as a dry sauna and a eucalyptus steam room. While you can find no restaurants here, you have plenty of dining options within a quick walk from the property.

You can stay in either a one or two-bedroom suite, both of which are fitted with fireplaces, full kitchens, and separate living and dining areas. Other in-room amenities include a private bathroom, a personal washer and dryer, air conditioning, and cable TV. However, the best feature I love about the rooms in Evolution is the private balcony, where you can enjoy a view of either the pool, the quiet street, or the mountain. 

One of the best things about Evolution is that unlike most of the other ski-in-ski-out hotels in Whistler, it isn’t located in Whistler Village. Instead, it is located in the quieter area of Creekside. But, still walking distance from the Creekside chairlift so you can still be the first on the hill – bonus!

The one-bedroom suite here costs $192 CAD per night.

Check availability and prices for Evolution Whistler

3. First Tracks Lodge – $$

view of First Tracks Hotel from the chairlift in Whistler
The hotel is a winter wonderland! Photo Credit: First Tracks Lodge

At First Tracks Lodge you can enjoy a luxurious stay only meters from the chairlift. The name says it all, “first tracks”, so that’s what you can expect with this hotel’s location. It’s a ski-in, ski-out resort making for a unique experience in a convenient location at the base of Whistler Mountain in Whistler Creekside.

You can expect an upscale, condo-style hotel with chic and modern suites. The lodge has a heated outdoor pool that’s open year-round, a patio with a hot tub, fitness center, ski storage area, steam room, and a lobby library with a grand fireplace that’s perfect for lounging by after a long day on the slopes.

The hotel features suites ranging in size from one to four bedrooms. Each suite offers free Wi-Fi and TVs with cable channels, plus fireplaces, and balconies or terraces, kitchens dishwashers, and washer/dryers.

It’s a 1-minute walk from Whistler Blackcomb’s Creekside Express Gondola, 3.3 km (2 miles) from Alpha Lake, and 4.3 km (2.7 miles) from Whistler Golf Club. In addition, the Creekside Village is just steps away providing convenient access to a grocery store, liquor store, ski and board rentals, as well as a few coffee shops and eateries.

Prices start at $200 CAD per night.

Check availability and prices for First Tracks Lodge

Related Read: Need help planning your Whistler trip? Check out our 1, 2, and 3-day Whistler itinerary!

4. Whistler Village Inn & Suites – $$

the kitche and living area in one of the apartments in Whistler Village Inn & Suites
You’ll feel right at home here. Photo Credit: Whistler Village Inn & Suites

Whistler Village Inn & Suites features an in-house restaurant, heated outdoor pool, fitness center access, and warm service for its guests. They also have a hot tub, dry sauna, and tour desk on-site too.

The elegant, contemporary hotel offers lofts, studios, and suites to choose from, all with a mountain chalet atmosphere. Regardless of which you choose, each room is equipped with fireplaces, flat-screen TVs, air conditioning, a private bathroom, and a kitchen/kitchenette. The studios even include a seating space and a balcony with a view. 

Blackcomb Excalibur Gondola is just a two-minute walk away from the property. If you want to drive to the Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club and the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, both are only about a five-minute drive. 

You can stay at Whistler Village Inn & Suites for as low as $167 CAD a night.

Check availability and prices for Whistler Village Inn & Suites

5. Pangea Pod Hotel – $

the outside of Pangea Pod Hotel in the winter in Whistler
This is your best bet for a budget stay in Whistler while still being close to the chairlift! Photo Credit: Pangea Pod Hotel

While the cheapest hotels in Whistler cost over $180 CAD per night during peak season, there is one genuinely budget-friendly accommodation option in town. The Pangea Pod Hotel is conveniently situated in the center of the village and about a ten-minute walk from the ski lifts.

It comes in a hostel dorm-style setting, providing double beds in “pods” grouped in suites with private bathrooms. They are a bit more private than hostel bunks, but you will still share the sleeping space. Bathroom facilities are also shared. If you’re concerned about security, fear not, as each pod can be locked individually and comes with a socket and a reading light.

This boutique hotel also offers a communal living area, craft beer, an espresso machine, and a rooftop bar. This will give you plenty of chances to meet other travelers.

If you like to explore, the Whistler and Blackcomb gondolas are only 650 feet away, while Alpha Lake Park is 3.8 km (2.4 miles) away. Other nearby attractions, such as Whistler Mountain Bike Park and Whistler Olympic Plaza, are within 160m and 800m of the hotel, respectively.

You can book the side-entry pods for couples here for $82 CAD a night.

Check availability and book a stay at the Pangea Pod Hotel on either Booking.com or Hostelworld.com!

Looking for more info on different areas in Whistler? Check out our blog about Where to Stay in Whistler, it is a complete breakdown of the best areas and hotels all over Whistler!

Heading to Banff? Read our blog about where to stay in Banff for skiing!

Things to do While You’re in Whistler

Two people come down The Sasquatch Zipline in Whistler, Canada
The Sasquatch zipline in Whistler!
bailey poses on an atv in whistler
ATV tours in Whistler are so much fun!

While you’re in Whistler, be sure not to miss out on some of the best activities in the area! Below, I have just listed a glimpse of my favorite things to do in Whistler to add to your Whistler itinerary!

  • Go ziplining – There are many epic ziplining tours in Whistler with the most incredible mountain and forest views! The Sasquatch is just as mighty as it sounds. Not only is it the longest zipline in North America but it also descends 2,133 (7,000 feet). It is only one line though so if you’d rather ride several lines or go for something less intense there is also the Eagle which departs from the same location! The tour features five different ziplines, including a 732 m (2,400 ft ) zipline with a 30-story descent – still a thrilling time!
  • Brandywine Falls – The nature all around Whistler is stunning and the 70 meters (230 feet) Brandywine Falls surrounded by rough cliffs is not one to miss! This is a really short hike – only about 15 minutes one-way starting from the parking lot. It’s accessible from April to October and you’ll cross a wooden footbridge, some train tracks and head through the forest until you make it to the first viewing platform.
  • Ride an ATV/buggy – One of our very favorite tours in Whistler was a buggy tour! In our small 4-wheel utility vehicle, we zoomed the mountain tops and admired all of the panoramic views (when we weren’t splashing in the puddles, that is!) If you prefer to ride an ATV, that is possible too with the same company. The buggy tour is $335 CAD whereas the ATV tour costs $209 CAD.
  • Scenic flight – Although fun, scenic flights around Whistler are not cheap but are 100% bucket worthy! There are a few different options here but the most unique options are the scenic helicopter flight with a mountain landing and a seaplane flight that departs and lands from the water! The helicopter tour includes a 20-minute flight and a 15-minute glacier landing on Rainbow Mountain for the cost of $325 CAD. On the seaplane flight, you’ll be in the sky for 30 minutes and it costs $199 CAD. Whichever you choose both options have mindblowing views of mountains, glaciers, and lakes!

Renting a Car in British Columbia

A rural road with Mt Currie in the background
Road trips are the best way to explore Canada!

If you’re arriving in British Columbia via plane, then I can’t recommend getting a rental car enough. British Columbia is a large province, and traveling between the best places to visit in BC requires transport. Although you can use public transport on some occasions, this means your trip will not only require more time but more planning.

Car rental in Canada isn’t relatively cheap, but it’s not that expensive either, especially if you get a budget car. The cheapest car with a pick-up and drop-off in different locations is around $100 CAD per day. The price does vary though, depending on the time of year. For car rentals, I use the website Discover Cars. It’s a search engine with lots of deals with good customer service. In fact, I’ve used Discover Cars all over the world, including in Chile, New Zealand, and Australia. Read my honest review of Discover Cars here for more details!

Another popular option is to rent a campervan or motorhome (only for the brave in winter). Using Motorhome Republic, you can search hundreds of deals across multiple companies to pick a great vehicle and the cheapest price. Having a motorhome is a stunning way to see Canada and you can often camp for free or very cheap in the most beautiful places imaginable! Read my tips on using Motorhome Republic here before you book!

Before you go…

Bailey from Destinationless Travel on a gondola in Whistler
Thanks for reading!

I hope you found the perfect hotel for your ski trip in Whistler in this post! There really are a great number of amazing places to stay when it comes to skiing in Whistler, all with their own perks. Enjoy your trip to the mountains, and happy skiing! If you have any other questions about your Whistler ski trip, feel free to reach out.

Before you go, be sure to check out some of our other posts on British Columbia, here are some of our favorites:

Visiting Vancouver in December

Visiting Revelstoke in December

Fun things to do in Stanley Park