Whistler Transportation

Planning a Trip

Getting There

By Car -- Whistler is about a 2-hour drive from Vancouver along Highway 99, also called the Sea-to-Sky Highway. The drive is spectacular, winding along the edge of Howe Sound before climbing up through the mountains. You'll need to allow extra time for road construction over the next few years while driving this extravagantly scenic route, as road crews are widening the road in advance of the 2010 Olympics. Before you depart, check www.tourismwhistler.com for updates on lane and road closures so you know what you're facing. Parking at the mountain is free for day skiers; there are large parking lots along Fitzsimmons Creek between Whistler Village and Upper Village. However, most hotels will charge a fee for overnight parking.

By Bus -- Whistler Express, 8695 Barnard St., Vancouver (tel. 604/266-5386 in Vancouver, or 604/905-0041 in Whistler; www.perimeterbus.com), operates door-to-door bus service from Vancouver International Airport via 16 downtown Vancouver hotels (for registered guests) to over 25 lodgings in Whistler. Buses depart seven times daily in the summer and nine times in winter. The trip typically takes 3 hours, though construction on the Sea-to-Sky Highway may delay the bus; one-way fares are C$67 (US$67/£34) for adults and C$45 (US$45/£23) for children. Kids under 5 ride free. Reservations are required year-round. Greyhound, Pacific Central Station, 1150 Station St., Vancouver (tel. 604/662-8051 in Vancouver, or 604/482-8747 in Whistler; www.greyhound.ca), operates service from the Vancouver Bus Depot to the Whistler bus depot at 2029 London Lane. The trip takes about 2 1/2 hours; one-way fares are C$18 (US$18/£9) for adults and C$10 (US$10/£5) for children ages 5 to 12. Pacific Coach Lines (tel. 800/661-1725 or 604/662-7575; www.pacificcoach.com) operates one-way bus service from Vancouver International Airport to Whistler area hotels for C$62 (US$62/£31) and C$32 (US$32/£16) children 5 to 11. Snowbus (tel. 604/685-7669; www.snowbus.ca) offers service to/from Whistler and Vancouver area suburbs (Richmond, Burnaby, North Vancouver) and other neighborhood locations in addition to downtown Vancouver and the airport. On Friday and weekend morning departures, riders have the option of hot breakfasts; free movies are offered during the journey. Also available from the website is a C$20 (US$20/£10) SnowCard, which offers discounts on Snowbus transportation and lift ticket packages, as well as discounts at Vancouver and Whistler area restaurants, recreational clothing stores, and ski and board shops. One-way fare between Vancouver and Whistler is C$21 (US$21/£11). Snowbus operates daily, though only during ski season.

By Train -- The Whistler Mountaineer, a new route from Rocky Mountaineer Vacations (tel. 877/460-3200 or 604/606-7245; www.whistlermountaineer.com), offers service between Vancouver and Whistler along the highly scenic Sea-to-Sky corridor. There's one train in each direction daily, departing 8:30am from North Vancouver Station, arriving at Whistler Station at 11:30am. The train returns in the afternoon, departing Whistler Station at 2:30pm and arriving at North Vancouver Station at 6pm. Currently the train operates mid-April to mid-October only. The least expensive fair is C$110 (US$110/£55) adult, C$60 (US$60/£30) children 2 to 11 one-way, or C$199 (US$199/£100) adult, C$109 (US$109/£55) children round-trip.

Visitor Information

The Whistler Visitor Info Centre, easy to find on the Village Bus Loop at 4230 Gateway Dr., Whistler, BC V0N 1B4 (tel. 604/932-5522; www.whistlerchamber.com), is open daily 9am to 5pm. Tourism Whistler is at the Whistler Conference Centre at 4010 Whistler Way, Whistler, BC V0N 1B0, open daily 9am to 5pm (tel. 877/991-9988 or 604/938-2769; www.tourismwhistler.com). Both offices can assist you with event tickets, reservations for recreation, and last-minute accommodations bookings.

Getting Around

Be sure to pick up a map when you get to Whistler and study it -- the curving streets are made for pedestrians but defy easy negotiation by drivers, particularly in the winter darkness. Whistler Village is at the base of the ski runs at Whistler Peak. Upper Village, at the base of Blackcomb ski runs, is just across Fiztsimmons Creek from Whistler Village. As development continues, the distinction between these two "villages" is disappearing, though Whistler Village is the center for most independent restaurants, shopping, and the youthful nightlife scene. Upper Village, centered on the Four Seasons and Fairmont Chateau Whistler hotels, is quieter and more upscale. However, both villages are compact, and signed trails and paths link together shops, lodgings, and restaurants in the central resort area. The walk between the two village resort areas takes about 10 minutes.

Many smaller inns, B&Bs, restaurants, and services are located outside the nucleus of Whistler Village and Upper Village. Creekside is a large development east (downhill) from Whistler Village (there are lifts onto Whistler Mountain from Creekside -- in fact, this was the original lift base for the resort), while the shores of Alta Lake are ringed with residential areas and golf courses.

By Bus -- The year-round Whistler and Valley Express (WAVE) public bus system (tel. 604/932-4020) offers 14 routes in the Whistler area. Buses have both bike and ski racks. Most routes cross paths at the Gondola Transit Exchange off Blackcomb Way, near the base of the Whistler Mountain lifts. One-way fares are C$1.50 (US$1.50/75p) for adults and C$1.25 (US$1.25/65p) for seniors and students. For a route map, go to www.busonline.ca.

By Taxi -- The village's taxis operate round-the-clock. Taxi tours, golf-course transfers, and airport transport are also offered by Airport Limousine Service (tel. 604/273-1331), Whistler Taxi (tel. 604/938-3333), and Sea to Sky Taxi (tel. 604/932-3333).

By Car -- Rental cars are available from Avis in the Cascade Lodge, 4315 Northlands Blvd. (tel. 800/TRY-AVIS or 604/932-1236).

Special Events

Downhill ski competitions are held December to May, including the TELUS Winter Classic (Jan), Nokia Snowboard FIS World Cup (Feb), and the TELUS World Ski & Snowboard Festival (Apr). In August, mountain bikers compete in Crankworx.

During the third week in July, the villages host Whistler's Roots Weekend (tel. 604/932-2394). Down in the villages and up on the mountains, you'll hear the sounds of Celtic, zydeco, bluegrass, folk, and world-beat music at free and ticketed events. The Whistler Summit Concert Series (tel. 604/932-3434) is held during August weekends. The mountains provide a stunning backdrop for the on-mountain concerts.

The second weekend in September ushers in the Whistler Jazz & Blues Festival (tel. 604/932-2394), featuring live performances in the village squares and the surrounding clubs. Cornucopia (tel. 604/932-3434) is Whistler's premier wine-and-food festival. Held in November, the opening gala showcases top wineries from the Pacific region plus lots of food events and tastings from local chefs.