Evaluate: Westin Whistler | Prince of Journey

I stayed on the Westin Whistler on a current ski journey to the Whistler Blackcomb resort. 

The Westin is without doubt one of the greatest choices for utilizing factors and saving cash on sky-high lodging charges in case you’re headed as much as the Whistler space.

Right here’s a full evaluate of the property from my current journeys, together with some further ideas from a separate keep I had in a Bi-Degree Loft Suite. 

Westin Whistler – Reserving

Regardless of the season, a visit to Whistler hardly ever comes low cost. You possibly can count on paid charges on the Westin to fluctuate from $300 (CAD) earlier than taxes in shoulder season, to $500–600 (CAD) within the peak of summertime, all the way in which as much as $1,000+ (CAD) throughout ski season, when the lodge is almost absolutely booked. 

With the Marriott Bonvoy program, the Westin Whistler is a Class 7 property that fees 50,000, 60,000, or 70,000 Bonvoy factors per evening on the off-peak, customary, or peak charges, respectively. 

Given our goal valuation of Bonvoy factors at 0.9 cents per level, which means it’ll possible be a greater deal to pay money on the Westin Whistler at off-peak instances and to redeem factors in case you’re staying at the most well-liked instances.

That’s precisely how I’ve booked my previous two stays right here. In the summertime, I paid $300 (CAD) for a one-night keep on a comparatively low cost charge that I had sought out far prematurely. In the meantime, I redeemed 70,000 factors per evening for a two-night keep throughout the winter holidays.

It was actually considerably painful to half methods with such an enormous sum of factors for a keep that was comparatively near residence, however that’s how Whistler’s winter costs have at all times tended to go. 

For different inns on factors, take into account the Delta Whistler Village Suites or the Hilton Whistler, though neither property seems to be as sturdy because the Westin. I’ll effectively give these inns a go on my future visits to Whistler with a view to give you an apples-to-apples comparability. 

Westin Whistler – Location

The Whistler Blackcomb resort itself is situated a two-hour drive north of Vancouver. In case you aren’t driving, there’s a devoted bus service that prices $35 (CAD) from Downtown Vancouver or $55 (CAD) from Vancouver Worldwide Airport that brings you proper to the doorway of Whistler Village. 

One main cause why the Westin Whistler is ready to cost such a premium is because of its location. Nestled within the coronary heart of Whistler Village, the Westin is merely steps across the nook from the primary Whistler Gondola that takes you up the mountain.

That’s a useful profit on ski days, whenever you’re attempting to squeeze in these early-morning runs in recent powder, in addition to on the subject of collaborating within the après-ski and nightlife tradition that Whistler has to supply.

Because the lodge constructing is located on the mountainside, the Foyer flooring performs host to the primary driveway and the check-in desks, whereas Ground 1 leads out to Whistler Village by means of the ski retailers, ski valet, and rental amenities. 

Westin Whistler – Test-in

Our celebration of 4 pulled as much as the Westin Whistler after a gradual noon drive from Vancouver. After we took this journey, the area was experiencing some notably frosty climate round –20˚C, so the street circumstances weren’t nice. 

The Westin affords both self-parking for $34/evening or a valet parking service for $38/evening. Because it was solely $4 additional, we determined to go for the valet parking to make it simpler for ourselves.

(I think about many visitors don’t make a lot use of the valet parking apart from the drop-off and pickup, since they’re principally right here to ski anyway.)

The lodge foyer was dressed up in Christmas decorations, together with a cute Westin sleigh. 

We had arrived on the property simply after midday, earlier than it grew to become too busy, and we have been helped fairly shortly. Like many employees members who work at Whistler, the check-in affiliate was an Aussie fellow. 

He tell us that our One-Bed room Suite with Queen Mattress, which I had upgraded to utilizing Suite Evening Awards, had simply change into prepared for our arrival. 

He additionally confirmed our breakfast profit as a Titanium Elite member: complimentary buffet breakfast within the restaurant for 2. I used to be delighted that the breakfast buffet was again (we had a boxed in-room breakfast once we stayed in the summertime), however once I requested if it was attainable to increase the profit to our celebration of 4, I used to be swiftly shot down. 

Lastly, the affiliate confirmed the parking charge of $38/evening for valet parking, legitimate till 4pm on the day of checkout. Whereas the parking charges on the lodge aren’t low cost, I’m at the least completely happy to see that the Westin doesn’t stoop to the extent of charging an arbitrary resort price. 

Westin Whistler – One-Bed room Suite with Queen Mattress

I stayed within the One-Bed room Suite with Queen Mattress on two of our visits to the lodge in the summertime and winter. 

In the course of the summer season, I had “suite-talked” my option to the improve on account of my Titanium Elite standing, whereas I used Suite Evening Awards to offer myself higher odds of the improve on our current winter journey resulting from our bigger celebration. 

The rooms and suites on the Westin Whistler very a lot include the coziness that you just’d count on from a ski resort. They aren’t very massive in any respect, and the One-Bed room Suite gave the 4 of us simply barely sufficient area to comfy dwell, dine, and play. 

To its credit score, the suite affords a kitchenette with a fridge, microwave, range, sink, and dishwasher, which is available in very useful on longer stays whenever you don’t wish to eat out each evening. 

There’s additionally a easy espresso maker in each room.

Then there’s a four-person eating desk, plus a residing space with a sofa, tv, and hearth. 

Jessy’s mother and father took the main bedroom, which doesn’t supply a lot area for something apart from the mattress itself.

In the meantime, Jessy and I took the couch mattress, which occupies many of the residing space when deployed. Mix that with our ski boots and poles (that are introduced upstairs to your room whereas your skis and snowboards are saved on the ski valet downstairs), and the room can actually really feel a bit cramped at instances. 

The lavatory consists of a bathe, bathtub, sink, and bathroom. An omnipotent blast of piping-hot water is a must have at any ski resort, and I’m happy to say that the Westin Whistler’s bathe did an important job of soothing the muscular tissues after an extended day on the mountain. 

Lastly, the One-Bed room Suites supply a small balcony from which you’ll be able to catch a breath of recent mountain air. Again in the summertime, we had a view overlooking the lodge pool under, whereas our view within the winter was close-up towards the mountainside.

Total, the visitor rooms on the Westin Whistler are cozy and useful, although not at all overly luxurious. 

The rooms are nice for taking part in some board video games within the night and crashing earlier than hitting the slopes within the morning. However in any other case, not like another ski resorts around the globe, there’s no cause to spend an excessive amount of time indoors.

Westin Whistler – Bi-Degree Loft Suite

On a subsequent go to to the realm, I had an opportunity to remain in a Bi-Degree Loft Suite.

The Bi-Degree Loft Suite is a classy two-level suite with a totally geared up kitchenette on the primary degree and floor-to-ceiling views of Whistler under.

As you step inside, you’re greeted by a well-appointed kitchenette, full with all of the necessities to arrange a fast chunk.

There’s an oven, stovetop, microwave and full-sized fridge. Moreover, the cupboards are absolutely stocked with any dishes you may want available.

A espresso maker sits atop the counter, and a kettle could be discovered inside the cupboards.

Halfway into the suite is a small eating desk with seating for 3.

Then, positioned close to the towering floor-to-ceiling home windows is a seating space comprised of a sofa, armchair, and wood espresso desk. From the home windows, you will have an important view of Whistler Village under.

On the other wall are a wall-mounted flat-screen TV and a toasty in-suite hearth.

Adjoining is a small desk, which was fairly small and had restricted floor area, however nonetheless serves as a useful workspace.

Continuing across the nook and up the steps, you’ll arrive on the loft, which performs host to a cushty king mattress that faces out in direction of the home windows.

Within the left-hand nook, a small TV is housed atop a small armoire inside an alcove. From right here, you’ll be able to look down at the remainder of the suite for an aerial perspective.

To the fitting of the king mattress is the doorway to the toilet that includes a standalone self-importance, adjoining bathtub and walk-in bathe. Regardless of being a bit small, it supplied wonderful water stress.

I discovered the Bi-Degree Loft Suite to be a quaint hideaway, affording nice views of Whistler Village under. Although not probably the most fashionable in design, the Bi-Degree Loft Suite nonetheless affords wonderful performance and luxury.

The absolutely geared up kitchenette is certainly handy as you’ll be able to simply whip-up your personal meals or snacks as you would like. Moreover, the in-suite hearth provides a contact of coziness in between milling round Whistler Village, and the sturdy water stress is certainly appreciated after a demanding day on the slopes.

Westin Whistler – Breakfast

Breakfast is served within the lodge’s principal restaurant, Grill & Vine. I used to be delighted to see that the complete breakfast buffet had been restored by the point of our keep in December 2021.

Whereas visitors can take breakfast within the restaurant, they’re additionally supplied take-out packing containers to replenish on the buffet if they should get breakfast to-go. This meant that regardless that the lodge denied my request to increase breakfast to our celebration of 4, we might nonetheless all get pleasure from breakfast just by filling up our sizeable take-out packing containers with sufficient breakfast for 4. 

The buffet consists of your typical cold and warm breakfast objects, together with separate stations for fruits, pastries, and cereals. Whereas many of the objects have been pretty customary, I did recognize sure additional touches like guacamole, which you don’t see in every single place. 

Espresso and juice are additionally included within the breakfast profit for elite members.

Total, I believed the Westin Whistler’s elite breakfast providing was pretty good, particularly in these present instances when many inns (notably in North America) like to scrimp out on breakfast advantages. 

Westin Whistler – Ski Valet

The ski valet or “mountain concierge” service is a trademark of any ski resort, and the Westin Whistler isn’t any exception. The lodge’s ski valet is discovered on the in-house Can-Ski Efficiency retailer, which can also be the place you’d go to lease or buy tools.

The ski valet prices $7/day, though this price is waived for Westin visitors who’re staying in a collection (together with Suite Evening Award upgrades). Due to this fact, I didn’t need to pay for our utilization of the ski valet on this explicit keep.

Merely drop off your tools whenever you’re carried out within the afternoon, after which come again within the morning to choose them up earlier than heading up the mountain. I discovered the ski valet to be an extremely handy service, particularly with the Westin being mere steps away from the gondolas. 

Westin Whistler – Different Services

Along with the Grill & Vine restaurant, there’s additionally a Japanese restaurant referred to as Kaze onsite, which is open for dinner. They function independently somewhat than a part of the lodge, although, so you’ll be able to’t invoice your meal to the room.

There’s additionally quite a lot of retail retailers, a lot of which concentrate on ski & snowboard gear, on the first-floor degree.

The mezzanine flooring performs host to The Mountain Membership, which, alas, is just not an government lounge that Marriott elite members get entry to. As a substitute, it’s a personal members’ membership operated by Gibbons Whistler, so that you’d have to have a membership to realize entry. 

Lastly, the second flooring of the lodge performs host to the spa, pool, and health amenities. 

There’s a related indoor/out of doors pool that looks as if a really good place to unwind after an extended ski day, if not for the truth that it’s more likely to be very busy down right here within the afternoons. Actually, it looks as if a greater match for members of your celebration who may not be snowboarding to return loosen up throughout the daytime. 

There are additionally indoor and out of doors sizzling tubs, which I might’ve favored to utilize, if not for the truth that we had already paid a go to to the close by Scandinave Spa as a part of this journey. 

The health centre was closed on the time of our keep resulting from provincial well being restrictions. It’s not a really large fitness center, though there’s at the least a great number of train tools packed into the small area. 

Conclusion

For the rooms, facilities, décor, and the general product of the lodge alone, it have to be mentioned that the Westin Whistler delivers comparatively little even whereas charging a small fortune. 

However that’s merely the lay of the wind up right here in Whistler throughout the winters, when avid skiers and riders from everywhere in the world flock to Whistler Blackcomb’s twin peaks for an action-packed escape. 

Redeeming Marriott Bonvoy factors right here on the Westin Whistler can at the least prevent a big out-of-pocket quantity in your lodging. Contemplating the lodge’s strengths, like a bountiful elite breakfast and a main location steps from the gondolas, the Westin Whistler is about pretty much as good because it will get on the subject of redeeming factors for inns round these elements. 

In case you ask me, this place is asking out for W Lodges to make an entrance someplace in Whistler Village… however till then, the Westin is more likely to stay my resort of alternative for a weekend ski getaway.