BC Travel Guide
Tags: Olympics Hotels / Whistler Hotels / 2010 Olympics Hotels / Pan Pacific Hotels / → All Tags
Pan Pacific Hotels in Whistler Still Have Rooms Open for The Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics will kick off in Vancouver and Whistler, Canada in just a few short months and we fer sure thought that the city's and ski resort's hotel rooms would be long gone by now. In fact, wasn't someone planning to dock a cruise ship in Vancouver to increase the hotel room supply?
Well, thankfully you won't have to train your sea legs. You just have to dip into your savings. The Pan Pacific Whistler has released a limited supply of suites for "public consumption." (Yes, that's what the press release actually said.)
The rooms are open from February 11 to February 28, 2010 at both the Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside and Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre. Guests must reserve a five-night minimum stay. The average room rate is about $1,119 CAD a night for a 1-bedroom suite with a mountain view. Yes, we know. $1,119 a night. And in U.S. dollars it's not that much of a difference--$1,080.
Tags: Olympics Hotels / Floating Hotels / Vancouver Hotels / → All Tags
Vancouver is So Hard Up for Hotel Rooms That a Cruise Ship Is Stepping In
Vancouver has already sold-out its hotels rooms for the 2010 Winter Olympics next February but there is a way to create some extra inventory without having to build a new hotel---use a cruise ship! From the Seattle PI:
A company is bringing in a Norwegian Cruise Line luxury ship for February's Winter Games to help accommodate visitors. Dennis Laliberte, Newwest Special Projects LP president, said the Norwegian Star can fit almost 9,000 people.
Much like a regular hotel, the cruise ship has different room sizes ranging from simple staterooms to bigger suites. But it's also got 13 restaurants, eight lounges, a spa, a fitness center and "sensational nightly entertainment." There will also be live satellite coverage of the Olympic Games so you don't even have to step off the ship to go to the events. Yeah, but you should. You really should.
Packages for the floating hotel start at $350 a night.
Tags: Celebrity Scoop / TV Set Hotels / The Bachelor / Vancouver Hotels / Fairmont Hotels / → All Tags
The Dudes From 'The Bachelorette' Take Over the Fairmont Vancouver
We sort of prefer The Bachelor to The Bachelorette — what? Doesn't everyone? — but when it comes down to it, we'll watch it if we've got nothin' else happening on a rainy summer night. And then we get addicted to it and yada yada; you know the rest.
We suppose we'll now have a valid excuse to switch it on, though: tonight's episode is hotel geek-esque. The Bachelorette, Jillian, actually surprises the thirteen suitors "with a romantic trip to her hometown of Vancouver."
Tags: Snapshot / Rooftop Hotel Pools / Vancouver Hotels / Pan Pacific Hotels / → All Tags
Pan Pacific Vancouver Opens Their Rooftop Salt Water Pool
Vancouver is not necessarily the city that immediately comes to mind when we think of hotspots with outdoor rooftop pools, but the city's Pan Pacific Hotel has just re-opened its 8th floor terrace and the hotel's heated salt-water outdoor pool.
Apparently, this is the only one of its kind in all of Vancouver and because there's no chlorine, it's much easier on your eyes (literally) and on the environment too. The high temps in Vancouver in the summer only average about 74 degrees in the months of July and August, which is a little chilly for us — but fortunately, the terrace also has a jacuzzi to keep you warm.
A bar and poolside dining service is also open, but just remember not to drink and jacuzzi. Wouldn't want to give your fellow pool-goers something to ruin that pretty view, would you?
The Pan Pacific Vancouver has rates starting at $335CAD, which includes breakfast for two.
Tags: Hotel Deals / Winter Olympics Hotels / Vancouver Hotels / → All Tags
Vancouver Hotels Putting Themselves on Display
The St. Regis Hotel in Vancouver.
Civic primping is at a full-tilt frenzy as Vancouver prepares for its global coming-out party with the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Several new hotels have opened to accommodate the crowds, while many existing properties are busy ramping up their rooms, amenities and vacation packages.
Now is the time to check out the city’s latest luxury properties and check into its newest rooms – the spring deals and bonuses can’t be beat. Here are four of the best:
Tags: Vancouver Olympics Hotels / Hotel Packages / Vancouver Hotels / → All Tags
Preview Next Year's Olympic Party Scene at The Opus Vancouver
As believers in the act of pre-gaming — that is, tailgating before football games, sipping wine before heading to dinner, taking shots before heading to parties or clubs — we can for sure get on board with, um, a year-in-advance pre-game for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.
Apparently, it has been determined that Vancouver's Yaletown neighborhood is going to be the 'Olympic Party Zone' when the games roll around, so a hotel in the area, the Opus (home of that let-everyone-know-you're-staying-here 7 Series we've mentioned), has gotten in on the action early to offer a party preview package for people who want to dip their toes into the vast pool of Olympic parties coming up next year.
Tags: Hotel Deals / Hotels Under $100 / Whistler Hotel Guide / Fairmont Hotels / Ski Hotels / → All Tags
$99 Sale at Fairmont Chateau Whistler Starts Tomorrow
The last time we visited the Fairmont Chateau Whistler (a few weeks ago, in fact), the ultra-luxe slopeside retreat blew us away with its four-season killer views, 550 swanky rooms and nightly Fondue event. But the rates blew us away, too; they were running a steep $429 CAD on average. Bleh.
However! Good news: the hotel is celebrating its 20th year in '09, and to commemorate the occasion, those kind Canadian folks at Fairmont Chateau Whistler are offering 20 rooms every day for the remainder of 2009 at $99 and rezzies open up tomorrow (Wednesday).
Tags: Refereeing Hotel Reviews / Vancouver Hotels / Hotel Openings / Kor Hotels / → All Tags
Tech Goodies and Service Are Tops at The Loden
If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? If a hotel opens in Canada and we aren't there to stalk it, does it make a big splash? Apparently yes. Yes, it does.
'Twas way back in October that Loden Vancouver opened its doors within the borders of the snowy country up North, and it's been open for long enough now that we decided to check up on Kor Hotels' British Columbia property. As always, we dropped by to say hey to our ol' pal TripAdvisor to gather up some guest reactions.
All eleven reviews are glowingly positive, and the vast majority don't reek of PR-person speak (read: most appear to be genuine). What caught our eye was the vast collection of tech amenities guests are digging, plus the reportedly wonderful service. Not bad for a newbie.
Tags: Hotel Opening Rates / Hotel Openings / Vancouver Hotels / → All Tags
The Black Rock Resort Tells It Like It Is
For once, a hotel spurs any cheekily lowercased marketing mumbo-jumbo (we're looking at you, a[A]loft) and simply allows its name to speak for itself: Introducing Black Rock Oceanfront Resort in Ucluelet, British Columbia on Vancouver Island.
Named "Black Rock," because the hotel is perched on black rock cliffs, which nicely leads us to the "Oceanfront" portion of this explanation, and finally, for what makes this a "Resort," we turn to Luxist:
The studio, one and two-bedrooms suites all have views of the ocean or surrounding old growth forest. Each room has a spa-inspired bathroom with a soaking tub and shower, gas fireplace, balcony with outdoor table and a kitchen or kitchenette.
The hotel, made up of 71 guest suites and 62 beach suites, also has three hot pools overlooking the aforementioned ocean and black rock cliffs, as well as an onsite restaurant and spa. But even better than Black Rock Oceanfront Resort's refreshingly simplistic name is it's relatively inexpensive starting rate: $135 per night.
Tags: Whistler Hotels / Hotel Deals / Pan Pacific Hotels / Ski Hotels / → All Tags
Pan Pacific Whistler Offering Decent Ski Season Deals
On the heels of our Whistler Hotel Guide, we've learned that the ski resort's two Pan Pacific Hotels have announced new "value added preference" packages. Both the Pan Pacific Mountainside and Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre are giving guests “pre-paid internet special” with a “Lock in Your Exchange Rate” offer.
Starting at... $319CAD (about $253 USD) from January 4th through April 25th, those who book online at panpacificwest.com, will enjoy increasing savings for booking multiple nights, adding up to a free night’s stay for those reserving five consecutive room nights.
The ascending savings’ scale is as follows:
· 10 percent discount per night off any room type for three nights booked
· 15 percent discount per night off any room type for four nights booked
· 20 percent discount per night off any room type for five nights booked
The catch here is that you must pay in advance, thus locking in your currency exchange rate. It's also subject to limited availability and is non-refundable, non-cancellable. And remember, the Mountainside hotel is closer to the slopes so rooms will be more over there. All this is making us go..."eh." But the rooms do have complimentary internet, complimentary local phone calls, an in-resort shuttle and complimentary breakfast.
We're curious. Have you ever stayed at Pan Pacific Hotel before? What was it like? Let us know.
Tags: Whistler Hotel Guide / Ski Hotels / Whistler Hotels / → All Tags
More Hotels to Explore in Whistler
Please don't think that the only hotels to stay in when you visit Whistler are the ones we talked about in our Whistler Hotel Guide. In fact, we found it hard to keep track of all the lodgings right in Whistler Village and we didn't even get around to all the lodgings outside the Village. Oh and don't forget apartment rentals too.
As always, where you want to stay depends on the budget you have, the scene you are looking for and if being close to the slopes is really important to you. We tried to address a little bit of everything in some of our hotel picks, listed after the jump.
Tags: Whistler Hotel Guide / Holiday Inns / Ski Hotels / → All Tags
Budget-ish Accommodations at the Holiday Inn Whistler
This week, we've taken a trip to the Winter Wonderland that is Whistler in British Columbia, Canada. Aside from enjoying the snow, the mountains and the adorable Canadian accents, we've also been checking out the hotel scene. Every day we'll sum up a hotel in the Whistler Village for your edification. Remember this place will be jammed packed next year with guests as the host of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Any questions? Let us know.
Now that we've rounded up where Hugh Jackman stays in Whistler as well as the two slopeside hotels that don't come cheap (the Hilton and the Fairmont) we thought we would take a look at the more reasonably priced Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort.
The hotel is located at the edge of the village next to Blackcomb Way but it is still within manageable walking distance to the slopes, even in ski boots.
The hotel looks pleasant on the outside but on the inside the rooms are a bit of an eyesore. While they do all have kitchenettes and fireplaces they also sport some crazy patterns. If you don't believe us, check out the hotel's Flickr photoset. But a few photos from this hotel guest don't look too bad. It is a Holiday Inn after all.
The hotel has a fitness center on-site as well as secured ski locker area, a 24-hour front desk and room service on request.
An advance purchase rate of $204CAD was available for next weekend for a queen deluxe studio which has a double murphy bed as well. That's about $161 in US dollars. Not bad. However, this requires a full pre-payment and is totally nonrefundable. Regular rack rates begin at $239CAD or $189USD.
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