Westin Resort & Spa

The Westin is a great place to stay at anytime of year in but it really is a superb ski hotel.
The location is perfect for skiing Whistler. The hotel is alongside the square area at the bottom of the lifts so you only have a very short walk to and from a choice of two lifts, one up to Blackcombe Mountain and the main gondola up Whistler Mountain. It’s this location that helps make this my first choice to stay in Whistler.
The hotel is an average 4 star, with all the things you would expect. Apart from the location I like the informality, its casual and friendly, the ski concierge is one of the best I have experienced in 30 years in many countries. The restaurant is good but there is only one bar area that isn’t as large as you might expect, but it’s only ever used before and after dining so I guess its ok. The pool area and in particular the spa are really good, I just love the spa and those massages at the end of a days skiing.
Although there are other good, even 5 star choices of hotels within yards of The Westin it really tops them all for me with its friendliness, informality, location, spa and really good rooms; serious skiers and families seem to base themselves at The Westin, high rollers and fur coats tend to stay at other hotels like the Chateau.
The village is great for anything you want to do at the end of a day skiing, great après ski bars, restaurants, cosy café’s and plenty of shops.
Late season for me is best in Whistler as to be honest high season and holidays are just too bloody popular, too many queue on and off the mountain and its set to get worse as the Olympics are coming to Whistler in 2010. For me Whistler was better 5 years ago and should have stayed that size, it’s got to big, but the skiing is absolutely mind-blowing and worth the smaller queues late season.