Input on Whistler Vacation Club at Twin Peaks

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

I have a 2-bedroom unit on hold for June 20, 2008. Haven't been to Whistler before, would like some general info on the area and this resort in particular. Haven't done ANY investigation yet, just want a general idea if this is a good location for a summer trip. TIA

[Bill4728 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Bill4728]

Great location for a summer trip and an OK location for a ski trip.( since it is a 10 minute walk to the gondolas) The resort is near the large shopping area of Whistler village and away from most of the noise which some TSs in the heart of the village have a problem with.

The Twin Peaks is a nice resort all by itself but even a resort with nothing to do can be a great vacation because the village of Whistler is a resort all by itself. You can park your car and walk/bike/hike for the week. Or take your car to several nearby senic areas. Late June is the start of the buzy summer season at Whistler so you've got a great week.

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

Thanks. The family seems to agree, so I confirmed the week.

[djyamyam Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close djyamyam]

We own at Twin Peaks and I'm on the HOA so I can answer questions you may have on the resort. Like Bill said, it's 10 minute to the gondolas. You're far enough away from the noise of the action but still very close to everything you'll need. I'm not sure how old your kids are but there is a climbing wall there usually during the summer. They set up a trapeze at the base of the gondola for both kids and adults. There is a ton of hiking and biking trails.

As for the resort, the 2BR units are roomy, at about 1000 sq ft. They will be refurbishing a number of the units this month and next month where the entire BR suite in both the master and the 2nd BR are being replaced. More units will be done next year, likely in the spring.

DJ

[bevvy5 Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close bevvy5]

Also, feel free to post any Whistler questions on the Canada board and you might want to do a search there for info about your trip.

Bev

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

Thanks all. Now that I have the week confirmed I can start to figure the rest out. Like, do we fly to Seattle (pretty cheap flight from the San Francisco Bay area) and then drive? Or fly into Vancouver, which would be closer. We will definitely want to add on a few days either at the beginning or the end, or both, so need to figure out where we want to do that.

Dh's big question was, "what is there to do?" I told him plenty.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

Thanks all. Now that I have the week confirmed I can start to figure the rest out. Like, do we fly to Seattle (pretty cheap flight from the San Francisco Bay area) and then drive? Or fly into Vancouver, which would be closer. We will definitely want to add on a few days either at the beginning or the end, or both, so need to figure out where we want to do that.

Dh's big question was, "what is there to do?" I told him plenty.

Without traffic delays, it will probably take you 5-1/2 hours to get to Whistler from SeaTac airport. If traverse Seattle-Everett mid-week between about 3 p.m. and 6:30 pm, add up to two hours. If you hit between 3 and 7, add at least one hour there. On the return, if you arrive in Vancouver during those same hours, add two hours. Delays in Seattle are comparable no matter which direction you are heading.

I'm less sure of drive times from Vancouver Airport to Whistler, Without traffic, I would guess it's at least two hours drive time. If you are trying to cross Vancouver during the late afternoon, it's going to take longer, probably a lot longer.

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

Thanks Steve. As the time gets closer we'll probably take a look at airfares and see what makes more sense. We can always break up the drive, go from Seattle to Vancouver, spend a couple of nights, then on up to Whistler. Oh boy, I can start planning!

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

Thanks Steve. As the time gets closer we'll probably take a look at airfares and see what makes more sense. We can always break up the drive, go from Seattle to Vancouver, spend a couple of nights, then on up to Whistler. Oh boy, I can start planning!

If your schedule permits, it will probably be cheaper to fly into SEA a day early, pick up a car, and get a hotel room somewhere along the way. Needless to say, you can find something in any price range.

It could be quite pleasant to spend a night in Vancouver and spend a a bit of time the next morning visiting some sight in Vancouver before heading up to Whistler later in the day.

For example, I would recommend visiting Granville Island in the morning. It's a neat place and you can but excellent fresh produce and baked goods to bring with you to Whistler.

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

Steve, thanks again. Right now our schedule is wide open. Other than the week in Whistler we have nothing planned. We generally take a two-week vacation during the summer when our dds are out of school. We've spent minimal time in both Seattle and Vancouver before, and would love to spend more time in either, or both places.

[Bill4728 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Bill4728]

If your schedule permits, it will probably be cheaper to fly into SEA a day early, pick up a car, and get a hotel room somewhere along the way. Needless to say, you can find something in any price range.

It could be quite pleasant to spend a night in Vancouver and spend a a bit of time the next morning visiting some sight in Vancouver before heading up to Whistler later in the day.

For example, I would recommend visiting Granville Island in the morning. It's a neat place and you can but excellent fresh produce and baked goods to bring with you to Whistler.

Excellant advice.

We really enjoy Granville Island. It is just south of Downtown Vancouver under the granville bridge. It has a huge, indoor farmers market, several waterfront restaurants, and one very cool thing, water taxis which will take you across to the downtown area or all the way down the bay to the science center.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

Excellant advice.

We really enjoy Granville Island. It is just south of Downtown Vancouver under the granville bridge. It has a huge, indoor farmers market, several waterfront restaurants, and one very cool thing, water taxis which will take you across to the downtown area or all the way down the bay to the science center.

When we spent a week at the Worldmark in Vancouver several years ago, it was really enjoyable to grab the water taxi to picku up some items at Granville Island, then take the water taxi back and head back to the unit to prepare dinner.

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

Does anyone have any input on the Hampton Inn & Suites on Robson in Vancouver? I can use Hilton Honor points for two free nights there. Looks like a good location.

[bevvy5 Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close bevvy5]

The location is not bad but wouldn't be my first choice. You're close to the two large sports stadiums, but a 15 to 20 minute walk from what I consider downtown. And that would be at a good clip. HOwever, it will be summer and it's not a hard walk, and you don't have to go through any bad parts of town.

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

The location is not bad but wouldn't be my first choice. You're close to the two large sports stadiums, but a 15 to 20 minute walk from what I consider downtown. And that would be at a good clip. HOwever, it will be summer and it's not a hard walk, and you don't have to go through any bad parts of town.

Thanks. Again, I'm just starting the planning. And any time I can find something that would work out to be "free", that's a good thing. I was checking tripadvisor and for some reason they have that Hampton Inn rated as the #1 choice in Vancouver.

When we stayed in Vancouver several years ago we stayed at a Best Western on Granville (I think). The hotel itself was fine, but it bordered on a not so great part of town. I just remembered Robson as being a better location.