| The mention of Whistler usually elicits thoughts of | | | | $155/night and Christmas/New Years starting at $225 |
| endless terrain, soaring peaks and vibrant village life. | | | | night. Most of these units sleep up to 4 people and |
| Unfortunately most also imagine their hard-earned | | | | some don't charge any taxes. |
| dollars, pounds, yen or euros evaporating in a flash. | | | | Maybe you've got a larger group? Whistler |
| The truth is that burning through your bank account | | | | owner-direct accommodation rentals are available in all |
| doesn't have to be reality. Smart and savvy ski | | | | shapes and sizes. The larger your group the more |
| fanatics have been doing Whistler for less, for years. | | | | you tend to save with the nightly rate spread |
| It all starts with reasonably priced, self-catering | | | | amongst more people (just don't pack in more than |
| Whistler accommodation. | | | | the bedding allows - this is a strict no-no). |
| Give a Little | | | | The money you save on your Whistler |
| As the saying goes, if you want the best, be | | | | accommodation bill isn't where it ends when you |
| prepared to pay for it. There's no getting around this | | | | book your Whistler accommodation owner-direct. |
| one. If you want to stay at a five star hotel, with | | | | Condominiums, town homes or chalets all come with |
| daily maid service and round-the-clock room service | | | | kitchens. Every meal you make yourself means less |
| you're going to pay through the nose. | | | | money spent. You may even find you don't need to |
| At the time of publication, a room at the Four | | | | be heading out on the town every night of your |
| Seasons in January was going for $395/night. Want | | | | vacation. As opposed to hotel rooms, owner-direct |
| to visit over Christmas or New Years? Be prepared | | | | rentals usually have separate living areas for |
| to shell out $895/night with a minimum stay | | | | socializing. |
| requirement of seven nights. Now keep in mind that | | | | How to Find Whistler Accommodation Rentals Direct |
| these rooms sleep 2 people and you need to add | | | | from Owners |
| 15% in taxes to your total. | | | | There are many websites that list vacation rentals |
| Five Star Hotels are fabulous, but how much are | | | | directly from owners. Unfortunately, there are some |
| those daily services worth to you? Can you pass on | | | | rental management sites hidden/disguised in the mix - |
| the pampering if it means you can vacation twice as | | | | this means an owner is paying a big rental |
| long or pay half as much? | | | | management company to do the work for them, |
| Get a Lot | | | | usually meaning higher rates for you. Know how to |
| Now compare a one-bedroom self-catering | | | | tell the difference: In addition to a support phone |
| condominium, rented directly from its owner. There | | | | number for the website (if applicable) you should |
| are hundreds of them available in Whistler and they | | | | have an email address and/or phone number for the |
| can be a much cheaper and spacious alternative. | | | | property owner directly. |
| Just like hotels, there are a wide-variety of options | | | | Independent rental managers who take a smaller |
| from basic to luxury owner-direct rentals. If you live | | | | commission do exist and often advertise Whistler |
| for five star accommodations, not all owner-direct | | | | accommodation rentals at rates comparable to |
| vacation rentals will be for you. Some owners spend | | | | owner-direct so don't discount them. What it really |
| a lot of time and money on the upkeep and | | | | comes down to are the hard numbers and if their |
| renovation of their vacation properties, others not as | | | | rates stack up then that's all that matters. |
| much (but they do hold up to maintenance and | | | | Internet searches for "Whistler direct rentals" will |
| hygiene standards). | | | | likely result in the most options but you can also find |
| At the time of publication, we were finding | | | | direct rental listings in local newspapers or on |
| one-bedroom condo rentals in January starting at | | | | classifieds sites such as Craigslist. |