Luxury Travel in Whistler (For the Glamorous Traveler) + 8 Things to Know

Introducing the scenic town of Whistler, nestled in the mountains of British Columbia. We’ve been living in Whistler, and honestly, it’s the prettiest place we’ve ever called home. This is despite us living in some of the most beautiful cities in the world, including Sydney and Queenstown. We’re here today to tell you why you should make Whistler your next luxury travel destination.

Whistler is the perfect destination for travelers seeking a glamorous trip!

Whistler is picture-perfect. It’s one of those places that has you saying ‘wow’ every 10 steps. It’s renowned the world over for its skiing, but for me, there’s so much more to Whistler. From luxury hotels back-dropped by snow-capped mountains to some of the best restaurants in the world, Whistler has everything you could ask for in a luxury travel destination.

Lucky too that there are so many unique things to do in Whistler! Would you believe you can go bobsledding here and even take on one of the longest ziplines in the world.

1. Stay at the Best Luxury Hotels in Town

The Four Seasons located in Whistler’s upper village, provides an epic panorama of Blackcomb Mountain. Inside the hotel, massive open fireplaces welcome you with open arms, and the rooms, although luxurious, provide a home away from home experience.

Right next door is the beautiful and grand Fairmont Chateau Whistler. The Fairmont is my absolute favorite hotel in town (although I may be biased as I worked here for two years). Boasting 500+ rooms but with all the ambience and personality of a small hotel – the Fairmont is the best address in Whistler.

If you’re looking for something a little smaller and more ’boutique,’ then look no further than Nita Lake Lodge. Nita Lake Lodge is considered one of the best hotels in the Whistler area. Built on the serene Nita Lake and a 5-minute drive from Whistler village – Nita Lake provides the tranquil and luxurious experience that most tourists to Whistler are looking for.

2. Our Recommended Activities for the Luxury Traveler

There are lots of adrenalin-fuelled activities in Whistler – it is, after all, the adventure capital of Canada! Whistler has everything from dog-sledding in the nearby Callaghan Valley to a wine-tasting tour of Whistler village and surrounding areas to heli-skiing over Whistler Blackcomb Mountain.

But, the must-do activity for luxury travelers, in my opinion, is this bucket-list worthy scenic helicopter flight. You’ll see Whistler as you’ve never seen it before – spy hidden lakes, ancient glaciers, and unusual ice formations from the comfort of a top-class helicopter. You’ll even get to land on a glacier! This tour starts from $471 CAD per person.

Some slightly more tame activities (but still equally as fun) include kayaking in one of the lakes in town. My favorite places to kayak are Lost Lake and Alpha Lake. We also loved chilling out and taking in the mind-blowing scenery at Scandinave Spa a Nordic-inspired 20,000-square-foot outdoor spa enveloped by cedar trees. Scandinave Spa is around a 5-10 minute drive from downtown Whistler! More on that below!

All once-in-a-lifetime experiences, I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Another bucket-list activity that you must do if you have time is driving the scenic road between Whistler and Banff. I advise allowing up to 5 days for this epic road trip!

3. How to Spend a Relaxing Day in Whistler

In the summer, a walk to Lost Lake is a must-see.  A beautiful nature trail that offers a true Pacific Northwest nature experience. Sit on the banks of the lake and take in the magnificent views or if you’re feeling brave take a swim in its refreshing waters.

Alternatively, walk the forested Valley Trail from Whistler Village to Nita Lake and relax at the lovely, small Nita Lake. You can grab a coffee at Nita Lake Lodge – they’re coffee is excellent. And they also have a great onsite restaurant with heavenly views of the lake.

Speaking of coffee, the best cafe, in my opinion, is Camp Coffee & Lifestyle Co. in Function Junction – fantastic coffee in a modern lifestyle store. We also love Purebread in the village – their cakes are outstanding, and their coffee is strong!

4. The Most Delicious Restaurants in Whistler

My number one choice is Rimrock Cafe near Creekside Village. It is continually ranked as the top restaurant in Whistler, it provides both a unique dining experience and the best fish dishes’ in all of British Columbia, in my opinion.

A close second is Araxi in Whistler Village, which has some very innovative dishes, including the Quebec Rabbit dish (which is my personal favorite) .

Also worth mentioning is Bearfoot Bistro, which has a famed wine cellar and one of the most extensive wine cellars in all of Canada. Their butter-poached Atlantic Salmon is amazing.

5. Where to Find the Best Desserts in Whistler

Purebread is famous in Whistler. You won’t miss it, as there is usually a long winding queue out this small Cafe’s door. Their tantalising display of sweets has everything from Sticky Toffee Pudding to Raspberry Cheesecake Brownie. Pure mouth-watering bliss.

6. The Best Spa in Whistler

Scandinave Spa allows you to relax in the heart of nature. A nordic-inspired 20,000 square foot outdoor spa surrounded by cedar trees. Soak in the outdoor hot tub and experience the beautiful vista of Whistlers natural beauty.

You could easily spend a couple of hours here relaxing in the steam baths, hot baths, and large sauna. In fact it’s recommended you start off in these before braving the cold and diving into one of their cold baths. Alternatively, you can cool down by standing under their Nordic waterfall for a few minutes. At the end, head to one of the relaxation rooms to relax.

7. The Best Sunset Spot in Whistler

Lost Lake, in particular the huge pier along the right-side of the lake is an amazing setting to catch the sunset over the mountains. Green Lake outside of town is a great spot too. If you don’t fancy venturing too far from town why not grab a drink and sit on the large patio of Garibaldi Lift Company. It’s one of the highest patios in town and you will be able to spot Blackcomb, Whistler, Sproatt and Rainbow mountains from your prime position.

Lucky for you after the sun sets in Whistler you are treated to an alpenglow. Which is when the light illuminates the mountain peaks shades of orange and pink. It’s most dramatic in Winter when the peaks still have snow on them.

8. The Best Places to go for Evening Drinks in Whistler

Bar Oso offers a profusion of Spanish-influenced small plates and fantastic cocktails in a cozy yet sophisticated environment. With 20,000 plus wine bottles, Bearfoot Bistro’s wine cellar is a must-see; you can also try your hand at sabering a bottle of champagne.

Thanks for Reading!

Luxury travel in Whistler is certainly becoming more popular with fantastic 5-star hotels and fine dining restaurants scattered throughout this picture-perfect village. Whistler has everything for the traveler who loves luxury.

Tell me, have you ever visited Whistler? What did you think? We’d love to read about it in the comment section below.

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Last Updated on May 2, 2024 by snaphappytravel