W/B Lodging…

[Greydon Clark]

Looking for a cheap hotel. Me and 4 friends will be in Whistler the 11th-13th, but all I’m finding is 3 and 4 star hotels. Where do the poor people stay?

[Buster Highmen]

The boot

[Greydon Clark]

What about Pemberton? Too far?

[Droopy]

www.shoestringlodge.com

there

[The AD]

What about Pemberton? Too far?

It's about 20 miles away.

[Snow Dog]

There is a hostel (http://www.hihostels.ca/hostels/BC/BCRegion/Whistler/Hostels/index.html) in Whistler if you like that sort of thing.

There's the UBC ski lodge (http://www.ubcwhistlerlodge.com/) too.

[wicked_sick]

I'm having the same problem. My free accom deal fell through and so far it's looking like bivy sac or nothing

[powder11]

http://www.hostels.com/en/hosteldetails.php/HostelNumber.5379

[SilentStorm]

I stayed at the HI hostel--it's a chill place and comfortable, and the kitchen means you can eat way cheap. But if you don't have a car, you're really limited. It's on the complete other side of the lake from the village. 10-15 min drive, and the bus only comes once an hour.

I don't have any lodging yet, either. If anyone wants to go in together on a condo, it's the best way to do it. If you fill the whole thing, it's cheaper than hostels and you get a kitchen. I'm planning to be up there on the weekend of 3/11-3/12, driving up Fri night. I'd could come thurs night and ski Friday if its dumping, or to make lodging work.

Here are some lodging sites :
http://www.resortac.com/ (owners will make you an offer, best place for last minute deals)

http://www.ownerdirect.com/search/browse_resort.asp?resort=4
http://www.alluradirect.com/
http://www.vrbo.com/
http://www.whistlervillagecondos.com/

[nutcase]

Last time I was there I just set up a tent at this place
http://www.whistlercamping.com/home.html


A good ground cover and warm sleeping bag and you're set.

[Platinum Pete]

Which lot at WB can I park in and sleep in my van? I'll be coming up late Wednesday night and want to just pull up and crash in the back of my van.

[LeeLau]

Which lot at WB can I park in and sleep in my van? I'll be coming up late Wednesday night and want to just pull up and crash in the back of my van.

lot 5 by the RVs. Pull in from Lorimer Way; don't park by the worksyard unless you want a 4am wakeup call. Park to the side so you don't get trashed by snow-removal machinery. Roads will be crap.

[Platinum Pete]

lot 5 by the RVs. Pull in from Lorimer Way; don't park by the worksyard unless you want a 4am wakeup call. Park to the side so you don't get trashed by snow-removal machinery. Roads will be crap.
Thanks. I just found a website that says "Lot 4, by the signs". One of the two will surely be marked as okay for overnighters. I read english perfectly and will be able to determine my place amongst the RVs in my wee japan-van.

[splat]

Try the Creekside Inn.

I'm on the last minute hustle today. Looks like I'm flying into Seattle tomorrow and renting a car then taking it on the Victoria ferry cause I hate the drive. Anybody need a ride or got an alternative plan?

[The AD]

Do you realize the only Victoria ferry departing from Seattle is passenger only? You would have to drive to Port Angeles since the Washington State ferry from Anacortes to Sidney doesn't run in the winter. Then drive from Victoria to Nanaimo to take the B.C. ferry to Horseshoe Bay? Seems pretty complicated to me!

[splat]

Really? I've taken the car one before. Leaves in the morning. It's been a while....damn! I'll have to plan otherwise, I guess. I'll check the ferry schedule..... I can get a flight to SEA for $120 r/t, but they want another $500 to get to Van on Alaska.

edit: checked on it, shit. quit running 6 years ago.

[PulverSchwein]

I dug a little and had no luck finding any kind of bus service from SeaTac direct to WB.

You could possibly arrange a shuttle from SeaTac to Vancouver Airport, then take Perimeter bus lines shuttle up to WB for $67. Need to let your mouse do some surfing to get that hooked up with your arrival etc. Here's the Perimeter Bus Lines Link (http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/getting_here/airport_transfers/perimeter/schedule.htm). I'd rent the car rather than dick around with that.

If you drive, be sure to get off I5 and take the Pacific Highway Truck Crossing, not Peace Arch. Go through that border, straight up 176st and head West on Highway 1. Take Hwy 1 across the Port Mann Bridge, all the way through Vancouver and over Second Narrows Bridge into North Van. Keep rolling the freeway until you get near the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal where you take the Whissie Exit to the right. Good luck

[fiddler]

splat......You can avoid driving through Vancouver. When you get to Bellingham on I5 take the Bellis Fair Mall and Lynden exit. That is the next exit past the Sunset Mt Baker Hwy 542 exit. Stay in the right lane and go north to the Lynden-Aldergrove border. Go north to Hwy 1 and go west til it turns into 99 at Horseshoe Bay and on to Whistler. That border crossing is open 8am-midnight.
I'm leaving using that route within the hour myself! Shoestring Lodge here I come.

[PulverSchwein]

splat......You can avoid driving through Vancouver. When you get to Bellingham on I5 take the Bellis Fair Mall and Lynden exit. That is the next exit past the Sunset Mt Baker Hwy 542 exit. Stay in the right lane and go north to the Lynden-Aldergrove border. Go north to Hwy 1 and go west to 99 and Whistler. That border crossing is open 8am-midnight.
I'm leaving using that route within the hour myself! Shoestring Lodge here I come.Really? I don't know the WA side so well but that seems like a detour out to Aldergrove that just leads you back to the same 176st/Hwy1 interchange as above.

[The AD]

I dug a little and had no luck finding any kind of bus service from SeaTac direct to WB.

You could possibly arrange a shuttle from SeaTac to Vancouver Airport, then take Perimeter bus lines shuttle up to WB for $67. Need to let your mouse do some surfing to get that hooked up with your arrival etc. Here's the Perimeter Bus Lines Link (http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/getting_here/airport_transfers/perimeter/schedule.htm). I'd rent the car rather than dick around with that.

That's more or less how Dodger and Up an Down are getting there. Dodger is returning his rental SUV at SeaTac, then they're taking a bus from SeaTac to Van, and another bus from Van to Whistler.

Here's the driving directions from Seattle to Whistler: http://whistler.com/gethere/info/driving-directions.html

[flaviaman]

I would think twice about taking the hiway NE from Truck Customs directly to Hiway 1, there is considerable road work taking place around Cloverdale which really slows things down.

I would consider doing the Aldergrove boarder crossing or else:

I-5 to either Peace Arch or Truck (tune 1130AM for border crossing info every ten minutes). If you do the Truck Crossing take a left at the next intersection and jog back to hiway 99. Drive approximately 8 minutes and take highway 91 across the Annaicis bridge to New Westminster...take off ramp from bridge to westbound Marine View Drive....drive about 4 miles, turn right at light for Boundry Road. Go east on Boundry for approx 4 miles, once past Grandview Highway (major intersection) there is an on-ramp to Hiway 1from the RH lane. Though this sounds complicated, after 100's of Whistler trips this is the fastest fastest routing through the Lower Mainland I've found. Typical travel time from the border to Hiway 1 is 34 minutes, from the border to Whistler Village is 2'05" w/o any stops.

[seatosky]

I would think twice about taking the hiway NE from Truck Customs directly to Hiway 1, there is considerable road work taking place around Cloverdale which really slows things down.

I would consider doing the Aldergrove boarder crossing or else:

I-5 to either Peace Arch or Truck (tune 1130AM for border crossing info every ten minutes). If you do the Truck Crossing take a left at the next intersection and jog back to hiway 99. Drive approximately 8 minutes and take highway 91 across the Annaicis bridge to New Westminster...take off ramp from bridge to westbound Marine View Drive....drive about 4 miles, turn right at light for Boundry Road. Go east on Boundry for approx 4 miles, once past Grandview Highway (major intersection) there is an on-ramp to Hiway 1from the RH lane. Though this sounds complicated, after 100's of Whistler trips this is the fastest fastest routing through the Lower Mainland I've found. Typical travel time from the border to Hiway 1 is 34 minutes, from the border to Whistler Village is 2'05" w/o any stops.

This is a good route to take. Slight correction - it's just 'Marine Drive'.

[flaviaman]

thanks...are you from Seattle?

[seatosky]

thanks...are you from Seattle?

From Vancouver. I used to work out on Marine Dr. near New Westminster so I drove the Marine/Boundary way a ton.

[The AD]

Splat,
You might want to see if shmerham is still in Washington. He was going up to Crystal yesterday with Dodger and Up an Down, but they were busing up to Whistler today. I know shmerham's plan was to stay in Washington a few days, but I'm not sure if he decided to go with them or if he's still in Seattle. If he is still here he would be a good candidate for ride sharing.

[fiddler]

Really? I don't know the WA side so well but that seems like a detour out to Aldergrove that just leads you back to the same 176st/Hwy1 interchange as above.
You do end up passing the intersection with the truck crossing route but it isn't out of the way. It's a shorter distance to 1 from Aldergrove, more freeway time, less local traffic time and almost always a shorter time crossing the border.
I didn't get out in an hour after all, but now I'm ready to leave, really.

[PulverSchwein]

Anyone have a spare couch/bed for Thursday and Friday nights? otherwise I'll likely book a hostel bed