Whistler family skiing holidays

Whistler in British Columbia – host to the 2010 Winter Olympics - is considered by many to be the best ski resort in the world. The resort is not just for hardcore skiers or snowboarders, boasting a ski school with a superb reputation for teaching kids. Combine this with the spacious accommodation and the fact that the centre of the resort is pedestrianised and you have a top-notch family ski resort that was runner-up in our Best Ever Family Ski Resort Award in the Over-7s category.

That said, the long flight and 2hr transfer from Vancouver mean you should think twice about holidays with very young kids.

Flying Time	10 hours
Carbon Footprint	8.5 tonnes CO2
Timezone	GMT -7
Local Currency	Canadian Dollar

What to Do

The ski school is very family friendly and caters for all standards of skier. Advanced skiers will enjoy expert off piste training in some of the worlds best powder. Children are accepted in the ski school from the age of three, whilst toddlers can be looked after in the resorts kindergarten or by UK tour operator’s nannies. There are a lot of mountain restaurants but we would recommend eating early because they can get busy over lunch time. Vancouver is a comfortable day trip from Whistler with a good range of shops for a change of scene for the family.

Where to Stay

If you're looking for value for your family then choose an apartment, or 'condo'. There are also plenty of hotel options. Popular choices at the high-end include the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, the Four Seasons and the Westin. You'll also find plenty of good value budget options, both belonging to chains and independent properties.

When

Whistler has a long season with good snow from early December through until early May. February half term is normally quieter than the equivalent week in the French Alps unless the half term coincides with the Presidents weekend in February when many Canadian families go skiing. The best snow is between January and March, but it's worth remembering the short days earlier in the winter.

How

There are daily 10 hour direct flights with British Airways and Air Canada between London and Vancouver. From Vancouver airport it's a two hour drive along a beautiful fjord to Whistler resort. Vancouver is an obvious stopover destination if you want to break the long journey for the children.

Eat

87 restaurants serve at least a dozen different kinds of cuisine. All standards and price ranges are catered for with a good standard of food still available at the lower end of the price range.

Cost

Adults should expect to pay £800 – £1,200 for a week's holiday in a catered chalet with flights and transfers during February half-term. Ski packs on top and reductions are generally available for kids. In contrast to the European alps, February half-term actually works out a little less expensive than Christmas or Easter (because it's not Feb. half term in North America!).

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