how to get between Vancouver and Whistler

horse drawn carriage in Stanley Park, (c) 2017 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Be watching for our Top Ten List from Virtuoso Travel Week. In the meantime, I wanted to pass along a simple tip I learned from our rep from the Four Seasons Whistler.

The drive from the Vancouver airport to Whistler is 84 miles, just over two hours by car according to google maps. What's the best way to make the transfer?

(1) Hiring a limo is the most costly but most luxurious option (unless you want to rent a helicopter). If you're looking for a luxury experience, from the moment you board your flight and sit in your First Class seat, this may just be the ticket for you.

(2) It used to be possible to take the Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver to Whistler, but now that leg is only available as part of one of their three day train expeditions to Lake Louise or Banff ... highly recommended trips, by the way!

(3) I wouldn't recommend the horse-drawn carriage in the picture above, as it's probably not the best way to journey 84 miles!

(4) Here's the tip: book a one way car rental in each direction. If you make your rental through the Avis office in Whistler, there's no drop-off charge. This saves you the not-insignificant daily parking fee at your resort in Whistler. The Avis office is in the lobby of Whistler Cascade Lodge, and you can telephone at (604) 932-1236.

Or the concierge at Four Seasons Whistler or Fairmont Chateau Whistler can make the rental arrangements for you. We can get you Preferred Partner or Virtuoso amenities at either of these resorts.

copyright (c) 2017 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

VirtuosoWeek top ten | Canada on sale

Shangri-La Vancouver

Ourisman Travel is back from Virtuoso Travel Week. Here's is the first of our "top ten" takeaways from this years #VirtuosoWeek: Canada is on sale! One USD (greenback) is currently worth 1.28 CAD (loonie). This is a 40% discount from where things stood one year ago.

Great news for U.S. citizens wanting to travel north of the 49th parallel ... and it also makes Canada the perfect destination for U.K. or European citizens in shock over the current value of the pound sterling and the Euro. Here are our top ideas for visiting Canada this summer, fall, or winter:

Fogo Island Inn. This resort was one of my top ten takeaways from the 2014 Travel Week, and it's a stunning, all-inclusive resort on a small island in Newfoundland. Virtuoso guests receive a $100 USD hotel credit in addition to everything that's already included.

Vancouver is one of my favorite cities in the world, with great Virtuoso hotels (including the Shangri-La pictured above), fine dining, and a climate suited for year-round active travel. You can bike or hike to your heart's content. Walk across the Capilano Suspension Bridge, visit the Archeological Museum at UBC, shop at Granville Market, or take a seaplane to Vancouver Island and visit the Buchart Gardens.

Quebec City's Christmas Markets. You don't have to travel to Germany to experience Old World Christmas Markets. Less than a two hours from New York, less than three hours from Chicago... it's a wonderful weekend getaway with two Virtuoso hotels ready to offer their five-star hospitality.

Montreal's shopping and dining. On parle français ici. The largest city in the provence of Quebec, Canada's francophone province, Montreal offers visitor great shopping and dining opportunities, including three Michelin-starred restaurants.

Wine Tasting at Niagra Falls. There are 50 wineries dotting the shores of Lake Ontario, and we can arrange wine tours of this not-yet-discovered wine region.

copyright (c) 2016 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Shangri-La Vancouver | boutique luxury

I am writing this from my Corner Executive Balcony Room at the 119-room Shangri-La Vancouver. As beautiful as the picture is, it doesn't begin to capture the spaciousness and features of this room. My first impression upon entering was of the dramatic floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall picture window on the wall opposite the bed (much, much larger than the window beside the bed pictured above). The view of downtown Vancouver was incredible.

Opposite the "bedroom" half of the room is an equally large sitting area with sofa and easy chair. The room features a desk with ports for complimentary broadband internet access, a USB charging dock, a printer port, and power sources. It is equipped with a Sony LCD flat screen television, DVD player, and electronic controls for the lights, sheers, and curtains. There is a large walk-in closet and a great bathroom - and even a small television in the bathroom mirror.

The Shangri-La Vancouver occupies the first 15 floors of this contemporary Vancouver skyscraper. On the third floor is MARKET by Jean-George, an outstanding restaurant with signature dishes from his other restaurants as well as unique offerings that utilize the fresh ingredients available in British Columbia; it was full on Tuesday evening when I dined there, so do make reservations. Floor Five features Chi, a beautiful spa (again, reserve your time in advance), as well as a health club and outdoor rooftop pool and jacuzzi.

Upscale travelers who want luxurious accommodations in a downtown location will enjoy their stay at the Shangri-La Vancouver. As a member of Virtuoso, the Shangri-La offers exclusive amenities to guests who book through a Virtuoso travel consultant — a daily Deluxe Breakfast for two at MARKET by Jean-George; Afternoon Tea for two, once during your stay; and a room upgrade if available at check-in.

Shangri-La Vancouver (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2010 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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Vancouver bed and breakfast

A Treehouse B&B is an incredible bed and breakfast in Vancouver, BC. In fact, it is one of the finest B&Bs I have visited anywhere in the world. In their eighteenth year hosting guests, Barb and Bob offer visitors beautiful accommodations, wonderful gourmet breakfasts, a great residential location, and a warm, friendly, and helpful welcome to one of the world's most beautiful cities. (And if you want to discuss theoretical physics, Bob who has a Ph.D. in the subject will fascinate you for hours!) You will enjoy luxurious surroundings at a fraction of the cost of Vancouver's luxury hotels.

I recommend the TreeTop Suite which occupies the entire third floor of the house. It features a large bedroom with a queen size four-poster bed, a plant-filled sitting room, a skylit ensuite bathroom with a Jacuzzi big enough for two, separate shower, and double sinks. as well as sun decks. Families traveling will appreciate the Pacific West Suite which offers a bedroom with queen size bed as well as a large sitting room with futon. The Far East bedrooms are each decorated in a contemporary Asian style and share a bathroom.

Enjoy the luxurious rooms and the comfortable common areas, but savor one of more than 20 daily breakfast menus, my favorite featuring Seashell Eggs.

• Coffee: TreeHouse Blend Fresh Ground Fair Trade Organic Coffee
  
• Tea: Saltspring Island Herbal Teas, Associated Black, Green, Herbal Numi Teas
  
• Juice: Apple, Strawberry, Banana Smoothie
  
• Fruit: Persimmons with Pomegranate Seeds & Rasberry Drizzle
  
• Cereal: Old-Fashioned Oatmeal with Mangos & Peaches, Crunchy House Mix Granola
  
• Entree: Seashell Eggs
  
• Accompaniments: Pesto Croissants, TreeHouse Wine Jellies & Orange Marmalade

All major credit cards are honored, and there is a 10% discount for cash. Make reservations by calling toll-free , by email, or at the TreeHouse Bed and Breakfast website.

Oh, and Treehouse Bed and Breakfast has been named one of the "Best Places to Kiss in the Pacific Northwest."

If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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