Well, be prepared to have a heck of a time finding long term accommodation. We get several calls a day from many people that are needing to relocate themselves to our beautiful city either for work, or simply for a change and they need a rental home. We often ask our clients why would you want to rent long term immediately when you a) don’t know the city; and b) don’t know if you will like it. We have a few recommendations for re-locators, they are simple and we think make sense:

1. Find a short term, furnished rental situation that will not require you to lock in to a lease;

2. Once you arrive in Vancouver, take your time and look around and ask locals about areas, or experience them for your self; and

3. Use a reputable agency/company to find you a short term rental so you are guaranteed you get what you think you are getting and there are no surprises.

Yes, you will pay a premium for a short term furnished but you can save yourself a lot of grief in the long run and won’t be tied to a lease.

Vancouver is an amazing, eclectic city and there are a variety of options in housing style and neigbourhoods. To maximize a positive experience…come…explore…discover and then choose what’s best for you.

Happy hunting!!!

As we approached the 2 year mark before the 2010 Whistler/Vancouver Winter Games the buzz around town is where will people stay? We have bee told the Whistler is already 50% full with delegates and IOC Members…not sure if this is fact of fiction…but if it’s fact it leads us to believe that the spectator accommodation is going to be way out of reach for the average Joe.

Since accommodation is expensive for this period it’s a good option to opt for a self catered home, apartment or suite so you can cook and not have to eat out for every meal. This will help the pocket book a lot.

The following are things to consider when looking for a hotel substitute:

1. If you have a larger group or more than one family consider renting a private residence. Rumour has it that the prices will range from $300 - $3,000.00/night but if it’s on the lower end, it’s a good deal compared to a hotel room;

2. Consider renting in Vancouver with special interest on North and West Vancouver as they are closer to Whistler and also very close to Cypress Bowl (Freestyle Competition) and easily accessible to Downtown too;

3. Find out where the venues are and pick a place close to your event of choice…don’t get stuck out in the sticks where you will have to drive through crazy traffic to reach the events;

4. If you aren’t renting a car make sure public transit is accessible;

5. Consider booking through a rental company that can direct and place you close to where you wish to be;

6. Ask about the cancellation policy;

7. Make sure you see pictures of the property;

8. Most importantly…Book early!!!

A ski vacation allows you to experience an exciting part of the world while providing ample time for skiing and snowboarding. Shred one of the  world’s most famous mountains and par take in the charm of the Whistler village. Visit the winter playgrounds of legends and race down the slopes that will soon be the host of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Whether it’s fun, relaxation, partying, extreme powder, incredible vertical, or the most adventurous skiing, Whistler Blackcomb is your resort. To make it even more enjoyable stay in a ski-in/ski-out slope side condo allowing for easy access in the morning and an early start. Most Ski-in/ski-out condos offer free shuttle to and from the village for those in the groups and if you plan early enough in the season you can book one that has a private hot tub, so you can rest your weary bones after a day on the slops.

Whistler/Blackcomb, British Columbia is
consistently voted the “Best North American Ski Resort,”  and is climbing in the ranks as best ski resort in the world. These two mountains offer the largest vertical drop (5,280 ft), expert terrain, glaciers and wide alpine bowls. The vastness of the combined mountains offers 7,000 acres of skiable terrain and therefore has enough room for everyone and you will not feel crowded.

The well designed and architecturally appealing village boasts a variety of cafes, boutiques and over 100 restaurants, so there is something for everyone. If you enjoy a wild night on the town, this can happen too as the village is riddled with hopping bars and nightclubs.  For the fair weathered skier, or the more cultured traveller you can have the delight of experiencing a spa treatment, cooking lessons, wine tasting, shopping for art and much more…  Whistler can accommodate any vacationers needs but do book early!!!

As an accommodation provider of small boutique accommodations in Vancouver and Whistler we want people to know that the below information posted by VANOC is really only relating to Hotels. If you wish to inquire about accommodations that are privately owned we suggest that you begin this process early, so you’re not left out. Tickets have been priced and I have just learned will go on sale in 2008,  if you’re serious about attending the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver or Whistler, book soon!!! Our prices will be competitive.

Information as posted by VANOC:

VANOC, in association with the regional tourism associations and hotels, are in the early stages of an accommodation plan for spectators that will be traveling to Vancouver and Whistler for the 2010 Winter Games. More information on spectator accommodation will be available in fall 2008.

As part of its mandate to plan, organize and stage the Games, VANOC is securing accommodations for the numerous user groups that fall under the responsibility of the Organizing Committee. These include the International Olympic Committee, the National Olympic Committees of participating nations, International Sport Federations, international and domestic corporate sponsors, international and domestic news media, athletes’ families, team coaches and support personnel. Of the more than 30,000 hotel rooms available, these user groups require approximately 20,000 rooms.

Once this process is completed, hotels participating in VANOC’s accommodation program will know exactly how many of their rooms will be available for spectators. Until that time, the hotels are not taking reservations for the Games period.

VANOC is not directly involved with setting prices for spectator accommodation, but is working with tourism organizations to encourage best practices and ensure a fair market value. Accommodation pricing is the responsibility of the individual hotels, but we expect that rooms will be available at a variety of price levels.

Fair pricing and standardization
Further information regarding accommodation, including fair pricing and standardized rating of properties will be provided on this website as it becomes available.

While there are several third party websites currently providing listings for property rentals during the 2010 Winter Games, none of these are associated with or sanctioned or authorized by VANOC.

British Columbia is not referred to as “Beautiful BC” for no reason. Our amazingly diverse province boasts some of the most magnificent landscape in the world. BC is a relaxing, friendly, easy province to vacation in but it does come at a hefty price. The small Ma an Pop run motels are quickly disappearing and being replaced with large, luxury resorts that can run you anywhere from $300.00 - $1,000.00/night depending on the size of the home. So if you are looking to take your family on the type of intimate, slow, fun in the sun vacation that you enjoyed as a child, I would suggest booking it now! We book all our BC holidays well in advance and we use a company called Boutique Accommodations. High level of service and they really know the properties and the region. What you see on their website is what you get!!!View of Okanagan Lake from our rental property.

Whistler has thousands of rental properties scattered from the new Creekside Village to the Main Village and it can be a bit overwhelming for the first time visitor.  The prices vary significantly and there are dozens of management companies that offer great hands on service.  Accommodation rental services should be able to find you a property that fits your needs.  There is no charge to you (if there is, look elsewhere) as they work for the lodging providers.  Take the hassle out of your stay and don’t be dissappointed!!!

 Some Things You Should Know When Renting Accommodation In Whistler:

1. Too cheap can leave you very dissappointed.  Often 10 - 15% more in price will get you 100% better in quality;   
2. Don’t assume Owner Direct is the best option and going to be cheaper. Often owners are absentee and have no idea what condition their rental home is in;
3. Booking through a reputable accommodation rental company is your best route.  The rental company should be local and should personlly check all accommodations to ensure quality; 
4. The rental company should also be able to offer you discounted lift tickets and arrange transfers to and from the YVR (Airport);
5. Make sure the pictures you are seeing online are of the actual property you are booking;

 Specific Things to Look For and Ask About the Property:

1. Location is very important and is very individual, ask for a map.
2. When choosing ski-in/ski-out, ask what level of difficulty the run is;
3. Ask if there is a free shuttle from the property, this is an excellent service;
4. Is the location noisy when the bars let out.  Village properties can be very noisy;
5. How far from the Main Village is it located and is it an easy walk;
6. Is the hot tub private or common area;
7. Is it a family friendly complex, or more singles;
8. Have there been pets in the property (for people with allergies);

Road trip #3 in the last two weeks, off to Whistler today to check out Vancouvers biggest 2010 Winter Olympic venue and several potential accommodations. A couple of condominiums, a rustic log cabin and a nice small boutique hotel. This is a great drive which takes about 2.5 hrs even though there can be some delays for road construction. They are desperately trying to get this road a little straighter for the coming Olypimpic games. The Sea to Sky highway as it is passionately known winds along the waters of Howe Sound and then past the town of Squamish. While it is following the coast line it is full of tight S curves, right angle turns and some pretty fair straight aways. As you can imagine it has been a favorite for motorcyclist for years. However, in the winter when the the driving takes every bit of concentration you’ve got having a straighter road will be welcomed after a hard day of skiing. The scenery in breathtaking along this stretch of road. The coastal mountain range towers over the road and in the distance these mountains keep their snowy peaks until mid July.

The objective today is to really check out the accommodations we’ve agreed to look at. We look for a number of things like location, is it ski in ski out or how is it inside, is it well appointed,is it clean and does it have good enough bedding and last but not least…. does it have a hot tub? If it has all of these features we look at the building itself, its design and how it fits into the boutique idea of things. For us being Boutique is more than just being trendy, its about making sure that what the traveller is getting is authentic. By authentic we mean true to its roots so that our whistler log cabin is luxuriously rustic and the condominium that proclaims to be ski in ski out is really ski in ski out. We can only provide these kind of assurances by actually checking the properties out and approving of them. Its one of those jobs you do in a small business that is really rewarding, productive and fun.

Holidays in Whistler are pretty intense, there is the world class skiing in the winter, but summer shines as well. It is actually considered a four season resort but most people associate Whistler with Winter and Skiing. Summers bring adventure, fishing,kayaking, mountain biking, climbing, hiking, golf and a host of other creative ways of spending your vacation time. So don’t limit yourself to winter. The night life of whistler is always on the go with a variety of clubs bringing in some big acts to help attract summer activity. You will also find a series of outdoor concerts, special events and art exhibitions throughout the region.

Base yourself in Whistler and enjoy the whole Sea to Sky region including Squamish, Brackendale and Pemberton.So I will let you know how the trip went when we get back. I will try and drop in some pictures so you can see for your self how beautiful the region is, Winter or Summer. Till then Fair Winds and Happy Travels!

Artseatraveller

This weekend marks the first time this year we have gotten out sailing on our aging but very sweet Cal 30 sailboat called Hustler.  She is a great old sailor, beamy, low to the water, lots of sail area which leads us to beleive it was because the sail area she was called “Hustler”. She’s really rather quick inspite of her age.

We are thinking of heading up the tempermental waters of Howe Sound. It seems to be either blowing a gail comming down the sound from the Squamish/Whistler area or dead calm like you might find in the Gulf Islands on a hot August day. But really nothing matters so much than as to get out on the water. Feel the wind and touch the water while clipping along on a slight heal. The water is just now getting warm enough to swim in and there is nothing like swimming in the ocean. Naturally we would love it to be warm like the Carribean but you can’t have everything.

 Howe Sound is an interesting place and when you are tucked away in a anchorage like Centre Bay, its hard to believe there is a major city with a million plus city not twenty miles away. You really get the sense you are in the middle of know where. Eagles fly overhead, creeks flow down from the steep hills of Gambier Island and the walking trails take you to wild places you won’t believe are real. The moss on these islands can grow incredibly thick and naturally make comfy beds for afternoon naps, of which I am partial too.

Throughout Howe Sound are several bays, harbours, parks and beaches to play on and around. If we can, we plan to make a day trip from Centre Bay to Gibsons landing on the Sunshine Coast, we have a property there we market called ” A Warehouse Hideaway” we want to check it out agian as one of our customers wants to get marriend there. It would make a nice spot for a wedding, they have nice grounds there. After we visit there we plan a little lunch in the town of Gibsons Landing, maybe at Mollys , it is famous for its use as a set for the CBC TV production called the “Beach Combers” Actually, the “Hideaway” was once the warehouse where they stored the sets for the beachcombers. The warehouse is a pretty cool place, a little NewYork in Gibsons. The warehouses are very well done. But what to do in town, walk around, check out the shops, look at boats, get an ice cream. Whatever they’re the lazy days of summer. All I know is we have to leave in the late afternoon to be sure to get the rising tide and have a good trip back to our bouy on Gambier.

The next day its a straight sail home to Horseshoe bay. Its really not so far away and after a lazy morning its great that it only takes you two hours to get to the home berth. I wil be sure to load up some pictures after the weekend. Till then, thanks for reading and I hope you have a good one.

The Artseatraveller.

Sunset

Sunset from Muntson Mountain, Penticton BC.  What an amazing province we live in.

Once you have it there’s no getting rid of it. The travel bug hit me around 20 years ago when I had my first taste of Europe.  A relatively naive 17 year old from North Vancouver, BC who had only dreamt of the romance of London, Venice, Paris, Athens…all that I had seen in books was forever washed from my memory and the real images of were forever embedded.  Travel certainly changes you, broadens you and I would say often opens you up to the worlds of others.  I continued to travel through my twenties and then came the family, mortgage, responsibility, as I’m certain most can relate.  The expense of travel and also the lack of time forced us to stay in our own beautiful province and discover our own backyard.  Since the bug had yet to be flushed from my system (it actually got much worse) I decided I needed to make a career of it.  Now my job is to source uniquely local British Columbia accommodations and this is what I’ve found as my favourite  hidden secrets