Nice hotel, peaceful
Written: Jan 07 '05 (Updated Jul 31 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Quiet, peaceful, clean, free wireless hookup
Cons: prices go up during ski season..just like other hotels
The Bottom Line: I do recommend this hotel but I would research others also.
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| boeingman1's Full Review: Residence Inn Whistler-Blackcomb |
UPDATE 7/31/2005
Well I had given nothing but praise to this hotel in the past but with my recent stay this weekend I am taking that back.
This is the first time I had stayed during the summer.
I never did talk about the beds in my original review. The beds are kinda hard and the bedding leaves a little to be desired especially with the feathers poking my head. Not goose down just cheap feather.
I had reserved a studio and that is what I got but the room wasn't ready when I got there and I had to come back.
Unlike every other time I did have to pay for parking this time even though the hotel allowed some guests to park out front in the check-in spots overnight.
After finally getting through the line the second time and getting to my room we noticed that the smoke alarm was hanging out of the wall by its wires about 8 inches or so. Other things were that the light next to the bed was burned out, the rack in the closet was broken, the light on the other side of the bed had a switch that had to be turned just so to get it to work.
The gas fireplace, the only source of heat, did not function either. By this time I had already made up my mind to not stay here again so I didn't even call them to fix it.
They do have complimentary high speed internet access if you bring your wireless enabled laptop. I used it and even emailed a complaint letter to the Marriot.com site while I was in their hotel. The access is throughout the hotel and in the individual rooms.
One thing I did notice was that if you get a non-slopeside room that faces the front of the building you will have to put up with people getting in and out of their cars, shutting their doors, loud music and the diesel buses stopping by every 20 minutes until about 2 a.m.
I would recommend a slopeside room for more peace and quiet.
Considering I paid with US dollars the price of the room was not a good value this time.
I have been researching some other hotels and will be going somewhere else next time. I am not sure if I will ever go back here again.
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Ok so I have stayed at this hotel 4 times since it opened around 1996. I have been there 3 times in the past 3 years.
The hotel itself is about 6 stories tall, and they actually sell some of the rooms. I believe the studios are listed at about $250,000 Canadian. Don't know if there is a monthly fee involved with that.
I have stayed in the two bedroom, studio and one bedroom units. Some units have slopeside views and some do not. The slopeside units cost more. Some of the two bedroom units have bunk beds in one room. So you should have lots of room for the kids. Also some if not all of the units have sleeper sofas.
I have only stayed during months of no snow, but as the other reviewer stated there is a free shuttle up and down the mountain for skiers even though the way the hotel is designed you can go out of the hotel and ski down the slope, take the chair lift back up and ski into the hotel later when you need to rest so the shuttle really isn't necessary unless you want to take it to the village.
Underground gated parking is available for $10 but I have always asked for free parking and got it.
All rooms have full kitchens with microwave, electric oven, stove, refrigerator and sink. They also come with a dining room table. This is nice because you can go a mile down the road to the grocery store and prepare your own meals on the cheap. Dishes are also included in the kitchen with utensils.
The furnishings are certainly adequate and the rooms have always been clean. The tubs are deep for soaking. A tv with vcr is included. Movies used to be free but now they charge $6 to rent them.
A gas fireplace is in every unit along with a heater so you won't be cold no matter what.
There is a buffet style complimentary breakfast every morning. There is fresh fruit, apple juice, orange juice, coffe, tea, hot chocolate, muffins, cold cereal, donuts, and a cool waffle maker where you pour premixed batter into it and in two minutes you have some nice waffles. Hot water is available 24 hours a day so that you can have coffee or any of their several varieties of tea anytime.
There are two hot tubs outside and a heated pool. A small but functional gym resides next to the pool inside.
A free morning paper is available in the lobby.
The interior of the hotel is made of clear, varnished logs and evokes the log lodge feel.
The nicest part about this hotel is that it is at the highest point of whistler and as such is very quiet and peaceful. There are several homes nearby that are several million dollars. The next best thing is that it is just about a mile, if that, to drive down to the main village and enjoy the restaurants, night life, shops and many other activities that whistler has to offer.
The prices change seasonally but I think I paid about $80 US for a studio last time. The studios are now well over $100 with the winter season being here.
The best price is available on the www.marriott.com website. Expedia doesn't get it any cheaper now since the Marriott has instituted their lowest price guarantee through their website or phone in reservations.
I am hesitant to try other hotels in Whistler because I have been so happy with this one.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
boeingman1
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Location: somewhere, washington
Reviews written: 19
Trusted by: 2 members
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