Pummeled with snow, Whistler Blackcomb opens 12 days early

Pummeled with snow, Whistler Blackcomb opens 12 days early
- Whistler.com offers incredible deals all season long -

 Whistler Blackcomb opens Whistler Mountain for the 2009/10 season this Saturday, November 14, with heavy early-season snowfalls highlighting what is sure to be an amazing season in Whistler - Host Mountain Resort of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. 

And with room rates for as little as $100 CDN per person per night, there’s no better time to visit what is consistently ranked the number one ski and snowboard resort in North America. Unbeatable ski and stay packages put you in the heart of Whistler’s vibrant alpine winter scene, famed apres and nightlife, and Winter Games vibe.

• Five-night/ four day package: include five nights’ accommodation and a four-day lift ticket from $397 CDN per person.* Available to book from November 16 - January 31, for arrival from November 26 - April 18, excluding February 12 - 28, 2010. www.whistler.com/winter_packges/  

• Two-night/two day package: short early season getaway includes two nights’ accommodation and a two-day lift ticket from $205 CDN per person. Offer valid until December 21, 2009 only. www.whistler.com/getaway/  

There are still a few days left to take advantage of Tourism Whistler’s Book Early and Save offer - with savings of up to 39 per cent on accommodations and lift tickets. Plus, kids 12 and under stay, ski, rent and bus transfer for free. And whistler.com’s Best Price Guarantee means that bookings made before November 15, 2009 come with a promise: if the price drops on an equivalent package later in the 2009/2010 winter season, the price will be matched.

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For information on these and other packages, including accommodation in Whistler throughout the 2010 Winter Games, please visit www.whistler.com

Visitors should note that plenty of parking is available in Whistler prior to Games time. Whistler Blackcomb has 90 per cent of its day skier parking open until February 1, 2010. 

The PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola opened last year and gives unprecedented access to both mountains’ expansive and spectacular skiing and snowboarding. Whistler and Blackcomb mountains are joined together by a gondola that sets world records for length and height, travelling 4.4 kilometres (2.73 miles) in just 11 minutes. 

Whistler was voted the best overall resort in North America in the October 2009 edition of SKIING magazine. The resort also earned top rankings in SKI and TransWorld Snowboarding magazines this year, and was the only Canadian resort named to away.com’s top ten North American ski resorts this year.

For more information on book-by deadlines and details about the above packages, call 1-800-WHISTLER (1.800.944.7853) or visit www.whistler.com/packages.

Local reservation agents at whistler.com can also customize a vacation package, taking care of your flights, transportation, accommodation, activities and lift tickets. 

The early opening is just one dimension of an exciting weekend in Whistler. Cornucopia, Whistler’s annual festival of wine and food, takes place this weekend, from November 12-15. Go to www.whistlercornucopia.com for information, tickets and accommodations packages.

* Packages are per person based on two adults sharing a hotel room or studio during early season (November 27 - December 17, 2009). All packages must be booked seven days before arrival. Packages that are booked before December 12 do not included the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola. Availability is limited and based on participating properties. Prices are exclusive of taxes and a booking fee.

**Packages must be booked by November 15, 2009 to receive Book Early and Save rates. Blackout dates apply during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, from February 12, 2010 to February 28, 2010.

Source: Tourism Whistler (www.tourismwhistler.com)