Fabulous Whistler Trip Part Two

Saturday morning started with a walk around Whistler Village. As the mountain biking competition Crankworks was on when we were there there were demonstrations and competitions going on in several spots. It was great to watch the skill level of these competitors. We also took advantage of a couple of freebies. I ended up with a free cup of Ben & Jerry's icecream as they were doing a promotion (Cherry Garcia) and hubby took a testdrive in a new Jeep over gigantic rocks. While we always purchase our vehicles used it still is a good idea to test drive a new model to get the feel for the cars. I really don't think a Jeep is in our future but you never know.

We stumbled upon the finals of the men's freestyle and got to see the winner (the guy on the screen). The event was held at the bottom of Whistler mountain right where we got off the lift. It was something that I would never go to watch but am so glad we did. These mountain bikers are the worlds best and the crowd was treating them like rockstars, very fun to watch.

The mountain was dotted with thousands of wildflowers. One of my favorite parts of the trip was going up the open chair lift on Blackcomb mountain. It was so peaceful and quiet.

The Peak To Peak Tram is the jewel in the Whistler Blackcomb crown. A feat of engineering opened just before the 2010 winter Olympics it connects Blackcomb mountain with Whistler mountain. It is the highest lift of its kind in the world and it spans over 3 kilometres unsupported. It was truly amazing.

Part of the prize was tickets for the Roundhouse BBQ that runs weekend nights in summer. Normally I avoid buffets as dislike overeating and never feel I get my moneys worth. This one is $30 per person but was one of the best buffets ever. Absolutely everything was tasty, not a single miss in the entire menu.

We bought our own beer and were entertained by a good band playing at the BBQ and this tiny chipmunk scavenging for bits under the picnic tables. He was fast as lightening, obviously a return customer.

This picture shows a little red and blue dot on top of the cliff. Those are people who somehow managed to hike and climb there. Just looking at them gave me the willies.

The vistas were breathtaking, and we were so fortunate for the clear sunny skies. Normally you only get views like this out of an airplane.

We had lunch on Sunday, which was my Birthday at the outdoor view patio at Christine's at the top of Blackcomb mountain. I had what possibly might be the best mixed green salad ever made with pea shoots and candied almonds. We had several cocktails in celebration and then did some hiking to walk it off.

It was a wonderful holiday weekend and we discovered something new - we actually enjoy hiking! We have finally figured out a way to get exercise and spend quality couple time together so I see local day hikes in my future. The weekend was far more than we could have hoped for and I would love to return to Whistler one day.

Fabulous Whistler Trip - Part One

Late December last year I received a voicemail message indicating I had won a three night trip to Whistler. A part-time hobby of mine is entering contests and it has paid off big-time in the last several years. Due to our recent move to B.C. the trip had to wait until this past weekend, booked to co-incide with my 43rd Birthday.

We had wonderful weather, clear blue skies and hot summer days. First, the ferry crossing from Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay, then an ocean cliffside drive up into the mountains.

Our budget of $500 for expenses was as follows:
Gas $25
Parking $100 ($30 per night plus tax)
Ferries $160 ($80 each way for a car and two passengers)
Meals and drinks $220

$505 Total. This was my birthday weekend as well as our only real holiday this year so we budgeted for it. We packed our own alcohol, muffins, fruit and snacks for the room.


No trip is totally free even if won as a prize. This one did not include transportation to the resort and only included two meals. When researching the trip I quickly realized that Whistler has absolutely no free parking. An outdoor lot for the day costs a minimum $8 so our hotel charge of $30 per day for underground secure parking, while high, was not unexpected. We planned it into our trip budget as could find no cheaper way to get there than driving. If I had not researched this, it would have been a very bad shock. The trip did include unlimited passes on the chair lifts on both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains and peak to peak tram so that was our main form of entertainment for the trip.

Hotel Fairmont Chateau Whistler and the lift chairs at base of Blackcomb Mountain


We stayed three nights at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, an old-world charm five star hotel which lived up to our high expectations. There was lush bedding, bathrobes, hot tubs and pools enjoyed every evening after a long day of hiking and sightseeing. The hotel is in a wonderfull location right at the bottom of Blackcomb mountain and we rode the lift down right to the hotel at days end.

Whistler hosted many of the skiing events from the 2010 Winter Olympics and is definitely a world class town. We ate great meals, did some hiking and conquered our fear of heights (not quite but we pushed ourselves) to go as high as you can go on the mountain.

I am breaking this post into two entries due to the number of photos I took. Part Two to come shortly.

Where Have You Been? Map of Your Travels

I just found this great website to keep track of all the places you have travelled in the world. Here is mine:

Make yours @ BigHugeLabs.com

USA
Canada
Cayman Islands
Cuba
Mexico
Costa Rica
Egypt
Greece
Turkey
Hong Kong
Macau
Belize
Honduras
Jamaica

And here, yet another photo from 2011 Country: Costa Rica from our summer trip to Tamarindo

Dreaming of adding a few more countries to the list!

Maximize the Airmiles

Tamarindo surfing beach

With time booked off in September to go househunting on Vancouver Island our air mile accounts were reviewed and we were 80 airmiles short of two plane tickets (this after already redeeming three air tickets earlier this year).

Today I managed to spend $76.03 and received 148 air miles at Safeway! A return ticket high season Edmonton to Victoria takes only 900 air miles (I am a gold collector and have accumulated 1700 just since February 2011).

Yes, I did end up paying higher prices than normal and splurged on some items (like Tropicana Orange Juice) but we get two free air tickets plus some groceries out of it.

Estimated savings? $650

How do I get so many air miles?
1. Buy gas at Shell
2. Have Air Miles Bank of Montreal Mastercard, use for everything, pay off every month with zero interest ($99 annual fee, 1 air mile per $15 spent)
3. Occasionally shop at Safeway with a view of collecting points on high point items only (their groceries generally cost more)
4. Occasionally eat out and collect at Boston Pizza

The best part? Even if you don't want to pay $99 for the mastercard you can still collect as a shopper for free. You can redeem for a wide variety of gift certificates if you don't travel. See airmiles.ca today for the best Canadian freebie of all.

Ways to Save on Travel

Well, at midnight we are off to Costa Rica. I was a travel agent for 10 years and hope to pass along a few suggestions to help you save money on travel:

Sometimes packages including air, hotel and transfers are cheaper than an air ticket! It would have cost us more for this trip to buy air only. These work especially well if you plan to travel for 7 or 14 days.

Just because you choose to stay at an all inclusive does not mean you should eat all your meals there. Shocker but some of the best holidays include local restaurants. Set aside a little in your budget for a dinner out. Browsing Tripadvisor.com forums you will be able to find good memorable restaurants in your budget.

Find out departure taxes and fees before you go. Yes, some countries ask for a departure tax. Most are included in the airline taxes, but some like Costa Rica you pay before they let you on the plane home ($26 usd per person)

Consider renting a car for one day. You could end up saving money over buying a local tour that includes transportation. Make sure it is in a country that is reliable to rent in (Costa Rica is). Some countries are financially safe to rent in but you take your life in your hands (Greece comes to mind).

Take some snacks with you - for the plane, airport and to store in your hotel room. You will save loads not buying things at the airport.

Plan ahead, buy things like suntan lotion and bug spray to take with you as often in tourist locales you could be charged double the price.

Make sure no matter what your budget is you read reviews of your hotel before booking at tripadvisor.com. We ended booking a 3 star all inclusive as it is the highest rated and closest to town (versus being in the jungle at a 4 star and no towns within 45 minutes - unless that is the holiday you want).

Pack in your carry on: anything that you would need to survive a week. Ours: swimsuit, 1 pair underwear, extra pair shorts, extra shirt & all medications. I could live for a week without my blowdryer but no bathing suit would wreck my holiday. I always take earplugs just in case the hotel turns out to be noisier than you are used to.

If travelling locally and not flying check the local State or Province tourism bureau for deals on hotels and camping. Make use of any organizations such as CAA you belong too and don't be shy about asking for discounts.

The best package charter deals often occur within two months of travel. Booking further out may guarantee you a spot but not the best price. If you just have to be somewhere on a certain date or a certain hotel then book early so as not to be disappointed.

***Most important tip: Carry appropriate travel insurance, particularly medical if going out of State or Province, even within your own country. I know of someone who had medical issues in Las Vegas and the bill came to $400,000 for twelve days of hospitalization. Fortunately she survived and even better, her travel insurance which she paid $45 ended up paying the ENTIRE bill. Review your policy carefully before purchasing.

Chow for now and back in a week with loads of Costa Rica photos!

Pura Vida

Costa Rica here we come! A lot of this blog is devoted to pinching pennies, paying cash and learning to live on less. One thing we do spend more than the average family on is travel. I don't drink a lot, don't smoke, buy used clothes most of the time and avoid the average money pitfalls. I have never regretted one dollar spent on travelling the world. If I had more money my life would not change a whole lot with the exception of additional travel.

We have just booked ourselves a seven day getaway at the end of June to the Pacific side of Costa Rica in the Tamarindo surf town area. We have wanted to travel to Costa Rica for a long time and this trip is more of a test for hubby to see if he could live part or full-time there down the road in 5-10 years. Yes, we are still moving to Vancouver Island within the next year but I have wanderlust and have always dreamed of living in other countries and am a faithful reader of International Living Magazine.

Countries I have visited include: Mexico, Jamaica, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Belize, Honduras, Hong Kong, Macau, Egypt, Greece and Turkey. I have lived and travelled many States and Provinces in USA and Canada.

Costa Rica holds special appeal due to good climate,proximity to the ocean, diverse wild life and strict conservation activities with a very stable economy and moderate crime. It is safe to purchase real estate in Costa Rica although not nearly as inexpensive as other Central American Countries. You don't come to Costa Rica with job expectations, but Costa Rica does welcome those who intend to invest to create jobs for Ticos (Costa Ricans).

I could live in a hut with a palm tree and a fire to cook, hubby not so much. He requires high speed Internet (come to think of it I kind of like that too) but enjoys travelling and new experiences.

If you like armchair travelling or are thinking of taking a trip to Costa Rica checkout these blogs of expats who now call Costa Rica home:

Happier Than a Billionaire

A New Life In Costa Rica



Have you guessed what Pura Vida means?

Vancouver Island Cheap Getaway

We travel quite often to Vancouver Island to visit family. Last weekend Hubby was sent to Vancouver on business so we took advantage of his free airfare and made a mini-holiday out of it. I flew on Avion Points ($95 taxes only) and hubby took the ferry over ($14) to Victoria.

I always find the money spent on car rental well worth the cost as you are able to go off the beaten path and see far more than you would if you were limited to taxis, and buses. The best car rental deals are usually made with CAA discounts but this time I got a great deal using the Westjet Corporate Code (see Westjet.com - then look for car rentals). My mother lives in a tiny mobile senior trailer park therefore we normally get hotels when visiting, which frankly makes it more of a holiday for everyone.


Free things we did on Vancouver Island (Gotta love nature)
1. Viewed sea lions at Cowichan Bay on government pier
2. Viewed bunnies (previously domestic, now wild) on the lawn of UVIC campus
3. Walked down to Victoria's fisherman's wharf and met the resident seals
4. Picked sea glass, rocks and shells on the beach
5. Walked through the Fairmont Empress Festival of Trees
6. Viewed the Vancouver Island Christmas Parade of Lights
7. Gathered holly picked out of my Mothers yard for Christmas Crafts
8. More wildlife viewing: deer, snow geese, ducks, squirrels, birds




We also:
1. Signed up for Coast rewards prior to checking in to the hotel (free membership) and got free parking at the hotel as a member benefit ($13.50 per night savings)
2. Put expenses for meals, hotel and car rental on the credit card for more points
3. Stocked up our mini fridge with muffins, drinks, cocktails and fruit so less money would be spent on meals out.
4. Did not Christmas shop there as why would we pay HST when at home we only pay GST (Alberta)? (I forgot, Hubby reminded me :))

We had a very nice holiday.