Canadian Mountain Holidays

Yes, its that time of year already! The freezing levels are starting to rise and the daffodils, tulips, bluebells and snowdrops are starting to pop up.

Panorama Mountain Village closed last Sunday, seeing the end of an epic season which boasted super snow conditions throughout the winter! Now the golf season’s on the way, with Greywolf Golf Course set to open on May 9th, with the mountain bike park soon to follow!

This coming Sunday will see the last weekend of winter operations in Sun Peaks for 2008, with several end-of-season events scheduled to celebrate what has been a great snow year. The Sun Peaks Golf Course will open on May 17th, and the mountain bike park opens June 28th.

Whistler still has almost two weeks of skiing and boarding left with Whistler Mountain closing on April 20th, while Blackcomb remains open as conditions permit until June 8th. Summer sliding on Blackcomb Glacier will open on June 9th. The much-anticipated Whistler golf season will start on April 18th with the opening of Big Sky Golf & Country Club. The other courses, Fairmont Chateau, Nicklaus North, and Whistler Golf Club, will be coming online as soon as conditions permit. The world-class mountain bike park on Whistler Mountain opens on May 17th.

If you’re thinking of planning a Canadian mountain holiday this summer, ask Compass Tours to help you make the arrangements! We operate in Whistler, Sun Peaks and Panorama, and would love to help you get the most out of your vacation! Contact us today for your free quote - and to benefit from our local knowledge and vacation planning experience!

Its been a fantastic winter season in Whistler, Sun Peaks, and Panorama mountain resorts … the awesome snow that continues to fall means that winter will linger in the mountains, and spring will probably arrive fashionably late!

In fact, you could be forgiven for not even noticing that Old Man Winter is slowly shuffling away, or that at lower elevations around Vancouver spring is getting a toe-hold …

Miniature daffodils …

Flowering trees … if only I could remember what they’re called!

Taela just oozes contentment on a lush green lawn, gnawing on a particularly tasty stick …

Gorgeous violets, the intense colour of which I can’t seem to quite capture …

How lucky we are to live in “Paradise North”, the mountains of B.C.!

An update on the USA government’s Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which applies to all travelers between the USA and Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico and Bermuda:

The USA’s Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative currently requires passport documentation for all air travellers between the USA and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

For land and sea border crossings into the USA, as at January 31, 2008, if you don’t have a passport or another approved alternative (such as a US passport card, SENTRI, NEXUS, FAST, or US Coast Guard Mariner Document), you’ll need a driver’s licence or other government-issue photo identification plus proof of citizenship (eg: birth certificate, citizenship card).

At a later date, to be determined, passports will be required for border crossings by land and sea.

For more information about WHTI from the Canadian perspective, visit the government website.

It was announced recently that the Canadian Temporary Foreign Worker program is set to expand over the next weeks and months.

The program has already been broadened to include hospitality and tourism workers, which specifically addresses issues that affect resort destinations such as Whistler, Sun Peaks, and Panorama, and is to be further widened to include other trades. No specifics have been made public yet, though.

The idea is to ensure a better supply of qualified workers not only for the immediate future as the population ages, but also to cover the demands of Vancouver and the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympic & Paralymic Games.

In addition, Human Resources and Social Development Minister, Monte Solberg, has advised that the Canadian Working Holiday Visa system is also being reassessed with a view to possibly including the UK, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan.

So, if you’re interested in working in Canada temporarily, be sure to keep an eye on the Immigration Canada website.

Good luck!

Even when you’re on holiday, you’ll probably feel the need to check your email accounts.

Here’s a great way to do it …

http://www.mail2web.com/

All you have to have is your email address and email password …

You can check your messages on any machine with internet access, from anywhere in the world …

And transfer them to your regular email program when you get home!

The availability of a free village shuttle service is an important consideration when you’re deciding which mountain destination to visit, and one with which Compass Tours can assist you!

A village shuttle is defined as a bus service that runs within the village area, transporting guests from one part of the village area to another part of the village area (this is not the bus service that transports you from outlying areas or from other cities to the resort area).

Panorama Mountain Village has a small enough area not to need a shuttle service.

Whistler and Sun Peaks, however, have become fairly large and relatively spread-out, so guests do benefit from the free village shuttle service that is available.

The shuttle makes getting from a point near your accommodation into the main village and to the lift bases much easier, and removes the need for visitors to have a car in the resort at all!

Accommodations that are located on the free shuttle route are often much more reasonably priced than those that are ski in/ski out, or right in the main village. These units are usually more spacious, and quieter at night, too!

The extent of the shuttle service varies from season to season (in Whistler the shuttle runs most of the year, but with a much more extensive service in winter; and in Sun Peaks, the shuttle only runs during the winter months).

What is peace-of-mind worth to you?

Imagine getting all the headaches of vacation planning, and the pain of payment, out of the way ahead of time, so that all you have to do is relax and enjoy your holiday!

You don’t have to worry if you’ll get a seat on the flight you want, a room in the perfect hotel, or a spot on the activity or tour you want to take.

You won’t end up being forced to take a flight at an inconvenient time, or that makes you change planes five times before you get to your destination. You won’t end up in the last, and nastiest, room in the hotel … or worse, in a room at the only hotel in town that no-one wanted to stay at! And you won’t face “sold out” signs for popular tours and activities!

Probably the best perk of all is that you won’t have to haul your wallet out every five minutes, because all the big stuff’s already been taken care of!

Yes, prices do change the closer you get to your departure date … but they usually go up because space on flights and in hotels becomes more and more limited, while demand is unchanged - or increases!

Prices only go down substantially when airlines, hotels, and other service providers are desperate to sell you what no-one else wants!

Yes, within 24 or 48 hours of arrival, you might find a smoking deal - but who needs the stress of waiting until the last second - especially when there are no guarantees that something suitable will come up?!

Many suppliers we work with in Whistler and Sun Peaks offer special deals in the form of “early booking incentives” - discounts for advance bookings!

I’m not here to tell you that last minute travel deals are not out there, somewhere, but is your enjoyment of your precious vacation time really worth the risk?!

You might get lucky … if you don’t mind where you’re going, or where you’ll be staying, or how long you’re staying.

But if you’ve got your heart set on a particular destination and your time is limited, don’t take a chance - book ahead!

Why would a group that’s not interested in somewhat extreme sports want to take a Canadian mountain holiday?

While there are many reasons for active people to go to the mountains, even stamp collectors, book-clubbers, quilters, and the like, will benefit from the fresh, clean air, and the awe-inspiring scenery of British Columbia!

That’s to say nothing of world-class dining, great shopping, and just getting away from the daily grind!

What’s considered a group?

Of course, there are the traditional definitions: Golf club, ski club, cycling club, book club, quilting club, bird-watching club … groups of people who get together to enjoy a shared interest or activity.

But there are many other types of groups, too: A family reunion, a circle of friends celebrating a special occasion … even a bunch of strangers brought together by someone who wants to travel, but doesn’t want to go alone!

What are the benefits of group travel?

Every group is different, but for the most part the best thing about traveling as a group is the price! Almost every supplier (hotels, activities, air and ground transportation, meals, etc) will extend discounts to groups!

Aside from that, there’s the simple pleasure of the company of like-minded individuals!

As soon as you know you’re coming to Canada from another country (even if you’re a Canadian citizen!), start getting your documentation in order. It can take months to renew a passport or other form of i.d., so the earlier you start preparing, the better!

Anyone coming from outside Canada will need to provide travel documentation at the port of entry to Canada.

These days, the best thing is to have a passport that’s valid at least six months after your return home. Everyone in your party should have his/her own passport - even the children!

Citizens of some countries will need a visa to enter Canada … be sure to check with your nearest Canadian embassy or consulate.

Driving in Canada isn’t a problem … if you’ve got all the right paperwork. Canada allows residents of many countries to use their home driver’s licences in Canada. However, people from other countries will have to present an International Driving Permit. Again, check with your nearest Canadian embassy or consulate.

Always leave copies of every type of documentation with someone at home, who you can contact quickly in the case of emergency. Having a full set of copies in your checked baggage is also a good idea.

Bring certified copies of your medical prescriptions along with any medication that you’re taking. Do not remove the medication from the container that was provided by your pharmacist. Never carry prescription medication that bears another person’s name.

One more thing about medicines: Don’t bring more than you’ll conceivably need for the duration of your trip! If your journey gets extended for whatever reason, you’ll have your presciption with you, as well as a sample of your medication, so you’ll be able to secure additional supplies if you need them.

Its a good idea to check with customs authorities from both countries (the country you’re leaving, and Canada) to make sure that you’ll be permitted to carry that medication with you when you travel. Medications that are allowed in one country may be outlawed in another!

No matter how sure you are that you’ll travel (and it is most likely that you will travel!), there’s no telling what might crop up to spoil your plans!

The obvious would be falling gravely ill or getting seriously injured before you even leave home. Or there could be a death in the family, or a change in your job status.

And then there are the things that happen during your trip over which no-one has control, like flight delays due to breakdown or weather, causing your trip to be interrupted or your itinerary re-routed. Extra expenses add up quickly in these situations - transfers, hotels, meals.

Then there’s luggage delay or loss … if you want to get any enjoyment out of your holiday despite such a frustrating situation, you’re going to be buying clothes, toiletries, even sports equipment!

The biggie, however, is medical insurance … whether its a bad case of Montezuma’s Revenge, or a major yard sale on the ski slopes requiring an emergency room visit, you don’t want to be messing around trying to prove that you can pay for medical assistance when you’re indisposed!

Please don’t skip travel insurance when you’re planning your trip! It really isn’t that expensive and is worth every penny for your own peace of mind!

Your credit card company may have special deals for cardholders, or your home-owner’s policy may have an add-on option that you can take advantage of. Your local travel agent is also able to sell travel insurance policies. Make sure you at least get these items covered:

Outright cancellation prior to departure for any reason.

Partial cancellation - eg: you change your mind about visiting a particular area due to security concerns - to include coverage for all service fees that travel agents and other service-providers may charge for making adjustments to your itinerary.

Service interruption - in case your airline goes bankrupt or your hotel burns down before you arrive.

Loss or delay of luggage.

Full service medical coverage - to cover everything from emergency ambulance service through regular doctor/dentist visits to full hospitalization/diagnostic/surgery - including upgrade for “dangerous sports” if you’re going to be skiing or skydiving, for example.