Canadian Mountain Holidays

Wow, we’re only just into October and already seeing substantial snow dumps!

Whistler and Blackcomb mountains have a good couple of inches of the white stuff blanketing the slopes to well below the Roundhouse and Christine’s! But the golf courses should be ok until after Canadian Thanksgiving, when they’re scheduled to close for the winter.

Sun Peaks is showing good early coverage, too, with snow all the way down to the village! I guess the Sun Peaks Golf Course might be closing early!

Panorama’s peaks are already showing a nice dusting, too! Greywolf Golf Course should close on schedule at the end of this week.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

How many of us can really leave our work or, for that matter, our connectivity at home, when we go on holiday?

You might have every good intention of having a true break from your everyday stresses … but one of the first things you want to do when you get to your destination is ask:

“Where can I check my email?”

Today, most of us won’t even consider traveling without our laptops! I know I can’t!

Sun Peaks, a mountain holiday destination in British Columbia, Canada, now boasts blanket wireless access available to everyone, including visitors! You can have as little as an hour online, or as much as a month!

The wireless internet service covers most of the resort area, so you can surf the ‘net - or check mail, use voip, or even do some work!

You know you’ll find the time in the evenings … or during a white-out … or on a rest day … in your favourite cafe … even on the slopes themselves!

So if staying connected without any hassle is something you need during your Canadian mountain holiday, get in touch with Whispar and set it up!

One of the biggest draws for Sun Peaks resort is the quality of the snow: It is famous for its champagne powder so light and dry that you can hardly feel it as you float through waist-deep snow!

Boasting British Columbia’s second-largest ski area, the third-largest in Canada, Sun Peaks’ base elevation of 1255m (over 4100 feet) means that, when many other resorts are experiencing rain at village level, Sun Peaks is usually getting snow!

Sun Peaks has 121 runs, which includes 12 gladed areas, serviced by 12 lifts (3 high speed quads, 2 quads, 1 triple, and 6 surface lifts) plus two alpine bowls and two terrain parks! The area has 881m (almost 2900 feet) of vertical, and the longest run is 8km, or 5 miles.

Off the groomed slopes, Sun Peaks resort offers other activities, like cat skiing, ice skating, bungee trampoline, groomer rides, swimming, evening events (bonfires, casino nights, movie nights, etc), photo shoots, sleigh rides, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and more!

Its location in the interior of British Columbia, well away from the coast, allows Sun Peaks to enjoy more than 2000 hours of sunshine, on average, every year!

The 18 hole championship Sun Peaks Golf Course, designed by Graham Cooke, opened in its entirety for summer 2005. Golfers will appreciate a uniquely beautiful mountain golf experience peppered with risk-reward natural challenges and spectacular views.

Other outdoor Sun Peaks summer activities include both cross-country and downhill mountain biking, horse riding, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, photo shoots, and hiking.

So there’s plenty to do, no matter what your activity level! Everyone in your extended family will be able to get the most out of their Canadian mountain holiday in Sun Peaks BC!

If romance is what you’re after, there are quality hotels where you are pampered from the moment to step through the front doors … there shops and galleries to browse around, and spas offering a wide variety of treatments.

The night-owls aren’t forgotten, either, aside from a good selection of dining options, there are several cafe’s and a couple of pubs offering live music on occasion, and there’s a nightclub where you can dance the night away!

Getting to Sun Peaks is also easy … fly right in to Kamloops where you’re just one hour’s shuttle ride from the resort!

The first Sun Peaks lodge and chairlift opened in 1961, followed by sporadic and often ill-fated attempts to improve the area through the next 30 years.

It wasn’t until the early 90’s, when the road to Tod Mountain was paved and the resort area was purchased by the Japanese Nippon Cable Company, that any major development and expansion of the ski area began in earnest.

Today, Sun Peaks’ ski-through village boasts about 500 permanent residents, accommodation for around 6000 visitors, a medical clinic, a sports centre featuring a pool and hot tub plus tennis courts in summer, and a full size outdoor ice skating rink.

There are two small indoor food markets (a large grocery store will be opening in early winter 2007), and village-wide wireless internet access.

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.