Canadian Mountain Holidays

There are solid rumours flying about that the Jamaican Bobsled Team will be establishing an Olympic base for themselves in Pemberton, a rural community 30 minutes’ drive north of Whistler.

The JBT, immortalized in the Disney movie “Cool Runnings”, is a good fit for Pemberton, say stakeholders, because Pemberton, like the Jamaican Bobsled Team, is a bit different, a step off the beaten track.

For their part, the JBT is excited at the prospect of returning to Canada, where they got their start in elite winter sports competition at the Calgary Olympics in 1988. Twenty years ago, the team greatly appreciated the support they received from Canadian fans, while they were met with scorn and ridicule from many of the international sporting bodies.

The Whistler Sliding Centre will be hosting the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton competitions on its newly completed tracks at the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics.

Pemberton  is a small farming community half an hour’s drive north of Whistler. The village was in the news for its successful Pemberton Music Festival this past summer, and the beautiful valley is renowned for its backcountry adventure opportunities, along with its seed potato industry.

Compass Tours creates reasonably priced Canadian mountain holiday packages to Whistler, Sun Peaks, Panorama and Revelstoke resorts, all located in British Columbia, Canada.

See what our clients have to say about us, then contact us so that we can plan your vacation of a lifetime!

For the first time in many months, the Canadian Dollar has weakened substantially, allowing the major world currencies to gain ground and make Canadian mountain holidays more affordable!

Today, one US Dollar will buy more than C$1.20! One Pound Sterling will buy more than C$2.05! One Euro will buy more than C$1.59! And one Australian Dollar will buy more than C$0.83!

This effectively makes a Canadian ski holiday cheaper for our international guests! So, if you’re thinking of taking advantage of these holiday savings, now’s the time to act!

Visit Whistler, Sun Peaks, Panorama and Revelstoke in British Columbia, Canada, this winter!

Compass Tours can help you arrange your trip, taking the worry out of the process and ensuring that everything runs smoothly … all you’ll have to worry about will be enjoying yourself when you get here!

Take advantage of our experience, local knowledge and commitment to service … see what our clients have to say about Compass Tours, and the destinations we represent!

If you haven’t booked a snow holiday before, visit our website for tips and guidelines.

Ask us to put your no-obligation, free quote together for your family and friends today!

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!

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.

What To Bring

Packing for a trip is always challenging, especially if you haven’t traveled much in the past! Most often, people take way more than they need. Of course, your access to laundry facilities does dictate how much you take, so bear that in mind! If your accommodation unit has a washer/dryer of its own, or your hotel or lodge has a guest-use laundry room, you can really reduce the amount of clothing you need to pack!

For the Canadian mountain resorts like Whistler, Sun Peaks and Panorama, its good to remember that life in the hills is very casual … there are no restaurants that require gentlemen to wear jackets and ties, or ladies to wear cocktail gowns! That’s not to say that can’t dress up for dinner … just that things are pretty laid-back! That being said, there are some higher-end establishments that don’t permit jeans, boardshorts, and such-like, so if that’s the type of restaurant you’ll be visiting, be sure to pack accordingly!

The weather can change quickly in the mountains … to experience four seasons in one day is not uncommon!

So take rain gear along with your shorts, tee shirts and sandals in summer, together with some warmer top layers, and a pair of closed shoes.

In winter you’re assured of chilly weather, so keep that in mind when you’re packing - bring your waterproof padded outerwear, long underwear, warm socks, gloves (both the woolly/fleece type and sports type). The trick to keeping comfortable in winter is layering!

There are plenty of shops in the resorts if you find you’ve forgotten something that you can’t live without … but be prepared to pay premium prices!

Luggage

These days, it is imperative to contact the airline to check the current rules regarding carry-on baggage - not only does the size and number of items vary from airline to airline, but many airports severely restrict the volume of liquids/gels (perfume, moisturizer, toothpaste, etc) that you can take into the cabin with you.

The amount of luggage you can take with you depends on how far you’re going. Mostly, if you’re flying across a major ocean (Atlantic or Pacific) between major continents, eg: North America and Europe, you’re permitted to check two suitcases. The size and weight of those bags varies from airline to airline.

You absolutely must check baggage regulations before planning your packing - otherwise you could end up repacking in the airport building or, worse, being forced to discard items altogether!

With regard to luggage, choose wisely. There are some really cheap options out there that may do the job, but they may not be strong enough to withstand the rigours of modern airline baggage handling!

Make sure that your name and all your contact details are available inside your luggage. I prefer not to use baggage tags that go on the outside of suitcases because anyone and everyone will have access to your contact details - on the other hand, other experienced travelers will tell you that external labels are absolutely necessary! Its all down to personal preference, I suppose.

Identifying your luggage as it comes off the ‘plane onto the carousel in the arrivals hall can be tricky … cases often look very similar! You could use bright paint on your suitcase, or tie on small but bright pieces of string or wool.

If you’re not 100% sure that the suitcase you’re picking up is yours, make sure that your key or combination opens the bag before leaving the arrivals hall … you don’t want to travel hundreds of miles from the airport to the mountain resort, only to find that you’ve taken the wrong case!

Let’s face it … if someone wants to get into your luggage between the time that you drop it off at check-in and when you pick it up at the other end, they’re going to get in! But don’t make it easy … buy luggage with built-in combination locks, or attach a small lock to the zipper-tags, holding them together. Even one-use “zap straps” will do the job - just bring a supply along to replace the ones you have to cut off!

If the thief is determined, he will get into your bag - but at least some sort of locking mechanism is a deterrent!

Upon landing at your destination, if you have the time in the arrivals hall, its a good idea to open your checked luggage to make sure that everything is there.

And don’t be shy to approach airline staff with your suspicions if you think Sticky Fingers have been inside your bags!

Yes, the Canadian Government’s GST (currently 6%) refund program has been scaled back.

This decision was apparently taken because it cost too much to manage the system, and because too few people of those eligible were taking advantage of the refund available.

The GST that you paid on items purchased in Canada to take back home (ie: out of Canada) is no longer refundable.

However, as a visitor from outside Canada to Whistler, Sun Peaks, Panorama or Vancouver, the General Sales Tax paid on short-term accommodation (hotel/resort/etc) can still be reclaimed.

Please visit the Canadian Government website for more detailed information about the GST rebate program.