2008, by Catherine_Parker

Whistler: #2 ski town to spend a season abroad

Ok, we know it's not exactly "abroad", but this beautiful British Columbia resort is getting the pole position because it excels both on and off the slopes. And although you can drive there, it is technically outside of the United States.

You will be pretty unlucky to get many bad riding days in Whistler. If you've never boarded or skied in the USA or Canada you will probably find it a bit more relaxed and better organized than European resorts and, with pistes hugely outnumbering lifts, it is quite sparsely populated.

It also has one of the longest seasons in the world of reliable snow and you can be riding from November till April, if you're lucky. It is incredibly beautiful in and around the resort and has generally great snow quality.

Whistler is also a great place for work and short-term housing. A lot of jobs come with staff accommodation and staff can often stay in Creekside, a small area just out of the Whistler village with a lift making the slopes easily accessible. Since Whistler is such a large resort and the big city of Vancouver is relatively nearby, jobs are plentiful.

The bar and pub scene is bustling and most season workers run a nice little line in staff house parties (so I hear!). It has more charm than the full on hedonism of some European resorts and the locals are super friendly. You have everything a seasoner could want. Whistler we salute you.

Pros	Cons
Long Season	Not cheap
Plenty of room on mountains	Not quite as big on the nightlife as Europe
Amazing powder	Very cold!
Beautiful place	Nothing else!
Good staff housing
Job potentials
Fun and lively

Whistler View

Resources:
http://www.natives.co.uk/resorts/whi/index.htm
http://whistlerbarguide.com/
http://www.jobmonkey.com/ski/html/whistler.html

Whistler Village

* Have you spent a season in Whistler?
* Would you like to?
* Do you think it belongs on this list (and in the #2 spot)???

Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments here...

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