CANADA
If you embark on a skiing or snowboarding holiday in Canada you’ll be living the dream in one of the top ski destinations of the world. The impressive selection of resorts spreads right across the North American country. With its friendly locals, well groomed pistes, crisp cold conditions and first-class powder, Canada really lives up to its reputation as an absolute ‘must’ destination for any skier’s career.
The country has some 270 resorts offering an abundance of choice for your skiing or snowboarding holiday to Canada. Choose between major resorts Whistler in British Columbia and Banff in Alberta, or smaller interesting centres in French-speaking Quebec and Ontario. The country has many varied skiing areas, including world-renowned Whistler which is situated high in the Rocky Mountains with the largest ski area in North America. Whilst equally as good Banff has the longest ski season, it’s open for an incredible 7 months of the year; ideal for picking a time of year to suit everyone on a group ski holiday package. It has far reaching trails for you to ski on all day long as you take in the National Park scenery and excellent snow, Canadian ski packages are well worth the extra mileage over from Europe.
Dining out and skiing accommodation in Canada is also reasonably priced. As the British like to go skiing at a different time to the Canadian locals, skiing in Canada doesn’t have to break the bank. Try booking for January for the best ski deals. The snow conditions are excellent in Canada, plus there are plenty of snow canons, especially in Whistler. The snow is extremely reliable which makes planning your Canada ski trip all the more easier. Canada is great for family ski holidays as prices for children’s lift prices are good value for money.
The tuition here at the ski schools here is excellent. Being taught by native English speaking instructors gives Canada an advantage over its European counterparts. Accommodation in Canada consists of stunning grand old hotels and many contemporary buildings which have sprung up over the past two decades. Be careful with package prices, as often these can be based on 4 sharing a room with two double beds, so it's always best to double check the room breakdown suits your holiday requirements. Picturesque scenery from your window can be easier to find in ski holiday accommodation in Canada than in Europe. Eclipse Ski’s hot tip for any first time ski trippers to Canada is that the country is known for getting cold, really cold, so we recommend investing in good quality thermals and gloves. Clothing tends to be more affordable out there, so maybe get the essentials at home and then treat yourself to a ski gear shopping trip to find your bearings in the resort.
Getting There...
Going the extra mile can be worth the pay off when you arrive at one of these world-class resorts. The Canadian powder is just a 9 hour flight away. Calgary International airport serves Banff, Lake Louise and Sunshine with 90 minute transfers and Kicking Horse and Fernie take 3-4 hours. Montreal serves Mount Tremblant with a 90 minute transfer and Whistler is a 2 hour transfer from Vancouver.
Travelling independently
If you are planning to fly-drive, Calgary International Airport has up to 7 car rental companies. It has 1 hour 30 minute public transfers to Banff (daily) Lake Louise (Fri, Sat, Sun) and Sunshine (daily), with about 3-4 hours for the bus to Kicking Horse (Sun). You can fly-drive to Fernie, the journey is roughly 3 hours 30 minutes from the airport.
Montreal airport is just 90 minutes from Mount Tremblant. Shuttle bus company Skyport offer daily regular transfers. Fly-drivers can choose from 9 different car rental companies at the airport.
Vancouver International Airport serves world favourite Whistler Blackcomb resort. The 2 hour drive can be made by hire car, shuttle bus, limosine or even an exciting helicopter trip!
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