Whether we like it or not, winter is fast approaching and so is ski season! For those of you who love winter sports, here is a guide to help you save money on a ski trip to Western Canada.
My advice focuses on the most popular resorts: Whistler Blackcomb, Banff Sunshine Village and Lake Louise Ski Resort. Let’s take a closer look at how these points and tips can help you reduce your bill.
The nearest international airport to Whistler is Vancouver, a 2-hour drive from the village.
According to Air Canada’s points predictor, the Montreal-Vancouver route starts at 12,500 Aeroplan points, for a one-way trip in economy class.
As for Banff, the nearest airport is in Calgary, a 1.5-hour drive away. From Montreal, a minimum of 12,500 Aeroplan points is required for an economy class ticket.
There’s another important consideration for those who want to bring their skis or snowboards: the cost of transporting sports equipment.
With Air Canada, skis and snowboards are considered as regular baggage. A boot bag is also permitted and exempt from the baggage allowance when carried with skis or a board.
To get the first checked bag free on an Air Canada flight, simply sign up for an Aeroplan credit card.
Air Canada’s loyalty program, Aeroplan, allows its members to earn points in various ways, including by travelling with Air Canada and using a credit card affiliated with this program, such as the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card. Among other things, this card includes travel medical, collision and damage insurance for a rental vehicle.
Skiing in the Rockies is fantastic. The snow conditions are exceptional and the mountains are much bigger than in Quebec. However, lift tickets can cost a small fortune if purchased on the day of!
A day pass to Whistler Blackcomb is quite expensive when purchased locally, so take the time to book online before your visit.
Every year, there is a pre-sale of Edge passes (before December 2) on the Whistler Blackcomb website, reserved for residents of Canada and Washington State. Skiers can choose between 2, 5 or 10 days to use during the season.
As you’ve probably guessed, the biggest savings are made before the season starts by purchasing tickets for multiple days.
All prices are shown in the ‘Tickets and passes’ section. For example, a one-day pass for an adult costs $139, taxes included.
Fortunately, the rates for Banff Sunshine and Lake Louise are much simpler! There are no pre-sales and there are no savings to be made by buying for multiple days.
The Ski Big 3 pass provides access to Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise, and Mount Norquay. This last resort is much smaller than the other two, and not as exceptional.
For example, a one-day Ski Big 3 pass for an adult starts at $188, tax included.
Note: since the Banff Sunshine and Lake Louise Ski Resort resorts are in Banff National Park, you must purchase a park entry ticket. If you are driving, make sure your ticket is visible at all times or you may be fined.
Every Friday in the winter of 2024-2025, RBC Visa Avion cardholders will be able to enjoy two-for-one ski tickets at several ski resorts in Western Canada. Here they are:
In British Columbia :
In Alberta :
With the loyalty program Avion Rewards you can earn points with any RBC credit card.
Hotel expenses will represent the largest part of your budget. You have two options:
If you book in advance you’ll have more choices and find better deals.
At the Banff Sunshine resort, the only ski-in ski-out option is the Sunshine Mountain Lodge. Other accommodations are found in Banff village, a few minutes from the resort.
For the Lake Louise Ski Resort, there is no ski-in ski-out option, or any establishment at the base of the mountain. The closest accommodations to the resort are in the village of Lake Louise.
For a luxurious stay, the five-star Fairmont Château Lake Louise boasts an exceptional lakeside location. Fairmont hotels are part of the Accor Live Limitless loyalty program.
In the Accor Live Limitless program, 2,000 Reward points are worth €40. So you’d need about 17,000 points to cover the cost of a night at the Fairmont Château Lake Louise.
My best tip for saving money on accommodation in Banff: book a hotel in the town of Canmore.
There’s a huge choice, and prices are much more reasonable than on the mountain or in Banff village. However, you’ll need a car to get there. Canmore is 30 minutes from Banff Sunshine Resort and one hour from Lake Louise Resort.
Marriott Bonvoy offers two accommodation options directly in the ski resort: Delta Hotels Whistler Village Suites and the luxurious Westin Resort & Spa Whistler.
There are several ways to earn Marriott Bonvoy points. The easiest way is via the following American Express credit cards:
Like Banff, there are much cheaper options outside the resort. You can stay in Squamish or Pemberton to save on accommodation.
You’ll need a car as the town of Squamish is 50 minutes from Whistler, while Pemberton is just 30 minutes away.
If you don’t bring your own equipment, you will have to rent it on site. In Whistler, renting a complete set of intermediate-level equipment will cost you about $100 per day.
The best way to save money is to rent equipment off the mountain at a sports store. Complete equipment rentals are around $45 per day, and you can get a discount if you rent for several days.
Rentals in Banff Sunshine and Lake Louise are also less expensive than in Whistler. Expect to pay around $75 a day for a rental on the mountain or around $55 a day at a sports shop in Banff village.
You could save on car rental with the AIR MILES loyalty program by using DREAM miles or with the Scene+ loyalty program by redeeming Scene+ points.
In my opinion, having a car makes things much smoother on a ski trip. However, if you prefer not to drive, there are organized transportation options to get to Whistler or Banff:
One last detail: parking is free at the Banff Sunshine and Lake Louise resorts.
In Whistler, it is free in some places, but these lots fill up very quickly in the morning. The parking spots near the village and the mountain are paid. Don’t forget to pay at the kiosk, or you’ll definitely get a fine, speaking from experience!
Banff National Park is beautiful, even in winter! If you want to spend a day off the ski hill, there are plenty of other activities to do.
My favourites are skating on Lake Louise (rent skates at the Fairmont Hotel), the Upper Hot Springs thermal baths in Banff and the short hike to Peyto Lake. Unfortunately, the road to Moraine Lake is closed in winter.
From Banff, you can also book a snowshoe hike in Kootenay National Park.
Near Whistler, there is the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish which offers a magnificent view of the region’s mountains.
A ski trip using your points requires a lot of preparation. In short, book early and diversify the points and miles in your wallet. With Aeroplan points for flights, Marriott Bonvoy points for accommodation, AIR MILES Dreams miles or Scene+ points for the car and flexible points for other expenses, you’ll have a memorable trip at a low price. Enjoy the ride!
You can hire a car at the Vancouver or Calgary airports or take a bus to Whistler or Banff.
Whistler is located in the Canadian mountains near the British Columbia coast. This winter sports paradise is just a two-hour drive north of Vancouver International Airport.
Whistler Blackcomb is North America’s largest ski resort. With a surface area of 8,171 acres, the resort is accessible to beginners and experienced skiers alike.
Edge cards must be reserved before December 2. For example, for five days, you will need to pay $572 including taxes for an adult Edge card, purchased online. All rates are available on the Whistler Blackcomb website.
Savings are here:
