We had an enjoyable trip at Whistler, British Columbia, home of the 2010 Olympics. Even though the season was sort of winding down, since we were there for Spring Break (March 22-25) there was still some flurries in the village, but major snowfalls as you climbed the mountains to the peaks.
The big part of the trip that was so successful was the hotel we stayed at. You were treated like royalty, and all the employees took the time to learn your name...at restrauants, at the lounge, etc. to say "how may we help you Mrs. Bergeron". Well, I guess I didn't want to spoil their day, since I'm a Ms. Allen with a bunch of other Mr. and Misses Bergerons'
I booked the in between expensive room, that is...the second from the bottom. I got a deluxe slope-side with two double beds when I made the initial reservation, at a cost of $609.00 per night. However, since I booked through a travel agent, the room was billed as $449.00 per night, with a $500.00 ski lift package purchased. Yes, it costs an arm and a leg to ski at Whistler....even for one day! Daniel's three-day pass was $280.00.
So we get there and discover some nice reservation person has bumped us up to the "GOLD MEMBER" class room, with a fire place, two separate rooms (although still tiny...400 sq.ft) but with a view of the mountain-side, which was not that bad. We had our own private lounge on the 8th floor, full of "free" goodies, like coffee, cookies, pop, etc., private people to tend to our every whim basically.
Then, we go to restaurant for dinner....we're hungry. I order a glass of chardonnay, something nice I asked for recommendations...which turns out to be a $16.00 dollar glass of wine. Mind you, it was good...but it's too embarrassing now to ask for something nice and cheaper. By now we act the part, or feel the need to blend in, and just blurt out "bring me another".
I look over the menu and there's all these fascinating meals, still in a west coast flare, but written up in a way that suggests you just don't eat this, you relish this for all eternity. I order the salmon plank. It's item number 32. Turns out that meant 32 bucks. The salmon was itsy-bitsy, but so was the little piece of wooden shingle it came on.
So you get the drift, dinner that evening came to $127.38, with Daniel having a special order from the children's menu, spaghetti - doubled, two drinks for the kids, virgin pina-colodas, and two kid size orders of chicken strips, although I think it was called something else....like pastorial feathered friends with gourmet potatoes. Then a 20 tip...and that doesn't mean item 20 either.
We get to our room, turns out the kids hideaway bed is a single bed! I am devastated, where is one of my kids going to sleep? I hit the "GOLD" member secret button on the telephone and receive the most heavenly voice, "Hello Mrs. Bergeron, how may we assist you this evening"?
I tell them the room is not big enough, although lovely, it doesn't sleep 4 people. They offer to send up a cot. HELL NO, I tell them, for $600.00 a night hotel room I expect the best, the best mattresses, pillows, everything you advertise on the internet, even for Brandon.
They get us another room, expect it's the original room I booked, and it's crappy....even the soap in the bathroom is different, sort of like Chanel perfume vs. Ivory Liquid. There's no marble. There's no fireplace. There's no mini bar. There's no 8 floor special guest privileges to sit around in and pretend we're rich.
NO.
I will not accept this crappy room and I make the biggest stink in history over it. I'm arguing like I'm Meryl Streep in "Sophie's Choice", which one of your kids would you make sleep on a cot !! The salmon dinner inside has created an air of snobbishness within me.
Suddenly, it was arranged through the hotel to set us up in another room, the executive suite for tomorrow, which we accept. There is no comparison, this room is a 1,600 dollar per night room, and yes, $1,600 dollars! And we didn't have to pay for this.....
-quote- Fairmont Gold Executive Suite, The Fairmont Gold Executive Suites feature luxury at its absolute finest.
All non-smoking suites are highlighted by a spacious bedroom and separate living area with gas fireplace to complete the experience. The Fairmont Gold Executive Suites also include a five-piece marble bathroom with a one-person jetted tub.
Bed Type:
one King bed with Double
sofabed in living room
Size:
800 sq. ft.
View:
Woodland or Valley -end quote-
Yes, you definitely are treated like royalty at the Fairmount Chateau. It had three TV's, two fireplaces, a body shower thingy that sprayed everywhere, a doorbell for pete's sake. We were constantly bugged at the door, "may we turn your beds down this evening", "may we fill up your entertainment snack centre", "may we this and that....."
Next evening's dinner comprises of double orders of pizza (but it's called something else more fancier), double order of spoiled feathered friends, and a steak, 33. The only reason I got the 33 is because it was 12 oz. and not just a 8 oz at 27. I was hungry. Slathered in "wild BC forest mushrooms". The best ever I have ever, ever, tasted in my life!!!! They even tasted wild, but so gooooood.
The kids order off the "kid's menu" and everything there was 16.
And small. And this is why they had to get two 16's each.
Total meal: $197.98
One breakfast: $102.22
2nd breakfast: $137.70
Evening dim sum with two 16 chardonnays, because now they now what you like and bring it automatically.... $70.70
Wild BC Mushroom soup...you know I just had to have one: 9
Daily valet parking: $28 x 4 days
The cheap "deli" style restaurant, expensive too.....for the 4 of us the bill came to $60.00...but at least we didn't have to leave a 20 tip.
Daniel's pale ale...who knows. It was just easy enough to say "bill it to my room" and so they did, and did, and did.
10's and 20's flew out of my pocket like they were hitting a royal flush at the Cloverdale Casino. This is what is costs to pay the guy or gal who brings you your luggage, or car, or The Province newspaper, because apparently, to be rich and snobbish, you have to read The Globe and Mail instead.
Yet, we walked around the hotel in our plush robes and slippers, heading for the multiple saunas and hot tubs and heated pools.
It was an enjoyable trip for all of us, and in the end, worth every penny.
Room at Whistler: $5,000
Food: $800
Brandon and Sabrina getting along: priceless
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