With BC now in Phase 3 of its Restart Plan, it’s time to explore our beautiful province – safely and respectfully. Whether you are celebrating a major milestone with babe or you simply need some alone time away from the kids, a staycation at Fairmont Chateau Whistler makes for the perfect romantic getaway in BC.

Fairmont Chateau Whistler

Address: 4599 Chateau Blvd, Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
Phone Number: (604) 938-8000
Website: https://www.chateau-whistler.com/

Check-In Time: 5:00PM
Check-Out Time: 10:00AM

Please note that check-in and check-out times have been adjusted to meet new COVID-19 safety procedures and protocols.

About Fairmont Chateau Whistler

Fairmont Chateau Whistler is a four-star Whistler resort located at the base of Blackcomb Mountain. In 2016, it underwent a major multimillion-dollar renovation. Its restaurant received a complete makeover. On top of that, brand new Alpine and Two Bedroom Suites were introduced. This extensive project was completed in 2018 and there are currently a total of 519 guest rooms + luxurious suites.

In July 2020, Fairmont was voted #4 Best Resort Hotel in Canada by Travel + Leisure, topping its competitor Four Seasons Resort and Residences Whistler (#7). With breathtaking views, phenomenal service, and a par 72, 18-hole Audubon-certified championship golf course, it’s no wonder Fairmont Chateau Whistler is a top Whistler resort!

Getting Here

Fairmont Chateau Whistler is easily accessible via Highway 99 a.k.a. the Sea-to-Sky Highway. If you are planning to visit from Vancouver, the drive takes approximately two hours. Alternatively, you may request for chauffeured vehicle/private coach services. For more information, place an inquiry with their concierge team by e-mail.

Check-In

Prior to checking in, you will first have your temperature taken by a Fairmont staff. You will then receive a temperature card (one card per guest), which is to be carried on you at all times when visiting restaurants and the Health Club. (This only applies to restaurants on the hotel premises.)

As stated above, check-in time has been delayed to 5:00PM to meet new COVID-19 policies. My boyfriend and I had no issues with this at all. In fact, it was nice that we had the extra time to slowly make our way up to Whistler. There are a few fantastic stops along the highway and I highly recommend checking out Shannon Falls, Sea-to-Sky Gondola, and Brandywine Falls. (Lighthouse Park and Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver are stunning too.)

One Bedroom Mountain View Corner Suite

The One Bedroom Mountain View Corner Suite is situated on the seventh floor. As its name suggests, it offers incredible views of the surrounding mountains. During winter, you can watch skiers and snowboarders “shred” down the slopes then ascend the ski lift back up to the mountaintop. In addition to that, you get an aerial view of the hotel pools from the bedroom.

The entire suite measures 800 square feet. There is a living room with a fireplace, a dining area with a wet bar, and a spacious king-size bed bedroom (as pictured above). There are two full bathrooms as well although Fairmont counts it as 1.5 baths. Both have a shower + bathtub. The ensuite bath is simply bigger with the shower separated from the tub.

TV with video check-out and “On-Command” movie system. (Movie charges apply.)

This is a pullout couch and the suite can actually sleep up to four guests!

Wet bar with Keurig coffee maker + kettle for tea (not pictured).

Bedroom closet space.

Ensuite bathroom.

There is a regular shower head + a rainfall shower head.

Second bathroom located by the entrance door.

Aside from having two bathrooms, this one bedroom suite also has two separate closets. There is one within the bedroom and another extra closet space by the entrance door. I find this design very thoughtful and convenient especially if you are skiing or snowboarding and have wet jackets you don’t want to take into the bedroom.

The Wildflower

The Wildflower is open daily for breakfast and dinner services. Breakfast is à la carte only due to pandemic restrictions. I dined here back in August 2018 and got to try their breakfast buffet, which you can read all about in my Whistler summer activities guide.

Okanagan Stone Fruit Salad left. Albacore Tuna Mosaic right. 

Scallop left. Yarrow Meadows Duck right.

Salted Caramel and Double Chocolate Sundae.

At the moment, The Wildflower is the only Fairmont Hotels and Resorts restaurant with a female executive chef – Chef Isabel Chung. Dinner here is by reservation only and my boyfriend and I enjoyed a lovely candle light dinner on the night of our check-in.

For starters, we shared two appetizers. We were especially fond of the the albacore tuna. The mosaic pieces had a creamy, fatty flavor similar to toro and melted in the mouth like butter. The fruit salad was a delight too. Very refreshing and I loved the combination of sweet peaches and cherries paired with charmesan cheese from Golden Ears Cheesecrafters. As for entrées, we found both our dishes on the saltier side. Other than that, my Yarrow Meadows duck was excellently cooked and I loved the confit leg croquette dipped in a bit of the cherry gel. My boyfriend was quite happy with his choice of scallops as well.

Lastly, moving onto dessert, you can never go wrong with a sundae. The portion was enormous so it’s definitely a good idea to share. We also each ordered a drink. I went with the Tropical Bellini (with mango, yum!) and my boyfriend tried the Crown Orchard.

Whistler Experience Guide

If you’re looking for a little something fun to try during your staycation, Fairmont offers weekly tours through its Whistler Experience Guide. Sign up is required and certain activities incur additional fees. A few example outings include, but are not limited to yoga, paddle boarding at Lost Lake, Green Lake bike ride, hiking the Whistler Train Wreck Trail, and an Audain Art Museum tour.

Whistler Train Wreck

This is a super easy hike for all ages. The trail is 4.5km out and back with an elevation gain of 78m. I didn’t check the time going in, but coming back took a bit under 12 minutes. In total, I would say the hike takes no longer than 30 to 45 minutes + however long you wish to spend exploring the train wreck ruins.

 

Right before reaching the train wreck, you will cross a scenic bridge above Cheakamus River. It is absolutely gorgeous here so don’t forget to bring your camera 😉

Interesting fact: this train wreck is the result of a Lillooet freight train derailing in 1956. Five of the derailed boxcars were salvageable, with the remaining seven being too damaged to save. They were stripped of their useful materials and dragged out of the way to its current train wreck site. These seven box cars have been painted over the years and are now used for mountain biking.

Audain Art Museum

This unique design is the work of internationally-renowned firm Patkau Architects.

Audain Art Museum is dedicated to showcasing local artists here in BC. There are up to three special exhibitions a year. Each one conveys different themes by various artists from distinct time periods. Admission is $20 per person for adults 26+. ($10 per person for young adults ages 19 to 25.)

Around the Area

Scandinave Spa Whistler

Scandinave Spa Whistler is a short 6 to 10-minute drive from Fairmont. They specialize in hydrotherapy where you go through cycles of hot-cold-relax. This helps improve blood flow and energize the mind + body. Rates are as follows:

• Regular season starts from April 1st to October 31st
  • Sundays to Fridays are $75 per person; Saturdays are $85
• High season is from November 1st to March 31st
  • Sundays to Fridays are $85 per person; Saturdays are $95
• Peak season is October 10th to 12th, November 11th to 15th, December 19th to January 3rd, February 13th to 21st, and April 2nd to 4th
  • $100 flat rate every day

Please note that my boyfriend and I were welcomed as media. Photography/videography is otherwise not allowed onsite.

Bearfoot Bistro

Bearfoot Bistro is an upscale hotel restaurant adjacent to Listel Hotel Whistler. Not only do they offer an exquisite array of culinary creations, they are also known for their Ketel One Ice Room experience.

Fairmont was kind to arrange a tasting at the Ice Room for us. You can taste test two vodkas at $48 per person. Parka jackets will be provided to keep you warm.

Additional Photos

Welcome macarons.

Early morning pool dip.

COVID-19 Measures

As mentioned above, you do get your temperature checked upon entering the hotel lobby. There is a booth set up and a Fairmont staff will brief you on their safety regulations.

Apart from carrying the temperature card with you at all times, guests are required to wear a face mask in public spaces. This includes the lobby, hallways, elevators, and any common area. If you forget to bring your own mask, Fairmont can supply you with one. When dining at restaurants onsite, you are, of course, allowed to take your mask off. The same applies for the pools, as they are mostly outdoors.

If you would like to use Fairmont Health Club’s pool facilities, you need to book a time slot in advance. Each booking runs for two hours and you are more than welcome to schedule multiple bookings during the duration of your stay. (E.g. one pool session at 8:00PM on the day you check in and another at 10:00AM the following day.)

When dining at The Wildflower, you scan a QR code to access their menu on your phone. There are no physical copies so there’s no need to worry about touching a menu then touching your food. I guess this makes it a legitimate excuse to use your phone at the table!

Upon entering our suite, we also discovered a mini COVID-19 safety pouch with two individually packaged masks, a travel-size bottle hand sanitizer, and alcohol wipes.

My Personal Thoughts

Overall, my boyfriend and I felt “relatively” safe. (I say relatively because I know there might be backlash from people who may argue that there’s no way you can stay safe during a pandemic unless you are staying home and avoiding all contact with others. There are obviously still risks involved being physically out and about. However, there are precautions we can take to protect ourselves.)

Now I was surprised by how many guests were checking in and out of Fairmont during our stay, but I suppose that’s to be expected since we can’t travel internationally. From my own observations, the pools were the only area that were a little busier although keep in mind, it is mostly outdoors. Again, you do need to register for a pool time use for crowd control reasons. Apart from that, there are signs limiting the number of guests within a pool/hot tub at a time. If you’re like me and don’t feel comfortable at all sharing with other guests, sign up for an earlier time slot. (I went at 6:30am and there was only one other guest doing laps.)

Still have questions or doubts? Refer to Fairmont’s extensive COVID-19 measures here.

Final Verdict

Amenities: ★★★★★ (gym, pools/hot tubs, multiple restaurants + lounge, golf course, meeting facilities, wedding venues)
Cleanliness: ★★★★★
Comfort: ★★★★★
Proximity: ★★★★☆
Quietness: ★★★★★
Safety: ★★★★★
Space: ★★★★★
Value of Price: ★★★★★
Internet Access: Complimentary
Parking: Self-park is $37/night.

Pros

• Extensive COVID-19 protocols in place to keep all guests safe
• Fantastic location for those looking to ski or snowboard in the upcoming winter season
• Within walking distance to Whistler Village
  • Or you can take Fairmont’s complimentary Whistler Village Shuttle
• Plenty of activities to choose from both on the property and through Fairmont’s WEG program
• Friendly and hospitable staff
• COVID-19 essentials pouch available in-suite
• Two separate bathrooms so you don’t have to fight with babe in the morning when getting ready
• You can connect your phone directly to the TV to watch Netflix or any other streaming services
• Video check-out available via in-room TV screen

Cons

• You’ll literally not want to check-out and leave!

To get a better sense of what the Fairmont Chateau Whistler experience is like, check out my latest vlog.

Like what you see? Check here for availability and book your staycation at Fairmont Chateau Whistler today!