May 24

May 24 Hilton Whistler Resort and Spa Review - So Close to the Slopes!

Note: This review was originally written before the pandemic, but has been updated to reflect a stay in 2022. Regardless, this would be my last choice to book with points in Whistler, due to the apathetic service and outrageous pricing.

After our night at the Delta Whistler and an epic day skiing powder on Whistler mountain, we moved to the hotel that I originally wanted to stay at for both nights, the Hilton Whistler Resort and Spa. I had just obtained the American Express Hilton Aspire card and the American Express Hilton Surpass card which had opened me up to redeeming stays at the Hilton brand. With those two cards, I was able to obtain over 300K Hilton Honours points, two weekend night certificates and top tier Diamond status at all Hilton hotels.

Be warned…Whistler has lots of lines, especially on the weekend

Unfortunately, the certificate’s weren’t processed for 6-10 weeks after getting the card, and when I wanted to make the hotel booking, I didn’t have access to the weekend night certificate. Instead, I booked using points and thought that I could easily switch to use my free night certificate later. Unfortunately, hotels in Whistler are busy and expensive during peak ski season, especially on the weekend.

0.875 cents per point makes for a great value redemption

The hotel ended up being sold out of base-level rooms when I finally received my certificate, which meant that they wouldn't apply my certificate to the room. In the end, we used 80K Hilton Honours points, which was much better than the $700+ dollars a night that they charge for a weekend night.

Hilton Whistler

The real standout of the Hilton Whistler is that it’s located a mere meters away from the Gondola, which really makes it a standout option for those looking for a convenient skiing option. Although it’s not technically ski in-ski out, it’s still a standout location for both skiing and apres-ski.

After our late check out from the Delta Whistler, I walked over to the Hilton to check-in (and eat maybe 4 of the famous cookies). I had called ahead and asked for an upgrade, as I knew 4 people and a dog in a room wasn’t going to be ideal. Luckily, we were upgraded to the Premier Studio with a Kitchen, the largest room that wasn’t a suite.

When we arrived in the 600 sq ft room, we were glad that we were upgraded, as it was still pretty small for 4 adults! In the far corner of the room, there was the king bed, with a fireplace in the corner.

There was a pull-out couch in the middle of the room, which we moved slightly over to fit a cot for guest number 4.

There was also a very simple, uncomfortable-looking desk. Thank god I wasn’t there to work!

The kitchen was small but would be perfectly serviceable if you were looking to save some money by cooking each day. There were pots and pans to cook with, although no basics to start a meal with (S&P, oil etc.)

The bathroom had a bathtub shower and was otherwise unremarkable.

Best of all, the Hilton Whistler is dog friendly!

Update 2022: When we stayed in Winter 2022, there were no upgrades available as a Diamond member and we were in a base room. The two queen room was sufficient, but tight for 4 adults. (Also, how much better is my camera?). Sadly, we could hear the entire conversation of our neighbor’s next door. Disappointingly, the front desk wasn’t really willing to compensate us for this inconvience, considering it was truly loud and annoying.

Amenities

Like our first day on the slopes, we immediately wanted a beer in the hot tub, so we headed downstairs to check it out.

The area consisted of an outdoor pool, a hot tub and the fitness centre. While the pool was nice, the hot tub was tiny and we had to wait to use it. While it was bigger than the hot tubs at the Delta, ultimately, it’s not big enough for a ski resort hot tub. The fitness centre was basic enough (but not as nice as the Bodrum EDITION) to get through a simple workout or a post ski stretch.

Breakfast

As a Hilton top tier Diamond member on account of my Hilton American Express, I was entitled to the two free breakfasts, although the front desk allowed all four of us a free breakfast. The breakfast was pretty typical of a North American hotel, but it did include some a-la-carte eggs which were perfect start to a morning of enjoying the Whistler apres ski culture.

2022 Update - for those of you who are staying in 2022, the food looks almost identical. I’ve included the breakfast menu for your reference.

Overall Thoughts

Both hotels that I stayed in provide decent but expensive options for Whistler skiing. Although the Delta, with it’s all suite style, may be better for groups, the Hilton is better for Elites as it includes breakfast and is virtually in the heart of the action. That being said, if I go back next year, I might shop around to find the best possible deal, regardless if it’s a chain or not.

I may have spent too much of my Sunday at The Longhorn Saloon and ended up partying my way my 10 pm cross country flight…instead of reviewing my flight (777 J on Air Canada), I ended up sleeping gate to gate. I 100% recommend a trip to Whistler, especially if you can use points to save a few bucks.