An Insiders Review….
Whistler has many great, cheap options for accommodation for the traveler on a budget. One of my favorites is the Alpenglow located in the heart of Village North. Here are the 5 top reasons that make this Lodge stand out from all the others:
1. The Location
Located in Whistler Village North just across from the IGA supermarket, the Alpenglow is in the perfect spot for outdoor enthusiasts as well as weekend warriors that want to enjoy the bustling Whistler Village. The bus stop for the free village shuttle is just outside the door, or a short 10min walk along the village stroll leads you to the base of the mountain. Various shops and restaurants are one block away and the conference center is just two blocks down Northlands Boulevard.
2. The Rooms
The Alpenglow has various room categories to offer such as studios, one bedroom, two bedrooms and two bedrooms with private hot tub. The studios usually have one queen bed, queen murphy-bed or a queen sofabed, are equipped with a kitchenette or a full kitchen, have a TV, gas fireplace and balconies. The one bedroom and two bedroom units offer different bed configurations from queen or king beds in the bedroom to bunk or twin beds in the second bedroom and a queen sofa bed in the living room. Some of the two bedroom suites also have a private hot tub and a beautiful mountain view. As all units are privately owned the decor can be different from unit to unit and the condition can also vary. While some units offer upgraded appliances, jetted tubs or flat screen TVs, others hide an antique VHS player.
3. The Dining
One of the greatest European alpine dining experiences in the Whistler Village can be found at the Bavarian Restaurant, which is located on the ground floor of the Alpenglow. Nothing tastes better than a traditional Wiener Schnitzel and a German Draft beer after a long day on the hill. One of their delicious specialties is the house made Kaesespaetzle, which are small pieces of original German pasta seared with onions, garlic, Emmental and Gruyere cheese. Something everyone must have tried at least once while in Whistler is one of the Bavarian Restaurant’s famous Fondues. Choices range from the traditional Swiss Cheese Fondue, Fondue Chinoise (Oriental fire pot), Fondue Bourguignonne (with beef tenderloin or wild game) to Vintage Fondue (with spices infused red wine broth).
And if you don’t feel like rustic cuisine there are more then enough other options in close walking distance.
4. The Amenities
Relax after a hard day outdoors in the heated outdoor lap pool, outdoor hot tub or warm up in the common sauna or steam room. For people that like their daily workout a fitness facility is available from 8am until 10pm. The Alpenglow also offers a laundry facility and bike storage.
5. The Price
Even though you might find one or two properties that are a little bit cheaper than the Alpenglow, at times this is hands-down the best cheap accommodation in Whistler. Rates start from $59 in non-peak season and even during peak times the rates for the studios hardly ever go over $180 per night. For the location and the amenities you are getting it is the best value and the rooms might not be the most fancy ones, but they are clean, bright and offer accommodation for people that don’t want or can’t afford to pay $300 + per night.
All in all the Alpenglow is a great property for the small wallet and for people that know that they won’t spend all day inside, but instead plan to enjoy Whistler’s beautiful outdoors and resort life.
