Summer 2020 - Our staycation at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler
“I travel because it makes me realize how much I haven't seen, how much I'm not going to see, and how much I still need to see.” – Carew Papritz.
What a year 2020 has been already! This year has been so eye opening and frankly it seems to have been difficult for everyone I speak with. One thing that I told myself was that we will still try to make the most of life during a pandemic and make everlasting memories!
Travel has always been a big part of my life and not being able to travel internationally has been so tough! We had 3 vacations planned this year which we obviously cancelled due to Covid.
Staycations have always been something I have loved to do. The Fairmont Chateau Whistler is one of my all-time favorite luxury hotels to stay in and I felt super comfortable and safe staying here amidst the pandemic! We stayed here last year for our babymoon when I was pregnant with Liam so it was only fitting to return with him for his first vacation and I’m so happy that we did!
We stayed for 4 nights, 5 days as traveling with kids isn’t super easy so the longer the better! It is a lot of work to pack up and get the days started so this timeframe was just perfect.
Our drive up was beautiful as always. I find it rather peaceful and the kids were on their best behavior – bonus!
The Fairmont Chateau Whistler has one of the grandest lobbies! The lobby boasts of traditional decor with the right amount of elegance and modern furniture. The cozy fireplace and floral accents were my favorite! The big windows overlooking the garden were also not a bad sight on the eyes either! The employees were all wearing masks as were most of the guests in the common areas.
When you arrive at the hotel, you proceed to a desk where someone takes your temperature and you are given cards that you carry around with you. These cards indicate that you have had your temperature checked and they are required for entry into amenities and restaurants. After that, you check-in and then book your pool time which is given in two hour time slots.
Due to Covid, check in time was closer to 5pm to ensure rooms are properly sanitized and ready. We ended up with early check in at 1:30pm which was so nice! They have great Covid safety measures in place which made us feel comfortable and safe! Masks are required in common areas (lobby, meeting foyers, hallways, elevators and any designated common areas).
Our room was equipped with everything we needed for us and the boys which is something I love about the Fairmont chain. No detail is missed and if you do require something extra, they likely have it for you. Our room was absolutely perfect and roomy for a family of 4. Liam slept like a little angel in his crib and Ethan stayed up late with us watching movies! Sleep was one thing I was worried about but both of them were so tired that they slept in every day until 9am!
The rooms offer the comfiest plush feather-down pillows, a down comforter and a gorgeous view of the Blackcomb mountains which was SO dreamy. The cutest touch was the mini robes for Ethan and Liam plus a crib that came with little bath essentials. I love how family friendly the Fairmont chain is. Travelling with children can be overwhelming and stressful so the extras and added touches are so appreciated.
The pool at The Fairmont Chateau Whistler is my favorite pool in Whistler. There is SO much room and what I liked the most about this visit was that due to Covid, only a certain amount of people were allowed in the pool at one time. It’s a great protocol to have guests sign up during check in to book your daily pool time which was another safety measure that made me feel secure and confident that they are taking all measures that they can and doing their part to keep guests safe.
We planned our days around our pool time as we know our Summers in BC are short lived so we wanted to take advantage as much as we could! We ate lunch here daily and the food was so yummy. They were perfect pool side eats and not to mention their Pina Coladas were AMAZING!
We had the pleasure of dining at 3 different restaurants:
Wildflower: This is typically a buffet breakfast but at the moment they are only offering al la carte which makes sense! The food here is so good and overlooks a nice garden. We loved the view.
Room Service: Isn’t it always nice when you have breakfast in bed? It rarely happens at home due to the hustle but it’s so nice to relax and slow down. We had everything from waffles and pancakes to a meaty breakfast! Everything was so fresh and delicious!
Portobello: We ate breakfast here once and dinner twice. Their mac and cheese is Ethan’s favorite and their cake donuts are something I crave all year round. We had the donuts daily, haha! They have this breakfast item called “The Dirty Bowl” and if you ever get a chance to visit, it’s a must try!
I was definitely nervous travelling with kids during Covid but the Fairmont Chateau Whistler really exceeded expectation while maintaining a high standard of service and luxury.
A few of the precautions the Fairmont took which made us feel very comfortable:
Temperature checks are taken upon arrival and guests are provided with a “wellness kit” which contain masks, gloves and a sanitizer spray.
All employees are required to wear masks. Common areas are frequently sanitized and there are hand sanitizer stations all around the hotel.
Temperatures are also taken before entering restaurants if you forgot your card.
There is a 48-hour "settling period" for rooms post-departure which means your room will remain empty for 2 days prior to your arrival and 2 days after departure.
The pool is open but you have to book a time slot in advance in order to use it.
Both boys had SO much fun! Ethan is like his mama and adores Whistler and our last trip was one of his most memorable ones! Everything from check-in to check-out was amazing! Thank you Fairmont Chateau Whislter for the most amazing stay! We will be back!!
I was invited to experience a 4 night stay at The Fairmont Chateau Whistler and this is an honest review of our experience. All opinions are my own.
