Take your own bike and use that most of the time… Hire a bike for a few days when you want to tackle the bigger stuff.

Hey Mike,

Good questions.. hopefully I can help.

Saving money…
That really depends on your group size. The more people you are, the lower the per person per night cost would be on a rental home. Bear in mind though that you’d be wanting to find a town home with a garage to keep your bikes in. You’re likely in the $300-500/night range before Whistlers 15% accommodation tax. So, lets say $100/night pp in accommodation.
Then you want to factor in Transfers from Vancouver Intl to Whistler.. at $65 passenger +$25 per bike each way
Then you’ve got shopping, cooking, washing up etc to factor in. You can be reasonably cost effective here, but after a good day on the park and after a couple of post ride beers..whats the chance you’re going to be set to do the home cooked dinner and are you more likely to drop the cash on dinner in the bar 😉

Over to what we offer as a package with airport transfers, accommodation with secure storage/workshop, half board catering and guiding available on 5 days of the week (this is XC/AM as well as DH) then our most expensive 2 weeks in the peak season runs $1775 per person (incl taxes) or $130 per person per night.

Low season with 3 share room occupancy and we get down as low as $90 per person per night.

Whistler experience with Bear Back Biking

So as far as money saving doing it yourself? We don’t really think it realistically works out that way.

Guiding wise, even a few days of bike park orientation is invaluable if you’re not looking to use our service 5 days a week. Sure you can self navigate the bike park, but we introduce the park in a progressive way to try and mitigate the chances of our guest getting hurt or finding themselves on the wrong/inappropriate trails at that point in their holiday.
In your case, if you’re worried about skill level but coming with more experienced riders, you’d likely have an improved park experience as opposed to riding trails that are at the level of the majority.

DH bike for the park to get the most out of it!
Heckler for the XC/AM – perfect.

There have been plenty of STW’ers that have done the self guide accommodation only route in Whistler. I’d be interested to hear real world costs.
We believe that were are exceptionally good value for money and offer a very effective way to get the best out of a riding holiday in Whistler.

Get in touch if you have any questions.
We’re already booking 2015 dates.
Regards
Jonny

I miss Nesters.

I think 2 weeks is too long just to be in the park… but I’m the kind of guy who also thinks a week in a ski resort is too long and heads out into the backcountry.

For me I’d plan on doing some rides outside the park.. there are plenty of maps available but local knowledge is also helpful just to ensure you don’t go too hard too early.

Squamish is also worth the trip but tricky if you don’t have own transport (I think).

We’ve plenty of guests that are happy riding the park all day everyday. We’ve also plenty of guests that are happy to pedal everything they can but inevitably take a day on the park to see what its all about and use it to work on descending technique.
I try and encourage riders to ride as much variety as they can to get the most from the trip.
This year for our in house guests who want something different, we’re offering a $60 per rider, weekly Squamish trail riding day. Transport and guiding included.

wysiwyg> We do run transfers, but its $450 for a private transfer to max 7 passengers with bikes.
Not cheap if you’re a small group, but its not cheap to run a transfer either.
$65 incl bikes to take a seat on an existing package transfer that ties in with existing guests flight needs.
Drop us an email if you wish.

Only one coming in and he’s already been booked on PCL.
So, negative, unless you need a private.

Nope, but its only a couple of blocks from the Cambie City Hall sky train station.
Depends how you plan to get up to Whistler if a detour that way works.

I literally work across the street from Dunbar but have no plans on going to Whistler, so don’t know if that helps or not! But as BB says, if you are getting the Skytrain from the airport into Vancouver, then you just get off the Skytrain on the way through, pick up what you want, and then just jump back on again.
If what you are picking up is already paid for, but will be passing by when they are closed, I can probably pick it up for you and you can collect (if it’s not 3am…) from me, or meet somewhere easy. Feel free to post up your email if you think any of this is of any use.

It does but expect it to be busy. There are restrictions during the week during rush hour but I think you are fine any time on the weekend.

http://www.translink.ca/en/Schedules-and-Maps/SkyTrain/SkyTrain-Station-Maps.aspx

You could try posting on the NSMB forum to see if anyone is heading up from Vancouver on Saturday night.

You can continue into downtown and get the PCL bus from there.
It goes from the Burrard st Skytrain station.
So all in.. only a few blocks of walking.
And as its the same bus that leaves the airport.. you might even be able to leave your bags with anyone else in your party.
Or if you’ve an hour or so to kill waiting for you bus, you can check baggage and be out and back from there in less than an hour.

Hers my suggestion – if it works with you flight arrival vs PCL departure.

Arrive into International Arrivals where the 2 wooded inuit statues are.
Turn right and go past Tim Hortons to the end and check your bag with the bag storage company. ($7?)
Get on skytrain to Broadway City Hall station
Walk to Dunbar Cycles
Taxi back to Skytrain OR YVR
Collect bags
Board PCL to Whistler

I’d offer to pick up your bike, but I’ve 8 bodies and bikes on my Friday transfer.

Also worth a call to Dunbar also as they have lots of staff riding the park. Maybe they can drop with you in Whistler. It’ll cost you some “bike shop favors” (beer) though 😉

Yeah I’d be trying Dunbar too. They’ve also got at least a million staff available on a Saturday so there is a slight chance that maybe one of them could help you for an hour or so if you offer up some extra cash.