Whistler Canada on a Budget!

Whistler is literally a winter wonderland! With 2 huge mountains to explore and over 200 powdery trails, vibrant village, and fun nightlife, there is something for everyone! However, because it’s one of the most popular ski resorts on the west coast, it can get a bit pricey especially for those on a budget.

After having visited Whistler over 6 times, check out my insider tips on saving some pennies in this high-end resort.

Free Parking

If you aren’t lucky enough to be staying within walking distance of the village and gondolas, you can end up paying a ton for parking. When I first started going to Whistler (over 10 years ago) the lower “Whistler day lots” were free, but now they cost about $10 per day, which can add up!

The good news is there are areas you can park for free that are close to the village and the mountain. Blackcomb base parking (lots 6,7,8), are totally free and located at the bottom of Blackcomb mountain base 2, you can access it via Glacier Lane.

The Whistler creek side underground parking lot is another hidden gem for free parking and is just a few steps to the mountain. Located about a 5-minute drive from Whistler village, creek side has free parking for all day skiers, and summer time mountain bikers.

Save Money on Food!

Eating out in Whistler can get pricey, especially if you’re feeding a big family. I recommend renting a place with a kitchen, so you can do some cooking at home. Grocery stores in Whistler are more expensive, so stop off in Squamish on your drive up to Whistler and stock up at the local Wal-Mart for your essentials like bottled water, food, and snacks. In addition, If you want to purchase alcohol I would also hit up the local liquor store in Squamish so you can avoid the high cost in Whistler village.

If you are going to dine out make sure to hit up “The Southside Diner” for some delicious home-style breakfast, and “Earls” in Whistler village for a great happy hour and yummy eats!

Hot Tub Soak

After a long day of boarding in the cold snow, nothing feels better than a soak in the hot tub and soothing your muscles in a hot sauna. The Meadow Park Sports Center located about 8 minutes from Whistler village on highway 99, offers facilities for everyone including: hot tubs, sauna, steam room, a huge Olympic size pool, and fitness center.

You can pay a one-day drop in fee (currently $8.75CAD) or a family rate, and have access to all the facilities. We usually go here at least twice during our Whistler stay because it feels so good to relax in the hot tub.

Inexpensive Gear

If you’re in need of some gear and don’t want to spend an arm and a leg in the village check out the Re-Use-It Center. Located on Nesters road next to the recycling depot, the Center offers used clothing, ski and snowboard gear, and so much more.

Just like with any used clothing store, sometimes you have awesome finds, other times you don’t. But if you’re in need of any cheap gear, check out this place before paying full price brand new.

Fire and Ice Show

Grab a hot chocolate and check out Whistler Blackcomb’s fire and ice show, located at the base of Whistler Mountain every Sunday night during the winter months. This free event is fun for families, with Whistlers top skiers and boarders jumping through rings of fire, live music, and fireworks. Don’t miss this fun free event every week!

Save Money on Lift Tickets!

Back in the day lift tickets were cheaper and you could buy them at the local 7-11 for a discounted price (unfortunately discontinued), but now they can be quite expensive if you go straight to the box office the morning of. To save some cash, purchase your tickets a week in advance online at WhistlerBlackcomb.com.

If you know you will be boarding/skiing for at least 3+ days, you can save at least $39 CAD per day by purchasing them all at once online prior to arrival. If your planning on boarding/skiing more than 6 days check out the epic pass, which includes unlimited riding at Whistler, in addition to a bunch of other ski resorts.

I hope these tips help you save some money and have a blast in Whistler, and if you like this article please share it on your favorite social media app by clicking the icon below. Mahalo!

3 Days in Edinburgh!

Edinburgh is an amazing little city with so much to see! Explore endless castles, climb the royal mile, become a whisky connoisseur, hike to Arthur’s seat, and so much more. There is something for everyone in Edinburgh, and 3 days is the perfect amount of time to see and do it all!

This was my first trip to Scotland, and we only had 3 nights in this beautiful country, so we wanted to see a little bit of the city and the countryside. Check out some of my favorites from our 3 days in Edinburgh!

The Royal Mile!

Located on an extinct volcano, the royal mile is in the old town of Edinburgh and within a world heritage site. With so much to do along the mile, you just can’t miss it! We started at the top of the mile at Edinburgh castle and walked down, so that we wouldn’t get too pooped from all the walking (make sure to wear good shoes).

Towering over the city, Edinburgh Castle is the centerpiece and should not be missed! With excellent views over the city, the castle dates back to the 12th century and is steeped in history. There are daily tours, however the crowds can get a little crazy in the summer months, so make sure to get there early. If you’re planning on taking a tour, check out some helpful tips at “Edinburgh Castle: Things to Know Before you go.”

After checking out the castle, meander down the royal mile and explore the many shops, restaurants, and attractions. Check out the popular Camera Obscura (fun for families with kids) and Scotch Whiskey Experience (fun for adults) along the way.

End your walk down the Royal Mile with a hike up to Arthur’s seat. Located at the highest point in Holyrood Park, Arthur’s seat is an extinct volcano that gives you incredible views above the city. Take the trail that begins at Dunsapie loch for the easiest hike to the top, and you can get there in about 20 minutes.

Take a Day Tour to the Scottish Countryside.

Edinburgh is a really cool city, but since we were only in Scotland for a few days, I wanted to experience more than just the city, and I’m so glad we did! Our tour with Rabbie’s was one of the highlights of our trip, and their day options from Edinburgh are quite affordable.

We chose the the Castles and highlands tour, and we were able to visit Doune Castle (Where Outlander, and the pilot of Games of Thrones was filmed), Inveraray castle (where Downton Abbey’s Christmas special was filmed), as well as several loch’s (unfortunately no loch ness monsters were spotted). I can’t recommend Rabbie’s tours enough; our guide was a Scottish local and filled our day with traditional Scottish music and stories of legendary fables.

Explore Edinburgh Old Town.

Dating back to medieval times, Edinburgh’s oldest neighborhood is lined with wool shops, pubs, and mom and pop stores. Nothing compares to the old town, there is history everywhere, and the people there are extremely friendly! Considered part of the Royal Mile, make sure not to miss this section where the old colorful Georgian buildings are laid out in a grid pattern.

In Scotland there are more sheep than people with almost 7 million sheep populating the country. So don’t forget to pick up a tartan wool scarf in the old town, where there are numerous quality wool shops.

Hit the Pubs!

One pub in particular we frequented SEVERAL times while in Edinburgh was the chain of Great British Pubs. Now I’m no pub aficionado (being from an island in the middle of the pacific), but they had AMAZING Scotch pies (like a chicken pot pie, but way better). They also had minced meat pies, classic fish and chips, and delicious vodka tonics (my drink of choice). I know, I know, when in Scotland you’re supposed to drink beer or scotch, but I had my fill of free scotch at our bed and breakfast =).

Scottish High Tea.

Traditionally served in the afternoon, in old times high tea was for the affluent members of society and was more of a social thing, enjoyed over several hours. During our visit to Scotland there were some gloomy chilly days, so what better way to warm up than with some afternoon tea.

We enjoyed high tea at Dalhousie Castle located 8 miles from Edinburgh in the countryside, and it was an amazing experience. We each had a selection of teas, champagne, and an assortment of finger sandwiches, scones, cakes and sweet treats. Dalhousie Castle is a 13th century fortress surrounded by acres of woodlands, it looks like a fairy tale castle, and has an aqueous day spa. It’s the perfect place for a relaxing spa day with the girls, followed by high tea overlooking the gardens.

Edinburgh is a magical town with so much to do and see, and I will definitely be back! If you like this write up, please share it on your favorite social media and leave a comment below, I would love to hear from you! =)

5 of the Most Beautiful Small Towns in France!

Most travelers to France don’t venture past the big cities like Paris and Marseille. Though these cities are beautiful, it was the small charming towns in France that captured my heart. Everything from the cobblestone streets, quaint little houses, canals, open markets, and locally made wine.

You wont find large museums or attractions here, because the towns themselves are the attraction! Spend the day strolling the streets, tasting the delicious local food, and taking in “the french way of life.” Check out my top 5 picks!

Flavigny

Listed as one of the “most beautiful villages of France”, Flavigny-sur-ozerain sits high on a rock and is located in the Burgundy region of France. It’s a very charming medieval fortified town, with walls surrounding the narrow streets that wind around the traditional burgundy houses.

If you’re a movie buff, the movie “Chocolat” was filmed in Flavigny, and many of the sights and streets are easily recognizable. BTW if you haven’t seen the movie I highly recommend it!

We visited this quaint village in the off-season, and it was very quiet, with not a soul in sight. However, when we stumbled across the restaurant “La Grange” just opposite the church, and we found a big crowd feasting inside. This small restaurant is home-style french food at it’s finest, and for a very affordable price I might add! With 4-5 dishes to choose from, you order your meal cafeteria style, and don’t forget to get a carafe of local wine, which was ridiculously cheap!

Cassis

Forget the touristy town of Marseille or St. Tropez, Cassis is a tiny fishing village where all the locals go to holiday! It’s known for its rosé wine, rolling vineyards, crystal clear turquoise waters of the Mediterranean sea, pebbly beaches, and clay-colored buildings. Because Cassis is less touristy then surrounding towns, the locals are extremely friendly to those passing through their beloved village.

Cassis is hands down one of my favorite towns in France, and I wish we had stayed longer than our 2 days. On Wednesday and Friday mornings make sure to check out the Cassis market nestled between the streets of the village. You will find vendors with local fruits and vegetables, cheese, olives, jewelry, clothing and so much more. Grab some cheese and bread and have a picnic next to the water’s edge.

Cassis is protected by Cap Canaille (the tallest cliff in Europe) and the white limestone Calanques (fjord-like inlets carved into the limestone). Don’t miss a hike along the Calanques, or a short boat ride along the coast, in the off-season you can easily jump on a boat from the Cassis harbor without a reservation.

There are a ton of places to stay in Cassis, ranging from hotels to BnB’s, but when in France why not stay at a Castle overlooking the village! “Chateau De Cassis” was spectacular and one of our best stays while in France. The beds were super comfortable, breakfast was off the charts, and the view was to die for! Pick up a local bottle of wine and some pizza from La Girandole and head to the balcony of the hotel to enjoy a beautiful sunset over the Mediterranean.

Saint Emilion

Wine! Need I say more? Even if you’re not a wine drinker, forget the city of Bordeaux and check out St Emilion, a UNESCO world heritage site. The medieval village is perched above vineyards in the Bordeaux region, and is well worth a day trip from neighboring cities.

Wind your way through the city on the cobblestone streets and shop at the local boutiques and souvenir shops. If you have the energy, spiral up the 196-step staircase to the bell tower, where you will be rewarded with beautiful views of the vineyards and surrounding village.

While in St Emilion make sure to stumble into one of the many wine shops along its streets. Here you can learn about the different St Emilion appellations , and taste an assortment of wines. Most shops offer free shipping to your home if you purchase a minimum amount of bottles.

Avignon

Located in the heart of Provence, Avignon is a small city that will enchant you with its towering walls and river views. It’s an ancient city steeped in history, dating back from the 13th century. Avignon is known for its arts and culture with amazing festivals in the summer, and year round plays, concerts, street performances, and art exhibitions.

Make sure to visit the Palais des Papes, this imposing palace was built-in the 13th century, and was used as the papal court during that period. Immerse yourself in history by visiting over 20 rooms in the palace, including the popes chambers, and frescoes painted by the artist Matteo Geovannetti.

There are several extraordinary museums in Avignon, such as the Musee du Petit Palais and Musée Calvet to visit. However, the best part of this little town is exploring the Provencal atmosphere, quaint streets, and elegant squares. At the heart of the city is de l’horloge, a cute little area with shady trees and cafe’s with outdoor seating, a perfect spot to sit and watch the world go by.

Annecy

Annecy is known as the “Venice of the Alps,” because of its charming canals, small enchanting bridges, blooming flowers, colorful houses, and snow-capped peaks in the distance. Walk along the narrow pedestrian streets of this little town, enjoying the boutiques and local shops, and along the water’s edge of Annecy lake.

Towering above the old town is the imposing Annecy castle, it’s silhouette can be seen from different parts of the town, a remembrance of its medieval past. Former residence of the counts of Geneva, the museum is open everyday except Tuesday, and has beautiful 15th-16th century paintings, sculptures, and architecture, not to mention the beautiful views of the town of Annecy below.

I hope you enjoyed my favorite small towns in France! I would love to hear from you, please comment below!

Surfing from Sydney to Brisbane in a Campervan!

The road trip from Sydney to Brisbane on the pacific coast highway is legendary. 900kms of beautiful untouched beaches, charming little beach towns, wild bush, wineries, wildlife galore, and epic waves. Of course the best way to explore this beautiful country and immerse yourself in nature is in a camper-van! We recommend allowing at least a week for this trip, our trip was 15 days. We rented our camper-van from Britz and we had an amazing experience driving up the coast. Below is our highlights, and places we totally recommend you to go!

Seal Rocks. We discovered this little hidden gem by accident and it ended up being one of our favorite spots! Surrounded by Myall Lakes National Park, Seal Rocks feels remote and isolated even though your only 3 hours away from Sydney. The beautiful unspoiled beach has little right handers on a northeast swell, and because the break is inside a bay, its protected from the wind. Seal Rock is a mellow wave, so its perfect for long boarding and youngsters learning to surf. Theres another surf spot right around the corner called “Treachery” for more experienced surfers. We parked our camper van at Reflections Holiday Park , and we couldn’t have been happier with our experience. The park is located right across from the beach and the facilities are all brand new. They have an epic little community camp kitchen and grill area that literally sits right over the water, a perfect spot to watch the sunset. While at Seal Rocks make sure to take a walk to the Sugarloaf Point lighthouse, for some amazing views. We loved Seal Rocks so much that after visiting at the beginning of the trip, we returned to stay our last two nights.

Another awesome find was the Billabong Zoo, located in Port Macquarie. Again this wasn’t on the itinerary, but when we saw the Billabong Zoo signs we decided to check it out, and I’m so glad we did! The zoo is small compared to the “Australia Zoo”, however because of this there were no crowds. We loved the Kangaroo enclosure which was brimming with a ton of kangaroos and wallaby’s all ready to be pet and fed. They also offer free “zoo encounters throughout the day, we especially liked the koala encounter, where we were able to pet the koala, and take pictures with him. The zoo was a really great experience and we highly recommend it!

Port Macquarie has a relaxed coastal vibe with delicious food, cute shops and really fun surf. Take in the dramatic scenery on the “Coastal Walk”. Stretching 9kms long, you can break it up into a shorter walk or challenge yourself with the whole shebang. There are a number of surfing beaches surrounding the town, in fact “town beach” has 3 main breaks that offer a variety of waves. Port Macquarie also has a ton of good eats, with a variety of ethnicities to choose from. Overall this town has so much to offer, and is a great place to spend a few days.

Point Plomer is located right outside of Crescent Head, about 20 minutes away from town on a dirt road. We were told by some locals at a surf store in Port Macquarie that this was their favorite surf spot, so we decided to check it out, and I’m so glad we did! Point Plomer is in a national park so its remote and secluded, and the campground is located right on the beach. Even though it was a busy weekend, we happened to score the perfect spot to camp with amazing views of the ocean. There is so much wildlife here, we were able to see wild dingoes, dolphins, and a ton of different birds. The wave at Point Plomer is really fun, a nice little right point break, with few, if any people out. Point Plomer was one of the funnest waves I surfed while in Australia and we will definitely be back!

Another local recommendation was Arrawarra Headland. Located in Coffs Coast region, Arrawarra is a nice mellow right pointer with friendly locals. We stayed the night at Arrawarra Beach Holiday Park and had an amazing spot right on the ocean. Upon arriving at Arrawarra we took a long walk down the beach and saw a wild kangaroo for the first time! Check out the video below of this magnificent creature.

I LOVED Yamba! We stayed two nights in this cute little sea-side town because we loved the relaxed vibe, the good eats, boutique shops, and the friendly locals. The surf wasn’t too bad either, despite one day that was pouring rain. Check out Angourie point and Spooky beach if you’re an experienced surfer, and Turners or Main beach if you’re a beginner. I also highly recommend checking out the pub at the Pacific Hotel, it’s the perfect setting for a beer or wine overlooking Main beach. If your lucky you might see some dolphins in the surf.

These were just a few of our favorite highlights of our trip to Australia. It’s an absolutely beautiful country with super friendly locals and we will definitely be back. If you have any questions about our trip leave them below, and if you’ve already been down this stretch of Australia, I would love to hear your highlights.

Is New Zealand on your bucket list? Check out 5 Things You Must See on New Zealand’s North Island!

5 Tips for camper-vanning New Zealand!

New Zealand is called “Gods own country” by the locals and when you finally see it, you will understand the reference. This country is like no other, untouched and unspoiled. There is so much diversity on these two islands, from beautiful deserted beaches, glaciers, rainforests, and amazing fjords.

When we decided to camper-van around New Zealand, we had no idea what we were in for! This would be our first trip ever in a recreational vehicle, and in a foreign country where they drive on the other side of the road. Our trip was planned for 16 days, and originally we wanted to go to both Islands, but after realizing NZ is WAY too huge, we decided to only circle the north island.

Our flight arrived in Auckland late at night, so we stayed the night at the Novotel right at the Auckland airport, and I’m so happy we did. Our flight ended up being delayed 3 hours, so instead of arriving at 8pm, we arrived well after 11pm. It was really nice being able to walk right out of the international terminal, across the street to the hotel and into our comfy beds. We also woke up to an amazing breakfast buffet before starting our adventure. If your going to Auckland, I highly recommend Novotel. Check out these five tips, to save you money and make your camper van experience a good one.

Book your camper van directly with the company.

We rented our camper van from “freedom campers”, they are a smaller company located on the out skirts of Auckland. There are a ton of different websites similar to “expedia” (but for camper vans), to get quotes. I do not recommend booking with one of these sites, reason being they charge extra for their services, when you can go straight to the company itself and skip the extras. We made this mistake when booking our NZ camper van, and we ended up paying almost $300 more then just going straight to the company. So long story short, use the search engines to figure out what kind of camper van you want and how much you wanna pay, but go straight to the company to reserve.
Don’t be cheap, get the insurance.

Another thing I recommend is getting the extra insurance, the van is BIG (I almost backed my husband into an overhang) and the cost for repairs are expensive, save yourself the stress and pay for the insurance! Another bonus to getting the full insurance is you don’t have to put a bond on your credit card. Some companies charge up to 7 grand on your credit card, until you return it in sound condition, then they will refund the money.

Get an automatic transmission van

Our camper van was an older model, so it was a standard (stick shift), with the steering wheel on the left side. I know what your thinking, all of this AND you have to drive on the opposite side of the road? It wasn’t as bad as it sounds, so please don’t let this discourage you from camper-vanning this beautiful country! Thankfully my husband is left handed, so he had no problem shifting with his left hand, and he quickly got used to driving on the left hand side of the road. But if we could do it again, we would have paid the extra to get an automatic transmission van. This country is huge, there are many winding roads, and down/up shifting gets old fast. Save yourself the hassle and your foot getting tired, by renting an automatic.

Freedom camp as often as possible.

Freedom camping is basically free camping on public conservation land. But as you may have heard, you cant freedom camp unless you have a “self-contained” vehicle (van with a toilet). There are a TON of places to freedom camp, the kiwis are pretty chill people, and unless there are signs that say no freedom camping, your ok. Just use your common sense, don’t disturb the locals and leave no trace behind you (as in take your trash with you). We tried to camp every other night at a free spot, that way we could charge our vehicle at a paid site every other day. Almost every town has an iSite (visitor information center), a great resource where you can check the area for freedom camping spots.

Dont reserve at holiday parks ahead of time.

We visited NZ during the last 2 weeks of December, directly during the holidays. When we planned the trip we were worried that we needed to reserve the holiday parks in advance because we were traveling during the peak season. However, since we didn’t know what towns we would be in and when, we decided to play it by ear, and I’m so glad we did! Only one time did we come across a park that was booked, and this was on the weekend of New Years.

So if your visiting in the off season, I wouldn’t worry about booking early. The greatest thing about camper-vanning, is your traveling with your home! If you want to stay longer/shorter in certain areas you can, and having that flexibility and spontaneity is part of the adventure! Another small tip, download the app camper mate where you can search the area your in for holiday parks and freedom camping spots. Also if your planning on arriving to a town late at night, find a holiday parks on camper mate, and call ahead to reserve your spot, because often times the office will close early. Several times we had the office leave us a packet for our camp site on the office door upon arrival. Check out our tour of the van we rented in Australia below.

To this day, camper-vanning New Zealand is one of my favorite trips! There is nothing like experiencing “Gods own country” in a camper van. Check out 5 Things You Must See on New Zealand’s North Island.

If you have any questions about camper-vanning NZ please leave them below, and if you have camped there before I would love to hear about it.

Category: Travel