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!

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!

Tag: Wanderlust