Canada at New Year

[TeetotalKoala]

DH has just suggested that we go to Canada over New Year. I am researching, but thought I'd turn to the MN Oracle's too.

So please tell me everything about Canada please.

Recommdations, cost compared to Europe etc

Family of 4. Two adults, two DC. DC will be 7 and 9. Going on our first ski holiday next week, so will be relative novices at New Year, albeit with lessons and a week of skiing behind us. Will also spend time at dry slopes through the year.

Thank you all.

[HappySpade]

Are you going to the east coast, Rockies, or somewhere in British Columbia?

[TeetotalKoala]

Open to wherever! Not been before so happy to take recommendations.

[HappySpade]

I've only done BC and the Rockies so can't comment on the east coast. There are so many options in BC and it'll depend how far you want to drive from an airport, or even if connecting flights are an option. You could fly into Calgary and drive for about an hour into the Rockies and ski at Banff (Sunshine Mountain) or Norquay, or drive an additional 30-45 mins and go to Lake Louise. You could also drive an additional 1-4 hours from Banff and ski at Kimberley, Kicking Horse or Fernie. If you flew into Edmonton, you could drive 4 hours and ski at Jasper (Marmot Basin). You could flew into Vancouver and drive 2 hours north to Whistler. You could also fly into Vancouver or Calgary and get a connecting flight to Kamloops (Sun Peaks Resort), Kelowna (Big White), or Vernon (SilverStar). All areas have different ski villages amenities. Others will have some non-skiing activities too - tubing, snowshoeing, or dogsledding.

[SarBear1980]

Fernie is my absolute most favourite place to ski but I’d not consider taking my 6 year old for a fair few years...flight to west coast and 3 hour transfer. East coast Mont Tremblant is nice but very cold, very expensive and very busy...
As relative newbies to skiing, places with big mountains are better when you have the skills to get up and about them and the mountains in Canada are big! I didn’t go to Canada until I’d done a far few cheaper learning holidays in Europe. Saying that Canada is an amazing ski holiday. We are loving Austria for Christmas/New Year with the little one for the last two years and back again next year - see how you get on this holiday but skiing is far better than beach holidays in our families view 😊

[Womble65]

I’ve just done a really long post and then it has disappeared!

We have done lots of Canadian skiing and highly recommend it. With children that age and especially if you are thinking BC you really need 10-14 days. It’s a long way to go for a week. The advantages we have found are more reliable snow, less crowded slopes, better managed lift queues (Canadians are just so polite) and excellent instruction. Flights are more expensive (another reason to favour 2 weeks), not sure price wise how accommodation stacks up, but it is mostly self catering and the apartments are spacious and often have hot tubs. Lots of places to eat out in the evenings.

We have skied
Tremblant - easiest journey, but cold and was lots of snow making (so icy) when we visited. My least favourite.
Jasper - fly to Calgary, then drive - fairly small, poor snow and limited accommodation on our visit (but was a long time ago so may well have changed, but didn’t appeal enough to go back)
Banff - fly to Calgary and then transfer - huge ski areas but if you stay in Banff then you need to bus / drive to ski each day. Banff nice place to stay with lots of restaurants. Staying in Sunshine or Lake Louise might drive you a bit mad after a few days as they are just the ski area and one or two accommodation choices.
Silver Star/Big White - our favourites but hardest to get to as involve an internal flight to Kelowna and then a transfer. All ski-in/ski-out. Our kids started in Silver Star, but we now prefer Big White as it’s larger and better choice of evening options for food. Both have tubing/skating etc. Don’t know if anywhere in Silver Star has a pool. Both have excellent ski schools. Great snow.

If you decide to go one way to keep costs down is to buy season passes. If you are going to ski for more than 10 days we think buying a pass for Big White at the early bird prices (so before October I think) is cheaper than buying just for the days you ski. You then get the chance to buy 50% lesson tickets and various in resort discounts.

I’ve not skied Whistler, but I think you don’t get the advantage of short lift lines and empty runs, especially at New Year, which is peak time, which make the trip to BC worthwhile for us. Our kids have done occasional European ski trips but would pick Canada every time.

This still seems long and don’t want to loose it as well!

[Winesalot]

Are there any recommendations that may consistently have snowfall rather than man made during that Christmas/NY period, please?

[Winesalot]

I am loving these suggestions, too. Hope you don't mind TeetotalKoala

[StonedRoses]

Canada is awesome. Think of it as skiing AND an amazing holiday. We first went to Banff when DS was 5 and he learnt to ski there. Tuition was amazing

BUT

New Year will be bloody freezing. As on seriously cold. Minus 30 not unheard of. Particularly bad for beginners who wait around a lot. If you want two weeks would you be able to consider Easter? Snow still great but warmer and generally better. The locals rave about ‘magic March’ so with school kids early April might be the best compromise.

Been to Banff six times, pre and post DS so feel free to ask away!

[StonedRoses]

Personally I wouldn’t bother with East unless you have another reason for visiting Quebec. Much smaller and lower hills. Although the flight is shorter it’s still a way and not worth it compared to Europe. If you’re flying long haul go a couple of hours further to the west

[Womble65]

Winesalot - Big White has always had real snow at Christmas. Some years it’s better than others, but if you have mainly skied in Europe you will probably be impressed even if it’s a 'bad' year! They don’t seem to have much snow making at all - only really seen it in the park making the ski cross track and jumps.

I agree with StonedRoses that Banff can be cold at New Year. BC doesn’t normally get that cold although -15 isn’t unheard off at that time. But you make sure you have the right gear and it’s not too bad. The kids get taken in for hot chocolate breaks in lessons when they are beginners anyway. It’s freezing fog that I don’t like - on those days I tend to ski very little and find other stuff to do.

[whereshalligo]

I've been to Whistler at Christmas twice but home before New Year.
It's a beautiful place and has first class instruction and plenty of runs for beginners. It is busy, queues will be long but they are well managed most of the time.
As others have said a week is too short with the time difference ideal 10 days.
There are plenty of non ski things to do if you want a day off.
It is expensive though, ski hire, restaurants, food shopping if you want to self cater. They use the epic pass system which is cheaper the earlier in the year you book your passes.
Well worth going and if you can tag a couple of nights in Vancouver even better.

[Winesalot]

Thanks Womble. Skiing is not necessarily a must for us, but a white Christmas is really important. I have been reading about BC and Big White. I will have a closer look.

Would love Whistler too thank you . Not sure we could afford it though whereshalligo

[Theredjellybean]

@whereshalligo and @Winesalot

We are looking at whistler for 2 weeks over christmas this year...we are family of 6 , me and my 2 dds experts and my dh and 2dsd all beginners.

the trip is really for my youngest dd who has had 2 seasons out while seriously ill...so it is her choice where we go.

BUT i have heard reports of poor snow at christmas,
But the stats dont bear this out...
what as your experience been ?
we will do 2 weeks as it is such a long flight plus the jetlag ...

[whereshalligo]

We went Xmas 16 and 17 absolutely loads of slow but this Xmas 19 was a poor late start for Whistler. My son is working on the lifts there so was avidly watching the webcams. Having said that they did a great job of making snow on the lower village levels and opened up as much terrain as possible. It's a chance wherever you go at Xmas, Europe, USA or Canada as still classed as early season, but Whistler has the capacity to make a lot of snow if conditions right.
There is so much to do other than skiing all day to enhance your experience that I wouldn't worry too much.
The family zone and expert terrain is mid mountain and higher so even if you can't ski back to the village there will be snow in those areas.
If you are going for two weeks look at all the epic pass options, be careful though as some have blackout dates.