I'm getting ready for a trip to whistler and I'm looking at the drive from Vancouver airport up to whistler. I dont really know what to expect because of whistlers low base elevation... A few questions:
1. Should I expect huge amounts of traffic if I'm driving up on a Sunday afternoon?
2. Since I'm in a rental car, will I need an 4WD car to make it?
3. Are there police (or similar) who will stop me or turn me around if I don't have chains?
4. Are Canadian car rental companies going to ban carrying chains the way that US car rental companies do?
Basically I want to avoid a situation where I need chains to get up, but I can't use chains because I'm in a rental...
I can't be of much help with the car rental. I have a Whistler trip planned in mid-February. I'll be landing at Vancouver International then taking a shuttle from the airport to Whistler then back down to Vancouver a few days later. There's a few different options of shuttles to choose from and they're all relatively reasonable. From what I've read and heard, you don't need a car in Whistler because of the bus system. Hope this gives you some insight and maybe another option!
I hit up Whistler for the first time during the beginning of December. Didn't rent a car because I was staying at Crystal Lodge in the village (Literally a few minutes walk to the gondolas).
I used Ridebooker and took a shuttle from Vancouver airport to Whistler. Check em out....service was top notch and they have a lot of pick-up/drop-off locations. Can't beat the price and convenience of just enjoying the sights and not worrying about the drive.
Just an option for you that I would highly recommend.
1. No, but you will see a lot of traffic heading the other way, back to VAN
2. No
3. No
4. Don't know. What I do know is that your drive from Van to Whistler is a most amazing drive. You should have no snow issues to cause you any concern.
On most BC highways, you just need 'winter rated' tires. Chains are only required for trucks. More than likely, the car rental place won't allow chains but you'd have to call them to find out for sure.
But like others have said, if you're staying in the village, you don't really need a car as there are lots of shuttle options available to / from either downtown or the airport
4WD or a high clearance car is not needed, but it's always a plus.
You DO need winter tires. Police rarely check, but it's not about the police..... it's about not ending in a ditch or crashing. It can be raining, snowing, slush, cloudy and/or sunshine at any given time. Basically...... be prepared for any combination of that ^
Not much traffic on the way to Whistler, on a Sunday. Heavier traffic to Whis is in the mornings. Especially if it's been snowing. And on the way back end of the day. But even if there is traffic...... there's not much you can do or plan about it. Slight delays and thats it. Nothing unbearable.
About canadian tires/chains and rental companies banning stuff.... huh??
....... just get a car with winter tires and don't worry about worrying about weird stuff. Don't crash. Speed limits are in km/h. Red means stop, green means go. And almost everything is in english.
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