March 27, 2026
Let me start by saying this: Whistler, BC is absolutely beautiful. From the moment we arrived, I knew it was a place I’d want to come back to. This quick getaway was a great way to show our kids the mountains and relax. We strategically used points on this trip so let’s break down how it all came together.
How we got there:
We flew our family of four on Air Canada taking a direct flight from Regina, SK to Vancouver, BC. The total cost was 69,300 points plus $232.86 in taxes and fee. Since our youngest was a lap infant we only needed three seats.
To put that into perspective, this same flight would have cost us $1500 for two adults and one child. This made our points and miles redemption feel like a big win.
Transportation:
Once we landed, we rented a car through Costco Car Rental, this has been my personal go to as they offer a great pricing. That said, it’s always worth shopping around as Expedia often has great deals.
We booked a standard SUV for four days which costed $280, but luck was on our side, and we got upgraded to a full-size SUV for free. I’m pretty sure the rental agent took one look at our two kids, massive car seats, wagon, and suitcases and felt a bit of sympathy.
I paid for the rental upfront using my Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card. I had recently got this card to start earning Scene points and work towards the welcome bonus. Once the charges posted, I used the “Apply Points to Travel” feature in the Scene app, which erased my purchase off my statement.
When using the “Apply Points to Travel” Scene points are 100 points = $1, which is a better value than applying points directly to your statement. I personally think this a great alternative to traditional airline or hotel redemptions. You can use it for Airbnb stays, hotels, and rental cars, making it a very versatile option.
Where We Stayed:
Spoiler alert – we didn’t stay on points this time; we paid cash.
When booking this trip, I didn’t have a large enough stockpile of hotel points, so we stayed at the Cascade Lodge, booked through Vacasa. The room was only $220 per night, which was very affordable since our flights and car rental were covered with points.
The location was excellent – right by the Whistler Village. The room has a kitchenette, plus access to a pool and hot tub. While it wasn’t the most up to date place, it worked perfect for our family.
If you’re looking to book Whistler on points, there are several good options:
Marriott:
Delta Hotels Whistler Village Suites
The Westin Resort & Spa
Hilton:
Hilton Whistler Resort & Spa
Aeroplan Hotel Savers:
Fairmont Chateau
Blackcomb Springs Suites
Things to Do in Whistler:
The obvious activities here are skiing, snowboarding, and tubing. We didn’t get to do any of these this time since we had young kids with us, but we told ourselves we will be back to ski.
Whistler Village itself is a great place to walk around, grab a coffee, browse the shops, and check out one of the many unique restaurants. If you’re visiting with kids, there is a great playground plus a skating and tobogganing area.
One highlight for us was Vallea Lumina, a nighttime walk-through experience where you follow the journey of two travellers through the forest. It was super cute and made for a great family activity. The trail wasn’t too long or rough, and our 2.5-year-old was able to walk the whole time and absolutely loved the light show.
The Peak 2 Peak Gondola ride looked like an incredible experience with amazing views. Although we didn’t go on this ourselves, as we worried our young children would cry the entire time. This is a great activity to take in the views of Whistler, especially for non skiers.
Overall Thoughts
Whistler is great place to vacation, whether you’re a family, a couple, or just wanting a solo vacation. I’ve visited many ski resorts throughout my life as this was our main vacation growing up. The village at Whistler is one of the best I’ve seen for food, shopping, and entertainment.
-Alexis