Best Western's Travel Blog - You Must Be Trippin' - Getting Ready for the Olympics: Vancouver 2010

Getting Ready for the Olympics: Vancouver 2010

November 3 2008 by Julie Drossos

With less than 16 months to the next Winter Olympics games in Vancouver, many winter sport enthusiasts from Canada, the US and around the world are planning their February 2010 vacation plans around the XXI Olympic Winter Games. The opportunity to take in competitions as exhilarating as ski jumping , snowboarding and speed skating, enjoy the athleticism and grace of Figure Skating and of course cheer on the world's best ice hockey players as they compete for Olympic gold is hard to resist. Even for those uninterested in the sporting events themselves, the thrill of experiencing the energy and grandeur of the Opening Ceremonies is reason enough to pay a visit to Vancouver and Whistler, two of the world's most beautiful destinations. Here are a few tidbits of useful information to help you in your planning.

When to Go. The 2010 Winter Olympic Games run from February 12 to 28, 2010, followed by the Paralympic Games from March 12 to 21. The events will be split between metro Vancouver and Whistler Mountain which are roughly 2 hours apart by car. Traveling by helicopter or float plane is a significantly faster but more expensive option. Depending on how much time you can afford to be away from home and work, you'll definitely want to plan to make time for some "non-Olympic" activities. With our without the Games, Vancouver and Whistler are "must-see" destinations with something to offer for everyone.

Getting There. What many do not know is that Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, is one of North America's most accessible cities. Less than 60 minutes from Washington's Peace Arch border crossing and a quick three hour car ride from downtown Seattle or six hour drive from Portland, Vancouver is closer than you think! If you're not up for a road trip and you prefer to fly, you'll arrive in Vancouver's stunning international airport which offers non-stop flights daily to and from the US, Asia, Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean and of course other Canadian cities. In preparation for the 2010 games, a state-of-the-art Rapid Transit system is being added to accommodate passengers arriving at and departing from Vancouver International Airport. A convenient perk of purchasing Olympic tickets is that the cost of each ticket will include access to local transportation in Vancouver or Whistler on the date of the ticketed event.

Where to Stay. For years, Vancouver has been heralded as one of the most beautiful destinations in the world, and thus there is no shortage of places to stay. Best Western alone boasts over 20 properties in the Vancouver area. Depending on which Olympic competition you'd like to see, your event venue might be in metro Vancouver, up at Whistler Mountain, or somewhere in between the two. For example, if you're planning to take in Alpine Skiing, the Luge or Ski Jumping, staying right at Whistler would be your best bet. If you have tickets to the Opening Ceremonies or you are a Figure Skating or Ice Hockey fan, hang your hat in downtown Vancouver. If you're attending events or festivities in both spots, you can take your pick as you'll need to travel between Vancouver and Whistler. Downtown Vancouver will be a happening spot during the Games and will also be home to the Athlete's Village. Out of Best Western's three downtown properties - my first choice would definitely be Best Western Chateau Granville. This property's location is as good as it gets - just steps from the famed Robson Street shopping district, trendy Yaletown, hundreds of world class restaurants and a few minutes walk from the site of the Winter Olympic Opening Ceremonies, Figure Skating and Ice Hockey competitions. If you're going to be traveling between Vancouver and Whistler, a convenient option would be to try out the Best Western Capilano Inn & Suites, located on the North Shore, 15 minutes from downtown Vancouver and en route to Whistler. This property is also closely situated to Cypress Mountain, the site of the Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding events. Last but most certainly not least, experience the energy of Whistler and stay up on the mountain at the Best Western Listel Whistler. This hotel is located right in the heart of renowned Whistler Village where you'll be about as close to the action and excitement as you can get.

Getting Your Tickets to the Games! The request period for event tickets to the 2010 Olympic games opened on October 3rd, 2008 and will remain open until November 7th. Residents of Canada can complete a step-by-step process during this time by visiting Vancouver2010.com . Residents of the United States can do the same by visiting the CoSport Website. For a complete list of Official Ticket Agents by Country, visit the International Ticket Sales page. In December of 2008, Ticket allocations and confirmations will be made and payments will be charged to credit cards. Want to plan which days to book off work? You can view a full competition schedule on the Vancouver 2010 Website.

How Much To Budget. The cost of being a part of Olympic history may not be as exorbitant as you'd expect. Prices will of course be dependent on the popularity of the event itself as well as the seat category. For as low as $25 you can take in Cross Country Skiing or the Biathlon, and for as low as $30-$50 you can attend the Bobsleigh, Luge or Snowboarding competitions. A top-notch seat at one of the Figure Skating events will run you up to $450, and Ice Hockey tickets can run as low as $50 for the "cheap seats" in the Men's or Women's preliminaries or $775 for 1st class seats at the coveted Men's Gold Medal game. Looking to park yourself inside BC Place for the lavish Opening Ceremonies? You'll be paying between $175 to $1100 dollars.
Please Note: all prices quoted in Canadian Dollars.

For anyone outside of Vancouver planning to travel to attend the 2010 Olympic Games, this page is a great resource. See you at the games!

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