Many people coming to Whistler only want to stay in the Village, to be near the shops, restaurants and nightclubs that it offers. However, Whistler Village can also be extremely noisy, with partygoers singing and shouting until the early hours. Also, the accommodation in the Village is mostly fairly low-grade, since the popularity of the place means that owners have had no incentive to modernise and upgrade fixtures and furniture, so you may find yourself in some fairly unappealing digs.

If you dont need to stagger back on foot to your apartment after visiting the nightclubs, you might consider the Bluffs in Taluswood as an alternative location. Set on the lower slopes of Whistler Mountain and perched on a bluff (hence the name), the Bluffs offers the best views in Whistler: a spectacular vista of lakes and mountains. They also offer very easy access to the slopes: a 1-2 minute walk will take you to the edge of the Dave Murray Downhill, venue for the Mens Downhill in the 2010 Olympics. The accommodation at the Bluffs is also of an extremely high standard, with heated slate floors, granite countertops, Jacuzzi bathtubs and gas fireplaces. They also share one of Whistlers most spectacular hot tubs, which can seat 12-15 people in comfort and is great for soothing away the aches and pains of the mogul fields.

The only drawback to the Bluffs is that it is not served by public transport, so you have to drive or call a cab to go shopping or visit one of Whistlers many fine restaurants. But this is scarcely much of a disadvantage. A cab to the Village will arrive in 5-10 minutes and cost only $10 or so: you will save immensely by taking advantage of the great prices available in Taluswood and using the occasional cab to go out in the evening.

So next time you are contemplating a trip to North Americas best ski resort, think outside the Village and take a look at the Bluffs in Taluswood. You can find a great choice of Whistler accommodation, including a selection of properties at the Bluffs in Taluswood by going to www.skiwhistler.co.uk.