Four Seasons Whistler Review: Is This The Ultimate Whistler Resort?

We spent several nights at the Four Seasons Resort Whistler during the ski season, and Condé Nast Traveler wasn’t kidding when they named it Canada’s #1 Resort. After experiencing everything from heated pool towels to ski concierge coffee, we’re here to tell you if this newly awarded Two Michelin Key hotel lives up to the hype (and the price tag). Our Four Seasons Whistler review takes you through the ins and out of this luxury hotel experience in the magnificent coastal mountains of British Columbia.

Disclaimer: We paid for our stay ourselves and this review reflects our honest experience. Some links in this post are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission if you book through them – at no extra cost to you.

Quick Verdict: Is Four Seasons Whistler Worth It?

Look, we’re not going to bury the lead here. Is the Four Seasons Resort Whistler worth it? Yes, absolutely yes. The Four Seasons Resort Whistler is worth every penny if luxury mountain vacations are your thing. This place didn’t get ranked #5 Best Resort in the World for 2024 by accident. The rooms are massive, the location is prime, and honestly, once you experience heated towels at an outdoor pool in winter, regular towels just feel like a personal attack.

It wasn’t a flawless experience though, as there were a couple of things that we weren’t really fans of. Keep reading to discover what we thought could be improved.

But for a true luxury mountain experience, look no further. That said, if you’re backpacking through Canada on a shoestring budget, you might want to sit this one out.

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About The Four Seasons Resort Whistler

Built in 2004 and most recently renovated in 2019, the Four Seasons Resort Whistler sits at the base of Blackcomb Mountain in Whistler’s Upper Village. The property features 273 rooms across nine floors and has just been awarded two Michelin Keys for the second year running, earning recognition as Condé Nast Traveler’s #1 Resort in Canada and #5 Best Resort in the World for 2024.

The resort is actually comprised of two properties: the main Four Seasons Resort hotel and the adjacent Four Seasons Residences. Each property has its own dedicated check-in desk, lobby, and outdoor pool area, though residence guests can access all facilities while hotel guests normally only access the hotel facilities. The residence side caters more to longer-term stays and individual owners (with kitchens), while the hotel side serves typical vacation guests.

Getting There: The Journey to Blackcomb Mountain

The Four Seasons sits right at the base of Blackcomb Mountain in Whistler’s Upper Village, which means you’re literally steps from the gondola. We’re talking roll-out-of-bed-and-onto-the-slopes kind of close. Sure, it’s not smack dab in the center of Whistler Village, but honestly? We didn’t mind the short walk, and the hotel provides shuttles too if you dont want to use up all oryour energy.

Getting to Whistler from Vancouver takes about 1.5 to 2 hours from downtown, or 2.5 to 3 hours from the airport depending on whether Mother Nature decides to dump snow on the Sea-to-Sky Highway. We’ve done this drive enough times to know that “weather dependent” is code for “pack snacks and maybe some patience.”

Once you’re at the hotel, getting around is easy. They’ve got complimentary shuttles running to Whistler Village, plus house cars available on a first-come, first-served basis. It’s also possible to walk into the main village, and the scenic route through the upper village at the base of Blackcomb Mountain gives you a great sense of the great outdoors. Pro tip: the house cars are clutch when you’ve had a few glasses of wine at dinner and walking back uphill through snow suddenly seems like the worst idea ever.

Oh, and Lost Lake is within walking distance, which is perfect for cross-country skiing in winter or with a lakeside stroll in summer.

Arrival: First Impressions Matter

We pulled up to the covered entrance and immediately appreciated the genius of having a massive undercroft. When you’re in Whistler, keeping dry during arrival is basically a luxury amenity in itself. It was snowing (because of course it was), and we stayed completely dry while staff helped unload our luggage and snowboard.

At The Four Seasons Whistler, there’s no self-parking on site, only valet. They quoted us CA$48 per day on our ticket, though their website says $57 plus tax. Either way, it’s not cheap. You could park in municipal lots for less, but then you’d have to walk back or arrange pickup. We figured if we’re already splurging on the Four Seasons, we might as well commit to the full experience. Our wallets cried a little, but our backs thanked us.

The staff offered to either keep our ski gear at the bell desk or transfer it to the ski concierge at Blackcomb base. We initially kept it at the hotel but later had them move it to the mountain for the next day. Spoiler: the ski concierge situation is absolutely brilliant, and we’ll get to that later.

The lobby itself is smaller than we expected, especially compared to the massive Fairmont Chateau next door. But it’s beautifully decorated with art installations and Christmas trees (we visited the week before Christmas). There’s a small sitting area and even a little art gallery. We quickly learned that art is kind of the Four Seasons’ thing here. Multiple galleries, installations everywhere—if you appreciate culture with your skiing, you’ll be in heaven.

Check-in took about five minutes. Easy, efficient, and soon we were headed to our room with keycards in hand.

The Room: More Space Than Our Apartment

We stayed in a Deluxe Room, which is technically the entry-level category. At 51 square meters (549 square feet), it was larger than some studio apartments we’ve lived in. Not that we’re bitter about London rent prices or anything.

The king bed was phenomenally comfortable. Like, dangerously comfortable. The kind of bed that makes you question every life decision that doesn’t involve lying in it. The linens were silky soft, and the pillows were these giant fluffy clouds that somehow supported your head perfectly. We’re not even getting paid to say this, we just really loved the bed.

In front of the bed was a couch that pulls out into a sofa bed, which would be perfect for kids or that friend who always crashes your vacation. There’s also a sitting chair and a table with chairs, plus an electric fireplace that made everything feel cozy. Nothing says “luxury ski vacation” quite like a crackling fire (even if it’s electric) while snow falls outside.

The balcony had a table and chairs, though our view wasn’t exactly Instagram-worthy. We overlooked the snow-covered tennis courts and the Fairmont Chateau’s staff parking lot. Not ideal, but honestly, we were barely in the room during daylight hours anyway. The mountain views from the pool more than made up for it.

The walk-in closet was absurdly spacious with drawers, shelves, and enough hanging space for a month-long trip. Perfect for ski vacation packing, which somehow always involves twice as many clothes as you actually need. The bathroom had everything: a soaking tub, walk-in rainfall shower, and double sink vanity. It’s the kind of bathroom where you feel fancy just brushing your teeth.

Now, here’s the one quirk: like many luxury hotels (and other Four Seasons properties) the minibar is pressure-sensitive. Pick up that $8 can of beer to read the label? You’re buying it. There’s no space to store your own drinks either, unless you want to rent a mini-fridge for $60 per day. The good news is you don’t have to do that during the cold months. In winter, we just stuck our drinks outside on the balcony, which turned it into a free refrigerator. In summer, you’re either renting the fridge, getting ice for your drinks or paying Four Seasons prices for everything.

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Amenities: Where The Four Seasons Whistler Really Shines

The outdoor pool area is where we spent way too much time pretending we weren’t procrastinating on our work deadlines. It’s intimate (not massive) area, but it’s got everything you need: a heated swimming pool, three heated hot tubs, comfortable sun lounges and two barrel saunas, all surrounded by mountain views.

The absolute best part? Heated towels. There’s a towel warmer by the pool, and grabbing a toasty warm towel when you’re getting out of the water in freezing temperatures is genuinely life-changing. Regular towels now feel like a personal insult to our comfort standards.

If there was one moment that screamed luxury during our stay, it was heading to the pool and find the golden Moet branded life preservers dotted around the pool, complementing the Moet themed outdoor drinks bar. Relaxing with a glass of champagne in the heated pool while the snow silently fell on our faces was possibly the highlight of our stay.

The spa is accessed through the same area and offers all the treatments you’d expect: hot stone massages, couples massages, pedicures, and more. We treated ourselves to a massage after a particularly brutal day on the slopes, and let’s just say our muscles thanked us profusely.

The 24-hour gym is accessed via keycard through the spa and is surprisingly well-equipped. Dumbbells, a Smith squat rack, cardio equipment, Peloton bikes, and they even offer fitness classes with weekly schedules. We had full intentions of using it daily. We went once. The bed was too comfortable in the mornings, and après-ski was too appealing in the evenings. No regrets.

For business travelers or anyone doing a working retreat (guilty), there are multiple meeting rooms and dedicated work areas. The WiFi was solid, the spaces were quiet, and honestly, it’s not the worst place to take Zoom calls when your background is literally a luxury mountain resort.

The Ski Concierge: A Game-Changer

The mountainside ski concierge was one of our favorite amenities. Located at the base of Blackcomb Mountain, you can store your skis, snowboard, boots—everything mountainside. They have boot warmers so your gear is dry and toasty every morning. No more carrying your snowboard through the village or waiting for the shuttle with awkward equipment.

To keep guests warm, they serve complimentary coffee from 8am to 10am and hot chocolate in the afternoons after skiing. Is it fancy coffee? No. Does it taste better when you’re about to go shred some powder? Absolutely.

We initially kept our gear at the hotel but quickly realized the ski concierge was the smarter move. One quick call to the bell desk, and they transferred everything over. The next morning, we walked down in our ski boots, grabbed our gear from the warm storage, and were on the gondola within minutes. This is the kind of convenience that justifies the luxury price tag.

Breakfast at Braidwood Tavern: The Honest Truth

Breakfast was included in our Deluxe Room rate (normally $65 per person for the buffet). We could choose between the extensive buffet or order from the à la carte menu for items up to $58 in value. Naturally, we went for the buffet because who doesn’t love breakfast buffets?

The spread was impressive: a made-to-order omelet station, fresh fruits, cereals, juices, hot stations with bacon and sausages and potatoes, a dessert station with a chocolate fountain, waffles, donuts, and even a DIY poutine station. Because nothing says “breakfast” quite like the Canadian favorite of fries, gravy, and cheese curds at 8am.

Here’s where we have to be honest though. The breakfast was fine. Not bad, not amazing, just… fine. And for a Four Seasons, we expected more. The potatoes had some seasoning but needed more flavor. The omelets were decent but nothing special. The dessert station wasn’t as sweet as we’d hoped, and the waffles and donuts were surprisingly bland. There was this puff pastry salami pizza bread thing in one corner that had almost run out when we arrived and was never refilled during our entire meal. The bacon was perfectly cooked though, so points for that.

Look, we’re not going to lie to you: we were a bit disappointed. It’s not that the breakfast was bad, it just didn’t hit the Four Seasons standard we’d built up in our heads. That said, Whistler has incredible restaurant options, so even if breakfast doesn’t blow your mind, you’ve got plenty of alternatives for lunch and dinner.

Braidwood Tavern also serves lunch and dinner, but after the breakfast experience, we decided to explore Whistler’s restaurant scene instead. The hotel also has Sidecut Steakhouse for upscale steaks and seafood (dinner only), but we never tried it. Maybe next time when we’re feeling particularly fancy and our credit cards have recovered.

The Library Bar by Macallan: Whisky Heaven

If you’re into scotch, you need to check out The Library Bar by Macallan. Open from 4pm during winter season, this place is absolutely stunning with wood paneling from floor to ceiling. It’s got 12 different Macallan bottlings, making it the largest collection of Macallan scotch in Whistler.

We’re not even huge whisky drinkers, but we stopped in one evening and enjoyed the atmosphere immensely. They’ve got Macallan-inspired cocktails and other options like champagne and liqueurs if scotch isn’t your thing. But honestly, even if you’re just ordering a glass of champagne, the ambiance alone makes it worth a visit.

Oh, and there’s a daily wine reception from 4 to 5pm downstairs next to Braidwood Tavern to sample some local British Columbian vintages. Free wine? We showed up every day, of course.

For early risers (or jet-lagged travelers), there’s a complimentary self-serve coffee station in the lobby from 5 to 9am. The coffee is decent, but if you’re skiing, just grab your free coffee at the ski concierge from 8 to 10am instead. Better location, same caffeine delivery system.

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Activities & Experiences: More Than Just Skiing

We visited just prior to the Christmas holidays, and the Four Seasons went all out with activities. They had snowshoeing excursions, maple taffy rolling (a classic Canadian winter activity where hot maple syrup is poured on snow and rolled onto popsicle sticks—it’s delicious), stone carving and wood burning classes, chestnut roasting, and even Santa visits on Christmas Eve. An outdoor caravan is set up and opens in the evenings to provide s’mores supplies for kids (and kids at heart!) to melt their own smores over the open fires.

They set up a kids’ room in one of the ground floor meeting rooms with arcade games, ping pong, and air hockey. While it’s not a year-round amenity, it’s brilliant for keeping kids entertained during busy holiday periods. Outside the gym and spa area is a large covered chess set too if you fancy a game.

The concierge can arrange pretty much any mountain experience you can imagine: heliskiing, dog sledding, snowmobiling, ice skating, cross-country skiing. In summer, you can golf at one of Whistler’s three courses, including the Fairmont Golf Course directly across the road (the Four Seasons Whistler won’t mention their competitor’s golf course, but we will because it’s genuinely convenient).

The hotel also offers fitness classes with weekly schedules and rotating instructors. We had the best of intentions to attend, but in the end the bed was far too comfortable.

What We Absolutely Loved

The heated towels at the pool deserve another mention because they’re genuinely incredible. It’s such a simple touch, but it makes all the difference when you’re getting out of a hot tub into freezing weather in the snow.

The rooms are genuinely spacious even at the base category. We’ve stayed at plenty of hotels where “deluxe” means “slightly less cramped,” but this room felt legitimately large and comfortable.

The beds are exceptional. Like, we’re-still-thinking-about-them-months-later exceptional. The linens, the pillows, the mattress—everything was perfect. We may or may not have looked up how much that bedding costs. (It’s a lot. We didn’t buy it.)

The location works perfectly. Easy walking distance to Upper Village, close to the gondola, and the shuttles make getting to Whistler Village completely painless.

The ski concierge is brilliant and eliminates so much hassle during ski trips.

The hotel is also pet-friendly, so your four-legged friends are welcome in rooms and outdoor areas. We saw several happy dogs during our stay, and honestly, dogs on vacation might be the cutest thing ever.

Finally, the art throughout the property is genuinely impressive. If you appreciate culture and design, you’ll love wandering around discovering different installations and gallery spaces.

What Could Be Better

Let’s talk about the parts of our stay that could be improved. First, there are only two elevators for 273 rooms across nine floors. After checking in, we waited longer than expected for the bellperson to bring our bags up, and we can only imagine how long waits get during peak periods. Getting up and donw the elevators could prove quite a task if timed wrong or you head up or down during a peak time. If you’re on the ninth floor and everyone’s trying to get down for breakfast or heading out for first chair, you might be there a while.

During a snowstorm, the pool area didn’t have enough dry places to store shoes and robes. We ended up shuffling things around awkwardly while trying not to get everything soaked. Not a huge deal, but worth noting.

The hotel grounds are smaller than the neighboring Fairmont, and the pool area could feel cramped when the hotel is fully booked. We visited a week before the busy Christmas holiday period and it was fine, but we could see it getting tight if everyone decided to use the pool at once.

And as we mentioned earlier, the breakfast could use some work. Perhaps the Four Seasons Whistler is a victim of its own success, as we had very high expectations. It’s good, but it’s not ‘Four Seasons’ exceptional. For a hotel at this level and with two Michelin keys, we expected a little more.

Booking Tips: When to Visit for Best Value

Christmas and New Year are peak season at Whistler, and the Four Seasons prices reflect that. If you’re booking for the holidays, prepare for premium rates. But here’s the good news: there are definitely ways to save and stay for less.

Early December is your best value for a snowy winter stay. Whistler Blackcomb mountain usually opens for skiing around US Thanksgiving (last weekend of November), but schools are still in session, so crowds are minimal and prices are lower up until about a week or so before Christmas. You get all the skiing without the holiday rush or holiday prices. You also get all the festive christmas lights and decorations around the hotel and throughout Whistler!

Spring is another excellent option when the weather warms up and crowds thin out. Fall is the absolute cheapest time to visit because the mountain is closed and Whistler is between ski and bike seasons, so obviously you won’t be skiing or biking. There’s mostly rain during this time, but it can make for a lovely quiet fall getaway in the mountains.

The shoulder seasons (spring and fall) offer the best combination of value and experience if your schedule is flexible.

Who Should Stay Here?

The Four Seasons Whistler is perfect for luxury ski vacations, romantic getaways, family trips (the kids’ amenities are excellent), business conferences, working retreats, pet owners, and spa enthusiasts. Basically, if you want a luxury mountain experience and have the budget for it, this is your place.

However, if you’re on a tight budget, need to be right in Whistler Village center, or prefer doorstep proximity to mountain lifts, you might want to consider alternatives. The Four Seasons delivers on luxury and convenience, but it comes at a premium price.

Final Verdict: Should You Book Four Seasons Whistler?

After spending several nights here, we can confidently say the Four Seasons Resort Whistler is the best luxury hotel in Whistler. The rooms are genuinely comfortable and spacious, the ski-in/ski-out access is incredibly convenient, the amenities (especially that ski concierge!) make the mountain experience seamless, and the overall service quality lives up to the Four Seasons name.

Yes, the breakfast could be better, and yes, the elevator situation needs addressing, but these are minor complaints in the grand scheme of an exceptional mountain resort experience.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Four Seasons Whistler and would absolutely return. As Whistler locals for nearly 10 years, we understand what the town has to offer and where the best amenities and luxury is.

If you’re looking for a luxury Whistler experience and want the best hotel the mountain has to offer, the Four Seasons Resort Whistler is where you want to be. Just maybe prepare the credit card for the higher prices especially around the holidays.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Four Seasons Resort Whistler

Is Four Seasons Whistler worth the price?

Yes, especially if you value spacious rooms, excellent amenities, and convenience. The ski concierge alone saves so much hassle that it’s worth a portion of the premium. Plus, heated towels at the pool. Once you’ve experienced them, regular towels are ruined forever.

How far is Four Seasons Whistler from Whistler Village?

It’s an easy walk to both Upper Village and Whistler Village center. The hotel also provides complimentary shuttles and house cars if you don’t feel like walking (or if you’ve had wine at dinner and walking uphill through snow seems unappealing).

Does Four Seasons Whistler have a pool?

Yes, a heated outdoor pool plus three hot tubs and two barrel saunas with mountain views. And heated towels. Did we mention the heated towels? Because they’re amazing.

Is breakfast included at Four Seasons Whistler?

It depends on your rate. Our Deluxe Room rate included breakfast at Braidwood Tavern. Check your booking details or ask when making reservations.

Can you store ski equipment at Four Seasons Whistler?

Absolutely! The ski concierge at Blackcomb base stores all your equipment with boot warmers, plus serves complimentary coffee in the morning and hot chocolate in the afternoon. It’s genuinely one of the best amenities.

Is the Four Seasons Whistler pet friendly?

Yes! You can bring along your four-legged friends to accompany you on your stay. A maximum of two cats or dogs are allowed per room. For further information, check out the Four Seasons Whistler pet policy.

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Disclaimer: We paid for our stay ourselves and this review reflects our honest experience. Some links in this post are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission if you book through them – at no extra cost to you. Please consider using our links below to book your stay – happy trails!

Have you stayed at Four Seasons Whistler? Found any hidden gems we missed? Drop your experiences in the comments below — we’d love to hear your thoughts!