Crystal Lodge: Where To Stay in Whistler

The Crystal Lodge Hotel has been around Whistler for over 30 years! Earlier this year though, they completed a full scale renovation to modernize their guestrooms. I recently spent 4 days in Whistler and had a wonderful time discovering new adventures. The Crystal Lodge Whistler was the perfect spot to relax and recharge in between exploring. Read on for my thoughts and photos on why the Crystal Lodge Whistler is one of the best places to stay in Whistler!

The Location

If you want to have the ultimate Whistler experience, you need to stay in the village! The Crystal Lodge is located in a very central area close to ski lifts and restaurants! There are only 2 Starbucks in the village and one is attached to the Crystal Lodge! When you’re coming during the ski season, you’ll be happy to know that the ski lifts are about a 5 minute walk away.

Here are a few top rated restaurants that are within a 2 minute walk from your comfy room at Crystal Lodge:

Basalt Wine & Salumeria
Bearfoot Bistro
Il Caminetto

Check for your lowest rates at Crystal Lodge Hotel through Booking.com

The Room

I am really impressed by the modern minimalistic feel of the new guestrooms. I stayed in the Deluxe King Studio and it was very spacious. While there is no actual bedroom, there is a clear divide between the “living” section and the “bed” section. The king bed was super comfy and the blackout blinds helped me get some great sleep! I wish there was a balcony in the room but the big windows will do.

The Deluxe King Studio comes with a kitchenette which includes a microwave, fridge, and glassware. The fridge was handy for storing beer and our leftovers. I’m also really impressed by small details in the renovation like the luggage unpacking area. The bench is just at the perfect height to unpack your suitcase and the full length mirror is a nice touch as well. There was plenty of storage area under the TV and there is a hanging closet to the left of the kitchenette.

The decor has the feel of a boutique hotel while maintaining the ski lodge charm. Whether you’re coming by yourself or in a big family, you’ll find a room type to suit you from the 16 options available.

Bathroom

My room actually had an accessible bathroom so I’m not sure if this is representative of other bathrooms in the hotel. The shower was an open bathtub with updated shower heads and fixtures. I’m liking the full size toiletries trend as it cuts down on excess plastic and waste. I’m double liking the fact that conditioner is included as I find a lot of hotels only provide shampoo.

The sink and counter area was really new and chic! I’m not too sure about the metal shelving next to the counter. I thought it looked a bit out of place but again, it might be because I was in an accessible room. Overall the bathroom was spacious, functional, and well designed!

Pool & Hot Tub

I was very much looking forward to getting in the pool and hot tub during my vacation. Because of Covid-19 regulations, many guests are having trouble getting pool time during the summer. However, this was not an issue at all at Crystal Lodge and I was able to have my preferred time 3 out of 3 days.

The process to get in the pool is a same day reservation system. You simply call front desk and ask for a one hour time slot. There are only 3 families allowed at the pool/hot tub area at a time. Once the hour is up, the cleaning crew comes in to sanitize.

The pool was warm and big enough to swim and relax in! Now that it’s coming up to ski season, the hot tub will definitely be *hot* commodity for apres ski (pun intended).

Service

Due to Covid, there is no housekeeping available during your stay. However, requests for towels and other items were quickly provided for. I did not have too much interaction with the front desk staff but all my interactions were positive!

I had a really wonderful time in the newly renovated Crystal Lodge Hotel. For the upcoming weeks, the Deluxe King Studio starts at $139 per night. The most economic room type (Crystal King/Queen/Double Room) starts at only $99 per night! I’d highly recommend it for your next stay in Whistler as it’s in a great location and the prices are very affordable! The rooms are very stylish and functional. It was the perfect recharging spot for us and I’m sure it’ll be for you as well!