Here, There & Gone - Travel & Events

Whistler or Banff? With two weeks in Canada, you don't have to choose. Vancouver, Whistler, Calgary and Banff, and none of it needs a car. herethereandgone.com/canada-… #ExploreCanada

Canada's $1 coin is the Loonie and the $2 coin is the Toonie. And with the penny gone, cash totals are rounded to the nearest five cents. herethereandgone.com/travell… #Canada #ExploreCanada

If a card machine or ATM in Canada asks whether to charge you in your home currency or Canadian dollars, always choose Canadian dollars. The machine's rate is worse than your bank's. herethereandgone.com/travell… #Canada

Tipping in Canada used to sit around 10 to 15%. These days 20 to 25% is expected at table service, and the preset options on the payment screen often start higher than you'd think. herethereandgone.com/travell… #Canada #ExploreCanada

Travelling to Canada? Menu prices don't include tax, and you tip on top of the taxed total. Allow a quarter to a third on top of the menu price when you eat out. herethereandgone.com/travell… #Canada

In Banff, order your Ski Big 3 ticket online a few days ahead and it's delivered to your hotel. There's no queue at the ticket window, just an envelope waiting at check-in. herethereandgone.com/whistle… #Banff #ExploreCanada

Nobody does village access like Whistler. The gondolas leave from the edge of town, so you can ride down for lunch and head back up whenever you're ready. herethereandgone.com/whistle… #Whistler

Banff's snow is drier and colder, the kind of powder that stays light for longer. Whistler gets more snow overall, but being so close to the coast, it's heavier and wetter. herethereandgone.com/whistle… #Banff

Whistler or Banff for a Canada snow trip? Whistler wins on scale and village access. Banff gives you three distinct mountains and lighter powder. My pick is Banff, but neither is the wrong choice. herethereandgone.com/whistle… #Whistler #Banff

Travelling solo in Whistler, or waiting for your group to come down? Black's Pub is a good call. You can get a seat, and there's always something on the screens. herethereandgone.com/whistle… #Whistler #ExploreBC

Most of Whistler's clubs are below street level, which is why locals call it going underground. Garfinkel's is the main one, and Thursday is its biggest night. herethereandgone.com/whistle… #Whistler

The Fire & Ice show runs on Sunday evenings in Whistler from January to around the start of March. Skiers and snowboarders launch through a burning ring, and it's free. You'll know it's starting when the crowd spills out of the Longhorn. herethereandgone.com/whistle… #Whistler #Explore

Après in Whistler gets going from around midday and really builds as the lifts close at about 4pm. The one thing to plan is dinner, because the popular places are hard to walk into after 6pm. herethereandgone.com/whistle… #Whistler

Misty Mountain Pizza became my go-to lunch in Whistler. It's a short walk from the gondola, the flavours rotate through the day, and it's much better value than eating on the mountain. herethereandgone.com/whistle… #Whistler #ExploreBC

If you're going to splash out on one meal in Whistler, make it Araxi. Book a table when you book the rest of your trip, because it fills up quickly. herethereandgone.com/whistle… #Whistler

For après in Whistler, it's the Longhorn for the full party, Black's for a seat and a conversation, and Merlin's if you've finished your day on Blackcomb. herethereandgone.com/whistle… #Whistler #ExploreBC

My favourite restaurant in Whistler was High Mountain Brewing Co. Properly done steaks, great ribs, craft beer on tap, and a mini train running around the ceiling. herethereandgone.com/whistle… #Whistler

You don't need a rental car for Whistler. Skylynx runs to the village from downtown Vancouver and YVR, and the village shuttles are free. herethereandgone.com/budget-… #Whistler #ExploreBC

The Fire & Ice show at the base of Whistler Mountain is free on Sunday nights in winter. There isn't really a bad spot to watch it from, so there's no need to get there early. herethereandgone.com/budget-… #Whistler

Save money in Whistler by riding down to the village for lunch. A slice costs a fraction of what you'd pay in the mountain lodges, and the gondola back up is quieter by midday. herethereandgone.com/budget-… #Whistler #ExploreBC