Whistler Staff Accommodation & Seasonal Renting

1. Staff Housing

All Whistler Blackcomb employees are eligible for staff housing. However, availability is on a first come, first serve basis (in relation to your job offer). After accepting an offer with the mountain, you will be contacted with regards to housing. If you are wanting to arrive with a partner or friend, apply at the same time and once your housing email comes through, you can request to be together. This is not possible if you apply too far apart as housing is offered based on priority.

Housing is no longer guaranteed for first-year staff, and to accommodate more people, the number of occupants per unit has increased. Rooms that were previously singles at Glacier are now doubles, with most rooms featuring bunk beds.

Staff accomodation is a very attractive option, given that rents in Whistler have increased significantly since AirBnb started to take hold. This is partly why there have been changes to the staff housing arrangements.

Glacier Park is located on Blackcomb Mountain near Base II. To get there you can take the Gondola up, however this closes when the lifts stop operating each day. This means a short walk up the hill after each night out. There are 5 buildings with each apartment holding 3 – 4 people. There are also a limited number of single rooms. Glacier Park is the biggest staff housing.

Brio is located just on the outskirts of the Whistler village, a 5 minute walk into town via the Valley Trail. There are one and two bedroom rooms which hold 2 and 4 people respectively.

Westside is the newest staff housing. It is located a few kilometres south of Whistler Creekside, which is a 10 minute drive from Whistler Village. This is the most spacious of the staff housing. Creekside is much quieter than Whistler Village, and has a grocery store, various retail and rental stores, restaurants and 2 pubs. All units are shared, holding 2 or 4 people.

Staff housing starts at around $12 per night for a shared bedroom. Single bedrooms start from around $19 per night. The atmosphere in staff housing is very fun. Staff housing is a big dorm and there are parties and other social events going on all the time.

2. Renting a Place for a Season

If you are not eligible for staff housing, or you wish not to live in staff housing, there are a number of ways to look for a place. There are hundreds of people who look for a place each season, so get in early – September or October. October is the best time to find a place as most people have not yet arrived for winter but many have left after the summer season.

Unfortunately, rents have really risen in Whistler due to many more landlords now renting out on AirBnb.

Alternatively, you could come and work for the summer season first (June – September) when housing is a lot cheaper and secure a 1 year lease through the winter.

Bear in mind that some employers in town are reluctant to take staff who have not yet found a place, given the possibility that the employee might not find anywhere cheap enough to live and have to leave.

For winter, expect to pay $800-1,100 each per month for a shared bedroom. Most rooms are offered to couples and can range from $1,500 – $2,200 per month for winter. The best option to secure housing is to arrive in the summer.

Options to look for a place in Whistler include: Pique News (the local paper which comes out every Thursday); the Whistler Question; and Craigslist. Almost all available rental properties will be up on one of these places. You can also have a look at the notice boards in Gone Bakery, the Alpine Cafe, the Springs Building, the Core Gym and Meadow Park Gym.