Regardless of your financial status, if you’re spending time in the mountains with the people you love you’re living a very rich life. The lap of luxury is definitely softer when it’s covered in fresh powder and the mountains create feelings and bonds that can truly transcend finances. There really are some things money can’t buy.

But there are lots of things that it can. And Whistler is not afraid of embracing the luxurious side of life, even on the ski hills. Check The Insider’s Guide to On-Mountain Luxury:

Lift Line Priority

While it does provide a good look at mountain culture, the idea of waiting in line is not all that luxurious. Thankfully, if you book a private lesson with the Snow School you not only get one-on-one instruction and guiding from a local pro, you also get to mosey past the masses via the ski school priority lift line.

A note of caution: on big pow days when everyone in town lines up to wait for Peak or Harmony to crack, even private lessons have to give the masses a ten minute head start before utilizing the priority line.

A ski instructor teaches a group on Whistler Blackcomb.
Take a ski lesson and skip the lines! PHOTO: Whistler Blackcomb/Andrew Strain

Ski with an Olympian

There are some things money can’t buy and an Olympic gold medal is one of them. But sign up for a ski day with one of Whistler’s local Olympians, and you might get to at least hold one. This incredible program gives you on-mountain time with some of the best skiers and snowboarders on the planet unleashed in their home terrain. And if you want to really get exclusive and capture that all-time unbeatable selfie for your Instagram feed: Heli-ski with an Olympian.

Coat/Helmet Check at Christine’s

Christine’s is your spot for signature dining on Blackcomb Mountain. This is the spot for true mountain-top, full-service dining with panoramic views, linen tablecloths, napkins, dedicated bartenders whipping up fancy drinks and even a coat and helmet check so you can move freely about the room without worrying about your gear.

Over on Whistler Mountain, Steeps Grill & Wine Bar offers another luxurious dining option in the Roundhouse. This venue often hosts winemaker lunches, so be sure to check their calendar for their next event.

And regardless of what mountain you are on, Caesars taste better at altitude.

A family enjoys fine dining luxury at Christine's restaurant in Whistler.
Fine dining on top of a mountain? Yes please. PHOTO: Destination BC/Rick Collins

Stick to cocktails for après, a top restaurant for dinner and a luxury hotel to end your ski day on a high note. Get 5-star advice on all of these at Whistler.com

Author

Feet Banks moved to Whistler at age 12 so his parents could live the dream and ski as much as possible. He ended up living it too. After leaving home Feet did a few good stints in warmer climates and 4 years of writing school before returning to the mountains to make ski movies, hammer out a journalism career and avoid the 9-5 lifestyle as long as possible. He’s been a hay farmer, a hole digger, a magazine editor and has a jump named after him on Blackcomb Mountain, Feet’s Air. It’s tiny.