Jumping back in on this thread. I added my $0.02 before, so now you're might be getting a nickel's worth, or maybe a dime. I might be overlooking something, because I haven't plugged into Whistler that closely since we decided to direct rentals. But here goes.
Below summarizes the timeshare options I know of in Whistler, with some of my thoughts about each.
- Embarc. Used to be Club Intrawest. Now operated by HGVC and will be rebranded. Probably the upper end of timeshare accommodations, along with Raintree/Whiski Jack Westin.
Nice location in the Upper Village, just a couple of buildings away from the Blackcomb Gondola, which accesses on Blackcomb Mountain. More distant from the all of the activity of Whistler Village. That's good or bad, depending on your perspective.
Points program. All floating weeks.
- Mountainside Lodge. Part of Shell Vacation Club, or whatever Shell may have morphed into.
In Whisler Village, just a couple of buildings away from Whistler Gondola Plaza, which accesses both mountains. Close to, but not abutting Village Stroll, which the main activity corridor in Whistler Village, so ML is close to the activity, but not quite as noisy as properties that front on Village Stroll. Refer to discussion about Village Stroll in the Raintree/Whiski Jack discussion.
Points program. All floating weeks.
- Vacation Internationale. VI owns some units (studios and one-bedroom units, IIRC) in the Clocktower Lodge, on Village Stroll with only one building (Careleton Lodge) between Clocktower and the Whistler Gondola Plaza. This end of Village Stroll doesn't have nightclubs and lounges, but there is still some nighttime noise from street carousers.
VI is a Points program. All floating weeks.
Added detail/trivia: For a period of time, the resort manager for VI was a timeshare company called Sunterra, which was acquired by Diamond as Sunterra was in a death spiral. But, while Sunterra was resort manager, they were running an on-site sales program, in which VI owners would add their VI membership to Sunterra's timeshare club program. When VI booted out Sunterra, that inventory stayed with Sunterra, and became part of Diamond after Diamond acquired Sunterra. The amount of Diamond inventory at Clocktower isn't large, but one time I booked three nights in a Clocktower studio using my Diamond points.
- Worldmark/Wyndham Whistler. Two properties. One at Cascade Lodge in Whistler, about 1/4 mile schlep to Whistler Gondola Plaza. One at Sundance in Creekside Village. also about 1/4 mile to the Creekside Gondola.
Note that Creekside Gondola only services Whistler Mountain, so if you want to ski Blackcomb you either need to take bus to Whistler Village, or continue to the top of Whistler mountain and take the Peak-to-Peak gondola across mountains. Or, you can ski or gondola down to Whistler Village from Whistler mid-mountain and board the Blackcomb Gondola there.
I don't know much about these properties. My timeshare activity and interest at Whistler occurred before Wyndham/Worldmark had much presence there and before Creekside was redeveloped. Whiski Jack also owns some units in Cascade Lodge.
- Whiski Jack/Raintree. These are two separate systems, but they have to be talked about together because they were united for a long time, and are intertwined. This system gives the maximum flexibility for tailoring ownership options.
This is a mixture of both points and floating weeks. Anything that is Raintree is points-based floating. Properties that are not Raintree are fixed week, fixed unit in prime season; floating week in mud season.
Whiski Jack has inventory in many parts of Whistler, ranging from the Main Village, to the larger Whistler Villlage, and even in Blueberry Hill outside the Village. Most of the buildings are larger condo projects, in which Whiski Jack bought a certain number of condos for their program.
Whiski Jack operated as an independent entity for a number of years before Raintree bought the management company and took over resort operations. Most of the Whiski Jack properties were sold as fixed week, fixed unit during peak season (ski season and summer) and as floating week during mud seasons. I never investigated mud season to know if mud weeks float only for a specific property, or if the usage right includes other properties. That ownership structure is still generally intact for the original properties.
When Raintree came in, they had a sales program in which they were pitching existing WJ owners to move their ownership in Raintree's Vacation Club. In addition, any sales they did to new owners were as Raintree Club memberships. So Whiski Jack ownership includes a mix of stand-alone ownership and Raintree ownership. That program ended when the Whiski Jack owners associations terminated Raintree's management contract. I think the Whiski Jack name might have transferred to Raintree, so those original ownerships that didn't become part of Raintree Club might no longer carry the WJ moniker.
While Raintree was operating as the developer, inventory was being added to the system, and Raintree sold that inventory as Raintree Club membership. I believe the Whiski Jack at the Westin, right next to the Whistler Gondola plaza, was sold exclusively as Raintree membership.
The earliest Whiski Jack properties were located in the heart of Whistler Village, along Village Stroll. Those older units, such as Town Plaza and Fitzsimmons, have restaurants and nightclubs on the first floor, and can have a lot of street noise at night. The units however, are much more spacious than newer properties. And they are conveniently located if you enjoy the night activities.
But there are so many WJ properties that you can tailor something to your interests. How close to the Village do you want to be? Do you want ski-in or ski-out? (AFAIK, WJ has the only true ski-in/out timeshare properties in Whistler). Do you want fixed week, fixed unit or floating? Note that if you are looking to buy a WJ fixed usage, you may have to spend some time hunting to finally match up with an owner who is trying to sell. Also, most of these fixed units actually do have resale value.
This post came out longer than I intended. Probably more detail than you need or are interested in.
With all of that being said, I think the Powders Edge property is primo if you want to ski and can lock in on a fixed week. You literally walk out the door and you are at Whistler Gondola Plaza - pretty much ski-in, ski out. The units are spacious. Two bedroom units over two stories, with a bedroom loft. Eight people can easily occupy the space, without being cramped. The units have en suite sauna and en suite Jacuzzi/hot tub. Come off the mountain at the end of the day. Walk 100 feet to the door to the property, take off your gear and change when you reach the room, grab a beverage and soak in the Jacuzzi overlooking Gondola Plaza.
Needless to say, finding these units in ski season can be challenging, and may take time.
