Hotel: Fairmont Chateau Whistler

Address: 4599 Chateau Boulevard, Whistler, British Columbia V0N 1B4

Website: www.fairmont.com

TraveLife Ranking: 4+ Stars

Rooms: 550 rooms plus 56 suites

Room Rates: $200+

Awards: Rated among the top 100 hotels in the world and voted Conde Nast Traveler magazine’s No. 1 ski resort in North America.

Highlights: It sits in the green-carpeted valley like a tiara sits on emerald-colored velvet. At night, in the pitch black of the British Columbia wilderness, the hotel’s lights sparkle like a million diamonds. Its rooftop peaks look like the points of a crown and the mighty mountains of Whistler and Blackcomb stand guard over it. It’s little wonder Chateau Whistler is often called the crown jewel of Fairmont Hotel's Canadian properties. Whistler and Blackcomb mountains have made this town a skier’s heaven for decades and the addition of four championship golf courses in recent years now makes this spectacular area of Canada a four seasons resort.

History: The resort opened in 1989 and has been rated the top North American ski spot in most every year since. The skiing is so good in this part of Canada, Whistler was chosen to host the 2010 Winter Olympics along with Vancouver. The ground the hotel now sits on was once occupied by one of Canada’s native tribes.

Interior Highlights: The spacious open lobby with its huge fireplace and meeting space offers a warm welcome but most of the public spaces are a bit disappointing for a property of this quality.

In The Next Room: This being a winter and summer sports paradise, there’s usually lots of stars from the entertainment world registered at the Chateau.

The Rooms: Like most Fairmont properties, the Chateau offers its guests a Gold Floor, designed to meet the needs of business and luxury travelers. The 57 rooms on this floor are a little roomier and offer all the latest Internet gadgets for those who can't leave their office behind. The Chateau's regular rooms are also spacious and 50 per cent offer breathtaking views of the surrounding beauty.

Amenities: Chateau Whistler offers its guests an award-winning spa where they rub away your aches and pains in a 390-square metre state-of-the-art facility featuring 14 treatment rooms manned by top-notch massage therapists. There’s also a heated indoor-outdoor pool, lap pool and whirlpools, all of which offer spectacular views of Whistler's natural beauty.

Restaurants: Those wanting to spend an intimate night can dine in the elegance of the resort's premier restaurant, The Wildflower, which features a private wine room where diners can sample some of the best vintages from a selection of 2,500 bottles from around the world. There’s a bar and several other dining spots connected to the hotel.

Shopping: Whistler Village and its quaint shops and restaurants is just a short wilderness walk away.

Close By The best ski hills in North America, four championship golf courses designed by the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Trent Jones, fabulous wilderness parks teaming with water falls and wild life and Whistler Village where you can dance and drink the night away.

Tips: You can fly into Whistler from Vancouver by seaplane – a thrill in itself - but we recommend you drive along an awesome stretch of highway called the Sea to Sky – route 99. The winding, twisting road is boarded by jaw dropping scenery the likes of which you’ll be hard pressed to find anywhere else in the world. Try and plan your trip during times of the year when native Canadians hold their colorful traditional festivals, featuring wild game dishes, in the village.