Marquise Condos by Whistler Retreats

The apartment was lovely, but it was a bit farther out than ideal for my two older parents. The building and pool area were pretty dated.

Our room was well organized, with a spacious living room and a tidy kitchen packed with utensils and tools. It even had a freezer and dishwasher. The pool was easy to get to and well maintained. It wasn’t too deep, so small kids could play without a tube. The village was within easy walking distance. I’ll be back soon.

The apartment was clean and there were no issues with it, and the hotel location is handy for ski-in/ski-out. Still, Whistler is small enough that staying elsewhere and taking the bus isn’t a big deal. The service wasn’t very good. A few days before our trip, I tried to change the reservation because our plans had shifted. They showed no flexibility about cancelling or changing the dates while keeping the reservation, which is why I gave two stars.

We cut our trip short because of the construction around our unit. We’d booked three nights, stayed two, and got a refund for the third night plus about $70 extra after I asked for more. If we’d known about the work, we would have stayed somewhere else. I’d told the host they should warn guests ahead of time. We still felt we’d overpaid: more than $300 a night once fees and taxes were added, and not worth it even with the extra refund. The owners have expenses to cover, but this was a very disappointing stay. Lesson learned for next time: read the newest reviews and ask about construction before booking. We were in room 309. Our host Conor was helpful and responsive, the unit was nice, and the oversized shower was the best part of the bathroom. The location was great, the walk to and from the village was pleasant, and I found free street parking a short walk away instead of paying $25 for 24 hours underground. But the queen bed and pillows were uncomfortable. On the right side, the mattress sloped so much I felt like I might roll off. I tried the pull-out couch the second night, but that side sagged and its mattress was even worse. Together, the couch and mattress were about the size of a full or large twin, definitely not a queen. I don’t understand why people skimp on mattresses. A comfortable bed makes a big difference when you’ve been active all day. The construction is what really ruined the trip. After a day out, we came back to relax and a guy literally walked across our living room window. Scaffolding completely blocked the mountain view. On our second day, work went from 8am to 8pm. The apartment’s ventilation wasn’t great, so we slept with the windows open. Around 4am, the sprinkler system came on and the water hitting the scaffolding and metal pieces was incredibly loud, almost like someone shoveling gravel outside our window. It woke me both nights.