If you found one of our places on Airbnb or Vrbo, you can almost always book the exact same condo directly with us. Same unit, same hot tub, same view of the run, same people cleaning it and answering your texts. The difference is who sits in the middle, and what that middle costs you.
I run True North Property Management here in Whistler. We have hosted over 6,000 stays, and our guests who book direct tend to get the better deal and the smoother trip. Here is why.
What you actually pay for on the big booking sites
Airbnb and Vrbo are great for discovering a place. They are also businesses, and they charge a service fee on every booking.
According to Airbnb's own help centre, when the fee is split, guests pay a service fee of 14.1% to 16.5% of the booking subtotal. Under the single fee structure, which Airbnb says is mandatory for most professional hosts and anyone using property management software, the host pays the whole fee, most often 15.5%. (Airbnb: service fees)
Either way, someone is paying it, and that cost ends up in the price you see. When you book with us directly, there is no platform taking a cut, so we can offer you a better rate on the same nights.
The same place, with the people who run it
When you book direct, you deal with us from the first question to checkout. No messaging through an app, no waiting for a platform to pass something along.
Ask anything before you book. Is the hot tub private or shared? How far is the walk to the gondola in ski boots? Will two families fit? We know these units because we look after them every week.
Local help during your stay. We live here. If something needs fixing, it gets handled by people a few minutes away.
Real local tips. Where to eat when every restaurant in the village is slammed on a powder Saturday, or which morning to get up early. That comes with the stay.
Exclusive codes for our email list
This is the easy one. On our Book Direct page you can join our email list, and subscribers get our direct booking discount codes first. We send them when we have dates to fill, often for the quieter weeks that ski the best, so they are not something you will see on Airbnb.
If you are even thinking about a Whistler trip this season, sign up. It costs nothing and it is the best way to hear about open dates before anyone else.
Where you can stay
We manage condos and townhomes across Whistler, from ski in, ski out spots on Blackcomb to village condos steps from the restaurants and Nicklaus North places for the golfers. You will find our places in buildings like Glacier's Reach, The Aspens, Painted Cliff, Woodrun, Lake Placid Lodge in Creekside, Marketplace Lodge and Town Plaza.
Some have private hot tubs, some share a pool and hot tub, and a few have air conditioning for the summer crowd. You can browse every one of them, with real availability, on our direct booking site.
How to book direct with True North
Go to our Book Direct page and join the email list so you have any current codes.
Browse all our listings and pick your dates.
Enter a code at checkout if you have one, then book.
Got a question first? Call or email us. The details are at the bottom of every page on our site.
That is it. A couple of extra minutes, and you are booked with the people who will actually hand you the keys.
When the big sites still make sense
I will be honest: if you are hunting for a place and have no idea where to start, the big sites are handy for searching. Lots of our guests found us there the first time. The trick is what you do next. Once you have found a place you like, check whether the host has a direct booking site. With us, you can always book direct.
Frequently asked questions
Is booking direct cheaper than Airbnb in Whistler?
Usually, yes. Airbnb charges a service fee on every booking, and when you book with us directly there is no platform fee in the middle, so we can offer a better rate on the same unit and dates. Subscriber codes from our email list can bring it down further.
Is it the same unit as the one on Airbnb or Vrbo?
Yes. It is the exact same condo or townhome, managed and cleaned by the same True North team. Only the booking route changes.
How do I get a True North discount code?
Join the email list on our Book Direct page. Subscribers get our direct booking codes first, usually for specific dates or minimum stays.
Who do I contact during my stay?
You contact us. We are a local Whistler team, so questions, check-in help and anything that needs fixing go straight to the people who manage your unit.
Where can I see all of True North's Whistler rentals?
Every place we manage is on our direct booking site, with live availability.
Plan your Whistler trip
Opening day is coming fast. If you are planning early season, read what to know before the lifts spin. If you are thinking later in the winter, our February ski trip guide covers snow, crowds and long weekends.
Then book direct, grab a code, and we will see you on the hill.