Locals might know this already, but now it's official—at least according to Tripadvisor.
Whistler was named the best place to ski in the world as part of the travel site's 2023 Travelers' Choice awards, announced on Jan. 18. Tripadvisor users ranked Whistler above destinations like Jackson, Wyo. (second); Zermatt, Switzerland (the 2022 winner ranked third this year); Chamonix, France (fourth) and Livigno, Italy, which rounded out the top five. Whistler was also the only Canadian resort named to this year's top-20 list.
"The stunning landscape, pedestrian-only village and genuine, down-to-earth mountain culture make Whistler an unforgettable year-round destination," Tripadvisor explained on its rankings list. "Winters provide reliable snow for skiing, snowboarding and Nordic sports while golf, mountain biking and hiking fill the warmer months. Festivals, spas, restaurants and bars combine with endless outdoor activities to make Whistler the ultimate place to escape and unwind."
Whistler Blackcomb is still the largest ski area on the continent, with more than 200 runs and 35 lifts spread out over a total of 8,171 skiable acres.
A couple more Canadian resorts appeared on Tripadvisor's top-15 Best Places to Ski in North America list, though some British Columbian powderhounds might disagree with travelers' decision to rank Mont Tremblant, Que. 13th, two spots ahead of Revelstoke, which rounded out the list.
Outside of the ski industry, Tripadvisor also names Travelers' Choice winners in five other subcategories: Popular Destinations, Trending Destinations, Food Destinations, Nature Destinations and Best Places for Culture. As far as the overall favourite from the past year, Dubai held onto its spot as the No. 1 most popular destination for the second consecutive year.
The Travelers' Choice Best of the Best Destinations Awards are determined by "the quality and quantity of ratings and reviews," left on the travel guidance site for accommodations, restaurants, and things to do in destinations around the globe over the 12 months spanning Nov. 21, 2021 and Oct. 31, 2022.
The full rankings can be found here.
In 2022, Whistler Blackcomb also appeared at the top of the list of "best ski resorts in North America" in Condé Nast Traveller's Readers' Choice Awards, earning a score of 88.37/100. That said, the resort was ranked slightly lower in Ski Magazine's 2022 Resort Guide, finishing in fourth place in the "Best of the West" category behind Aspen Snowmass, Colo.; Deer Valley Resort, Utah; and Sun Valley Resort, Idaho.
