Late-breaking deals for Winter Olympic Games

Last-minute lodging
When it comes to lodging for the Games, “there’s still room at the inn,” says Breton Murphy, spokesman for Tourism Whistler. Unfortunately, with many Whistler condos and Vancouver hotel rooms going for $400 per night and up, finding affordable accommodations may require Olympian reserves of stamina and perseverance. Here are a few places to look:

Destination 2010: The official destination planning site for the Games serves as a virtual clearinghouse for accommodations throughout the Vancouver-Whistler area. True, most hotels in downtown Vancouver and Whistler Village have been sold out for months, but there are spot rooms available, along with B&Bs, vacation rentals and even RV spots in a park overlooking English Bay.

However, with dozens of neighborhoods and more than 40,000 rooms among them, searching online can be a frustrating affair. To avoid the tedium of serial searching, pick up the phone — 877-826-1717 for Vancouver, 800-944-7853 for Whistler — and let a reservation agent do the digging.

Dockside lodging: Set to dock in North Vancouver on February 10, the Norwegian Star cruise ship recently lowered prices on two-night lodging packages. Book by January 29 and you can get an inside or outside cabin for US$429 per person per night, including fees, gratuities and taxes — a relative bargain when you consider the rate includes all meals, nightly entertainment and daily transfers to a nearby transit center.

Sleep well, do good: Like other “home-stay” sites, Home for the Games puts visitors in touch with local residents willing to rent a room, home or apartment. The twist? Hosts agree to donate 50 percent of the money received to charities for the homeless and abused youth. Currently, there are 176 properties listed with prices as low as a C$100 per night.

Finally, if you’re feeling adventurous, consider Vancouver’s El Dorado Hotel (604-434-1341), which is being converted into a hostel for the duration of the Games. Dorm-style rooms will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis (no reservations accepted) for just C$35 per night. “It’s not for everyone,” says Emily Armstrong of Tourism Vancouver,” but for $40 a night, including breakfast, it’s a really affordable option.”