How to find a room at the Winter Olympics

If you're still dreaming of going to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C., here's how to find a place to stay, even at this relatively late date.

Accommodations: Major downtown Vancouver hotels are booked solid during the Feb. 12-28 Games, as are those near the suburban Richmond Olympic Oval (for speedskating) and in Whistler, where alpine and cross-country skiing and other events will be held.

Yet, there are vacancies in smaller Vancouver hotels, including some downtown, even on the opening weekend of the Games. But rates start at around $600 a night and have minimum stays.

You can search by date and location on the official Olympics accommodations site, www.2010destinationplanner.com. Keep checking as room inventory changes frequently, and prices/minimum stays may lessen as the Games draw closer. Finding rooms in Whistler will be difficult, however, since tens of thousands of athletes, officials and fans will flood the ski resort.

The Web site also has links to other accommodation options in Vancouver, including B&Bs; rooms on a cruise ship that will be docked in the harbor during the Games; and beachfront sites in a city park for RV camping.

The official provider of Olympics ticket/hotel packages for Americans is CoSport, www.cosport.com. Packages are still available, but prices can be sky-high; a three-night package at a downtown Vancouver Hampton Inn, which includes tickets to the Opening Ceremony, is $4,416 per person, based on double occupancy. CoSport will sell tickets/accommodations until Jan. 15.

Kristin Jackson: kjackson@seattletimes.com