Slopeside Comforts Abound at These Luxury Ski Resorts
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If you’d like to enjoy some of the best powder with a side of indulgent pampering, luxury ski resorts like Montage Hotels and Deer Valley, from all across the world, are sure to provide the unforgettable experience you’re looking for.
St. Moritz, Switzerland
The name St. Moritz frequently tops lists of the most luxurious ski resorts in the world. It draws Europe’s royal families and some of Hollywood’s biggest stars as regulars. More than 10,000 private jets land annually at its nearby airport, and Via Serlas, its main street, is lined with endless upscale boutiques, including Bulgari, Pucci and Chanel.
It’s also home to the most famous ski bar in Europe, the King’s Club, hosted by Badrutt’s Palace Hotel where the dress code reads “Dress to Impress,” attracting those who come to see and be seen. The historic property overlooks exceptional mountain vistas and a pristine lake, while treating guests like royalty, with a full staff prepared to cater to every whim.
Even pets are served only the freshest foods, as their owners rub elbows with the world’s elite while indulging in mud baths, a dip in the pool or gliding down the slopes that have twice hosted the Winter Olympics.
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is one of North America’s most popular destinations for extreme skiers, home to the legendary Corbet’s Couloir, an expert run that begins with a 30 foot drop. Surrounded by jaw-dropping vistas of the dramatic Grand Teton Mountains, it’s filled with a wide range of wildlife and luxurious hotels.
In the town of Jackson itself, there are practically an endless array of culinary delights and cultural attractions as well, making this the ideal location for a luxury ski trip.
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Heavenly Resort, Lake Tahoe
Aptly named due to its incredible scenery, Heavenly Mountain Resort is absolutely dazzling with its soaring mountains and deep blue sapphire lake. Straddling the Nevada and California border, it’s the largest ski resort in Lake Tahoe, with 4,800 acres of ski terrain and 34 miles of ski runs, including nearly 100 different runs.
Of course, this high end resort isn’t exactly known for its affordable lift tickets, but the views alone makes it worth paying more. It also offers some of the best tree skiing in all of California, especially in its backcountry terrain.
After a day out on the slopes, visitors have access to a wealth of entertainment, as well as an impressive array of luxurious hotels. The Landing Resort and Spa in particular boasts a prime waterfront location with many of its rooms providing stunning views of the lake.
Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia, Canada
Whistler Blackcomb is frequently ranked among the world’s very best ski resorts. The village is tucked between two massive pine-covered ski mountains that are linked by the longest and highest gondola on the planet. It’s filled with some of the country’s finest restaurants, bars and hotels, while offering scenery that’s absolutely to-die-for.
Luxury skiers have the option to book some of Canada’s top hotels, like the Four Seasons, The Fairmont and the Westin, which provide ski-in, ski-out rooms with views over the peaks. It’s even drawn the likes of British royals.
Whistler is considered to have the most exciting après-ski scene on the continent. With more than 100 restaurants, practically endless shopping opportunities, a cinema, an outdoor ice skating rink and a tube park, even non-skiers will love it. Scandinavian Hot Spa, one of Canada’s best day spas, is the perfect place to go when those muscles start to ache.
Beaver Creek Resort, Colorado
This luxury ski resort includes four mountains and 150 trails for skiers of all skill levels, drawing snow enthusiasts from across the globe. The Beaver Creek ski area has an upscale atmosphere that spans three villages, including Beaver Creek Village with its world-class restaurants, bars, art galleries, shops and boutiques connected by escalators and heated walkways.
Each day at 3:00 p.m. at the base of the Centennial Express Lift, freshly baked chocolate chip cookies are passed out for a tasty way to fuel your next run. This makes for a great vacation for a family ski trip!
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Aspen, Colorado
Of course Aspen is the most famous ski resort in the Rocky Mountain State, and it’s one of the world’s most famous too. During the holidays it attracts lots of celebrities and it serves as the home of The Little Nell, a ski-in, ski-out five-star ski hotel with a wine cellar that holds more than 50,000 bottles of the world’s rarest wines.
Aspen has four ski mountains to choose from, including Snowmass, which is so impressive it’s inspired many ski enthusiasts to exclaim that it’s one of the best mountains in the Rockies, an area filled with premier runs. It hosts the most vertical skiing of any other area in the entire nation, with 4,406 vertical feet, 3,332 acres of terrain, 94 trails and 21 chairlifts.
Altapura, France
Altapura is a five star luxury resort that radiates après-ski opulence with a heated indoor/outdoor pool along with a Scandinavian-style interior that’s accented with huge snowflake cutouts. At 7,545 feet, it’s Europe’s highest resort.
It comes complete with the world’s largest ski area, hosting over 370 miles of ski-in, ski-out trails and views of Les Trois Vallées’ six glaciers and rocky peaks. The heavenly, multi-sensory spa has a focus on pleasure and nature, blending the energies of five natural elements, including wood, fire, stone, plants and water, to enhance well-being.
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Lech Zürs, Austria
The slopes at this intimate, glamorous Austrian ski resort that includes twin villages, Lech and Zürs, are never crowded as many of its wealthy clientele spend more time chatting over coffee than out on their skis. Often called Europe’s most beautiful ski resort, it tends to draw the world’s beautiful people, with its five star luxury hotels, legendary snow and perfectly groomed slopes.
There’s an air of exclusivity at Lech Zürs, with lots of pampering and special touches, like heated seats on the chair lifts. The remote village of Zürs in particular is quite popular with celebrities who like to stay because of its low-key profile and discreet distance from the spotlight. If you’ve got the cash, stay in the Royal Suite of the Hotel Zuserchof, which comes with a personal butler.
