THERE ARE NO two ways about it: ski holidays can cost a pretty penny. So with that in mind, why not just go all-out and splurge the entire budget on a luxurious lodging rather than the chilly chalet you stayed in last year? There's nothing better than living it large when you're in the mountains, after all.
Not convinced? You will be once you've browsed this illustrious list of banging boltholes in some of the most amazing ski areas around the world. From Robert Redford-approved places to stay in the snowy mountains of Utah to ski-in/ski-out beauties in the European Alps, we've got you a little bit more than covered. Just remember to keep your credit card with your lift pass.
So, without further ado, here are a few of the shining lights in the big-mountain, big-money ski hotel game this year. They might not be all about the après, and they might break your bank balance for the forseeable future, but quite frankly, with mountain-view indoor pools, Michelin-starred menus and interiors with cleaner lines than the ones you'll be making in the fresh morning powder, we don't really care.
WIESERGUT, HINTERGLEMM, AUSTRIA
Step one: get hold of a 14th-century family estate that’s a two-minute walk from the ski-lifts of Saalbach-Hinterglemm. Step two: slap on floor-to-ceiling windows with gobsmacking mountain views. Step three: get all your designer friends to deck out the interiors with a homespun, contemporary edge. Bam, now you’ve got Wiesergut, a modern retreat with all the warmth and comfort you’d want in the sub-zero temperatures of the Austrian Alps in winter.
Stay: From £398pn. designhotels.com
Getting there: easyJet offers return flights from London Heathrow to Saalbach from £54. easyjet.com
FAIRMONT BANFF SPRINGS, ALBERTA, CANADA
With acres of amazing mountains, plus ice climbing and more on offer, Banff is a must-visit if you’re sick and tired of the alps. And there’s nowhere more sumptuous to stay while you’re there than Fairmont Banff Springs – a gorgeous castle in the Rockies that’s been keeping the winter set happy for more than 125 years. Sounds like they must be doing something right.
Stay: Seven nights from £1199pp. ski-i.com
Getting there: WestJet offers return flights from Gatwick to Calgary from around £400. westjet.com
GRAND HOTEL KRONENHOF, PONTRESINA, SWITZERLAND
When you’ve been welcoming guests since 1848, it’s safe to say you’ve probably got things nailed. Kronenhof – just six miles outside of St Moritz in some of the most epic Swiss scenery – is a testament to this. You’ll probably enjoy it best while chilling in the panorama-view pool, or chowing down in the stately Grand Restaurant. The choice is yours.
Stay: From £429pn. kronenhof.com
Getting there: SWISS offers return flights to Zurich from £108. swiss.com
SUNDANCE MOUNTAIN RESORT, UTAH, USA
Rustic modern lodgings, complimentary yoga and serious ski pedigree: Yep, Sundance might be most famous for being home to Robert Redford’s annual film festival that goes by the same name, but come winter, it’s packed with nordic-style backcountry trails, a high-flying zipline and the chance to ski at night under lights. Basically, you can count us in.
Stay: From £165pn. sundanceresort.com
Getting there: KLM offers return flights from London to Salt Lake City from £531. klm.com
M DE MEGÈVE, MEGÈVE, FRANCE
Wood-clad interiors and modern fittings give this trendy Savoyard hotel in the cutesy alpine town of Megève a luxurious yet rustic feel. Channel some serious 1920s opulence by arriving in a horsedrawn carriage through the snow, then trade old-school for new with the hotel’s world-class alpine tapas menu and modern spa, because that’s just how it is here.
Stay: From £540pn. mdemegeve.com
Getting there: Jet2.com offers flights from London to Geneva from £50 return. jet2.com
