I love to ski late in the season. The weather is never too cold (even up on the glaciers), the sun is often shining, the hotel rates, even at the best luxury hotels, drop massively, so you can pick up a bargain.
The snow has been fabulous this year, and if you pick a high-altitude resort, there are still plenty of snowy slopes to slide down. Here is our pick of where you should go and where you should stay!
Whistler, Canada
One of the most snow-sure resorts in North America is Whistler, with 3,300 skiable hectares to explore. Whistler’s village is only 675m in altitude, so when the snow is falling on the slopes, it can turn to rain in the resort. The top lifts here reach 2,285m, and the two mountains of Whistler and Blackcomb have gondola access at their bases and are linked by a further gondola at mid-mountain.
Stay at the Four Seasons Whistler, which offers everything you would expect from a Four Seasons, including a fun outdoor pool and hot tub area which you can swim in while it snows. Our Luxury Travel Concierge offers upgrades, discounts and free breakfasts at all Four Seasons hotels.
Lech, Austria
Lech is pretty as a picture, and with an altitude of 1,444m, even in April, the slopes are snowy right down to the resort, so you can ski right from the top of the mountain into the resort.
Stay at the hotel Aurelio in Lech. This Aman-style ski hotel in the Alps offers everything you could possibly want from a ski hotel. Every room faces into the valley and across the slopes, and each balcony is bathed in sunshine throughout the day. A million little touches make this place special such as chocolates and hankie packs in your ski locker, high-end lotions at your bedside to fight the mountain dryness, breakfast anytime you like, and the swish pool area also hosts fruit, water, teas, and nuts, just to keep you going between the bowls of delicious Swiss chocolates dotted around this magnificent chalet.
I don’t mean to be controversial but, for me, this hotel beats the Aman AND the Four Seasons in the Alps and takes the number one spot as my favorite ski hotel in Europe (although it does not come cheap!). Book a stay here through our Luxury Travel Concierge for extra free benefits.
Stubai Glacier, Austria
The Stubai Glacier in Austria. With snow guaranteed until June and offering Austria’s largest glacier ski resort, Stubai sits at an astonishing 1,750 m to 3,210 m. The only downside to this Glacier is that there isn’t a good luxury ski hotel at the base of the Gondola, which means you will need to take a minibus ride to get to and from the base.
That said, we wholeheartedly recommend the very special Jagdhof hotel, which is 20 minutes complimentary shuttle from the Glacier and usefully also only 25 minutes from the airport at Innsbruck. This makes the Jagdhof a brilliant place to come for a weekend of skiing, and we are massive fans of this very special family hotel.
Book through our Luxury Travel Concierge to receive an upgrade on arrival, early check-in / late check-out (both subject to availability), complimentary A la carte Breakfast for two daily, $100 USD equivalent Resort or Hotel credit, and a complimentary welcome gift.
Sölden, Austria
The town of Sölden is not massively pretty, although it does sit in a picture-perfect valley with mountain streams and pretty fields which look like they are straight out of “Heidi”. At 1368m of altitude, this snowsure resort is a great choice. The Rettenbach Glacier and Tiefenbach Glacier features perfectly groomed slopes surrounded by the stunning Alpine scenery and reaching up to an incredible 3340 meters above sea level. The season here begins as early as September and extends all the way through until May.
The only place to stay in Solden is the gorgeous 5 star Das Central hotel which sits up a side street from the main drag and is a large and beautifully refurbished luxury hotel. Our tip is to request one of their refurbished rooms which face the front of the hotel. These rooms are south facing and offer sunshine which streams in through the floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the day. The decor is modern pine with swish bathrooms and superbly comfortable beds. This hotel encourages families and rewards little ones with fun touches like a furry bedtime chicken at turndown.
The hotel also has a great pool area with lots of bubble features, and best of all, there is a gondola shuttle that takes guests directly to and from the bottom of the main gondolas every 5 minutes or so, which means no waiting around. Our tip here is to pay a small supplement and take your evening meals at the amazing Ötztaler Stube, which offers some of the best food in the Alps. Das Central is a surprisingly affordable 5-star ski hotel (book outside the main season for excellent rates) and is definitely a Luxury Travel Diary favorite. Book a stay here through our Luxury Travel Concierge for extra free benefits.
Aspen, USA
Due to the altitude of Aspen’s slopes being up to 3,417m, mountain conditions remain good for Aspen/Snowmass into April. Take advantage of the empty slopes as the season comes to an end.
The Little Nell on East Durant Avenue is probably the best luxury hotel in Aspen. It has three bars, two restaurants, and a heated outdoor pool and hot tub. It also offers complimentary shuttle services to and from the airport, around town, and to all four ski areas. Book a stay here through our Luxury Travel Concierge for extra free benefits.
Zermatt, Switzerland
Zermatt is one of the top ski destinations in Switzerland and offers Europe’s largest glacier ski area at 3,899m high and is open 365 days a year. This fabulous Swiss resort has invested in a summer snowmaking system that can create snow within an internal chamber at positive temperatures, which makes it absolutely snow-sure even if there isn’t enough natural snow on the glacier in summer.
You are spoilt for choice for luxury hotels in Zermatt. Our favorite is Mont Cervin Palace which is part of the “Leading Hotels of the World”. On arrival at the train station, you will be picked up by a horse-driven carriage (most other hotels send a taxi). Mont Cervin Palace also has an extensive wellness center, including an indoor pool as well as a heated outdoor pool where you can relax with views of the Matterhorn. Book a stay here through our Luxury Travel Concierge for extra free benefits.
Val d’Isere, France
Val d’Isere offers peaks that reach up to a height of 1,850, guaranteeing end-of-season snow. The Espace Killy ski area does, in fact, remain open until early May. Val d’Isere also benefits from north-facing slopes, so the snow does not melt like crazy during the day.
Les Barmes de l’Ours is the best luxury hotel in Val d’Isere. This five-star hotel sits at the foot of a spectacular black run and has a Michelin star in its main restaurant. It also has a great spa and stylish rooms with Scandinavian and North American lodge-style contemporary decor. Book a stay here through our Luxury Travel Concierge for extra free benefits.
Tignes, France
Also, in the Espace Killy ski area, which remains open until early May, Tignes offers high-altitude skiing on its Grande Motte glacier (3,400m). The glacier means that you can ski nine months of the year.
Your best bet for a luxury stay in Tignes is Village Montana, a five-star complex of Savoyard-style serviced suites and hotel rooms in Le Lac. Book a stay here through our Luxury Travel Concierge for extra free benefits.
Val Thorens, France
This is Europe’s highest major resort, with slopes that reach up to 3,200m. Offering snowsure slopes right through to May, it is part of the 600-kilometer Three Valleys ski area.
Koh-i Nor is the highest five-star hotel in the Alps and is situated at the top end of the town, with beautiful views over the resort. It offers luxury apartments, hotel rooms, a spa, restaurants, a lounge bar, and an equipment hire shop, all on-site. The look is modern, natural alpine. Book a stay here through our Luxury Travel Concierge for extra free benefits.
St. Anton, Austria
We find this resort town a bit of a ski factory, so if you have the budget, stay instead at the Aurelio in Lech, which is a 20 minute drive away and much prettier. However, if budgets won’t stretch to Lech, St. Anton has slopes that range from 1,304-2,450m and an excellent snow record. It offers skiing from late November through to early May with many north-facing slopes.
Stay at the Tannenhof Hotel in the center of town. This seven-suite luxury retreat offers a spa with a large indoor pool overlooking the mountains, and superb cuisine served in your suite on your terrace. Book a stay here through our Luxury Travel Concierge for extra free benefits.
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