7 Incredible Places to Check Out for a Last-Minute Luxury Ski Holiday

luxury ski holiday
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Looking for a last-minute ski holiday? Or maybe you’re after a bit of winter wanderlust. We’ve rounded up some incredible places to check out for a luxury ski holiday, either this year or next

HOTEL KRISTIANIA, LECH

luxury ski holidayHotel Kristiania is Lech’s hidden gem, and while it looks like a traditional Austrian ski chalet from the outside, the interior reveals a spectacular contemporary art collection to rival any world-class museum. Owned and run by the Schneider family since 1968, the Kristiania is a true home-from-home, with authentic Austrian hospitality at its heart. The Kristiania has 29 guestrooms and suites, all decorated with individual artistic elements and with incredible views of Lech and the surrounding mountains. If that’s not enough, guests staying at the Kristiania are spoilt with a selection of quirky butler services – including a ski butler, a bath butler and even a reading butler who will source guests’ favourite reading materials and books ahead of their arrival. One of the most beautiful all-round alpine winter resorts in the Alps and the birthplace of modern skiing, Lech is located in the Arlberg region of Austria –  the Flexenbahn. A new state of the art gondola lift now connects the ski resorts of Lech, St Anton and Stuben for the first time, creating one of the world’s largest ski areas with over 305km of ski slopes served by 87 lifts.

Rates start from €400 per room per night on a B&B basis, including a bottle of champagne on arrival, complimentary mini-bar, and snow shuttle van; kristiania.at

SUVRETTA HOUSE, ST. MORITZ

luxury ski holiday

Emerging from the trees of the Upper Engadine Mountains as if from the pages of a fairy tale, St. Moritz remains a draw for elite travellers thanks to its romantic beauty, the vast ski area and its reputation as a glamorous Alpine getaway. Having opened its doors 100 years ago, Suvretta Houseone is one of Switzerland’s most iconic heritage hotels. Built by Swiss hotelier Anton Bon, the ski-in-ski-out hotel was originally designed to provide a tranquil and exclusive retreat set away from the nearby buzz of St. Moritz, the birthplace of winter tourism in the mid 19th century. Still owned by the fourth generation of founder Anton Bon’s family, the 181-room hotel has its own private ski lift giving exceptionally easy access to the Engadine Valley’s 217 miles of piste, 136 miles of cross-country ski trails and 93 miles of winter walking paths.

Winter rates at Suvretta House start from CHF 510 (currently approx. £396) per night in a Mountain Double Room on a half-board basis; suvrettahouse.ch  

L’APOGÉE, COURCHEVEL

luxury ski holiday

Part of the prestigious Oetker Collection, L’Apogée Courchevel is located in the heart of Courchevel’s exclusive Jardin Alpin, at the top of the former Olympic ski jump. The ski-in-ski-out, 55-bedroom hotel is one of Europe’s most stylish and romantic alpine retreats, a collaboration between acclaimed designers India Madhavi and Joseph Durand. Entry level rooms at the hotel are the most spacious in all of Courchevel, and each of the luxurious suites is designed as a mini-chalet, offering spectacular views from the underfloor heated balcony. This snowy retreat offers an extraordinary leisure experience for everyone both on and off the slopes, and even has a 40-metre private conveyor belt to transport guests smoothly off the slopes directly into the hotel’s perfumed, uber-chic ski room. L’Apogée Courchevel is also home to a spectacular restaurant and two bars by renowned Chef Franck Ferigutti, a Fromagerie, ham aging cellar and world-class sushi restaurant Koori.

Rates at L’Apogee in a Deluxe Room start from €1,050 (currently approx. £928) per night on a half board basis, including Courchevel altiport pick-up; oetkercollection.com

SCARP RIDGE LODGE, CRESTED BUTTE, COLORADO

luxury ski holiday

Eleven Experience’s flagship property Scarp Ridge Lodge offers thrill-seeking travellers the chance to combine staying in an authentic mountain town setting with some of the world’s most exclusive adventurous winter activities led by expert guides. Located in the heart of Crested Butte, dubbed Colorado’s last great ski town for its historic charm and soulful spirit, Scarp Ridge Lodge feels like a European ski chalet with Rocky Mountain style. Each morning one of Eleven’s private custom-designed snowcats will be waiting at the front door to whisk guests to 1,000+ acres of exclusive ski terrain in nearby Irwin and private use of two mountain cabins. The area receives an average of 450 inches of snow per year and its cold-smoke powder is legendary. Guests can also explore the alpine terrain on a backcountry skiing adventure or learn a new skill and ice climb the surrounding peaks on an intensive course. Two on-mountain cabins, outfitted with fireplaces, dining areas and seating spaces provide guests with a comfy place to warm up, recharge, and kick off après. Back at the lodge, a steamy rooftop hot tub is the perfect setting to relive the day’s highlights.

Scarp Ridge Lodge is a luxurious private home from home in downtown Crested Butte, with personal chef and a private concierge, that sleeps up to 20 guests from £12,142 per night including all gear for activities, one day of professional photography, use of the lodge’s on-mountain chalets, breakfast, lunch and après, mini bar, house wine, beer and spirits and airport transfers; elevenexperience.com

SNOWSHOES & SNOWFLAKES, CHAMONIX

luxury ski holiday

Terminal Neige Refuge du Montenvers, from the Maison & Hotels Sibuet, is the second hotel to open under the ‘Terminal Neige’ brand in a series of more accessible, design-led alpine hotels that focus on the needs of the modern-day adventurer and skier. Situated above Chamonix, at the edge of the Mer de Glace, Terminal Neige Refuge offers breath-taking panoramic views across the valley towards Mont Blanc. The hotel is not accessible by car so visitors arrive from Chamonix onboard the mythical little red Montenvers train, which winds through the forest in between peaks before reaching the icy giant. This season, guests can discover this legendary site with a special “Snowshoes & Snowflakes” package which includes a two-night stay on a half-board basis, a guided snowshoeing excursion, ice climbing initiation and glacier hike.

Rates for the 2-night Snowshoes & Snowflakes package at Terminal Neige Refuge start from €850 (approx. £765) per double room on a half board basis and €575 (approx. £517) per person for a stay in a dormitory room (sleeping up to ten people). The price includes breakfast and dinner, a guided glacier hike, snowshoe excursion and ice climbing initiation and all equipment needed for the activities; refuge.terminal-neige.com

TERMINAL NEIGE: LE TOTEM, GRAND MASSIF

luxury ski holiday

Terminal Neige Totem was the first hotel to open in a series of more accessible, design-led alpine hotels that focus on the needs of the modern day skier, under a new brand called Terminal Neige.  This dynamic hotel is ideal for skiers looking for stylish surroundings, an informal atmosphere and friendly staff with technical expertise. The Totem building embodies the architectural style in which the resort was built in the 1960s, with style driven by Marcel Breuer and two other architects. Located in the centre of the Flaine Forum with ski-in-ski-out access, the hotel features a buzzing bar and restaurant, in-house ski shop and signature Pure Altitude Spa. Terminal Neige –Totem celebrates Flaine’s history as an artistic hub for some of the most famous names associated with the avant-garde movement. The hotel is named after Picasso’s iconic Totem sculpture, which is outside the entrance. The hotel benefits from a high vantage point allowing guests to enjoy incredible panoramic views over the Grand Massif ski area from its full-length windows. Perched between 1600m and 1800m altitude, Flaine is only an hour and a half’s drive from Geneva and enjoys some of the best views of Mont Blanc and exceptional early/late season snow. Flaine is located at the summit of the Grand Massif ski area and connects to four other ski resorts. There are over 70 lifts, 148 runs and 13 fun spaces, making it one of the most impressive ski areas in the world.

Double rooms at Terminal Neige: Le Totem are available on a B&B basis from €190 per night, based on two people sharing; totem.terminal-neige.com

CHALET HIBOU, TARENTAISE VALLEY

luxury ski holiday

 

Adventure travel specialist Eleven Experience has launched a new luxury chalet for the 2018/19 winter season. Chalet Hibou (meaning owl in French) is a stylish and spacious chalet located on the French and Italian border, in the stunning Tarentaise Valley. Spread over 6,135 square feet, the chalet sleeps up to 12 guests in six en-suite bedrooms. With interiors in-keeping with its alpine surroundings, the chalet has a steam room, sauna, hot tub and expansive outdoor patios with panoramic views across the valley. On its doorstep, is a vast winter playground to explore, and guests can try their hand at on and off-piste skiing, Nordic skiing, ice climbing, dog sledding, snowshoeing and exhilarating heli-skiing across the French / Italian border.  Spoilt for choice, guests will have access to a huge variety of ski terrain, with Sainte Foy, Val d’Isere, Tignes, Les Arcs and La Rosière all within an easy 30-minute drive of the chalet.

Rates at Chalet Hibou start from £7,100 per night based on 12 people sharing on a full experience basis. Price includes private concierge, full guide service, use of L’Alpage, all gear for activities, lift passes, in-house meals, all house alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, daily housekeeping and airport transfers to/from Geneva; elevenexperience.com

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