Monday newsletters always feature top 10 travel lists to inspire.
Today: Top 10 most luxurious ski hotels & lodges in the Alps
Winter is fast approaching, so it’s time to start planning your next ski getaway. And let’s hope that this season will be much better compared to the past winter seasons, which were marked by immense challenges as ski resorts around the world were grappling with the effects of climate change. The best place to spend a ski holiday remains the majestic Alps, which sprawl to almost one thousand miles (1600 km) stretching across five countries – Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland. The Alps offer some of the world’s best skiing, plus plenty of après-ski amenities, including Michelin-rated restaurants, over-the-top hotels and soothing spas to match. To help you plan your next winter holiday, I’ve compiled a list of my 10 favorite ski hotels, selected from across the Alps’ finest resorts & villages.
There is more information below the slide show. Think I missed one? Share your favorite European ski hotel in the comments section.
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10. POST LECH ARLBERG, AUSTRIA
The historic inn Gasthof „Post“ is located in the center of Lech, Austria’s world-renowned and most exclusive winter sports resort. The atmosphere of the “Post” is marked by the long family history of the place, its country house charm and local antiques as well as loving attention-to-detail in the décor, which create a welcoming ambience. Culinary delicacies await in the restaurants that have won several awards for their outstanding cuisine. Relaxation is complete at the Badehaus Spa and its spectacular panoramic pool, with stunning mountain vistas and treatment suites that are wonderfully located in the heart of a beautiful botanic garden. A member of the select circle of renowned “Relais & Châteaux” hotels for over 40 years, the hotel is the place where the Dutch and Norwegian royal families spend their ski holidays.
9. FOUR SEASONS HOTEL MEGEVE, FRANCE
Set directly on the slopes of Mont d’Arbois with a ski-in & ski-out access and overlooking the 17th hole of the Mont d’Arbois Golf course during summer, this modern retreat welcomes guests with warm French hospitality. Designed as a contemporary refined Alpine chalet, the intimate hotel offers 55 spacious accommodations featuring balconies or terraces with stunning views on the surrounding mountains landscape. Enjoy a delighful cocktail on Bar Edmond’s terrace or a tasting in the 14,000-bottle wine cellar, then head to La Dame de Pic – Le 1920 restaurant headed by Michelin starred Chef, Anne-Sophie Pic. Kaito, the resort’s first Japanese restaurant, offers Asian culinary classics blended with the flavors of local alpine produce. With the region’s largest spa and innovative kids’ programs, the 55-room hotel is ideal for families.
- Hotel website: Four Seasons Hotel Megeve
- Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD resort credit; during summer season, guests will also receive a complimentary round of golf for up to two people, per room, including greens fees and cart rental).
8. THE CHEDI ANDERMATT, SWITZERLAND
Surrounded by the spectacular beauty of the Swiss Alps, The Chedi Andermatt Resort nestles elegantly in the idyllic heart of Andermatt, a village of timeless charms in the Urseren Valley, about a two-hour train ride from Zurich. For GHM’s first European property, the Asian brand synonymous with style, service and serenity, chose renowned architect Jean-Michael Gathy to design the 123 spacious guest rooms and suites. Glossy alpine wood, leather sofas, more than 200 fireplaces, and numerous panoramic windows offer a warm and cozy spot to linger awhile. The extensive facilities include fine dining restaurants and cozy lounges, a ski-in living room with sports boutique, and a comprehensive spa and wellness featuring hydrothermal baths and a duo of swimming pools against the stunning outdoor Alpine landscape.
7. FORESTIS DOLOMITES, ITALY
Cool, calm and connected to its stunning setting, Forestis is a sublime ski-in/ski-out, adults-only resort in the Dolomites’ mountainscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the heart of the Italian Alps. Forests and snow-dusted peaks stretch out in every direction from the property, every part of which is in tune with the elements. Light streams in through the windows-for-walls, drawing the eye to the stunning views and illuminating the mellow, minimalist spaces. From the suites and ultra-luxe penthouses to the restaurant and spa, Forestis’ interiors echo the mountains: stone basins and white-as-snow tones, crisp fabrics and clean lines. This is a boutique escape designed to immerse guests in the regenerative power of a winter landscape. Outside winter, this remarkable hotel is also the perfect home base for hiking and biking on some of the world’s most picturesque trails, or even a stroll around South Tyrolean vineyards and autumnal forests.
- Hotel website: Forestis
- Other accolades: Forestis also features in my top 10 list of the best luxury hotels in Italy.
- Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking Forestis via Classic Travel (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast for two, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD resort credit).
- Review: read my review of Forestis here.
6. ALPINA GSTAAD
An icon in the exclusive, discrete and cosmopolitan Swiss resort of Gstaad, The Alpina Gstaad five-star superior hotel has single-handedly redefined luxury and Alpine chic. This is no ordinary luxury hotel, it is a unique establishment where authenticity combines with Swiss refinement to create an Alpine experience like no other. Each of the 56 rooms and suites uniquely embody Swiss authenticity and sophistication. The expertise of artisans from the region has created inspiring spaces, where original and contemporary local materials are subtly united with genuine period woodwork. Housed right at the heart of The Alpina Gstaad, the Six Senses Spa is a true sanctuary of peace and well-being
- Hotel website: Alpina Gstaad
- Other accolades: The Alpina Gstaad also features in my top 10 list of the best luxury hotels in Switzerland.
- Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking The Alpina Gstaad via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast for two, early check-in, late check-out, $100 USD resort credit, and a complimentary bottle of Champagne).
- Review: read my review of The Alpina Gstaad here.
5. COMO ALPINA DOLOMITES, ITALY
In a panoramic location on the Alpe di Siusi, in the magnificent setting of the Dolomites, the ski-in/ski-out Alpina Dolomites offers refined hospitality, professional services and exceptional comfort. The Lodge was built in compliance with eco-friendly standards and harmoniously blends into the magnificent natural surroundings. Both the building’s exterior and the spacious and bright interiors were designed according to the same principles. Local materials, such as stone and wood, along with natural colors create a harmonious design. The rooms and suites have a spectacular panoramic view. In the spacious spa, fitness and beauty area everything is designed to attain global wellness and restore vital energy. In the Mountain Restaurant & Stuben the excellent cuisine is based on the use of mainly local products and will satisfy even the most demanding palates. A wide choice of sports and recreational activities will make every stay a delightful experience.
4. LECRANS HOTEL & SPA, SWITZERLAND
LeCrans is a ski-in, ski-out hotel nestled within the lush forests of Crans-Montana in Valais, one of the most exclusive resorts in the Alps. Just a couple of hours drive from Geneva and Zurich, guests at LeCrans discover an Alpine haven of exceptionally refined warmth, restorative tranquillity, and discerning care. All rooms and suites are decked out in a traditional Alpine style, complete with heavy wood planks, but uneven textures and muted colors give a thoroughly modern feel. To enjoy the dazzling mountain scenery, guests can choose to sit with a glass of wine on their private balconies or in the Alp-facing rotunda restaurant, Le Mont Blanc, which serves gourmet French cuisine with a twist and offers an irresistible dessert menu. Le Cinq Mondes spa provides a calming respite after a day on the slopes, with a range of calming treatments plus more astounding views.
3. AIRELLES COURCHEVEL, LES AIRELLES, FRANCE
In the heart of Jardin Alpin, the most elegant district of Courchevel 1850, Airelles Courchevel, Les Airelles offers a timeless experience. From the outside, this sumptuous hotel looks like an Austro-Hungarian castle in a fairy tale. Inside, the magic remains unbroken, thanks to the elegant materials, otherworldly murals and stained-glass windows that fill the property. This ski-in ski-out, ultra-luxe hotel – the best resort in the Alps – features 32 guestrooms, 15 suites & one appartement, three fine dining restaurants and a sublime wellness facility. It is a wonderland that comes alive each winter and the epitome of French alpine luxury, where every single wish comes true. Whether your mouth is watering for a specific dish, or you want to explore a specific slope, there is a team of 240 employees on hand day and night to anticipate and meet every need.
- Hotel website: Airelles Courchevel, Les Airelles
- Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD food & beverage credit).
2. AURELIO LECH, AUSTRIA
1. AMAN LE MELEZIN, COURCHEVEL, FRANCE
Located in the heart of Les Trois Vallées in the French Alps, Aman Le Mélézin is an exceptional ski hotel offering all the classic traditions of the finest French châteaux. The only French property of Aman Resorts, one of the world’s most exclusive hotel brand, Le Melezin has taken the minimalist Aman-Asian style and added some alpine warmth. Standing four stories high under a distinctive black slate roof, the hotel provides an après-ski home set in a mesmeric wonderland of groomed slopes – both nursery and couloirs – framed by snow caressed conifer forests under a piercingly blue midday sky. Ideally situated on the Bellecôte ski slope, Aman Le Mélézin is a lively home of glowing warmth, a stroll from the epicenter of one of Europe’s most fashionable and exclusive resorts, Courchevel 1850, with access to some of the most exceptional skiing in Europe … directly from the front door.
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