Escape
Where Should You Go to Ski, Eat and Chill This Winter?
November 05, 2020
As the winter season rolls around, visions of pure white snowy landscapes beckon. A call that is simply irresistible as it holds the promise of fun, excitement, and that exhilarating adrenalin rush as you zoom along the slopes. Along with the sports and adventure, a ski holiday will also lure you with the sheer appeal of relaxing and being pampered in luxurious spas and enjoying mouth-watering culinary creations from around the world with friends, family and loved ones. Where should you go to ski, eat and chill this winter? Here’s a rundown of a few of the world’s leading (and lavish) ski holiday destinations.
St. Regis Aspen Resort, Colorado, United States
Steeped in both history and opulence, the St. Regis Aspen Resort is for those seeking an unparalleled skiing experience and an unforgettably luxurious stay. Four scenic mountains within the White River National Forest provide activities for guests of any age and skiing experience. From mid November to mid April, you can explore 76 trails and shoot to the top of the beautiful Aspen Mountains on board the Silver Queen Gondola for a breathtakingly picturesque ride.
Accommodations are lavish, inviting and cozy with beautiful surroundings that feature antiqued oak flooring, rugs to add additional warmth, and rooms that are equipped with custom furnishings including a leather bed and desk designed by Ralph Lauren. Exquisite marble bathrooms offer double vanities, bathrobes and Remède bath amenities. All guestrooms are a generous 400 square feet and available with one king or two double beds.
After a fun day at the slopes you can relax, rejuvenate and recharge at the Remède Spa, where you can lounge on luscious throws, sip on champagne, nibble chocolate and indulge in customized treatments in a most peaceful sanctuary. Try the oxygen lounge, steam caves, cold plunges, hot tubs, newly renovated fitness center, and Confluence waterfall for a deep sense of wellbeing. The Remède Spa opens all week and now features an innovative new spa treatment; Farm-to-Massage-Table (FTMT). A twist on the already popular Farm-to-Table concept, FTMT uses locally-sourced and natural ingredients to fully seduce all of your senses in a multi-dimensional five course spa experience.
The dining experience is not to be missed at The St. Regis Aspen Resort’s Chefs Club by Food & Wine, the flagship restaurant under the Chefs Club USA brand. The restaurant brings the Food & Wine brand to life through their signature Best New Chefs awards platform honoring the country’s most promising up-and-coming chefs. Each year, Food & Wine selects from their coveted list of Best New Chefs to consult and curate new menu items in collaboration with the culinary team at the restaurant to create a rich gastronomic experience beyond expectation.
Le Chabichou Hotel, Restaurants & Spa, Courchevel, France
To say that Le Chabichou is a labor of love is an understatement. It’s more like a passion that was sparked with the purchase of a modest establishment in French village Courchevel by Maryse and Michel Rochedy in 1963. The flame never dimmed as the family embarked on a journey to luxury and excellence with the birth of Le Chabichou, which accompanied Courchevel in its rise as a coveted destination.
The stunning alpine resort that is nestled in the midst of sprawling mountains and beautiful scenery is the ultimate ski destination. 50 years after its opening, Le Chabichou boasts wonderful accommodations, a two Michelin star restaurant and has also joined the Relais & Châteaux network. Connected to the Three Valleys ski area, it is simply part of one of the largest ski spaces in the world, extending over more than 600 kilometers of ski slopes. Unique, quaint and inviting, Le Chabichou consists of two white washed wooden chalets sitting at the foot of the slopes. Inside, one discovers a truly timeless décor, with each room having its own unique history. For example, room 77 has a most impressive and unusual wooden door that came from a century-old barn in Gstaad and was restored by a team of Austrian cabinetmakers.
The international reputation of Le Chabichou rests on the reputation of its gourmet restaurant that offers inventive and refined cuisine prepared with fresh, natural produce. To extend their fabulous culinary experience beyond your holiday, pick up some delectable delights from the Le Chabichou delicatessen! Caviar, foie gras, smoked salmon, vegetable soups, organic bread, traditional pastries, confectionery, homemade jams and a varied choice of pre-prepared dishes are available for take-away.
Enjoy a relaxing break at the resort’s Carita & Decléor spa, where nine fully equipped, luxurious treatment rooms are available for massage, foot reflexology, body and facial care or a steam bath ritual – truly a feast for the senses!
Hotel Rosa Alpina, San Cassiano, Italy
The Hotel Rosa Alpina in San Cassiano holds the promise of a decadently glamorous ski holiday, offering class, comfort and top-notch service, coupled with gorgeously elegant interiors.
The majestic Dolomites mountain range will provide you with a most extraordinary alpine and skiing experience. The diverse landscape, with its 18 jagged peaks that rise to above 3,000 meters, boasts some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in the world with peaceful valleys, idyllic villages, and an enormous skiable terrain that is ranked among the world’s top ski destinations, offering a variety of activities for every level, for both ski and snowboard enthusiasts.
Just like the diversity of the landscape surrounding the Rosa Alpina, the dining experience is just as pleasingly varied. Savor the Rosa Alpina’s scrumptious culinary offerings at the intimate Fondue Stuben, in the casual Restaurant Wine Bar & Grill, or in the elegant Michelin-starred Restaurant St. Hubertus, where your taste buds will be teased and tantalized by local and international delicacies.
Winner of the Condé Nast Traveler Readers Spa Award 2010, the Spa at the Rosa Alpina is the perfect place to unwind in style, restore your energy, and invigorate body and mind. With its soft and dreamily lavish interiors, the spa invites you to enjoy all of its facilities that include state-of-the-art fitness equipment, a gorgeous indoor swimming pool with view of the garden, Finnish Sauna, steam bath and well-appointed treatment areas to keep you in a great shape throughout your holiday.
Badrutt's Palace Hotel, St. Moritz, Switzerland
Exceptional, legendary and utterly opulent, the Badrutt’s Palace Hotel is a prominent symbol of the infamous resort town of St. Moritz in Switzerland. This is your ultimate ski destination in the heart of the Swiss Alps! Steeped in history, this century-old hotel is home to the stars, where you can expect to rub elbows with royalty, celebrities, discerning sports enthusiasts and connoisseurs of superior quality.
The iconic hotel, which opened in 1896, has all that you need to spend your ski holiday in ultimate style! Comfort, traditional hospitality, breathtaking natural surroundings and unmatched service provide opportunities for boundless indulgence. Accommodations range from standard to grand deluxe and a selection of extravagant suites, each beautifully furnished, with every minute detail thoroughly thought through.
Reach for the summits at Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, where you can enjoy winter packages that will give you free access to all mountain railways and cable cars in St. Moritz and the Upper Engadin, so you can whiz around the Alps to your heart’s content!
Culinary enthusiasts can also enjoy the St. Moritz Gourmet Festival, which will launch its “British Edition” from January 26 – 30, 2015. Guest chef Claude Bosi (2 Michelin stars in Le Restaurant) will concoct some dreamy dishes! Indoors or outdoors, Badrutt’s restaurants and dining outlets reflect its history and commitment to delivering nothing but the most exquisite offerings imaginable. Savor French haute cuisine, Mediterranean dishes and healthy foods, Italian classics, Swiss and international specialties, and more at the hotel’s fine restaurants.
No holiday is complete without a stop at the spa to soak in the relaxing vibes and be treated like royalty for a day. Badrutt’s Palace Hotel spa is on par with the high level of quality in services and variety offered throughout the establishment. Get down to some serious unwinding at one of the 10 treatment rooms or relax in the sauna, chill in the ice room, enjoy the mist room, breathe in the scents of the aroma in the steam room, have a massage or rain shower, and feel your stresses simply drain away.
HotelDorf Grüner Baum, Bad Gastein, Austria
The Grüner Baum Resort Hotel, a historical hotel located in Bad Gastein, Austria, has been since the 19th century a key destination for notable guests seeking to nature, beauty, and luxury. The resort, which was established in 1831 by Archduke Johann, started out as a hunting lodge but was later transformed into a world-class health, vacation and ski destination.
Accommodations range from single rooms to family apartments and themed rooms such as the Duke’s Room, Hunter’s Room and Prince’s Room. While adults get all the typical benefits for their skiing activities, families will find the HotelDorf an ideal winter break spot as the kids have their own fun ski activities that run from December 20, 2014 to the end of March 2015. Kids have their own ski slope and school at Grüner Baum that is exclusively available for guests. A ski course for smaller children aged tree to five is only a five-minute walk away from the hotel.
To get away for some couple time, the resort offers an unforgettable “babymoon” journey into the secret valley, a hideaway for parents to be alone. Relax in nature and take a stroll to breathe in the fresh and pure air at the edge of the National Park Hohe Tauern. Get pampered at the spa with a thermal spring where 32°C warm water soothes your body and mind. The spa offers a large menu of Alpine, Shiseido and St. Barth treatments. Finish off your romantically relaxing journey with a perfect treat: a private horse-drawn carriage ride through the National Park, and dinner at a beautiful mountain chalet.
