Luxury Ski Resorts 2024-2025
While we are still just settling into fall, November marks the beginning of ski season in many locations around the world. This week, we are sharing some of our favorite ski destinations to enjoy the slopes, the winter wonderland views, exceptional amenities, and gourmet dining.
Niseko, Japan
In Japan, our current top choice is Niseko. Known for the exceptional quality of the snow, incredible views, amazing ski-runs, and gourmet cuisine, Niseko is a must-visit for ski connoisseurs. For luxury accommodations, we love both Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve and Zaborin, although the area is home to a number of excellent hotels. The Ritz Carlton Reserve hotel offers everything you’d expect from a Ritz-Carlton property – stunning views, multiple dining options, and excellent amenities and accommodations. Zaborin offers spacious private villas with incredible views and amenities, including two private onsens (one indoor, one open-air) of hot, natural, spring water in each villa. The villas offer the option of either Western style or Japanese style sleeping arrangements.
Troll Peninsula, Iceland
Book a room at the luxurious and intimate Eleven Deplar Farm to enjoy access to incredible skiing, views of the Northern Lights, a geo-thermal heated indoor/outdoor pool with swim-up bar, spa facilities including Isopod flotation tanks, billiards room, hot tubs, multiple saunas, and more. In addition to cross country skiing, onsite adventures include hiking, snow shoeing, fat biking, ice fishing, snow sledding, snowmobiling, horseback riding, and whale watching. The dining here features elevated takes on traditional Icelandic foods, all made with local farm-to-table ingredients.
Aspen, Colorado
A visit to Aspen wouldn’t be complete without a stay at The Little Nell. For a shorter stay, book one of the mountain view suites – they’re spacious and feature heated bathroom floors, gas log fireplace, minbar, and bar area, steam shower, and Jacuzzi. For an extended stay, we love the Paepcke Suite. The 2,500 square foot space boats incredible views from the private balcony, a dining area for six, a kitchenette, and two fireplaces. While staying, book a private wine tasting or chef-paired wine dinner; the hotel’s wine cellar boasts over 20,000+ wines and dozens of sommeliers on their team. The onsite restaurant, Element 47 is excellent; start the evening with a caviar and champagne flight then feast on grilled octopus, kale truffle cavatelli, and lobster tortellini. Finish the evening with homemade ice cream, orange blossom baklava, or a cheese board. For nights outside the hotel, we’d choose Matsuhisa for sushi (don’t miss the omakase tasting menu!) or the White House Tavern for something more relaxed but delicious in a historic setting.
Whistler, Canada
While The Four Seasons in Whistler offers excellent rooms and suites for groups of all sizes, we love booking The Townhouse; the 1,825 square foot space can host up to 6 adults or 4 adults and 4 children. It features a private whirlpool on the balcony, kitchen, dining area for 6, a refrigerated bar, and stunning mountain views. There’s a reason Araxi is the first restaurant that comes to mind for most for top quality dining in Whistler; the cocktail bar and restaurant has been consistently named Best Restaurant in Whistler for over ten years. Here, we’d share the Two Tier Seafood Tower followed by sunchoke soup and then either the red deer venison loin or mountain trout; although the menu is very seafood heavy, they have plenty of options for all diets and you really can’t go wrong. If you’re just stopping by for a cocktail, try the ‘Forest Fire’ which includes Japanese whiskey, maple syrup, lemon, and pomegranate. Hy’s Steakhouse is another can’t miss in Whistler; here start with their famous cheese toast if you haven’t tried it yet and Caesar salad (prepared tableside as are many items on the menu) or French onion soup; if you’re a meat-eater, a steak is the obvious choice (said to be the best steak in Whistler!) and if not, choose from a variety seafood, vegetarian, and vegan options. For something lighter, head to Sachi Sushi and enjoy sushi and a warm glass of sake.
Zermatt, Switzerland
Book a room at The Grand Hotel Zermatterhof, a historic hotel (opened in 1879) that is the perfect combination of historic charm and modern luxury. As Zermatt is car-free, the hotel offers pickup at the station by horse-drawn carriage or electric bus (be sure to book in advance). We suggest booking on the wood-paneled luxury suites, many of which include fireplaces, jacuzzis and unparalleled views of the Matterhorn. The hotel offers a luxury spa, as well as several excellent restaurants and bars; our favorite is Prato Borni, a Michelin-starred restaurant offering a changing tasting menu of indulgent dishes, such as foie gras, quail breast, and bouillabaisse. For a top-quality dining experience in Zermatt that offers a la carte options, we love Capri inside the Mont Cervin Palace hotel. The Michelin-starred Mediterranean restaurant’s menu includes spinach and chili pepper parmesan fondue, tagliolini with red prawns, burrata cheese, sea asparagus and lemon, as well as gnocchi with lobster, smoked cauliflower and capers.