Planning on dusting off your ski suit this season? From private chefs and helicopter rides to five-star wellness and personal trainers, these luxury hotels are shaking things up on the slopes
With the start of the new year upon us, you might find yourself fantasising about luxury ski resorts. After all, seasoned skiers know that it’s not just where you ski, but where you eat, sleep and spa while you’re at it, too. Luckily, whether you’re prioritising pristine slopes, excellent après options, sublime spas or just an extraordinarily stylish room, some of the world’s most luxurious resorts are pulling out all the stops to make sure 2024 is the best season yet.
Aman Le Mélézin, Courchevel, France
Serving up perhaps France’s finest all-round ski experience from its spectacular setting in the coveted heart of Les Trois Vallées, just moments from Courchevel 1850, there’s a plethora of newness going on at Aman Le Mélézin this season, with something for everyone to get excited about.
Take a ride through the snow-covered landscapes at dusk on a snowmobile-drawn sledge or horse-drawn carriage to Les Prés de la Croix, where a traditional Savoyard dinner of cheese fondue awaits. A bespoke five-course menu created by a private chef can also be arranged on Friday evenings. Elsewhere little ones will love tobogganing down to Courchevel Village or taking to the skies with a relaxing hot air balloon or helicopter ride while, for the more adventurous traveller, the resort has also just introduced moonbiking, which will see you take off through the snow-dusted mountainside at Pralong Farm on ultra-light electric snowbikes.
For those who would rather spend their evenings relaxing, the hotel dedicates two entire floors to wellness, and this year traditional Chinese medicine practitioner Dr John Sanchez will be on hand to offer a range of treatments and mindful movement classes including Yin Yoga, Tai Chi and Animal Yoga, as well as multi-day Taoist Medicine Journeys which includes four personalised sessions prescribed to target both the symptoms and root causes of specific ailments.
All that alongside and an exquisite culinary scene including a new Omakase experience plus Fireside Delights, with which you can unwind on the outdoor terrace with a selection of fresh fruits and marshmallows for toasting on an open fire and dipping into homemade melted chocolate — the perfect sweet treat after a day in the snow. Book now
Deplar Farm, Iceland
It doesn’t get more off-the-grid than the Fljót Valley on the mountainous Troll Peninsula in northern Iceland. It’s here you’ll find Deplar Farm which, run by adventure travel company Eleven Experience and located on a converted sheep farm, is so far north that skiers must opt for heli-skiing, with the hotel able to airlift you to any spot you like before you make your way down to the water’s edge, with runs averaging around 3,000 vertical feet.
Exuding Icelandic charm, all of the hotel’s 13 rooms boast a contemporary Nordic style and impeccable design, with plush furnishings and a bed you’ll sink right into. Meals are designed by your own private chef to help recharge you after exhilarating adventures, with produce and ingredients all sourced from local farmers resulting in a contemporary Icelandic cuisine that celebrates the natural resources of the country. Given its remote location, views are second to none and, if you’re lucky, you can even spot the Northern Lights on a clear winter’s night.
New this season, Eleven Experiences is adding a holistic wellness experience into the mix with the launch of Eleven Life, a unique programme that involves pre-arrival training (think strength training, stretching and how to prepare for altitude), post-travel jet lag treatments to acclimatise, pre-ski stretching, recovery massages, thermal therapy and more. Unwinding in the outdoor jacuzzi slap-bang in the middle of the snow is a true one-of-a-kind experience. Book now
ROOMS Hotel Kokhta, Georgia
For something a little closer to home, look no further than Georgia’s newest ski hotel, ROOMS Hotel Kokhta. Nestled in the heart of the country’s Samtskhe-Javakheti region, a winter wonderland for skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts, not only will you find 29km of slopes and 20 lifts but, perched 1,700 metres above sea level and surrounded by the majestic Caucasus Mountains, guests can enjoy an extended winter season that lasts four to five months. The hotel itself is just as impressive as its sisters in Tbilisi and Kazbegi, with the design of the ski-in/ski-out hotel a heady mix of hypermodern elements and ancient Georgian traditions, drawing inspiration from stylish locals and in-the-know travellers. Think raw wood, timbered ceilings and shop-style parquet floors — plus 95 bedrooms that come complete with the likes of earthy colour palettes, custom-made beds and metal bathtubs — it really is an interior design lover’s dream.
Like most luxury ski resorts, wellness takes centre stage, with its stunning health club bringing the mountains in with floor-to-ceiling windows and valley views while, elsewhere, an open-fire restaurant serves up contemporary Georgian cuisine and local grape that will be sure to satisfy even the most die-hard of foodies. All that just a three-hour flight from Dubai? Don’t mind if we do. Book now
L’Apogee Courchevel, France
One of Europe’s most stylish Alpine retreats for the discerning traveller since its opening in 2013, L’Apogee Courchevel is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year, and it’s doing it in style. Located in the heart of Courchevel’s exclusive Jardin Alpin, the 55-bedroom hotel features stylish accommodation in an inspired design collaboration conceived by acclaimed designers India Madhavi and Joseph Durand, with rooms the most spacious in all of the valley. They come designed as their own mini-chalet and offer spectacular views from private under-floor-heated balconies.
New this 2023/24 season, be sure to book a table at luxe Italian dining concept Gennaro’s which, inspired by new sister property Hotel La Palma in Capri, will see renowned Italian Chef Gennaro Esposito consulting on the menu, so you know you’re in for a treat with Italian classics designed to share. The exclusive Sunset in Style experience on the slopes has also been launched to celebrate the anniversary, where you can head up the Courchevel peaks in a groomer ride once the ski runs have closed and appreciate golden hour in the mountains with an exclusive cocktail created by Chef Lefrançois. It doesn’t get fancier than that. Book now
Six Senses Crans-Montana Resort & Spa, Switzerland
The newest — and fanciest — kid on the block, the ski-in/ski-out Six Senses Crans-Montana has been the name on everyone’s lips since it opened its doors earlier in 2023, marking the first resort in Switzerland for the luxury hotel brand. Found in the heart of the spectacular Swiss Alps and just two hours by train from Geneva, this architectural gem has been built to blend harmoniously with its surroundings, complete with 45 rooms and suites designed with recycled, repurposed and local materials that nod to its sustainability pillar. In fact, 85 per cent of the hotel’s produce is sourced locally, and it’s the only Six Senses in the world to offer caviar thanks to a nearby fish farm.
As to be expected from Six Senses, the all-new resort is the perfect place to combine ski and wellness, with the star of the show being its cavernous spa that comes complete with a thermal circuit, swimming pool, chocolate wraps and plenty of saunas in which to heat up after a day on the slopes, plus a lounge filled with biohacking tech to sort out any post-action aches. There are also dedicated treatment rooms for kids and teens along with a sun terrace with views of the pistes.
Post treatment, enjoy dinner in either the Japanese restaurant or at Wild Cabin, the all-day brasserie, before retiring to your suitably swanky room that boasts chic dark neutral interiors, full-length windows and a terrace that looks out on to mountain peaks such as the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc. If you’re travelling with family, book the three-bedroom terrace suite. Just don’t be surprised if you never want to leave. Book now
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- Words by Naomi Chadderton
