Top 10: world’s most luxurious ski hotels

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Monday newsletters always feature top 10 travel lists to inspire.

Today (October 27, 2014): Top 10 best luxury ski hotels in the world.

Fall is officially here, and that means it’s time to plan your next getaway. From Aspen to Zermatt, ski season will be here faster than you can throw a snowball, so plan your trip now. To help you, I hereby present you my selection of the 10 best luxury ski hotels to choose from when planning your next downhill expedition.

There is more information below the slide show. Think I missed one? Share your favorite ski hotel in the comments section, or take my poll below!

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10. FOUR SEASONS RESORT WHISTLER (CANADA)

Home to what is by far the largest ski resort in all of North America, the pedestrian village of Whistler has itself won numerous design awards. Whistler Blackcomb was the site of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and has also been named the #1 overall best ski resort in North America by SKI MagazineReaders’ Poll 2014. Beyond its famed slopes are the championship golf courses, hundreds of boutiques, museums and galleries and endless year-round happenings. The hotel’s 273 guest rooms are appointed richly in wood, each with their own gas fireplace. After the rigors of skiing, golf, or shopping, avail yourself of Four Seasons Resort Whistler’s many relaxation options. Inhale alpine air while you’re massaged with the clay from a nearby lake or survey the snow-capped peaks while soaking in the outdoor whirlpools.

Hotel website: Four Seasons Resort Whistler
Other accolades: Four Seasons Resort Whistler also features in my top list of the best luxury resorts of Canada.
Tip: enjoy free VIP amenities when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, $100 USD spa credit).

9. THE CHEDI ANDERMATT (SWITZERLAND)

Surrounded by the spectacular beauty of the Swiss Alps, The Chedi Andermatt 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 these 105 spacious guest rooms and suites. Traditional materials such as warm woods and natural stone create intimate yet visually striking accommodations while the extensive facilities include fine restaurants and cosy lounges, a ski-in living room with sports boutique, comprehensive spa and wellness centre with a tranquil retreat of hydrothermal baths and a duo of swimming pools against the stunning outdoor Alpine landscape.

Hotel website: The Chedi Andermatt
Other accolades: The Chedi Andermatt features in my lists of the best luxury hotel openings of 2013 and the world’s best indoor pools.
Tip: enjoy free VIP amenities when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast for 2, $100 USD hotel credit, early check-in and late check-out).

8. ST REGIS ASPEN (COLORADO, USA)

A contemporary version of a Gilded Age mountainside manor which provides an uncompromising base for arbiters of fine food and wine, connoisseurs of culture and adventure seekers. Located just steps from Aspen’s signature slopes and featuring premier amenities and St. Regis service, the resort is surrounded by icy mountain streams, shimmering alpine lakes and majestic snow-capped peaks. Each of the 179 guest rooms at the St Regus Aspen Resort offers stunning views of the Rocky Mountains, inspiring guests to wake at the crack of dawn and hit the storied Colorado steeps. The Remede Spa is open year-round, complete with a 24-hour fitness center and located in an ideal spot at the base of Aspen Mountain. Within walking distance to Aspen’s ultra exclusive shops, restaurants and entertainment, the spa is the perfect remedy to both beginner’s bumps and seasoned veterans’ strains.

Hotel website: St Regis Aspen
Tip: enjoy free VIP amenities when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast for 2, $100 USD food & beverage credit, early check-in, late check-out, and a welcome note accompanied by fresh fruit bowl and mineral water).

7. THE OMNIA ZERMATT (SWITZERLAND)

The ‘Omnia’ name sets a certain standard. The standard to which this place was created and by which the hotel staff wishes to make you feel welcome here. The individual parts come together here high on the rock to form an atmospheric unity. The location, the architecture and the design are one component. But the most important element here is the guest, with his/her individual wishes and needs. This traditional mountain lodge in car-free Zermatt is the place perfect for pampering, a resort that perches in a precarious place but offers cozy, contemporary accommodations. The rooms offer views of several famous mountains: Rothorn, Stockhorn, Gornergrat, Monte Rosa and the Matterhorn. (Not the amusement park version…). Here, natural and man-made design blend together seamlessly to form a perfect sanctuary where the soul can be replenished, and the spirit rejuvenated.

Hotel website: The Omnia Zermatt

6. AURELIO LECH (AUSTRIA)

Nestled in the exclusive resort town of Lech, the Aurelio Lech is one of Austria’s most stylish ski and spa lodges. A non-descript ski lodge exterior hides a slick, modern retreat as edgy as your skis. At the Aurelio Lech, guests can expect impeccable service, door-to-door ski conditions, and superlative spa facilities. All 19 rooms and suites are individually designed, with sleek Asian wooden furniture, enhanced by French and African natural fabrics. All have stunning mountain views. The Aurelio is located right at the foot of the mountain, so indulge in door-to-door skiing or snowboarding. Then, kick off your boots dine and on traditional and modern Austrian cuisine at the elegant Aurelio’s restaurant. Wine lover? The exclusive wine list offers several rare and vintage labels.

Hotel website: Aurelio Lech

5. PARK HYATT BEAVER CREEK RESORT AND SPA (COLORADO, USA)

It’s not every day, or everywhere, that you find the uncommon. Add a touch of rarity to your Vail Valley adventure, in a mountainside setting brimming with possibility. Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa is a place where rare and unexpected pleasures are woven seamlessly into the fabric of each day. From the hotel’s winter ski in-ski out access in the village, to the thrill of white-water rafting, hiking and outdoor adventures for all seasons, the best of Beaver Creek is waiting for you, just outside our doors. The wood and sandstone interior complements the magnificent Rocky Mountain views, which you’ll enjoy through the French doors of your room. Dine après-ski at 8100 Mountainside Bar & Grill, but be warned: you may have problems concentrating on the delicious organic dishes when the brilliant sunset is on display. Make sure you leave time for the ultimate dessert: a decadent Ginger Peach Body Wrap at Allegria Spa.

Hotel website: Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa
Tip: enjoy free VIP amenities when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast for 2, $100 USD food & beverage credit, early check-in, and late check-out).

PARK HYATT BEAVER CREEK RESORT & SPA (COLORADO, USA)

4. LE CHALET ZANNIER (FRANCE)

Nestled in a beautiful part of the French Alps, not far away from the famous alpine village of Mègeve, Le Chalet Zannier is a delightful mountain retreat offering a truly luxurious experience. The welcome is personal and the accommodation sumptuous – everything you need for an unforgettable time away. Established over a vast area, the site has three alpine-style chalets, the decoration of which expresses the very essence and sophistication of the project when it was created as an “exceptional place” to stay. All different, each one of the 12 bedrooms evokes style, beauty and taste – it’s a way of life never seen before in the mountains. Located on site is the ski chalet offering all the equipment necessary to enjoy the winter sport domains around Mègeve. The wellness centre with its indoor swimming pool, sauna, hammam and two treatment rooms is the perfect place to relax after an enjoyable day on the slopes.

Hotel website: Le Chalet Zannier

3. AMAN LE MELEZIN, COURCHEVEL (FRANCE)

The only alpine property of Aman Resorts, the world’s most exclusive hotel brand, Le Melezin has taken the minimalist Aman-Asian style and added some alpine warmth. Standing four storeys high under a distinctive black slate roof it provides an aprés-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, the hotel is a lively home of glowing warmth, a stroll from the epicentre 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.

Hotel website: Aman Le Melezin

2. AMANGANI (WYOMING, USA)

Another Aman Resort makes it in my top 10! Amangani (peaceful home) clings to the crest of East Gros Ventre Butte, some 2,135m above sea level, and affords magnificent views of the Grand Tetons and Snake River Valley below. It was the first Aman resort in North America and evokes the atmosphere of the American West. Amangani is an all-season resort. Sensitively designed with materials native to Wyoming, Amangani features redwood walls, floor-to-ceiling windows, and woven cowhide chairs. Spacious suites include king-sized beds, a fireplace, and a daybed. Your sliding glass doors lead to a deck with mountain views. Jackson Hole gets plenty of snow, so take advantage of snowboarding, downhill and cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and dog-sledding.

Hotel website: Amangani
Other accolades: Amangani also features in my top 10 list of the best luxury hotels in the USA.
Tip: enjoy free VIP amenities when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast for 2, one lunch or dinner for 2, early check-in, and late check-out).

1. THE LODGE VERBIER (SWITZERLAND)

Sir Richard Branson’s The Lodge is perched high in the Swiss Alps above the town of Verbier, steps away from lifts awaiting guests with a thirst for some of the world’s best skiing. The nine-bedroom chalet, part of the Virgin Limited Edition Collection, is decorated with a mix of modern and rustic alpine décor, clad in a cream and Swiss-chocolate color motif. The two Master Suites on the top floor feature open fireplaces and private balconies from which to survey the spectacular views of the Swiss peaks. The staff at The Lodge – almost one per guest – do all they can to make it easy to hit the slopes, prepping breakfast and escorting you up the mountain. The Lodge has an indoor pool area that connect to a steam room, gym, and spa – and the backyard includes a small ice rink.