There’s a magical allure to escaping to the mountains for much needed holiday. Perhaps it’s the picturesque, snow capped mountains, or the vibrant, clear skies, or may be even the cold and crisp fresh air. Whatever your reasons here are the ten coolest places to spend your winter break.
10. Hotel Eleven (Ouyone El Simane, Mzaar, Lebanon)
Located in the heart of the Faraya Mzaar ski resort and just a short walking distance from the Refuge ski slope, Hotel Eleven is a hidden gem of a design retreat. It’s not a particularly fancy establishment but it does offer a boutique experience with only eleven rooms to choose from. The best is the one on the roof level, named the Eleven Suite, which has two bedrooms and bathrooms, a living room with a fireplace and all the amenities you could need. The hotel’s eatery and room service are excellent and best of all is the fact that right next door is one of the area’s best restaurants, Le Montagnou.
Telephone +961-9 341 741
9. Annupuri Lodge (Hokkaido, Japan)
The northern island of Hokkaido, roughly 800km from Tokyo, is the closest prime ski spot to Australia ensuring a steady stream of Aussies. The snow, which is light and dry, blows in from Siberia, and the Japanese have perfected the art of night-skiing meaning you can ski 24 hours a day here. The comfortable and tasteful Annupuri Lodge, has nine minimalist Asian-style rooms in black and natural woods, a fully-appointed bar, a luxurious living room and an open-kitchen for guests. It also has its own hot spring bathhouse though you’d be better off trying the steaming open-air volcanic pools, called onsen, set among the high snow banks.
Telephone +81 90 1851-6663
8. Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena (Bansko, Bulgaria)
This hotel is situated at the foot of Pirin Mountain - steps away from the ski lifts that can take you up to the highest ski and snowboard facilities. It’s also easily accessible to the centre of Bansko, with its restaurants, bars, museums and shops. It’s a big hotel with 159 rooms spread across five buildings, designed in typical Alpine architectural style. The rooms aren’t anything to write home about but they’re large and luxurious with balconies from which to enjoy the town's only truly unobstructed mountain views. Nevertheless this five-star hotel has set the bar high, bringing the joys of a grand foyer bar, a wellness centre, and a huge indoor pool to Bansko.
Telephone +359 749 88888
7. Adara Hotel (Whistler, BC, Canada)
The original and unconventional Adara Whistler Hotel is steps from both the Blackcomb and Whistler Mountains. Typically, this part of British Columbia embraces the big and quasi-rustic, meaning vast lobbies with timber beams and river-rock pillars. Forget all of that and release yourself from conformity at the Adara Hotel. It has 41 rooms, neon hues, artificial fibres, and it was designed and is operated by the same team responsible for Vancouver's hugely popular Opus Hotel. No matter which you room you end up with, there’ll be a walk-in rain shower, a large bed with soft sheets, a floating electric fireplace and a heap of artful design details.
Telephone + 1 866 502-3272
6. The Arrabelle at Vail Square (Vail, Colorado, USA)
The ski-in, ski-out Arrabelle hotel is the keystone of Vail's long-awaited (and much needed) European-inflected renewal project, Vail Square, in the revamped Lionshead area. This intimate property skilfully blends attention to detail with rustic charm: Generously sized rooms are styled with simplicity and accented in deep red, creamy beige, and walnut woods, while mountain views are framed by oversized windows. Amenities such as 1,000-thread-count sheets, heated marble floors in the bathroom, a sunken Jacuzzi bathtub and a gas fireplace make it hard to leave the room - and thanks to an unfailingly gracious personal butler, you almost don't have to. The best perk? The resort's Volvo XC70 is available for complimentary use in trips up to 100 miles.
Telephone +1 970 754-7777
5. Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains (St. Moritz, Switzerland)
Soon after the concept of a Swiss Alp vacation became fashionable in the middle of the 19th century, St. Moritz welcomed this grand hotel - located in Bad village next to the mineral spring that made it famous - in 1864. Overhauled by Kempinski in 2002, this elegant five-star resort continues to draw the trendiest of the modern jet set. (Generally, the younger well-heeled clientele stays here, while the old timers opt for Badrutt’s Palace Hotel.) Rooms tend to be a bit larger than at some of the town's other top properties, and many feature beamed ceilings that contrast with amenities such as in-room Sony PS3’s.
Telephone +41 81 838 30 34
4. Riffelalp Resort 2222m (Zermatt, Switzerland)
Reaching the 70-room, Riffelalp resort is an adventure in itself. From the town of Zermatt, guests must take a 20-minute cogwheel train ride before completing the journey on snowmobiles. The hotel’s history may stretch back to 1856, yet it remains contemporary, offering all the services and amenities expected of a five-star retreat, and many that go beyond. Two bowling alleys, a home cinema, and a church transformed into a concert venue are among the hotel’s more unusual features. It also has Europe’s highest outdoor pool, with a breathtaking view of the world-famous Matterhorn. The indoor spa is equally spectacular with its steam bath cave and a grotto with saline pools and waterfalls.
Telephone +41 27 966 05 55
3. The Clubhouse (Chamonix, Mont Blanc, France)
Provocatively decadent, the Clubhouse is a boutique hangout for city slickers who know their drinks and food and won't accept second best. The Clubhouse lures a dedicated and loyal crowd into its luxurious lair - the town's only remaining Art Deco mansion dating to 1927. Though there are seven quirky rooms to choose from, the only one we recommend is the Myla Suite, which occupies the top floor and boasts stunning double aspect views across the Mont Blanc massif. Within you’ll discover a 2.7m-wide bed topped by mirrored windows, super high thread count Frette linens, cow-skin floor rugs, bold 1950s spotted wallpaper, and even a mini-bar stocked with a selection of Myla intimate toys.
Telephone +33 4 50 90 96 56
2. Copperhill Mountain Lodge (Åre, Sweden)
The charming town of Åre located on Mt. Åreskutan’s eastern slope began as a small mining village with just 200 inhabitants. Over the past century, it has grown first to become Sweden’s most popular ski resort. This Nordic gem of a hotel is a delightful mountain resort and the first hotel in Norrland to be awarded five stars. Featuring 112 rooms, all with magnificent views, LCD TV, heated bathroom floor, SMEG kitchenette, dishwasher, fridge and microwave. The resort has a modern mountain lodge style that was created by the American architect Peter Bolin (in cooperation with AIX Arkitekter, Stockholm), who among other things designed the Microsoft Mansion for Bill Gates.
Telephone +46 647 143-00
1. Cheval Blanc (Courchevel, France)
If you’re looking for the best then the Hotel Cheval Blanc is your solution. Located in Courchevel, some 700 kilometres east of the Saint-Émilion wine producer and Château that bares the same name, both Cheval Blancs are owned by Bernard Arnault, the chairman of LVMH. Open since 2006, the 34-room hotel has the feel of a billionaire’s impeccable private residence, where details are not showy but exhibit fine tailoring and materials. This is a hotel with no compromises, and rates that correspond accordingly. Each guest room and suite looks onto the mountains and has a balcony or a terrace, as well as a sitting area, a hammam shower, and a full-size closet.
Telephone +33 4 79 00 50 50
