Discover the world’s best ski hotels: ski-in, ski-out, luxe life is all about
Let it snow.
We’ve already shared our list of the world’s best igloo hotels, but where do all the design-loving skiers stay? From remote alpine stations that you need a helicopter to access to wellness retreats nestled in the mountains, the world’s best ski hotels are havens for snow addicts.
The world’s best ski hotels
1. Marritz Hotel | Australia
Made up of the Marritz Hotel and Salzburg Apartments, you couldn’t find a better place to sleep and ski in the Perisher Valley. The hotel has panoramic views over Front Valley and is stylishly designed in a European style, complete with roaring fireplaces and wooden furnishings – you wouldn’t know you weren’t in an Austrian chalet.
The 27 rooms range from basic to executive suites; however, our favourite is the Tower Suite, which is a vast circular room with 360-degree views over the landscape, two bedrooms and a dining room. Also in the hotel, you can dine on European cuisine at Marritz Restaurant or enjoy some apres-ski at the bar; plus, there’s a sauna, massage room, and Perisher’s only heated pool for warming up after a day on the pistes.
Learn more about Marritz Hotel
2. Fairmont Chateau, Whistler | Canada
You’ll be hard-pressed to find anyone who hasn’t heard of the magnificent Fairmont Chateau in Whistler, Canada, which is nestled amongst acres of forest yet is just 10 minutes from Whistler Village and just three minutes from the slopes.
They haven’t held back with opulence here – designed to resemble a luxe ski lodge; the hotel features vaulted ceilings, plush furniture, roaring fires and panoramic views over the countryside. There are a whopping 528 rooms styled with stone fireplaces, wooden furnishings, big, comfy beds, and spacious bathrooms with freestanding tubs.
Activities and excursions also abound, with everything from outdoor tours like hiking and snowshoeing to multiple hot tubs and swimming pools, a spa and a nearby golf course. The cuisine is hearty and authentically Canadian at The Grill Room; think oysters, trout, and steak, or grab a lighter bite at The Wildflower or Portobello.
Discover the Fairmont Chateau, Whistler
3. Ski Portillo | Chile
The only all-inclusive resort that anyone who’s anyone stays at when skiing in Chile, Ski Portillo is a ski-in, ski-out resort in the heart of the Andes. The accommodation options are endless, ranging from elegant ski chalets and hotel rooms to budget-friendly Inca lodges and the comfy Octagon ski lodge.
The private ski chalets are worth every penny, offering stunning mountain and lake views, private living rooms and kitchens, and a lift pass included. We could write our own article about Portillo’s amenities, but just to name a few, you can enjoy an outdoor pool, hot tubs, yoga studio, cinema, discos, shop, and even a library – and that doesn’t even include the snow-based activities. There are numerous dining options, such as the main dining room, complete with white tablecloths and a Maitre D’, or the cosy Portillo bar, for a few après cocktails.
Check out Ski Portillo
4. Club Med Yabuli | China
Not only does China have great skiing, but it has some of the world’s best ski hotels to match. Club Med Yabuli sits in the mountain range of the same name, which is China’s largest ski area. The hotel is packed with things to do, from ski and snowboarding lessons to their L’Occitane Spa.
The spacious deluxe rooms all come with snowy mountain views, plush king-sized beds, lounge areas, and a stocked minibar. The hotel also has a pool, disco, gym, and an annual ice festival. You may be used to pairing a day of skiing with some warming Swiss or French cooking, but the local Chinese served at Mudan restaurant is perfect for refueling after a day on the slopes.
Learn more about Club Med Yabuli
5. L’Apogée Courchevel | France
There are dozens of gorgeous places to stay in Courchevel, but L’Apogée is the epitome of luxury. Quite simply a winter wonderland, the hotel is designed in classic French style, with a number of rooms and chalets available. The rooms and suites, designed by India Mahdavi, are beautiful, complete with spectacular archways, wooden ceilings and velvet furniture in rich hues, while some have balconies and bespoke artwork.
Elsewhere, the five-floor chalets feature five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a butler and private chef, a home spa, a cinema and panoramic views. For those not in a chalet, the hotel has Spa L’Apogée for massages and treatments, a pool, and a yoga studio. The two onsite restaurants and bar are as sleek as you’d expect, encompassing Japanese Koori, Le Comptoir L’Apogée serving gourmet French cooking and Le Bar de L’Apogée, which has a picturesque, snowy terrace.
Read more about L’Apogée Courchevel
6. The Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa | India
The Himalayas are the ultimate adventure snow destination, and when your accommodation combines modern comforts with design inspired by the surrounding Indian, Tibetan, and Nepalese regions, you may never want to leave.
The Khyber Himalayan Resort sits at 8825 ft, is surrounded by lush forests and has clear views of the Himalayan peaks. Inside, vast rooms with vaulted wooden ceilings, warmly glowing mosaic lamps and ornate archways evoke the hotel’s heritage. The spacious rooms are designed simply, with natural light, jewel-toned furnishings and chalet-style balconies. The Presidential Cottage is the crowning glory, featuring richly patterned rugs, sofas and throws, flocked wallpaper and a sunken bath.
There’s a stunning L’Occitane Spa, gym, cinema, games room, and an incredible indoor pool with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the mountains. Six different dining options span the globe, from the Chaikash tea lounge and Italian Brava to the signature Cloves restaurant and Nouf, which has an awe-inspiring mountain backdrop.
Discover more about The Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa
7. Forestis | Italy
Located in South Tyrol, Forestis is a wellness retreat for the discrete and famous, complete with unparalleled amenities to match. It’s ski-in, ski-out and designed in a super clean Alpine lodge style with light pine wood walls, ceilings, and floors, combined with a touch of brutalist and plenty of floor-to-ceiling windows for enjoying the view.
The spacious rooms are equally paired back, with soft beds and Dolomite-stone bathrooms, while bigger suites have large balconies with daybeds. The hotel’s onsite amenities include a swathe of activities, although the main focus is the spa, with a pool, sauna, and treatments such as salt baths and tree therapy.
Its location also allows for activities outside of skiing, such as hiking, snowshoeing, and forest bathing. The onsite, locally sourced restaurant serves a delicious, healthy-tasting menu that changes daily – but it’s not all work and no play; there’s a bar upstairs where the drinks are spectacular.
Read more about Forestis
8. Muwa Niseko | Japan
Less of a ski hotel and more of an alpine retreat, Muwa Niseko is heaven for skiers in Japan. The hotel is perched on the top of the region’s highest resort, meaning the pistes are epic and so are the views. As you’d expect from a Japanese hotel, the architecture and design are unparalleled, made up of sleek lines, geometric spaces, concrete and wood interiors and plenty of natural light. The rooms are also pared back, with comfortable beds, grey furnishings, and outdoor baths, plus light wood and balconies, which give it an ultra-modern chalet feel.
Although skiing is the focus, there’s also an incredible spa complete with a traditional onsen and a range of treatments overlooking Mount Yotei. There are two restaurants, the Michelin-starred Hito by Tacubo, which serves wood-fired Italian cuisine, and Hiyama, where you can indulge in Japanese classics like Wagyu beef and sukiyaki.
Discover more about Muwa Niseko
9. Minaret Station | New Zealand
Combine remote, rustic charm with luxury design and you get Minaret Station, best described as an exclusive hideout – there are no roads, and it can only be accessed via helicopter. It’s an adventurer’s playground in the south of New Zealand, whether you ski, fish, cycle, or hike.
The hotel’s design celebrates its fantastic views over the nearby mountains, hills and lakes, looking just like a simple yet elegant lodge on the hillside, surrounded by its four smaller chalets, each kitted out entirely in wood, with stone fireplaces, cosy sofas, and wooden chandeliers.
These four chalets are the only rooms here, each featuring a bedroom, living room, kitchenette and porch area, plus a private hot tub and a fridge stocked with local Kiwi wines and snacks. The hotel has few amenities besides a library and your personal hot tub, but the great outdoors offers endless opportunities, from helicopter rides to farm tours. Dinner is a spectacle at Minaret Station, all made using their own farm-grown ingredients, from beef to lobster and local wines, which you can have served on a heli-picnic by your pilot.
Learn more about Minaret Station
10. Hotel Val De Neu | Spain
In the heart of the Baqueira Beret ski resort, you’ll find the pinnacle of ski chalets in Hotel Val De Neu. It’s designed like an alpine chalet if your home was an alpine chalet, that is. Wooden beams, floors and walls are blended with vintage furniture, homely linens, open fires and common areas for both relaxation and apres ski.
Rooms span from Neu Classic to the opulent Neu Royal Suite, the latter of which is spread over two floors with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a skylight that turns into a balcony and free bar service – cheers to that. There’s a vast spa for recuperating once you get off the slopes: thermal jets, cold plunge pools, steam baths, a sauna, jacuzzi and a pool await, and don’t worry if you have little ones, as there’s also a kids club, pool and buffet.
Speaking of food, there are four restaurants here. The picks of the bunch are La Nonna, for exquisitely presented Italian, and La Fondue, for what else but delicious raclette, meat and vegetables.
Read more about Hotel Val De Neu
11. Badrutt’s Palace | Switzerland
St. Moritz is where anyone who’s anyone goes to ski, and Badrutt’s Palace is the hotel to match. Dripping in old-world charm, chandeliers in every room, and uninterrupted mountain views, the hotel quite literally looks like a fairytale castle from the outside – turrets and all.
The design is in keeping with its historical structure, with 19th-century artwork, high ceilings and timber furniture, with the addition of a few mod-cons, of course. Rooms are simple and clean yet unmistakably expensive – plush beds with thick headboards, marble bathrooms, balconies with mountain views, plus miniature libraries and living areas.
The skiing around here is world-class, but the hotel tempts you to stay longer with an ice rink, spa boutiques, tennis court and yoga studio for year-round enjoyment. Dotted throughout are not one but seven different restaurants, serving gastronomic delights from fondue to Japanese, dinner accompanied by live music and a two-Michelin-starred fine dining establishment.
Find out more about Badrutt’s Palace
12. Alyeska Resort | USA
Alyeska sits at the base of an eponymous mountain and appears to be the only property for hundreds of miles around, entirely surrounded by remote Alaskan countryside. Outside, are over 1,600 acres of slopes, while inside, the wooden beams, moose heads, and roaring fires offer like true Alaskan-style hospitality.
The rooms here are spacious and warmly lit – most enjoy mountain views and come with wooden furniture, local artwork and slopeside access. For the definition of luxury, however, the Royal Suite is the one to choose, coming with a huge circular parlour, kitchen, marble bathroom, and views on all sides. Take your pick from the five restaurants, but Seven Glaciers always wins – unsurprisingly, as it’s located on top of Mount Alyeska, only reachable by tram and serves fine Alaskan cooking. We can’t forget to mention the brand new Nordic spa, which spans 50,000sq-ft and contains a range of indoor and outdoor pools, wooden tubs, saunas, hydrotherapy pools and a rainforest steam room.
Learn more about Alyeska Resort
But wait there’s more…
- Take a look at these winter hotels in Taiwan
- Find out why we loved our recent stay at Regent Phu Quoc
- And these are all the very best boutique hotels in Mexico
