Skiing is the ultimate winter pastime for the rich and famous. Whether you are looking for crisp mountain views or a hedonistic Après scene, there are more options than ever to choose from. From incredible private chalets in the Alps to ultra-cool resorts in Aspen, Elite Traveler has scoured mountain resorts all over the world to curate a list of the best luxury ski chalets and hotels in the world this season.
Chalech S
Lech, Austria
Chalech S is the latest luxury opening in Lech, Austria
The Austrian town of Lech has long been considered an elite destination, but unlike Courchevel and Verbier, it has managed to retain its original Alpine charm. The town is growing, however, and Chalech is one of the newest luxury accommodations to open. The property contains five standalone chalets, but the pick of the trio is Chalech S.
Operated by Bramble Ski, this stunning mega-chalet offers supreme luxury and ultimate relaxation just a stone’s throw from pristine ski runs. The chalet sleeps 12 in six en-suite bedrooms across four floors, which are connected by a private elevator. The living area offers incredible views – certainly one of the best in town – over Lech and the Alpine mountains beyond. The private spa gives guests private access to a sauna, hammam and relaxation area while a swimming pool and gym are shared with the other properties.
A fully-serviced week includes two days with the Bramble Ski pros, who act as tour guides, ski instructors, and concierges. They can do everything from showing you the best ski runs to the best bars in town. A professional chef prepares a beautiful four-course dinner daily exactly to the preferences of you and your guests, while the expert in-house team serves a sumptuous breakfast each morning. There is also a driver on hand, who will meet you as you come off the slopes to get you out of your ski boots and into comfy shoes, ready for Lech’s lively Après scene.
Prices from $45,450 (approx.) catered, brambleski.com/chalech-s
Chalet Iris
Megève, France
Chalet Iris is the perfect example of Megève’s understated style
Megève has been a luxury ski resort since the 1920s, so needless to say the locals know how to look after an Elite Traveler. Megève’s luxury scene is far more understated than nearby Courchevel and as a result attracts a loyal, old-money clientele.
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Iris Chalet is the perfect example of Megève’s understated style. Its minimalist interiors exude a traditional mountain chalet but its lavish furnishings leave you in no doubt that this is an ultra-luxury accommodation. The chalet has seven bedrooms and comfortably accommodates 12 adults and four children. The private terrace offers beautiful views out across the mountains, which are best enjoyed from the oversized jacuzzi.
The chalet also boasts its very own wine cellar, allowing guests to choose their vintage each night or enjoy a bespoke pairing with dinner. Private chefs and ski instructors can be included as part of the package. The chalet is located a nine-minute drive from the main ski area, Mont d’Arbois, making a private driver an essential addition to any package.
Prices from $17,200 to $86,700 (approx.), lacollectionheh.com
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Le Chalet Mont Blanc
Chamonix, France
Let Chalet Mont Blanc is the biggest chalet in Chamonix / ©Adam Johnstone
There are few better places for an all-round ski holiday than Chamonix. Sitting in the shadows of the imperious Mont Blanc, Chamonix is a true year-round destination, offering just as much as it does fresh powder. The ultimate skiing destination needs the ultimate chalet, and in Chalet Mont Blanc they have just that.
With 3,330 sq ft of living space, it is the biggest chalet in town and comfortably accommodates 24 guests in 12 bedrooms. Each of those bedrooms has its own balcony or terrace, offering all-day sun and stunning vistas of Mont Blanc. Other standout amenities include a private helipad, a cinema, a boardroom, and a fully-equipped spa and wellness center, including a swimming pool with swim-against jets.
Guests can book a chef with Michelin-level experience to cook gourmet food throughout your stay. Ski lifts are just a short drive away and chauffeurs are on-demand throughout the day to whisk you to and from the best slopes. Set away from the busy center in the exclusive Coupeau neighborhood, guests will also be able to spot local wildlife from their balconies. Deer, chamois, and marmots regularly roam the grounds surrounding the chalet.
From $55,000 to $110,000 (approx.) per week catered, lechaletmontblanc.com
Le Coucou
Méribel, France
Le Coucou offers amazing ski-in, ski-out access to the slopes
We move away from the world of private chalets and into luxury hotels, and we start with one of the most exciting new openings of the season. Le Coucou opened its doors for the first time this season, bringing a new level of luxury to the already star-studded Méribel.
The elegant five-star hotel offers 55 spacious suites and rooms and two stunning private chalets. It boasts a fantastic ski-in/ski-out location perched on the heights of Belvedere, close to Le Rond-Point des Pistes, offering panoramic views across the slopes of Méribel. The private chalets are both independent four-bedroom residences. They have their own ski room, pool and spa, offering guests the utmost privacy but still experiencing the five-star service Le Coucou offers.
There is also a strong emphasis on wellness and recovery. The on-site Tata Harper Spa offers a range of rejuvenating treatments while two swimming pools and a fitness center allow guests to stay active off of the pistes as well. Le Coucou also brings two new restaurant concepts in The Beefbar and Bianca Neve. The former offers some of the world’s most prized meats such as Australian Wagyu and Japanese Kobe while the latter brings fresh elevated Italian cuisine to the slopes.
From $480 (approx.) on a bed and breakfast basis, lecoucoumeribel.com
Chalet Chouqui
Verbier, Switzerland
Dinner with a view at Chalet Chouqui in Verbier
You have to do something special to stand out in Verbier, Switzerland, the town that all other ski resorts look up to when it comes to luxury. Chalet Chouqui is one of the town’s most recent arrivals and brought a fresh sense of modern opulence with it.
The nine-bedroom suite offers 2,952 sq ft of premium interior space, which has been designed and furnished by the prominent London designer Gytha Nuttal. There are odes to her British heritage through the use of herringbone tweeds and custom-made English furniture.
A sprawling terrace offers beautiful views out across the imposing Mont Blanc Massif and there is enough space for an al-fresco dinner when the weather allows. The views can also be enjoyed from the bedrooms, each of which has a private terrace or balcony.
The private spa area has a 49-ft pool, outdoor cedar hot tub, and hammam, making it the perfect place for respite after a long day on the slopes. The chalet also has a games room with table tennis and table football, home cinema and a bar with an impressive adjoining wine cellar.
From $82,000 to $118,000 (approx.) per week. To book, contact Leo Trippi on +44 1285 366 030 or visit leotrippi.com/chalet-chouqui
W Aspen & The Sky Residences
Aspen, Colorado
W Aspen is the town’s first new luxury hotel for 25 years
W Aspen opened last August to become the first new luxury hotel in the town for 25 years. Although Aspen was not wanting for high-end accommodation, it is certainly a breath of fresh air for the town’s devotees. It is the second ski resort from the luxury brand following W Verbier and this latest property has been modeled on that. There are 99 accommodations of which 11 are residences.
The hotel is in keeping with the vibrant and colorful traditions of Aspen. Modern art is plentiful throughout the common areas while all of the guestrooms and suites have been designed in a style reminiscent of the pop culture icon Bob Ross. Offering year-round luxury, the WET® Deck will be the place to see and be seen, offering excellent après-ski in winter and cooling cocktails in the summer. It is Aspen’s only year-round, all-weather, public rooftop and offers jaw-dropping, panoramic mountain views, which can be enjoyed from a heated pool and hot tub.
The residences are located slope-side on Aspen Mountain and give owners access to a private, owners-only roof deck with a spa, lounge seating, BBQ grills, outdoor kitchen, and fire pit.
Mega Residence at Sky Residences from $2,629 per night, marriott.co.uk/sky-residences-at-w-aspen
And for this season only…
Sun Valley Resort
Sun Valley, Idaho
Sun Valley Resort Lodge has hosted several stars over the years /
©Idarado Media
The Oscars are over for another year, but A-listers will be back on the red carpet next month at the Sun Valley Film Festival. Although founded in 1936, Sun Valley continues to be a hidden gem in the Idaho mountains and has counted on a devout Hollywood following for half a century.
The film festival is the perfect opportunity to see the town at its best, and the Ultimate Hollywood Ski Getaway package is the only way to go. This three-night package offers two guests three nights in the Sun Valley Lodge’s Hemingway Suite, where the famous author finishing writing “For Whom the Bell Tolls”. The package grants the highest level of access to all films, panels and parties and reserved seats at the coveted Vision Dinner. Of course, there is also exclusive access to the slopes. The package offers access to the tracks before the resort opens to the public and guests will be joined by a Sun Valley ski legend.
Package runs March 18-22 and is priced at $20,000 per couple; +1 310 586 7111, sunvalleyfilmfestival.org
Montage Deer Valley
Deer Valley, Utah
Montage Deer Valley is celebrating its 10th anniversary in style
Montage Deer Valley has launched an incredible over-the-top experience to celebrate 10 years since its opening in Park City, Utah. Costing a cool $100,000, the experience takes 10 guests on a journey through the mountain resort’s short but illustrious history. The anniversary offers three nights of luxurious accommodation for all 10 guests.
Over those three nights, you and your group will experience the very best of what Montage Deer Valley has to offer, including a night in The Après Lounge with unlimited Veuve Clicquot, a 10-course culinary experience at Apex, a custom ski and boot fitting, and a signature treatment at Spa Montage Deer Valley. But that is just the Après, so what about shredding the slopes? Montage Deer Valley has pulled out all the stops there, securing the services of an Olympic champion to take you and your friends on a whirlwind tour of the local pistes. The champion will show you the best ski runs and offer a few pointers on your technique, making sure you end the week a little bit closer to your own gold medal.
