The winter is around the corner, and hoping to embrace the next ski season. Despite the pandemic, our preferred ski resorts are committed, motivated, and preparing for their guests with enthusiasm and love. We expect the skiing experience to be even more spectacular due to a reduction of resort visitors, which will give you the privilege to enjoy the slopes even more. Even where the local authorities impose certain limitations, the ski resorts, together with our number one choice of hotels, are doing everything so that your skiing holidays are memorable and make you want to come back. We will do our part as well since we consider your pleasure as our utmost duty. We want you to enjoy your ski holidays and present to you our favorite and most recommended ski resorts for this winter:
Kulm Hotel, St. Moritz, Switzerland
The Kulm Hotel in St. Moritz is one of the village’s grand hotels. The hotel opened in 1864, and since then, this renowned property has accommodated numerous well-known guests. It has 172 rooms in total. The village center can be reached by foot within a few minutes, as is the gondola, which leads to the extremely wide-ranged ski area. The hotel offers a Michelin star restaurant and a very spacious spa area. To enjoy St. Moritz and its charm, the Kulm is perfect to combine skiing experience and relaxation.
Thurnhers Alpenhof, Zürs, Austria
The Arlberg area is one of the most beautiful ski areas in the world. It is a challenge to explore this area due to its endless slope choices. In addition to the well-known town of Lech, Zürs is becoming increasingly popular. Perfectly connected to the ski area with skiing in and skiing, Zürs offers traditional restaurants and chic hotels. The privately-owned Thurnhers Alpenhof is a 5-star hotel with only 38 rooms. It is a property surrounded by beautiful mountains where you feel at home and enjoy a very personal service. The Thurnhers Alpenhof spoils culinary delights at the highest level – the two top chefs Ronald Thielemann and René Pusch, take the guests on a culinary journey every evening. The hotel is also ideal for families, as the children’s lifts are only a few meters away from the hotel. We highly recommend this unique property for skiing holidays in the Arlberg region.
Grand Hotel Zermatterhof, Zermatt, Switzerland
The Matterhorn – 4,478 meters high – is probably the most famous mountain in Switzerland, and nowhere else does one have a better view of it than from the village of Zermatt. Zermatt is a car-free village in the south of Switzerland with the typical Swiss mountain and chalet charm over and beyond your expectations of a traditional alpine town. The ski area is considered one of the best but also most demanding in Switzerland. The Zermatterhof is located in the middle of the nostalgic village center since 1879. This Grand Hotel is by no means old and dusty with its 64 rooms – on the contrary, due to the recent renovation, the hotel has a new, modern but still traditional look. To unwind after a long skiing day, the spa is the perfect spot with a large pool, sauna, and fitness. Zermatterhof’s cuisine relies on Swiss and French specialties. The “say cheese” restaurant, where everything revolves around great Swiss cheese, is particularly popular. The hotel chauffeurs the skiers to the ski lift and back again by golf cart. And even after a week in Zermatt, the sight of the Matterhorn remains breathtaking.
Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski, St. Moritz, Switzerland
Another bijou in St. Moritz with 184 rooms is the Kempinski located on the wonderful village’s edge. The hotel offers 3 excellent restaurants and a 3,000 m² spa with pool, sauna, and fitness. The “Les Saisons” Restaurant welcomes daily with a gourmet breakfast and over Christmas and New Year’s Eve, also with champagne. The “Enoteca” offers regional Swiss dishes and has 14 Gault Millau points. The Ca d’Oro is a gourmet restaurant with 17 Gault Millau points, which serves menus that appeal to all the senses. The lobby bar is the casual heart of the Hotel, where you can meet after skiing or spend a relaxed evening with piano music. We also offer a 4th night free in this hotel throughout the winter.
W Aspen, Aspen in Colorado, USA
The legendary champagne powder is one of the main reasons why one should definitely experience skiing in Aspen. Aspen also offers numerous events over the winter. Aspen’s art scene is growing, and the Aspen Art Museum is becoming increasingly important in the art scene. For music lovers, some concerts usually offer free entry. Aspen offers numerous luxury hotels, of which we recommend the W Aspen with its 88 rooms. The hotel opened in summer 2019, and the brand aims for the young at heart. It has a great location right next to the ski lifts and not far from the center. On the “Wet Deck,” people meet every day for a cozy après-ski before going to the hotel’s own “Living Room” – this is the hotel’s restaurant where creative cuisine is offered. The W Aspen will be one of the must-be places for a perfect ski holiday in Aspen this winter 2020.
The selection of ski areas and hotels is numerous, and everyone is looking forward to many guests in winter 2020. Thanks to the pandemic, there are still numerous availabilities in almost all regions, and the cancellation conditions have become very flexible this year. Anyone who experienced Venice this summer without mass tourism should definitely plan a ski vacation and take advantage. There will be significantly less traffic on the slopes this winter, and we are convinced that a ski vacation in 2020/21 will be your highlight of the year!
Guido Graf is Founder of Privateupgrades. Privateupgrades is a global luxury travel club with over 20 years of experience in luxury hotels, ensuring exclusive VIP privileges like upgrades, free breakfast, free nights, rate discounts, free airport transfers, free massages and much more.If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.
Guido Graf, born in Vienna, is a respected businessman and pioneer in the European luxury travel industry. After studying in Switzerland, he founded Deluxetargets in 2001, one of the most esteemed companies for luxury travel in Europe. In 2017, he recognized the growing importance of the digital market and launched PrivateUpgrades, an online platform providing access to over 2000 luxury hotels with exclusive VIP benefits. Graf is widely acknowledged as an expert in luxury hotels and continually sets new standards for exceptional travel experiences. Moreover, since 2008, he is the exclusive representative for Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic in Switzerland. Graf also sits on advisory boards of several renowned luxury hotel brands and has held a consulting role in several significant hotel openings such as the Royal Atlantis in Dubai. His innovative spirit and entrepreneurial foresight make him a leading figure in the luxury travel industry.
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7 Comments
Eventually we ended up cancelling our February ski-trip. It doesn’t look as if we’ll do a trip now before God knows when next year.
Anyway good to get some ideas on resorts for next time. When we finally hit the slopes it’s gonna be some ski-trip!!!
If the situation should change until winter, you can still decide on short notice and go to the mountains. I am glad that our tips here are helpful.
The idea of Private Upgrades could save you a lot. I’ve stayed at 2 hotels recently where breakfast wasn’t included in the room rate. The add on cost of one of those breakfasts was extortionate.
Thank you, Janet, for addressing this topic. Breakfast is indeed and especially in luxury hotels a price point. On average, it is 50 USD per person – in Paris, we have a hotel where it costs 90 Euros per person per day (and is an incredible experience). This is 180 Euros per day, which we add to every booking – combined with the room upgrade, we talk about price advantages of 300 Euros per day and more.
You can get some bargain rates on hotel websites but there’s usually a reason for it. Not all standard rooms are the same. Sometimes you’ll get a room next to a lift or on a corner by the laundry room. I’ve learnt my lesson the hard way and now take a lot more care when booking. Always look out for the hidden extras too.
I feel for the travel industry right now and hope that winter destinations will fare better than our spring and summer places. The family have always planned seasonal outings as we really do enjoy holidays with different things to do. While I do understand that big resort and hotel chains like the W or Kempinski can offer an all-in experience and great service, I find myself rooting for the smaller lodges for now, to keep them all in the game.
Hello Irma – yes, it is not an easy time for the travel industry at the moment. No industry is crisis-resistant anymore, but the difficulty is to predict how long this pandemic will last.
Many people are now looking for smaller hotels and accommodations – for me, this is partly unfounded because the space available in larger hotels has more space for social distancing. Many hotels do not sell all of their rooms to provide the guests with the space they need. I would recommend trying a bigger hotel, and I think you will be surprised.
Kulm Hotel, St. Moritz, Switzerland
The Kulm Hotel in St. Moritz is one of the village’s grand hotels. The hotel opened in 1864, and since then, this renowned property has accommodated numerous well-known guests. It has 172 rooms in total. The village center can be reached by foot within a few minutes, as is the gondola, which leads to the extremely wide-ranged ski area. The hotel offers a Michelin star restaurant and a very spacious spa area. To enjoy St. Moritz and its charm, the Kulm is perfect to combine skiing experience and relaxation.
Kulm Hotel, St. Moritz, Switzerland
The Kulm Hotel in St. Moritz is one of the village’s grand hotels. The hotel opened in 1864, and since then, this renowned property has accommodated numerous well-known guests. It has 172 rooms in total. The village center can be reached by foot within a few minutes, as is the gondola, which leads to the extremely wide-ranged ski area. The hotel offers a Michelin star restaurant and a very spacious spa area. To enjoy St. Moritz and its charm, the Kulm is perfect to combine skiing experience and relaxation.
Thurnhers Alpenhof, Zürs, Austria
The Arlberg area is one of the most beautiful ski areas in the world. It is a challenge to explore this area due to its endless slope choices. In addition to the well-known town of Lech, Zürs is becoming increasingly popular. Perfectly connected to the ski area with skiing in and skiing, Zürs offers traditional restaurants and chic hotels. The privately-owned Thurnhers Alpenhof is a 5-star hotel with only 38 rooms. It is a property surrounded by beautiful mountains where you feel at home and enjoy a very personal service. The Thurnhers Alpenhof spoils culinary delights at the highest level – the two top chefs Ronald Thielemann and René Pusch, take the guests on a culinary journey every evening. The hotel is also ideal for families, as the children’s lifts are only a few meters away from the hotel. We highly recommend this unique property for skiing holidays in the Arlberg region.
Grand Hotel Zermatterhof, Zermatt, Switzerland
The Matterhorn – 4,478 meters high – is probably the most famous mountain in Switzerland, and nowhere else does one have a better view of it than from the village of Zermatt. Zermatt is a car-free village in the south of Switzerland with the typical Swiss mountain and chalet charm over and beyond your expectations of a traditional alpine town. The ski area is considered one of the best but also most demanding in Switzerland. The Zermatterhof is located in the middle of the nostalgic village center since 1879. This Grand Hotel is by no means old and dusty with its 64 rooms – on the contrary, due to the recent renovation, the hotel has a new, modern but still traditional look. To unwind after a long skiing day, the spa is the perfect spot with a large pool, sauna, and fitness. Zermatterhof’s cuisine relies on Swiss and French specialties. The “say cheese” restaurant, where everything revolves around great Swiss cheese, is particularly popular. The hotel chauffeurs the skiers to the ski lift and back again by golf cart. And even after a week in Zermatt, the sight of the Matterhorn remains breathtaking.
Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski, St. Moritz, Switzerland
Another bijou in St. Moritz with 184 rooms is the Kempinski located on the wonderful village’s edge. The hotel offers 3 excellent restaurants and a 3,000 m² spa with pool, sauna, and fitness. The “Les Saisons” Restaurant welcomes daily with a gourmet breakfast and over Christmas and New Year’s Eve, also with champagne. The “Enoteca” offers regional Swiss dishes and has 14 Gault Millau points. The Ca d’Oro is a gourmet restaurant with 17 Gault Millau points, which serves menus that appeal to all the senses. The lobby bar is the casual heart of the Hotel, where you can meet after skiing or spend a relaxed evening with piano music. We also offer a 4th night free in this hotel throughout the winter.
W Aspen, Aspen in Colorado, USA
The legendary champagne powder is one of the main reasons why one should definitely experience skiing in Aspen. Aspen also offers numerous events over the winter. Aspen’s art scene is growing, and the Aspen Art Museum is becoming increasingly important in the art scene. For music lovers, some concerts usually offer free entry. Aspen offers numerous luxury hotels, of which we recommend the W Aspen with its 88 rooms. The hotel opened in summer 2019, and the brand aims for the young at heart. It has a great location right next to the ski lifts and not far from the center. On the “Wet Deck,” people meet every day for a cozy après-ski before going to the hotel’s own “Living Room” – this is the hotel’s restaurant where creative cuisine is offered. The W Aspen will be one of the must-be places for a perfect ski holiday in Aspen this winter 2020.
The selection of ski areas and hotels is numerous, and everyone is looking forward to many guests in winter 2020. Thanks to the pandemic, there are still numerous availabilities in almost all regions, and the cancellation conditions have become very flexible this year. Anyone who experienced Venice this summer without mass tourism should definitely plan a ski vacation and take advantage. There will be significantly less traffic on the slopes this winter, and we are convinced that a ski vacation in 2020/21 will be your highlight of the year!
Guido Graf is Founder of Privateupgrades. Privateupgrades is a global luxury travel club with over 20 years of experience in luxury hotels, ensuring exclusive VIP privileges like upgrades, free breakfast, free nights, rate discounts, free airport transfers, free massages and much more.
If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.
Eventually we ended up cancelling our February ski-trip. It doesn’t look as if we’ll do a trip now before God knows when next year.
Anyway good to get some ideas on resorts for next time. When we finally hit the slopes it’s gonna be some ski-trip!!!
Hello Jack
If the situation should change until winter, you can still decide on short notice and go to the mountains. I am glad that our tips here are helpful.
The idea of Private Upgrades could save you a lot. I’ve stayed at 2 hotels recently where breakfast wasn’t included in the room rate. The add on cost of one of those breakfasts was extortionate.
Thank you, Janet, for addressing this topic. Breakfast is indeed and especially in luxury hotels a price point. On average, it is 50 USD per person – in Paris, we have a hotel where it costs 90 Euros per person per day (and is an incredible experience). This is 180 Euros per day, which we add to every booking – combined with the room upgrade, we talk about price advantages of 300 Euros per day and more.
You can get some bargain rates on hotel websites but there’s usually a reason for it. Not all standard rooms are the same. Sometimes you’ll get a room next to a lift or on a corner by the laundry room. I’ve learnt my lesson the hard way and now take a lot more care when booking. Always look out for the hidden extras too.
I feel for the travel industry right now and hope that winter destinations will fare better than our spring and summer places. The family have always planned seasonal outings as we really do enjoy holidays with different things to do. While I do understand that big resort and hotel chains like the W or Kempinski can offer an all-in experience and great service, I find myself rooting for the smaller lodges for now, to keep them all in the game.
Hello Irma – yes, it is not an easy time for the travel industry at the moment. No industry is crisis-resistant anymore, but the difficulty is to predict how long this pandemic will last.
Many people are now looking for smaller hotels and accommodations – for me, this is partly unfounded because the space available in larger hotels has more space for social distancing. Many hotels do not sell all of their rooms to provide the guests with the space they need. I would recommend trying a bigger hotel, and I think you will be surprised.