Where Everyone’s Going to Be Skiing This Winter
- Produced by Virtuoso with Ski.com
- Dec 8, 2023
- 4 min read
Produced by Virtuoso with Ski.com
Skiing in Courchevel combines pristine conditions with European delights.
Destination experts on snow season’s trending adventures.
Skiers dream of wintry escapes months before snow flies – and this year’s most sought-after destinations span the globe. Avid travelers are choosing stateside classics, chic French aeries, and even Japanese slopes, where après-ski means hot springs and sake. With ski trips trending, early bookings and expert help will pay dividends this season, says Virtuoso travel advisor Amy Paderewski.
“The world is traveling again, so planning ahead is essential to getting what you want,” Paderewski says. “Working with a travel advisor is key to being able to narrow down the search in a very short time, versus spending hours on the internet.”
For ski trips, Paderewski often turns to the dedicated mountain travel experts at Ski.com, who combine flights, hotel stays, lift tickets, ski lessons, and off-mountain fun into streamlined itineraries. Since these destination specialists know the world’s best resorts, from luxe lodges to off-piste adventures, they can leverage local intel to craft truly custom experiences tailored to each traveler. Here’s where they’re sending discerning skiers this season.
Snowmass offers ski lessons for every level.
The Fun Family Go-To: Snowmass
Ample beginner and intermediate slopes make Snowmass, Colorado, a favorite for Ski.com’s mountain travel experts. The resort offers plenty of room for older kids to explore as well: Snowmass lift tickets also include access to Aspen, Aspen Highlands, and Buttermilk mountains, with a shuttle bus that whisks skiers between base areas.
Virtuoso advisors work with Ski.com’s experts to build itineraries around the resort’s plentiful ski-in, ski-out lodging accommodations, such as the 162-room Viceroy Snowmass, and schedule child care and activities for children as young as 8 weeks old at the Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center in Snowmass Village. And the fun doesn’t stop at the base lodge. “When your family is ready for a day off the mountain, we can arrange for dogsledding or snowmobiling at the famous Maroon Bells peaks,” says Sara Thomas, a Ski.com mountain travel expert.
Downhill skiing at Whistler Blackcomb.
The Ski-Squad Getaway: Whistler Blackcomb
Spectacular skiing is just the start at Whistler Blackcomb, where more than 8,000 acres of terrain form North America’s largest ski resort. “It’s an excellent option for adventurous friend groups looking to try new things,” says Ski.com mountain travel expert Katie Morlind – she loves planning thrill-seeking experiences such as heli-skiing, cat skiing, and zip-lining. The energy on the mountain’s ski runs matches the lively nightlife in Whistler Village. “It’s common to find restaurants or bars that start the party at lunch and go until early in the morning,” Morlind says.
Whistler’s best-in-class food scene is drawing ambitious chefs from nearby Vancouver, British Columbia, who riff on local seasonal ingredients, such as sea kelp and Pemberton potatoes. If your squad loves fine dining and drinking, Morlind recommends tasting tours through the village’s best spots, or facing the subzero temperatures of the Ketel One Ice Room, where visitors can don Arctic-inspired parkas while sipping vodka flights.
Cozy nights in Courchevel.
The Go-Big Trip: Courchevel
A journey to the French resort of Courchevel reveals alpine peaks beloved by royals and European jet-setters. “Travelers can find a lot of luxury in the mountains, but Courchevel may be the most luxurious destination of them all,” says Ski.com mountain travel expert Anthony Luczkow. “A classic après-ski experience in Courchevel looks like raclette and Champagne on a sundeck or a sunset helicopter flight from the slopeside airport.”
Securing chic reservations in Courchevel is a sport all its own, but Ski.com experts can help travelers plan ahead to secure trending locales. The resort’s eight Michelin-starred restaurants – including in-house dining at the 36-room Cheval Blanc Courchevel and 36-room Hotel Le K2 Palace – set the bar for a culinary scene rich in alpine cheeses and Savoie wines. Daytime skiing holds its own among those elevated offerings: The resort forms the exclusive, easternmost edge of The Three Valleys Ski Area, whose 373 miles of skiable slopes constitute the world’s largest lift-linked ski area.
The Close-to-Home Classic: Vail
True icons are always in style. “Vail is famous with skiers around the world,” says Ski.com mountain travel expert Erin Mooney. The resort’s 5,000-plus acres of skiable terrain live up to that global renown, especially the vast powder playground of its back bowls. A European feel in Austria-inspired Vail Village belies the resort’s easy access, and its vibrant après-ski scene is steps from the base lodge. “Before a fine-dining experience, there are plenty of bars, restaurants, and outdoor patios where you can say ‘Cheers!’ to another day on the slopes,” Mooney says. Custom Ski.com itineraries banish standard fare with handpicked options for dining, lodging, and experiences, whether you’re planning a romantic getaway or chasing bluebird days amid Colorado powder.
Hitting the slopes in Niseko.
The Under-the-Radar Pick: Niseko, Japan
Great drifts of powder bury the island of Hokkaido each year, drawing skiers to forested mountain retreats such as Niseko. “In Hokkaido you’ll find literally the world’s best snow, as well as gentle terrain suitable for intermediate skiers and riders,” says Tench Coxe, a Ski.com mountain travel expert. The four resorts that make up Niseko United form Hokkaido’s premier ski destination, with recent openings – including the 170-room Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono – earning the island a new rep for luxury. Topping out at less than 4,000 feet, the resorts are also a boon for skiers who prefer to avoid higher peaks that usually require gradual acclimatization. Off-mountain activities are an immersion in Hokkaido culture: Soak muscles in a mineral-rich onsen spring, then sample warming curries and ramen in the base area of Grand Hirafu.
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I help passionate travelers plan food, wine, and active adventures to unique destinations across the globe.
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