With a rasp and a swish, the 2022 ski season has arrived. After a couple of years of cancellations, it’s set to be the biggest – and best – for a while, especially considering the raft of new luxury chalets, hotels and resorts about to throw open their doors. Here, we’ve rounded up five to know about, from a gourmet ski safari to an above-the-clouds suite accessible only by ski lift.
M Lodge & Spa, Saint Martin de Belleville
When it opens on 15th December, this boutique hotel by Fish&Pips will become the only five-star property in Saint Martin de Belleville, a tiny village in the heart of The Three Valleys. Its 25 chalet rooms are sleek, spacious and filled with sumptuous textures; we particularly like the hide bed frames and ultra-soft woolly pillows. Families are likely to love the two-bedroom split-level suites, which have billiards tables and private bars overlooking the mountains.
Insider’s tip: if travelling in a larger group, book one of the two private chalets, which sleep up to 10 and come with a swimming pool, sauna, private chef, butler and driver – the epitome of luxury chalet living.
M Lodge & Spa, Saint Martin de Belleville
Four Seasons Megève Collection, France
Megève has long attracted the rich and famous, yet there’s more to discover for even the most discerning skier. Case in point: the new Suite Idéal at Four Seasons Megève Collection. Only accessible by cable car, it offers almost private views of Mont Blanc from its 1850m altitude, and – as is typical for Four Seasons – the service is excellent. A ski concierge is on hand to prepare your skis, warm your boots and prepare a personalised ski itinerary – and, given the suite’s lofty location, you will be first to hit the slopes in the morning.
Insider’s tip: other delights at the hotel – and there are many – include a two-level wine cellar filled with over 15,000 bottles, an Alpine-view restaurant run by one of the globe’s most Michelin-distinguished female chefs, and a glorious spa offering treatments for children, teenagers and adults.
Four Seasons Megève Collection, France
Villars Palace, Switzerland
Villars’ 125km of slopes are once again open for business – as is Villars Palace, which emerges this month after an 18-month-long facelift. Originally built in 1913, it is one of Villars’ most recognisable buildings; thoughtful renovations have only freshened its golden age glamour. New, modern touches include gleaming alpine décor and a spacious spa stacked with carbon-neutral products. For families, the hotel has its own nursery slopes and a snow garden; however, there is also 44km of cross-country ski trails for the more experienced skiers.
Insider’s tip: this is the perfect resort for families, with off-slope activities including a kids’ kingdom and pastry lessons for both smaller children and teenagers.
Villars Palace, Switzerland
Gold Mine Lodge, Colorado
There is a plethora of ski stays located in and around Colorado, and this year, Onefinestay is debuting a selection of chalets across some of the region’s most desirable ski towns. Each varies in size and style, but you’ve struck gold (pardon the pun) with the Gold Mine Lodge, which is just steps from Yampa Valley’s Thunderhead ski lift. The elegant chalet sleeps 16 and is crafted out of original gold mine timbers; it feels like an incredibly elevated treehouse, with the antler chandeliers and valley views to match.
Insider’s tip: another good option is Stag Lodge in upscale Cordillera, where marble-topped dining areas and a cosy theatre room manage to be upstaged by a master bedroom featuring a jacuzzi tub and fireplace.
Gold Mine Lodge, Colorado
Riders Hotel, Laax, Switzerland
Offering something a little different, this recently revamped hotel is aimed at adrenaline-seekers – a good thing too, as it’s located in the home of freestyle skiing and boarding. It’s a cool, compact concept; black metalwork sits alongside bare lightbulbs and brushed concrete floors, dining is vegetarian-only, and the entire hotel is carbon neutral. A regular roster of pop-ups includes ‘ink and drink’ – where guests can opt for a spontaneous tattoo – and its 700-capacity basement club draws in electronic music fans on the weekend.
Insider’s tip: prepare for the intermediate terrain and snow parks by practising your tricks at the next-door Freestyle Academy’s dry slope jumps.
Riders Hotel, Laax, Switzerland
Hotel Badia Hill, Dolomites
If you’re just as interested in alpine dining as you are skiing, this new boutique hotel will fit the bill. It has just 33 eclectic bedrooms overlooking the snow-kissed slopes, including ‘Pralina’ – which comes with a box of pralines from the hotel’s patisserie – and ‘Cigar Suite’, which is fitted with a smoking room, humidor and its own turntables. However, food and fine wine are really the focus here. You’ll be met in the bar with an aperitif from the owner, Michaela, whilst her other half, Marco, can be found devising a daily changing menu in his restaurant, Porcino.
Insider’s tip: join the week-long gourmet Ski Safari by Alta Badia. This enables you to ski from alpine hut to alpine hut, stopping at each to sample the ‘A Taste for Skiing’ dishes presented by the Michelin-starred chefs that created it.
Hotel Badia Hill, Dolomites
If you’ve yet to plan the perfect ski trip, leave it to Quintessentially Travel. As well as knowing all the latest openings and hotspots, they’ve got the connections to make it your most luxurious season to date.
