The colder months may encourage coziness, but that doesn’t have to mean just cocooning at home all season. Throughout the winter, intrepid travelers can get their fill of snow sports with side dishes of art, culture, history and natural phenomena.
Located in fabulous destinations, these winter hotels and resorts are gems — they will warm your heart and fire up your sense of adventure, whether that includes Icelandic snorkeling, a Patagonian mountaintop disco, an Azerbaijani snowplow tour or something else altogether.
As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
W Verbier in Verbier, Switzerland
Speaking of the Alps, discover the perfect marriage of mountain chic and urban design at W Verbier. Chalet charm meets city sophistication at this luxury spa hotel, which is just steps away from the main ski lifts, which open up 256 miles of groomed slopes, along with some of the world’s best off-piste terrain.
The hotel’s rooms and suites are the most the most spacious available in this southwestern Swiss village, and each has a private balcony. Expect other cozy creature comforts, too, like fireplaces, pillow-top mattresses and goose-down bedding, not to mention relaxing treatments at the on-site Le Spa.
The St. Regis Aspen Resort in Aspen, Colorado
Colorado also throws down with superb slopes and cool vibes at The St. Regis Aspen Resort. The property sits at the base of Aspen Mountain, one of the world’s most iconic ski destinations — and Snowmass, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk Mountain are also nearby.
Aprés, back at your hotel room, warm up in your marble bathroom’s tub, or head for the heated outdoor pool. Then sip bubbly from sabered bottles at the Mountain Social Bar & Lounge before refueling with local, seasonal fusion cuisine at Velvet Buck, the resort’s flagship restaurant.
ION Adventure Hotel, Nesjavellir, a Member of Design Hotels in Nesjavellir, Iceland
Icelandic winters sizzle — and not just because of the country’s volcanos and geothermal power. Turn to the ION Adventure Hotel, Nesjavellir, a Member of Design Hotels for concrete minimalism, salvaged driftwood and design features made from local lava.
Set in the southwestern town of Selfoss, it’s near a national crossroad, which opens up a wealth of day trips. One fan-favorite option: snorkeling or diving between tectonic plates in Thingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, about 17 miles northeast of the hotel.
Delta Hotels by Marriott Whistler Village Suites in Whistler, Canada
Ski in the tracks of Olympians in Whistler, British Columbia, on Canada’s west coast. The village sits 75 miles up the stunning Sea-to-Sky Highway from Vancouver and backs onto Whistler Blackcomb, a top ski resort worldwide.
Beyond the superb scenery and snow sports, spare time for the 1.6-mile trek to a vividly graffitied train wreck in the forest and digitally detox with thermal therapy at the silent Scandinave Spa outdoors. Then learn more about the area’s First Nations at the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Líl̓wat7úl (Squamish Lil’wat) Cultural Center.
Stay at Delta Hotels by Marriott Whistler Village Suites, where pet-friendly suites contain fireplaces and full kitchens.
Park Chalet, Shahdag, Autograph Collection in Gusar, Azerbaijan
Take the road less traveled to one of Azerbaijan’s largest ski resorts. Shadowed by the Caucasus Mountains, Şahdağ (Shahdag) unfurls views of ancient glaciers, lofty peaks and pristine skiing terrain. But it piles on other winter delights with tubing, ice-skating, an alpine coaster, winter paintball and even a tour on a snow-grooming plow.
Stay at the five-star Park Chalet, Shahdag, Autograph Collection, where elegance mingles with rustic charm and a kids club gives all family members opportunities for age-appropriate fun.
Pack warm, though: Winter lows average –4°F.
Arelauquen Lodge, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, San Carlos de Bariloche in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina
Adventures abound near Argentina’s Arelauquen Lodge, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, San Carlos de Bariloche, which boasts free Wi-Fi and fully equipped in-room kitchens.
Twenty-seven lifts appeal to snow sports fans at Catedral Alta Patagonia, along with its restaurants and panoramic views of the Andes and Nahuel Huapi national park. Or ride the Cerro Otto cable car to sled, snowshoe and meet Saint Bernard dogs; then hit its disco, microcinema or the rotating cafeteria. (Just keep in mind that in the Southern Hemisphere, the winter season runs from June until September.)
San Carlos de Bariloche is a sweet Patagonia town, in more ways than one. Cacao connoisseurs shouldn’t miss the city’s “Avenue of Chocolate Dreams,” celebrating its famous candy-crafting traditions.
Scribner’s Catskill Lodge, a Member of Design Hotels in Hunter, New York
Downshift with saunas and stargazing at Scribner’s Catskill Lodge, a Member of Design Hotels, a bespoke lodge 130 miles north of New York City. This chic spot features unique wallpaper prints by artist-in-residence Alexandra Reboul, inspired by the seasons and surrounding mountains.
Play billiards in the library or cozy up beside its round fireplace. Winter amenities include a barrel sauna and a “glice” rink (an eco-friendlier synthetic material that has the look and feel of frozen water). And don’t miss the spacious, round cabins with gas fireplaces, circular sunken sofas, oculi for stargazing and outdoor Japanese soaking tubs.
Plus, you can bring your pup on your cozy getaway. The dog-friendly hotel offers a “Pupstater Program” that comes with basic necessities for your stay, including bowls and other perks like waste bags and treats.
The Westin Changbaishan Resort in Jilin, China
China’s Changbai Mountain is emerging as a top-tier winter destination, thanks partly to its world-famous powder and snow period running from mid-November to early April. The area’s also famous for “rime,” granular tufts of ice condensed from mist, which transform grass blades and tree branches into ethereal temporary sculptures.
After a busy day sightseeing or on the slopes, recharge at the indoor pool at The Westin Changbaishan Resort. The rooms continue this serenity with rainforest showers and floor-to-ceiling windows.
JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resort & Spa in Uttarakhand, India
Channel your inner Yeti on a ridge facing the Himalayas, where the five-star JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resort & Spa sits 6,500 feet above sea level in Uttarakhand, India. Stroll the Benog Wildlife Sanctuary, home to leopards and raucous red-billed blue magpies, or hike 2.7-miles round-trip to summit George Everest Peak as prayer flags frame panoramas of snow-gilded peaks.
Shutterbugs also shouldn’t miss the “corn village” of Sainji, where golden cobs adorn most homes. And watch for the “winterline” — a horizontal band that creates a false horizon, dividing foggy conditions below from clear skies above — only visible here and in the Swiss Alps.
Related Articles
