16 luxury ski hotels in the northern hemisphere

The St. Regis Aspen Resort is a magnificent mountainside manor with a superior location just walking distance of Aspen’s famed ski slopes. Guests receive a complimentary ski pass when booking three nights or more, meaning they can enjoy the highest concentration of ski areas in Colorado.

The resort is furnished to the highest standard, with guest rooms containing antique oak flooring, leather beds, Ralph Lauren desks, marble bathrooms and mountain views.

Sweden’s Jukkasjärvi is home to the world-renowned Icehotel, which is built anew each winter and melts each Spring. This hotel welcomes artists from all over the world to create magnificent and unique ice sculptures and hotel rooms, using only frozen water from the Torne River.

During the day, guests can enjoy dogsledding, reindeer-viewing, snowmobiling or ice sculpting. In the evening, guests may be lucky enough to glimpse the famed northern lights. The hotel provides single or double sleeping bags and a complimentary morning sauna to those who choose to brave the cold in an ice room.

Cristallo Spa & Golf is the only five-star hotel in the picturesque Dolomites mountain range, ideally located just two hours from Venice in the exclusive town of Cortina d’Ampezzo. This elegant hotel has been welcoming the international elite since 1901 and is renowned for its combination of privacy and luxury.

Guests can expect hand-painted wall panels, embroidered carpets and silk bedcovers combined with state-of-the-art technology, hydro-massage Jacuzzi bathtubs and breathtaking mountain or valley views from their guest rooms, as well as access to an impressive 450 ski lifts and 1,200 kilometres of ski runs.

Hôtel de Charme Les Airelles combines grandeur with tradition as a picture-perfect ski chalet, nestled in the wooded Jardin Alpin in Courchevel 1850. This luxury mountain hotel boasts a slope-side location with access to Les Trois Vallées, famed as the largest ski area in the world.

Guests can enjoy use of the ski room, ski technician and ski valet service to maximise their time on the slopes. Les Airelles provides après-ski at its finest, with a lounge, library, fireplaces and a selection of the finest liqueurs and rarest spirits. Three restaurants operate under the renowned French chef Pierre Gagnaire, boasting traditional and regional specialities.

The village of Saariselkä is located in the heart of Lapland, boasting some of Northern Finland’s best winter wonderland scenery. The surrounding national park offers plenty of snowy adventures for outdoor-lovers, such as husky safaris, snowmobile rides, cross country skiing and ice fishing.

Igloo Village Kakslauttanen is the perfect couples retreat, offering a honeymoon suite complete with a Versace-designed tub for two and a ceiling depicting a starry night sky. For an even more unique night, its glass igloos offer the best views of the northern lights, where two people can enjoy the spectacle without leaving the comfort of the bed. Constructed with special thermal glass, the igloo remains warm and the view clear, even in sub-zero temperatures.

Completed in 2005, the five-star A-ROSA Kitzbühel has already won a handful of awards for its luxurious facilities and unrivalled service, including Austria’s Leading Lifestyle Resort and Austria’s Best Ski Hotel. The castle-like hotel is located in the picturesque Tyrolean mountains, boasting views of the Hahnenkamm peak, host of the annual Alpine Ski World Cup.

The 3,000-square-metre SPA-ROSA offers serenity and relaxation after a long day on the slopes, featuring heated indoor and outdoor pools, seven themed saunas and steam rooms, 16 treatment rooms and a rest area complete with waterbeds.

Shackleton Mountain Resort prides itself as a tranquil retreat, surrounded by nature and boasting fresh mountain air and stunning scenery. The hotel is comprised of mainly steel and glass, creating a unique landmark in the alpine village of Sestriere and offering light and space throughout the resort.

Guests can expect antique furniture, LCD satellite televisions, electronically-controlled temperature settings and hydro-massage bath tubs. The Shackleton prides itself on its innovative cuisine, boasting different menus every night, homemade pasta, locally-sourced herbs and an extensive wine list. Sestriere is part of the Milky Way ski area, comprising of 400 kilometres of 146 skiable pistes, including floodlit skiing at night.

The Cambrian prides itself as a design hotel in a stunning setting, incorporating furnishings from the likes of B&B Italia and Porada with panoramic views of the Swiss Alps. The heart of Adelboden is just next door and the ski lifts are within walking distance, giving skiers easy access to the acclaimed slopes of Bernese Oberland.

Each of the 71 rooms and suites contain king-size beds, flat-screen televisions, DVD players and complimentary Wi-Fi. The Cambrian boasts a stylish bar for après-ski cocktails, whilst the elegant restaurant specialises in New Alpine cuisine: traditional mountain dishes with a modern twist.

Grand Hotel des Alpes has been a symbol of elegance and fine hospitality in the centre of popular ski resort Chamonix since 1840. The famed 3,800-metre Aiguille du Midi and Mer de Glace, the longest glaciers in France, are situated nearby.

Skiers can also make use of the ski room, shoe dryer, ski instructor booking service as well as purchase their lift passes directly at the hotel in order to maximise their time on Chamonix’s famed slopes. A number of individually decorated rooms are available, ranging from comfortable double rooms to a 52 square-metre suite with a Jacuzzi sunk in on the bedroom floor.

Those seeking seclusion and tranquility may want to consider Vigilius Mountain Resort, situated 1,500 metres above sea level and reachable only by cable car from the town of Lana. This exceptional five-star design hotel is uniquely embedded in the mountain scenery to offer unsurpassed panoramas of the distant Italian Dolomites.

The hotel is constructed entirely from environmentally-friendly materials and provides a buffet breakfast prepared with fresh local produce, as well as offering yoga and Pilates classes three times daily. The rooms are decorated in warm colours to create an intimate atmosphere, and the resort has a serene spa in which guests can unwind in after a day of hiking through the snow-capped mountains.

Das Central is the only five-star hotel in Soelden, ideally situated in the picturesque Ötztal Valley, surrounded by over 250 impressive 3,000-metre peaks. Skiers can enjoy more than 140 kilometres of quality pistes operated by 35 state-of-the-art ski lifts and gondolas.

Guests can expect superior amenities and services at Das Central, including a pillow menu, special mattresses, bathrobe and daily turndown service. The impressive 1,500 square-metre spa boasts three storeys of ten different saunas and 16 treatment rooms offering Alpine and oriental treatments. Wine-lovers will appreciate the 30,000 bottles in Das Central’s wine cellar, with a particular focus on matured Austrian wines.

Located at the foot of the renowned Mont Blanc in the heart of historical Courmayeur, Grand Hotel Royal e Golf has been welcoming guests for 200 years. Courmayeur is famed as one of Europe’s most popular ski resorts and through Grand Royal guests can try their hand at snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing, heli-skiing and much more.

The hotel incorporates a leading wellness centre complete with an outdoor heated pool, sauna, Turkish bath and a range of treatments, from facials to massages and body rituals. Guests can choose between two restaurants, both focusing on regional specialities and locally-sourced products.

Megève is a picturesque alpine town located in the French Alps, renowned for being the first purpose-built French ski resort and the birthplace of French skiing. The secluded oasis Les Fermes de Marie can be easily reached from the town centre via a short walk through the snow-covered pines.

The design of this property is luxurious and sheltered to offer guests privacy within five acres of beautiful winter scenery. Rooms feature authentic wood furnishings, a separate bathroom with a tub, and balconies to appreciate the crisp alpine air. Active couples can enjoy skiing, snow golf or snow polo, before warming up in front of a cosy fire, or relaxing in the idyllic spa.

Kitzbühel is recognised as Austria’s most stylish ski resort, featuring more than 170 kilometres of ski slopes and a lively après-ski lifestyle with exclusive shopping, fine wine and dining. Schwarzer Adler is a contemporary boutique hotel rich in western Austrian charm. The hotel offers a range of rooms and suites to match the needs and tastes of their guests. Guests may want to opt for the junior suite with a private sauna, or the deluxe studio with a freestanding bathtub and stunning panoramic mountain views.

The resort offers a variety of ski options for outdoor adventurers of all levels. Alternatively, guests can take refuge from the outside temperatures by heading to the hotel’s extensive luxury spa.

Argentière is a scenic alpine village nestled close to the border of Switzerland, on the route of the famously picturesque Mont Blanc Express railroad. Active guests can spend the day skiing or snowboarding, whilst those seeking a more leisurely stay may choose to take the chairlift to the top of the 4,000 metre Aiguille Verte.

Les Grands Montets is an intimate chalet-style hotel with cosy wood panelling and stylish furnishings. Guests may want to select one of the suites, boasting stunning views of Mont Blanc and an open plan Jacuzzi bath. Spend the evening swimming in the indoor pool or gazing up at the stars from the outdoor whirlpool tub, before relaxing with a cocktail in front of the open fire.

Chalet del Sogno is a charming family-run hotel, nestled in the forest just 25 metres from the Spinale cable car and nearest ski slope. Each of the suites take inspiration from the larches, firs and Swiss pines found in the alpine forests, boasting either wooden floors or panelling, or four-poster beds.

The hotel boasts a cosy lounge, a breakfast room, bar and restaurant run by Chef Lorenzo Minini, featuring seasonal menus with a focus on regional products. Guests can also enjoy the Oasi del Sogno spa, complete with an indoor swimming pool with underwater jets, a bio-sauna, beauty centre and massage rooms.