The Best Luxury Ski Resorts

The winter holiday season is the best time of year for an upscale ski trip. The best North American ski resort towns supplement skiing with great apres-ski activities.

The best upscale ski resorts fill up quickly around Christmas. For the family that loves to ski, a winter vacation isn't complete without time on the slopes. And, of course, the luxury of warming up by a Christmas fire apres-ski is something anyone can appreciate, regardless of their skiing skill level.

The top ski resort towns in North America are in parts of North America that get a lot of powder, as compared to the icy type of snow surfaces you see in the northeastern US. My other favorite attributes of great ski spots are (needless to say) the variety of slopes, park runs, and pipes, the climate, and open drop areas for highly skilled skiers and risk-takers.

Top luxury ski resort towns

• One ski resort town famous for having the best of everything, is Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia. It's the biggest ski resort on the continent and, with well over 200 trails, Whistler can accommodate skiers of any skill level. There is also snowmobiling, sleigh rides, snowshoeing, cross country skiing and lots, lots more. Ski buffs across the world are familiar with Whistler; it has the best ski parks and pipes in North America, along with glacier skiing (you read that right) and an extended ski season. For a luxurious getaway, I recommend the Upper Village hotels, condos and chalets. Near the bottom of Blackcomb Mountain, Upper Village offers more a more remote ski vacation, with luxury and quality treatment for guests during their time off the slopes.
• Another top North American ski town is Vail, in Colorado. Vail is a luxury resort town, perfect for skiers who also want high quality dining and upscale hotel amenities. Along with skiing and snowboarding, Vail Valley winter vacations can involve dog sled tours, guided llama trekking, sledding, tubing...you name it. With over 15 full service day spas offering the whole range of spa menus, it might be hard to get back on the trails! But, really, families come here to ski, more than pamper themselves. Vail has several activities and programs for children and older kids, such as kids' snowmobiling, tubing, bunny slopes, and a huge trampoline with bungee cords attached. The Kids Ski & Snowboard School in Vail has a great reputation for getting young kids comfortable on their skis.
• Wyoming's Jackson Hole is another of the best ski resort towns around. Famous for its natural deep powder, Jackson Hole is the skiers' top spot of the US Rocky Mountains. Some people complain that the influx of day spas, luxury shopping, and (shudder) celebrities threaten to turn Jackson Hole into the next Aspen. No worries; Aspen is still popular for star-sighting, but Jackson Hole's mountain terrain is much more varied, remote, and expansive. For a true luxury ski vacation, Aspen just can't hold a candle to Jackson Hole. Snowboarding and skiing fans will find whatever they're looking for here: The list of activities includes snow kite boarding, heli-skiing, snowcat skiing and more. And get this: Advanced skiers and snowshoers can go south of Jackson Hole, to year-round hot springs in the Granite Creek area. Imagine skiing to this area, which is remote even for Wyoming, and then soaking in the natural hot springs and pools before heading back. I haven't done this - yet- but it sure sounds like an amazing holiday experience.
• A Christmas ski vacation in Big Sky is always first class. The Big Sky Resort in Montana, right near Yellowstone National Park, gets around 400 inches of powdery snow each season, and has snowshoe and nordic ski trails as well as half pipes and jumps. Since Big Sky is so close to Yellowstone, a winter vacation here can easily include a trip to the geysers. Snowmobile rentals are limited (due to ecological concerns, plus they are so noisy), so reservation fill up fast. After a day of skiing some of the best slopes in the Rockies, skiers can pamper themselves at the Solace Spa. This luxury day spa has location-specific treatments, such as the Sports massage and the "Adjusting to Altitude" massage.
• Lake Tahoe and Squaw Valley border Nevada in northeastern California. The area is massive and has all levels of lodging, from upscale resort homes and hotel suites, to guest rooms in simple ski lodges. Open bowls to ski in, instead of trails, help make Squaw Valley a notable ski resort town. The mild northern California winter weather makes for an easier Christmas ski vacation too. Lake Tahoe does not feel remote by any stretch; it has the most ski resorts of any in the USA and Canada, and the trails to support all those skiers and snowboarders. Both have childrens' lessons and clinics for adults of all levels. Winter sports in Lake Tahoe and Squaw Valley are always fun and full of powder. Remember, the first Winter Olympics in the Western US were held here for a reason!
• One of the more renowned luxury ski resort towns in the US is Aspen, Colorado. Granted, the slopes here are awesome, and able to accommodate a variety of ski skill levels. There are plenty of parks, pipes, and vertical drops to go around, but the overpriced boutiques, trendy restaurants and paparazzi lurking by the lifts all indicate that Aspen is overexposed. My feeling is that an authentic luxury ski trip involves more skiing, and less celebrity sighting.

Wherever you choose to spend your Christmas vacation, have a happy and healthy one!

Related, on Suite 101:

Luxury Resort Travel

Aspen Ski Rant

Yellowstone Without Tourists

Copyright Jennifer Miner and Suite 101. All rights reserved.

Print Article

Email Article

View All Articles

How to subscribe to feeds