The ski season doesn’t end until April, so you still have time to enjoy some serious powder. Here are the top spots on the west coast where you can hit the slopes and simultaneously indulge in a completely luxe après-ski experience.
AMANGANI
1535 Northeast Butte Road, Jackson, WY 83001
(307) 734-7333
Jackson Hole’s most luxurious retreat, Amangani, is perched on the crest of East Gros Ventre Butte with expansive views of the snow-capped peaks around Grand Teton National Park. The resort isn’t just for skiers though: Amangani offers a multitude of winter activities to make the most of Jackson Hole’s nearly 400 inches of annual snow, including snowshoeing, winter wildlife safaris, dog-sledding, and dinner sleigh rides with views of the valley. Inside the hotel you’ll find an art gallery with antiques, crafts, jewelry and pottery; a library; a fitness center with individualized yoga programs; an infinity pool and whirlpool; as well as a fabulous spa. If you’re really smart, you’ll book the Shoshone Suite, where you can cozy up by the fireplace and relax in your own personal soaking tub while taking in the views of the stunning, snow-capped Snake River Valley.
SONNENALP
20 Vail Road, Vail, CO 81657
(970) 476-5656
A stay at the Sonnenalp is rustic luxury at its best. Step onto the balcony of your suite and look down at the village below and snow-capped mountains beyond while you happily warm yourself inside by the gas log fireplace. Stop for a moment to appreciate the watercolors on display by well-known German artist Julius Seyler before relaxing in your absolutely amazing bathroom, which features a personal soaking tub and heated marble floors. You’ll love the distinctly German feel of this haute Vail resort, which not only showcases Bavarian furniture and food, but whose staff dresses in traditional garb like lederhosen and dirndls. Enjoy the old-world European experience even further by enjoying comforting cuisine at the Swiss Chalet eatery or upscale fare at Ludwig’s, named, quite fittingly, after the luxury-loving Bavarian “Swan King.”
FOUR SEASONS resort & residences WHISTLER
4591 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, BC V0N 1B4, Canada
+1 604-935-3400
Located in the heart of Whistler, British Columbia, Four Seasons Resort & Residences Whistler—Canada’s only AAA Five-Diamond property—is a perfect place to indulge after skiing and snowboarding down the best slopes in Whistler/Blackcomb. Brave the winter weather and take a dip in the heated outdoor pool or relax in one of three hot spring-style outdoor whirlpools. Conversely, you can stay indoors and try out a Vichy shower room or eucalyptus steam room at the spa. Gentlemen, there’s something here for you as well, thanks to the locally-inspired “Mountain Men Bar” of spa services. The game of golf also soars to new heights here, as guests are invited to tee off from a mountaintop. On the 18th green, you’ll meet your personal PGA pro and board a private helicopter to fly 8,000 feet to the elevated 19th hole, where you’ll be greeted with your favorite cocktails and appetizers. The dedicated staff also provides slope-side dining service. So cold, but still so haute!
THE RITZ-CARLTON, LAKE TAHOE
13031 Ritz Carlton Highlands Court, Truckee, CA 96161
(530) 562-3000
How do we love The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, the only AAA Five-Diamond mountain resort in California? Let us count the ways. We love the slope-side ski-in/ski-out accommodations on Northstar, as well as the Mountain Concierge services, where the resort’s ski valets will fetch your boots, strap your buckles, and escort you to your skis and poles waiting on the slopes; the new in-room boot-fitting services; and that the resort even has its own “Marshmologist,” who nightly highlights the “Art of S’more” with house-made marshmallows handcrafted from ingredients such as fresh mint from the garden, and raspberries from local farmers. We love the 17,000-square-foot, slope-side spa with water and wood-themed treatments; the intermountain gondola; and the 9,000-square-foot ice skating rink surrounded by fire pits in the nearby village of Northstar. We also love that the Truckee-Tahoe Airport is only 10 minutes away—an easy journey for those flying by private jet to access some of the best skiing and snowboarding on the west coast.
THE LITTLE NELL
675 East Durant Avenue, Aspen, CO 81611
(970) 920-4600
Nothing says luxury quite like a stay at The Little Nell. Everything you could possibly ask for is available to you at this Five-Star, Five-Diamond Aspen resort, thanks to the Les Clefs d’Or-certified concierges. The staff restocks your mini bar daily, provides you with a humidifier to resist that drying mountain air, offers a ski concierge, packing and unpacking services, and complimentary around-town transportation via Audi. The Little Nell makes a romantic interlude possible for those traveling with children thanks to its “Date Night” services, and even cares for your pets with epicurean treats from a specialized menu. Whether you’re enjoying après-ski drinks at Chair 9, the best hot chocolate you can hope to find in the lobby lounge, The Living Room, or imbibing one of the 20,000 bottles of wine available at element 47, you’re going to leave the Nell—Aspen’s only ski-in/ski-out resort—happy. It’s no wonder this haute hotel is often referred to as “the Aspen of Aspen.”
STEIN ERIKSEN LODGE DEER VALLEY
7700 Stein Way, Park City, UT 84060
(435) 649-3700
When the A-list comes to Park City or Deer Valley, they stay at the tony Stein Eriksen Lodge, Utah’s only Five-Star, Five-Diamond resort. At this European getaway named after Norwegian Olympic gold medal skier Stein Eriksen, you’ll find a humidifier, jetted bathtub, and Molton Brown products in every room, and a gourmet kitchen, fireplace and a private deck with hot tub in every suite. Here you’ll also enjoy house-made chocolates, a 10,000 bottle-on-site wine cellar at the elegant Glitretind restaurant, and signature spa treatments which utilize a Vichy shower. Even better, this already awesome ski-in/ski-out resort is currently embarking on a multimillion-dollar renovation project slated for completion this coming December. Highlights of this $8 million remodel include updating 100 of the Lodge’s 180 units with new flooring, paint, soft and hard woods, granite countertops, Viking ovens, new fixtures, hot tubs, and furnishings. Haute!
