Our Top Ski Picks For Luxury Ski Holidays 2020
24th January, 2020
With fresh snow to play on across the northern hemisphere, this season looks set to be a bumper one. And whether you're a novice or a no-holds-barred expert, The Hideaways Club has a resort to suit you. Our resorts are best for the Luxury Ski Holidays. Here, we share this season's news from around our alpine world and highlight the finest places to eat and drink.
The destination: Morzine, France
A fully-fledged little Alpine town, Morzine is one of the 12 ski resorts that make up to the huge border-spanning destination of Portes du Soleil, spread between France and Switzerland. There's 580km of slopes to tackle, and Morzine is well placed, 75 minutes from Geneva airport, for exploring its local slopes around Les Gets and Avoriaz, as well as further afield into Switzerland.
The Portes du Soleil's skiing suits all abilities - young families and early intermediates will appreciate the easygoing pistes at Pleney, while the more adventurous will relish the challenge of the Swiss Wall, the endless cruising on beautiful blue and red runs, and the many terrain parks.
Off the slopes, there's an outdoor ice rink in the centre of the village, as well as horse-drawn carriage tours, ice-driving, ski joering and husky sledging.
Morzine, France
New for this year
On the slopes, the connection between Avoriaz and Champéry has been
improved with the installation of two six-seater chairlifts for
this season. In resort, the escape room game craze has arrived in
Morzine, with the opening of Trip Game.
Where to eat and drink?
It's hard to beat L'Atelier, in the three-star Hotel Le Samoyède,
and its inventive seven-course tasting menu. For something a little
more laid back and casual, Le Bec Jaune microbrewery is a favourite
with the locals, while the wine list at the underground La
Chaudanne is well worth working through.
On the slopes, many a long lunch has been enjoyed on the sunny
terrace at Le Chasse Montagne by the Folliets du Golf chairlift in
Les Gets.
Where to stay?
Chalet Lumiere sleeps 10 in five bedrooms and
is in a quiet spot on the edge of Morzine, 10 minutes from the
slopes. The very definition of chalet chic, Lumiere is a wonderful
mix of wood-panelled walls, a large stone fireplace and Savoyarde
decorations.
Find out more about Holiday Home Ownership for Ski Holidays 2020
The destination: Chamonix, France
One of the world's greatest mountain resorts, Chamonix sits at
the base of Mont Blanc, Europe's highest mountain. A mountaineering
Mecca, the place is as busy in summer as it is in winter, with
skiers, climbers, mountaineers and adventurers all keen for a piece
of the Chamonix buzz.
Naturally the place attracts thrill-seekers and adrenaline-junkies,
drawn to the extreme off-piste challenges found among these serious
high mountains and glaciers. But there's also fun to be had of a
slightly less daredevil nature, and some of the off-piste runs are
gentle enough that French families are known to take picnics on
them. Whatever your inclination, hire a qualified mountain guide to
accompany you.
Chamonix, France
New for this year
There's much excitement in the valley as, after four years of
absence, the Kandahar Alpine Ski World Cup is returning to La Verte
piste in Les Houches. Created in 1928, the Kandahar was the first
international alpine competition to combine downhill and slalom
events. Taking place on 8-9 February, the best male skiers in the
world will descend on Chamonix to vie for the podium at this
prestigious event.
Where to eat and drink?
Chamonix has more than its fair share of
fabulous places to eat, and two highlights are the elegant, two
Michelin star Hameau Albert Premier with a wine cellar of 20,000
bottles, and contemporary Le Matafan, bursting with seasonal, local
dishes.
On the mountain, it's hard to beat the views from Bergerie de
Planpraz and La Panoramic but the food is better at Plan Joran,
above Argentière.
Where to stay?
Chalet Soleil sleeps eight in four bedrooms and
is tucked away in the hamlet of Les Tines, between Chamonix and
Argentière. Ticking all the Alpine style boxes with aplomb, the
central fireplace and spectacular views of Mont Blanc set Chalet
Soleil apart.
Find out more about Holiday Home Ownership for Ski Holidays 2020
The destination: Nendaz, Switzerland
Nendaz has one of the most enviable positions in the Alps. Set in the middle of Switzerland's Valais region, it's at the centre of the country's largest network of linked pistes, the 4 Valleys, and is on a plateau immediately overlooking the Rhône valley with a spectacular panorama of the Alps in the distance.
With neighbouring Verbier and Versonnaz, the area has 410km of slopes offering everything from the revered off-piste terrain of Mont Fort to the easygoing family-friendly slopes around Tracouet.
Off the slopes, there's a 3km sledging run, snowshoe trails, stargazing events and a whole programme of winter activities.
Nendaz, Switzerland
New for this year
The big news for this season is that lift queues at Prarion, the
main link to the larger area, will be a thing of the past thanks to
the new gondola connecting it to Plan du Fou and replacing the
previous drag lift and chairlift combo. Lift capacity will triple
from 800 an hour to 2,400, making accessing the rest of the 4
Valleys much swifter.
Where to eat and drink
Two places worth booking to eat in resort are Le Mont-Rouge,
offering refined local dishes and awarded 14 Gault Milliau points,
and Le Grenier, for fabulous French fine dining.
On the slopes, Les Chottes is an atmospheric place to head for,
between Siviez and Thyon. A huge old barn, it has two sun terraces
(one reached through a snow tunnel), and a menu of traditional
Swiss mountain cuisine.
Where to stay
Take your pick from Chalets Etoile, Gingembre, Lune and Renard - the Hideaways Club owns four beautiful
properties in Nendaz, sleeping between nine and 12 people. Each is
ski-in/ski-out and is walking distance from Hameau les Clèves, a
delightful hotel, spa and restaurant that acts as an unofficial
members club to The Hideaways Club residents.
The destination: Niseko, Japan
Could this be Japan's most famous ski resort? Revered for its
outstanding snow conditions and average snowfall of 15 metres,
Niseko is Japow central. While it's rightly famed for welcoming
powder-hungry skiers and snowboarders who love to rip through the
backcountry bowls and tear up the endless fresh snow among the
trees, there's also a more relaxed side to the slopes here.
Beginners and intermediates wanting something very different from
the traditional Alpine experience will relish the 50km of pistes
spread over four linked resorts with captivating views of Mt
Yotei.
Niseko, Japan
New for this year
As Niseko grows in popularity with international visitors, so does
its closest airport, New Chitose in Sapporo, on Japan's northern
island of Hokkaido. Of most interest to Europeans is Finnair's new
direct flight from Helsinki to Sapporo - previously travellers had
to change in Tokyo, Osaka or Nagoya; this non-stop flight will
speed up the journey.
Where to eat and drink
Book in advance for a seat at the very special Sobatei Rakuichi for
some delicious Japanese soba, or bag one of the six chef's table
seats at Taruzushi for fresh yakiniku (grilled meat). Luckyfingers
is also a must - Chef Yoshi has restaurants around the world and is
sought after for his simple but delicious cooking, and the
restaurant has a great range of Japanese crafted beer, cocktails,
sake and vintage Japanese whiskeys.
Where to stay
Kitsutsuki is The Hideaway's Club's
magnificent, Alpine-style but modern chalet in the relaxed village
of Annupuri in the Niseko ski region. Sleeping 10 in four bedrooms,
dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows bring the views in, and it's
walking distance to some of the areas best restaurants and
bars.
