Theres a skiing break, and then there are the kinds of skiing breaks that you never forget. The snow is lush, deep and plentiful. Your bed is the best youve ever slept in, and the food – well, youll never eat like that again. The whole holiday is a sensory delight from start to finish, including your journey to and from the airport.
If this sounds like the kind of break that you could get on board with, here are the poshest pistes in the world. Theyre so good, they should come with a warning – be prepared to re-enter the real world with a bump.
Zrs, Austria
Theres a reason why youll never fight for space on the runs at Zrs – all the other (fabulously rich) holidaymakers are busy getting hammered on frighteningly-expensive champagne. Zrs is the resort of choice for royalty and movie stars, but it doesnt have the arrogance/pomp that permeates resorts like St Moritz. Heres the catch – the hotels are so brilliant that people dont bother venturing out for aprs-ski, as a rule. If youre fine with holing yourself away at the end of the day with a bottle of Bolly and a roaring fire, youre in the right place.
Where to stay: Hotel Zrserhof is the ultimate skiing retreat, and for 3,200 per night, youd expect something spectacular. Feeling racy? Splash out on the Royal Suite, which has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, an open fire and a sauna/steam cabin. Why would you ever bother leaving your room?
St Moritz, Switzerland
When we mentioned that St Moritz had a bit of an attitude earlier, we werent kidding – this ultra-glam resort is the place to see and be seen. This is the place where the worlds wealthy risk lives and limb on the infamous Cresta Toboggan Run, race horses on the frozen lake and go skijoring. Just to be clear, that last activity involves skiing, but youre dragged along by unbroken horses. The skiings also pretty good; our advice? Go in February to do the Cresta and see the horse races.
Where to stay: The Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains receives rave reviews, and its not hard to see why. Theres a lush spa, a fitness centre, and guests rave about the hotel bar. Make sure you have breakfast here – portions are massive, and will set you up for the day ahead.
Yellowstone Club, Montana
Even though the richest and best-known people in the world holiday here, you wont know any of their names. Why? Because this members-only resort is frequented by bankers who own the studios that employ the A-listers. Essentially, you can sort of taste the power in the air.
Located 20 miles north of Yellowstone National Park, the worlds most exclusive ski resort is the only place where you can ski without a bodyguard, apparently. After the day is done, take a private snow cat excursion to dinner or indulge in a spot of night skiing. Oh, one more thing – the views here are incredible, and probably the best youll ever see on a skiing trip.
Where to stay: It has to be Custom Residences, doesnt it? These individual chalets are the ultimate in luxurious post-ski comfort – underfloor heating, spas, fire pits and saunas reign supreme.
Zermatt, Switzerland
If you love your food, this is the resort to head to – Zermatt boasts the highest density of gourmet restaurants in the world. Food here is a serious business – you can even hire a guide to take you on a gourmet ski tour, so even if you load up with rich foods, you can then ski off the excess calories. What a good idea. In terms of famous faces, this resort has seen the likes of Madonna, Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman, so keep your eyes peeled for a big name.
Unsurprisingly, aprs-ski revolves around the food here. The best place to while away the evening is The Vernissage, which is a cinema, bar, restaurant and gallery. All the fun you could ever need under one roof.
Where to stay: In terms of expense, you cant go wrong with The Chalet Zermatt Peak. Prepare yourself for walk-in wine cellars, HD cinemas and a fitness centre. Thierry Henry was reportedly so impressed he vowed in the guest book that hed return.
Cortina, Italy
When in Italy, theres only one choice if youre after luxury – Cortina. This is the place where the affluent and fabulous Italians spend their winter breaks. Italian living rules OK here, and skiing after lunch is considered a foreigners activity – however, dont let that stop you. The scenerys top notch and the shopping rivals Milan and Paris, so budget accordingly before you leave.
Expect early mornings spent making tracks in the powder followed by three-hour lunches, a brief siesta, and eating and drinking well into the night. Repeat for two weeks; youll come home feeling great.
Where to stay: The Miramonti Majestic Hotel isnt close to the centre of town, but its well worth a visit. As its name would suggest, its enchanting; the staff will attend to your every whim, and the foods fantastic – the vast evening buffet is raved about by guests long after they leave.
