What’s New For Ski Season
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THE TRAVEL COMMUNITY:
Mount Noire
Mount Noire wants to bring diversity to the slopes. It aims to introduce skiing to people from all backgrounds and nurture talent to increase representation in winter sports. It also hosts regular skiing and snowboarding trips, with the next one taking place in Bansko in southwest Bulgaria on the fringes of the Pirin Mountains. The resort has 18 ski runs and an impressive snow park for all levels and abilities. An affordable way to discover a new region and meet likeminded people, the trip includes transfers, accommodation in a five-star hotel, lift passes, equipment hire, lessons and other activities.
From 11th to 14th January; £899pp.
Visit MountNoire.com
THE HOTEL:
Six Senses Crans-Montana
For an ultra-luxury trip, bookmark the new Six Senses property in Crans-Montana – a glamorous part of Switzerland known for its 300 annual days of sunshine, crisp mountain air and scenic villages. The hotel is a two-hour drive from Geneva and has smart Swiss décor, eclectic artwork and modern rooms, from apartments to multi-room suites. As with all Six Senses hotels, guests can expect a host of dining options and world-class facilities, including three swimming pools and a state-of-the-art spa with a biohacking lounge. There’s direct ski-in and ski-out access plus a ski concierge who can arrange lift passes and ski lessons. The hotel will be open year-round with water sports, outdoor cinemas and pop-up restaurants in the summer.
Ski Solutions offers a seven-night stay with bed and breakfast from £3,320pp, including flights and Swiss Rail transfers.
Visit SkiSolutions.com
THE KIT:
Oakley MOD7 Snow Helmet
One of the most innovative items of ski kit we’ve seen in a while, Oakley’s latest snow helmet combines goggles into one integrated system. The first of its kind, the helmet is a hybrid shell made from patented ‘Duramatter’ to protect your head on the slopes, and polycarbonate to ensure it’s not too heavy. The in-built goggles have lenses that adjust to optimise contrasts and improve visibility, with adjustable settings so you can have them as close to your face as possible. There’s even a magnetic lock so you can easily attach and remove the goggles.
From £277.
Visit SnowLeader.co.uk
THE FLIGHT ROUTE:
London to Bolzano
Italian airline Sky Alps is starting a service from London Stansted to Bolzano in South Tyrol. From 13th December, there will be two flights every week until April. It’s the first time UK travellers will be able to reach the resorts of the Dolomites without losing hours to a transfer from Italy’s international airports. For a special trip, check out the design-led and sustainable Forestis hotel, with its breathtaking views of the Dolomites. New this year is Odles Lodge, an adults-only chalet on the southern slope of the Plose mountain, just a few clicks from the hotel. Guests can stay in one of four minimalist lodges which all have spa and pool access.
Flights start from €184 each way.
Visit SkyAlps.com
THE DESTINATION:
Iceland
Iceland might not be your first choice for a ski trip, but its scenery is unlike anywhere else in Europe – picture a dramatic landscape of volcanoes, geysers and hot springs. Not sure where to start? Discover the World has curated a ski and snowmobiling tour around Iceland’s central Highlands. Guests can stay in a basecamp at Kerlingarfjöll, surrounded by geothermal valleys, glacial rivers and snow fields. The remote location, which can only be reached by super jeep in winter, is home to a hotel with a restaurant, lounge and geothermal baths. The trip includes snowmobiling, guided ski tours and a two-night break in Reykjavik.
Trips start from £1,079pp on a B&B basis.
Visit Discover-The-World.com
Visit Iceland
THE PRIVATE LOFTS:
Tschuggen Grand Hotel
Tschuggen is a luxury hotel in the alpine resort of Arosa in Switzerland. This season, it will open four mountain lofts made with sustainable materials to help it blend into the mountain landscape. Guests can stay in one to three-bedroom lofts which have fully equipped kitchens (for group meals or private chefs), spacious living areas, bathrooms with adjoining saunas and balconies with epic views. You will also have access to the full range of services at Tschuggen Grand Hotel, including its spa and private Tschuggen Express Mountain railway – the only one of its kind in Switzerland. Book a pre-Christmas trip at the start of December, when Tschuggen guests can ski the first snow of the season before the official opening of the resort.
Lofts start from £1,448.
Visit TschuggenCollection.ch
THE SLEEP RETREAT:
Hotel de Len
Sleep retreats or ‘sleep-cations’ are on the rise, with travellers now planning trips based on the promise of a great night’s sleep. Hotel de Len in Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Dolomites has created a bespoke sleep experience, inspired by the nature surrounding the property. The hotel has 22 rooms made from pinewood – believed to improve the quality of sleep – and designed to create an optimal and biocompatible sleep experience with clever tech like sleep radiance panels and radiation filters. The hotel is also a SOLS (Swiss Optimal Living Society) certified environment, so you’re pretty much guaranteed a restful stay. During a stay, you can book fitness activities in the mountains and targeted spa treatments.
Rooms start from €329 per night.
Visit HotelDeLen.it
THE RENTAL SERVICE:
Blanqo
Ski equipment and clothing is expensive, so renting your gear is the smart way to do a winter holiday. Blanqo has a range of kit from designer and emerging brands to help you hit the slopes in style – without any hefty price tags. The men’s edit currently includes ski jackets, pants, salopettes, helmets and more from brands like Perfect Moment, Volcom and Poivre Blanc. Each style comes in sizes up to XXL, and you can rent pieces from three to 14 days at a time.
Visit Blanqo.co.uk
THE GUIDE:
The Alps: Hotels, Destinations, Culture
Whether you’re after a great gift for the skiers in your life or looking for ideas on where to stay during your next trip, this new book is a definitive guide to the most exclusive alpine destinations in Europe. Sebastian Schoellgen has included 84 luxury and family-run boutique hotels in the five alpine countries (France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany), with detailed info on what makes them stand out, from food to eco credentials. You’ll also find tips on the best places to shop, eat, walk and wind down after a day on the slopes.
Available from 2nd November.
Visit Amazon.co.uk
THE RESORT:
Aspen
Aspen’s mountains have remained the same – without terrain expansion – for over 30 years, so it’s big news that its slopes have been extended following major redevelopment. Aspen Mountain has an additional 153 acres of terrain on its eastern front, including 19 chutes, three gladed areas, and four cut trails. If you’re heading there this season, check out the newly opened hotel Mollie Aspen on Paepcke Park. With art-deco-inspired interiors, relaxed communal spaces and an impressive rooftop bar and terrace, it’s a great option that won’t break the bank.
Open from 8th January 2024; rooms start from $350pn.
Visit MollieAspen.com
THE KIDS CLUB:
Sharky & George at The Arula Chalets
Sharky & George is the event planning company and kids club those in the know rely on for childcare in the UK and abroad. The team has set up its first chalet partnership at the luxury Arula Chalets in Austria. You can work with the team to create bespoke itineraries for your kids. While adults hit the slopes and enjoy après ski, children will be entertained with horse-drawn sleigh rides, sledging, snowshoeing and igloo building. Back at the chalet, they can take part in science workshops, cooking classes, treasure hunts and UV light discos – all led by the team’s DBS-checked instructors.
Services start from €5,800 per week.
Visit SharkyAndGeorge.com
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