The world’s best luxury ski resorts

An A-list of the world’s best luxury ski resorts according to fivestaralliance.com.

Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, St. MoritzSwitzerland

St. Moritz can claim to be the birthplace of winter sports holidays. Badrutt’s Palace Hotel has long been hailed as a landmark in the center of St. Moritz and is the ultimate expression of the Swiss Alps region. A favorite of celebrities and royalty alike since its opening in 1896, the Palace Hotel offers 165 guestrooms and 30 suites with stunning views of the Swiss Alps.

There are 165 rooms; doubles range from $365 to $1,747.

The hotel is located in one of the most challenging ski areas in the world. Guests find the ultimate in relaxation at the spa, exciting nightlife at the Kings Club, and world-renown cuisine in the hotel’s restaurants and nearby Chesa Veglia.

Beaver Creek, Colorado, USA

Nestled at the base of Beaver Creek Mountain and and in the heart of Beaver Creek Village, Beaver Creek has all suite accommodations. Beaver Creek’s peaked roofs and native stone give it an alpine look. A $20 million renovation concluded in December 2006, doubling Allegria Spa’s size to 30,000 square feet. It has 190 rooms. The Beaver Creek Chop House specializes in fresh seafood, prime rib and steaks.

It offers a Rocky Mountain experience from beginner to the most advanced. Lift tickets are interchangeable with Vail Ski Resort. Ski season begins mid-November and ends mid-April. In 1989, the resort hosted the World Ski Championships. For the last several years Beaver Creek has hosted the Visa Birds of Prey ™ World Cup Downhill Ski race.

Pan Pacific Mountainside, Whistler, BC, Canada

According to concierge.com the top-ranked Americas property is “a stunning classic mountain lodge” that wows guests with its location at the bases of Whistler and Blackcomb. All accommodations are suites with full kitchens, fireplaces, balconies, and floor-to-ceiling windows. The après-ski crowd pile into Dubh Linn Gate—a pub built in Ireland and transported piece by piece to Whistler.

Every suite has a kitchen and a gas fireplace, balcony, air conditioning, and soaker tub. It is located in the village at the base of the gondolas to both Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains.

The Byblos, Courchevel, France

The Byblos, Courchevel is located in the heart of the forest of the Jardin Alpin in Courchevel, also known as the Riviera of the Alps. With its chalet-style decoration and feel, views over the Jardin Alpin, close proximity to the village of Courchevel and skiing directly from the doorstep, The Byblos is a sought after hotel for international celebrities, heads of state royalty and international travellers. The Byblos Courchevel has 64 rooms and 12 suites- each with a view of the slopes. Reminiscent of a Savoyard chalet, each room has a regal, yet welcoming decor.

Stein Ericksen Lodge, Deer Valley, UT, USA

The Stein Ericksen Lodge is a luxurious European-style lodge decorated in deep Scandinavian colors, with brushed pine furniture, hand-painted tiles and over 145 fireplaces throughout. Activities include ski-in, ski-out access to Deer Valley Resort in the winter and mountain biking, hiking, golf and tennis in the summer. The Lodge has received several awards including Conde Nast Traveler Best Mainland Resort, AAA Four Diamond and Mobil Four-star Awards.

Riffelalp Resort, Zermatt, Switzerland

The Riffelalp Resort is the highest Alpine resort in Europe and is located in the skiing and hiking district of Gornergrat above Zermatt. The hotel offers a total of 140 beds in 65 double rooms, 5 suites, plus 2 apartments with all modern conveniences. Most rooms have a balcony and offer views of the Matterhorn. The resort has its own heated indoor pool, solarium, massage parlour, sauna (separate facility for ladies), steam baths and fitness room. Other local activities include: tennis, ice skating, curling, mountain biking, winter and summer skiing, helicopter trips, heli-skiing, hiking, mountaineering, glacier tours, paragliding.

It has Europe’s highest, heated pool and offers winter and summer glacier tours. The highest tramway in Europe is located here and is open in winter from mid-December to mid-April and in summer from the end of June.