Winter Wonderlands: 5 Resorts for an Unforgettable Ski Holiday

When the snow arrives, the thoughts of every skier and snowboarder invariably turn to the perfect piste – and if your favourite winter sport can be combined with a stay at an indulgently comfortable resort, all the better. Whether you head for the heights of the Pyrenees, Alps or Caucasus Mountains, you’ll see nature at its snowy best and satisfy your every high-altitude craving in these five superb resorts, which surely rank among the world’s most alluring.

Hotel AC Baqueira Ski Resort, Autograph Collection

Hotel AC Baqueira Ski Resort, Autograph Collection (Photo: Marriott International)

Reliable snowfall and delicious tapas make the Catalan Pyrenees resort of Baqueira an irresistible option if you want a bit of Spanish sizzle to go with your skiing. And for a handy base, it’s hard to beat Hotel AC Baqueira Ski Resort, Autograph Collection, which is just a few minutes’ walk from the cable car that whizzes you up to the first of the ski areas.

In a season that usually runs from late November to mid-April, most of Baqueira’s 100 miles of linked pistes that go from 1,500 metres to 2,610 metres suit intermediates and confident beginners, while novices will be more than happy with its high-altitude nursery slopes. Once advanced skiers have tried the black runs, they can hire a guide to explore the challenging off-piste terrain.

When everyone gathers back at the hotel, they can relax in the resort’s spa with its indoor whirlpool, Jacuzzi, sauna and Turkish bath. Try delicately presented local cuisine at 4 Valles Restaurante or go for sheer indulgence in the Raclette Restaurant. The whole family will love the range of food on offer at Sbar, meanwhile, before you take time to enjoy the Snø Bar, while is adults-only.

Pik Palace, Shahdag, Autograph Collection

Shahdag is Azerbaijan’s winter playground, the country’s first and largest ski resort, surrounded by the dramatic beauty of the Caucasus Mountains.

You’ll be within a short walk of the chairlifts when you stay at Pik Palace, Shahdag, Autograph Collection, from where you’ll have easy access to the resort’s 18 miles of pistes. Intermediates will love the quiet slopes, although there’s plenty to keep beginners and advanced skiers happy during a season that usually runs from December to late March or even early April.

Pik Palace, Shahdag, Autograph Collection makes a majestic base for your ski holiday, especially with its outdoor heated pool that comes with breathtaking mountain views. After a day on the slopes, you might unwind in the spa, which features a whirlpool, steam room and sauna along with treatment rooms and a gym. The taste of the Mediterranean awaits in the Terraza Restaurant, while international dishes are on offer at the Alpina Restaurant. Those with a sweet tooth can treat themselves with delicious cakes in the Chocolate Café.

Tsaghkadzor Marriott Hotel

Tsaghkadzor Marriott Hotel (Photo: Marriott International)

It’s not often you find yourself in a legendary setting when you’re skiing, but Armenia’s biggest ski resort happens to be on the slope of Mount Ararat, where Noah’s Ark itself is said to have landed.

Less than an hour’s drive from the capital, Yerevan, Tsaghkadzor is a relaxing resort set in the Valley of Flowers with more than a dozen pistes. Before you even step into your skis, you can take in fabulous views of Armenia’s mountainous landscapes from the resort’s highest point at the 2,819-metre-high Mount Teghenis. From mid-December to March, Tsaghkadzor’s scenic slopes will please beginners and intermediates – and everyone will be captivated by serene mountain views.

Tsaghkadzor Marriott Hotel is just a five-minute drive from the Ropeway of Tsaghkadzor chairlift and offers bright modern rooms and Armenian cuisine in the elegant Brasserie Restaurant. For pure relaxation, enjoy the large indoor heated pool, whirlpool, fitness room and steam room within the Comfort Zone Spa, where you can also indulge in soothing spa treatments. Keep young children entertained in the fun-filled playroom and older children in the games room, while you enjoy a few frames of billiards in the Revolver Bar.

W Verbier

W Verbier (Photo: Marriott International)

Home to some of the world’s best off-piste skiing, Verbier is one of Europe’s most cosmopolitan and sophisticated resorts. Its setting in the midst of Alpine peaks is sensational: from the top of Mont-Fort at 3,300 metres – accessible by cable car – you can see Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn.

Forming part of Switzerland’s 4 Vallées ski domain and covering about 250 miles of pistes from mid-December to April, Verbier draws expert skiers to its challenging mogul fields, couloirs (steep vertical gullies) and itinéraires, those unmarked and ungroomed steep runs between the pistes that are best explored with a guide. Intermediates and confident beginners, meanwhile, will love exploring relatively underused Savoleyres and the family-friendly Bruson sectors.

Whatever your level, skier or non-skier, you’ll be in the heart of Verbier’s buzzing town when you stay at W Verbier, a stone’s throw from the Médran gondola. Its stylish rooms are as chic as Verbier itself, and Le Spa will instantly tempt you with its heated indoor and outdoor pools, Jacuzzi, saunas, steam rooms and gym. W Verbier’s dining is exceptional: choose from impeccably seasonal and local Valais region cuisine at Bô, exquisite sushi at U-Yama, tapas prepared before your eyes at Eat-Hola, après-ski fun at W Off Piste and cocktails that push the boundaries of mixology at W Living Room.

Park Chalet, Shahdag, Autograph Collection

Park Chalet, Shahdag, Autograph Collection (Photo: Marriott International)

You’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into a winter wonderland when you see the huge outdoor ice-skating rink in front of Park Chalet, Shahdag, Autograph Collection and its mountainous backdrop. Families especially will love the fun atmosphere of Azerbaijan’s premier winter resort, where there’s much to keep everyone entertained on and off the slopes.

Like its sister hotel Pik Palace, Shahdag, Autograph Collection, Park Chalet, Shahdag, Autograph Collection is only minutes away from the chairlifts, but it’s also very handy for the Shahdag Coaster, a mechanical luge that whizzes you up and down the track at speeds of more than 25mph. The zipline is just as exhilarating as you zoom 150ft above the valley.

When you’re back at the hotel, you can have a swim in the large indoor pool and chill out in the spa, which also has a plunge pool and steam room. You’ll certainly work up an appetite for perfectly cooked steaks at Aspen Grill & Steak House, or cakes and pastries at the Mocca Lobby Lounge. Cocktail fans can join the daily cocktail masterclasses held in the cosy Aspen Bar Whisky & Cigar Lounge.

Published: November 12, 2024

Last Updated: February 11, 2025