Your clients are lost in reverie — their minds brimming with warm musings of a frosty respite from the dark days of winter. They’re tucked into glittering snow-blanketed, blustery mountains somewhere in Europe, vacationing where the cold somehow bites gentler, the wine tastes better, and the unparalleled snowboarding and skiing satiates the soul.
But they’re spoiled for choice of where, exactly, to bring those dreams to fruition.
From the fondue-filled French Pyrenees and the stunning Swiss Alps to the depths of the Dolomites in Italy’s north, here are three European resorts you should be sending your clients skiing, snowboarding and soaking up the apres-ski life this winter.
Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy: For the On-Trend Skier
In the Italian Dolomites, Cortina d'Ampezzo is a world-class winter vacation destination encompassing the Falzarego Pass.
Cortina will be the site of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Credit: 2022 Grand Hotel Savoia Cortina d’AmpezzoOften called the “queen” or “pearl” of the Dolomites, Cortina d’Ampezzo will host the 2026 Winter Olympics, as well as the Snowboard Cross World Cup in January 2022. It’s part of the world’s biggest ski “resort,” the Dolomiti Superski, which offers visitors access to 50 ski villages across 30,000 acres and nearly 900 marked trails.
Although there are endless charming hotels in which to rest, the Grand Hotel Savoia Cortina d’Ampezzo is a 1912 landmark that still stands in the cultural heart of the mountain town, just under 2,000 feet from the Faloria cable car. Clients would join the likes of Winston Churchill, Franklin D., Roosevelt, Umberto di Savoia and other famous faces who have also passed nights in the historic hotel.
The accommodation is also renowned for its revitalizing apres-ski spot, 1224 Terrazza, which offers breathtaking views of the Dolomites replete with hot toddies and signature cocktails. The Savoia Spa, with its extensive treatment menu, is another way to unwind after hitting the slopes — as is retail therapy, with more than 75 upscale boutiques in town.
St. Moritz, Switzerland: For the Olympian in Training
No European ski and snowboard destination list would be complete without a mention of the Swiss Alps — or St. Moritz, for that matter. St. Moritz is a world-renowned resort town in Switzerland’s Engadin valley in the region of Graubunden. It’s perhaps best known for hosting the Winter Olympics back in 1928 and 1948, as well as five FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. In fact, the powdered mountain, Corviglia, is touted as the birthplace of alpine winter sports and takes credit for the onset of winter tourism more than 150 years ago.
The sun-swathed metropolis in the mountains is the only destination in the whole world to have both Olympic Games and UNESCO World Heritage status. Today, avid ski and snowboard aficionados can flock to St. Moritz from all over the world to traverse its 87 pistes with their boots buckled up into boards. Or, they can opt to go bobsledding in the world’s oldest bobsled run.
Kulm Hotel is a popular apres-ski spot in St. Moritz.
Credit: 2022 Kulm HotelFor those who do not want to hurl themselves down the side of a mountain, there’s more to St. Moritz. After all, it’s historically known for its healing mineral springs that have inspired the town’s spas and dining experiences. Guests also have a wealth of luxury stays from which to choose. One popular place to warm up apres-ski is the town’s first hotel, Kulm Hotel, which opened its doors in 1856. The hotel alone features five restaurants and the extensive Kulm Spa St. Moritz (with a 66-foot indoor pool that has underwater music) and views of Lake St. Moritz.
Saint-Lary, France: For the Seasoned Skier Who’s Already Been Everywhere
Winter in France summons thoughts of waking up to the sweet smell of freshly baked pain au chocolat — the sugar rush your clients need for a full day of shredding the slopes. Set in the French Pyrenees on the edge of the Pyrenees National Park and the Neouvielle Nature Reserve, Saint-Lary resort boasts about 62 miles of slopes graded green to black in three areas: Pla d’Adet, Espiaube and Vallon du Portet.
Skiers and snowboarders have numerous runs from which to choose. The ski lifts from Pla d'Adet transport them up to some 7,500 feet in altitude for the long blue run or the more technical red and black pistes. Or, they can choose to carry on higher to Saint Lary 1900, which features runs measuring nearly 2 miles (such as the popular Mirabelle and Terranere) and Saint Lary 2400 for panoramic views of the Pyrenees.
Of course, for those who prefer to keep their toes warm by the fire — and their bellies warm by the bar — the village sits pretty in the mild Aure valley, which is classified as a “country of art and history.” The main street, Rue Vincent Mir, aptly named after the resort’s founder, brings the village to life with tapas bars (influenced by its close neighbor, Spain), cozy restaurants and local watering holes. The nearby villages of Vignec, Soulan and Tramezaygues also offer terrain to explore.
