This ski season brings a flurry of unforgettable ski experiences including a luxurious stay at a mountain resort in California, a ski safari in the Swiss Alps and a ski trip in the French Alps that includes a shopping excursion in Italy.
A Californian Winter Experience
For a luxurious skiing and snowboarding vacation, book your clients at the 170-guestroom The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, a AAA five-diamond and Forbes four-star resort, in California. The resort is offering guests an upscale winter experience with access to the nearby Northstar California Resort via a ski-in/ski-out entry/exit point, as well as The Village at Northstar via the hotel’s intermountain gondola. The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe itself is located mid-mountain by Northstar’s Big Easy run. Skiers and riders of all levels can pick up their skis, boots and other gear at the hotel’s onsite ski retail and rental shop, True North, and take to Northstar’s 3,100+ acres of ski and snowboard terrain. Skiers can also sharpen their skills at the resort’s ski and snowboard school for children and adults. Personal mountain concierge services, including slope-side equipment storage, boot fittings, and escorts to lifts are available for guests of the resort, in addition to complimentary transportation between the resort and the nearby Village at Northstar, which features a 9,000-sq.-ft. ice rink, restaurants, bars and shops. After a long day on the slopes guests can retreat to the 17,000-sq.-ft. The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Lake Tahoe facility where they can take fitness classes, or relax in the hotel’s heated co-ed spa lap pool overlooking the slopes, or receive a seasonal treatment, such as The Restorative—a 50-minute scalp and full body massage with a 50-minute signature organic facial. Rates start at $199 per night, Monday through Wednesday; $399 on weekends. For more information, call (800) 241-3333 or visit ritzcarlton.com/laketahoe.
Ski Safari in the Swiss Alps
For agents booking ski vacations for clients who have mastered the basics and then some, The Alpina Gstaadis, a member of Virtuoso, is offering a new program this winter where guests take to skies for a customized Ski Safari trip at three Alpine resorts via helicopter. The 56-guestroom hotel is located on five acres in Oberbort—the exclusive hilltop area of the village in the heart of the Bernese Alps. The safari begins with a private shuttle transfer to a heliport in Gstaad where guests take a 25-minute helicopter ride to St. Moritz Corvatsch in the middle of the resort’s ski area. After a couple of hours of skiing, guests return to the airport for a helicopter ride to Zermatt’s Testa Grigia on the Italian side of the Matterhorn. Later, guests take their last helicopter ride back to Gstaad for one last run. Rates for the Ski Safari start at $11,910 and include a private shuttle between the airports and slopes in Gstaad, St. Moritz and Zermatt, all helicopter flights and ski passes at all three resorts, plus one night in a Deluxe Room Schonried, breakfast and a culinary credit. Regular room rates for a Deluxe Double Room Schonried start at $835 from December 6 to 19, January 12 to February 6 and March 9 to 20, including daily breakfast and a daily restaurant credit. For more information, visit thealpinagstaad.ch.
Shop, Spa and Ski in France and Italy
Palazzo Parigi Hotel & Grand Spa Milano in Italy and Les Airelles ski resort in Courchevel, France—both members of The Leading Hotels of the World—are teaming up to offer a winter package that includes shopping, skiing and time at the spa. The Shop, Spa and Ski package, available from Jan. 10-March 31, 2016, includes one airport car transfer from Milan Linate (LIN) or Malpensa Airport (MXP), a 2-night stay in a Deluxe Suite with buffet breakfast for two, and welcome amenities with a bottle of champagne upon arrival, plus a 3-hour personal shopper service in Milan, one $107 spa voucher to be used at Palazzo Parigi’s Grand Spa during guests’ stay, and a 4.5-hour private car transfer from Palazzo Parigi to Les Airelles in a Mercedes. Guests can also enjoy a private jet tour above Mont Blanc for an additional fee of $1,560. Rates for the start at $4,183 for two nights in a Deluxe Suite.
The spa portion of the package takes place at Les Airelles. The entire package includes two nights in a Deluxe Room, welcome amenities with a bottle of champagne and one voucher per person for a 1-hour massage at Spa Cellcosmet pour les Airelles, plus one lunch at the Le Chalet de Pierre restaurant, a transfer from the Hotel to the Geneva Airport (GVA) and one Les Airelles branded coat per person. Package rates start at $4,689. For more information, visit palazzoparigi.com.
