Six of the best: luxury ski holidays

1] Chalet Merlo, Miroir, France

If the name of this tiny village isn’t all that familiar, the stellar names of the resorts you can easily visit from this recently built chalet read like ski resort royalty. Val D’Isere, Tignes and Les Arcs are all under 20 minutes away (less if you make use of the chalet’s friendly helicopter pilot).

But the beauty of this place is the peace and quiet. The only noise to disturb your stay will be the noise you make yourself. Chalet manager Lucy Robertson serves up food and wine as good as that in a swanky restaurant. Indeed, thanks to the use of fresh ingredients  and the home-cooked nature of the food, it’s better than many restaurants. And a partnership with wine merchants Wine Mark France, means the food and wine matching is second to none.

Although it feels like the middle of nowhere, Chalet Merlo is only a 30-minute helicopter flight from Geneva airport, which is well served by Air France’s CityJet service from London City Airport. The efficient service costs just £80, and it’s possible to get from the City to the slopes in a few hours. This brand new chalet sleeps 12 people in six rooms and along with luxurious beds, each room is equipped with an iPod dock and Caudalie Vinothérapie cosmetics. There’s also an outdoor hot-tub, with spectacular views of the Val D’Isere and Tignes glaciers. Ask nicely and they may send down a chilled beer or a glass of champagne via the tub-side winch. There is also a sauna and treatment room, with therapists available on demand.

Run by a team expert in the local area, guests are offered a wide choice of activities, notably all-day off-piste skiing adventures. It’s also easy to arrange trips into Italy (including Heli-skiing for those up to the challenge). As the chalet’s bus will pick you up at any of the resorts, there’s no need to worry about skiing back to where you started or clambering across the resort to get back to the chalet. Should you wish to enjoy the noisier nightlife in one of the bigger resorts, the bus will be there to wait for you until you are ready to head back to Miroir.
Prices start from £10,000 a week for the whole chalet, including half board and all drinks and airport transfers (helicopter transfers cost an extra £200 per person). Weekend and other bookings are also available subject to availability.
www.chaletmerlo.eu

2] Vigilius Mountain Resort, Vigiljoch Mountain, Lana, Italy

Although Vigilius calls itself a “mountain resort” it might as well use the word retreat. The only way to reach the hotel, built at 1,500m, is by cable car.

This stunning hotel certainly makes the most of its amazing location and wherever you are it’s impossible to ignore the mountains. It offers everything you expect of a luxury resort hotel, but manages to throw in enough surprises—including a spa built round a natural spring and an infinity pool with views out over the Tyrolean mountains—to keep things exciting.

Provided temperatures stay down and the snow holds, there is some great skiing and there’s plenty of good food in the two restaurants and a well stocked wine cellar to comfort you after a day on the slopes. Rooms start at £200 per night for a double.
www.vigilius.it

3] The Clubhouse, Chamonix, France

Built inside a splendid 1927 Art Deco mansion, the Clubhouse describes itself as “a boutique hotel and members’ bar”. It is run by the folks from London club Milk & Honey and has the same emphasis on quality food, drink and a relaxed good time.

The Clubhouse sleeps 20 guests. And if skiing wears you out, the Clubhouse offers massage treatments. The stunning Myla Suite occupies the top floor of the Clubhouse and offers views of the Mont Blanc massif, not to mention a gigantic 2.7m bed. To book the entire place costs from £7,300 a week, with three-night stays in a double from £400.
www.clubhouse.fr

4] Chalet Eugenia, Klosters, Switzerland

Set in spectacular surroundings, Chalet Eugenia offers six en-suite bedrooms set over four floors, sleeping up to 12 people. Guests benefit from the in-house sauna and steam room as well as free access to the nearby Vereina Spa. The chalet is ideally located for families with a beginners piste on its doorstep.

As a very special extra, guests booking Eugenia for the week commencing 3 February will have renowned chef, Tom Aikens cooking their food. Aikens will also be cooking at two other chalets in the same week. Chalet Eugenia costs £29,830 for the week commencing 3 February.
www.descent.co.uk

5] Whitepod, Les Cerniers, Switzerland

Described by the Guardian’s Simon Mills as “where Bonington meets Bond” and “snowbound camping for the Wallpaper* magazine set”,  Whitepod is located above Les Cerniers, a village at the foot of the Dents du Midi.

Pitched at 1,400m, the idea is simple enough—getting you closer to the mountain with a lower impact on the environment (crucial in an area at the heart of the global warming debate). There is a choice of three types of Pod, all heated by wood-burning stoves and decent insulation. Pavillion Pods start from about £150 per pod per night. www.whitepod.com

6] Dunton Hot Springs, Colorado, US

A rejuvenated ghost town, Dunton Hot Springs is now an exclusive resort in the Rocky Mountains. Guests can stay in a selection of 12 cabins, each luxuriously appointed. Dunton’s location surrounded by National Forests makes it ideal for outdoor activities such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The more adventurous can go heli-skiing and heli-boarding.

There are plenty of activities for the non-skiing guests as the resort offers everything from indoor hot springs and yoga studio to library and even a saloon.

An all-inclusive three-day heli-skiing package costs £1,725 per person.
www.duntonhotsprings.com