ski vacations

[betsyv]

I am new to Luxury Link but have learned a lot and am planning several vacations. My husband I regularly take 2 ski vacations each season, but I haven't seen anything offered here yet. Can you please advise when ski vacations are offered? How to find out about them? Are they offered for more than one destination or mostly one specific place? Thanks for the help in advance.

[disneygal]

Hi betsyv,



If you look under the offers "By Style" you'll see a category for Ski and Snow resorts. If you check this category under "Portfolio", you'll see a number of properties in Europe, a few in the Western U.S., Canada and Vermont. It's a bit early for package offerings for next winter. I think we'll see more in a few months.



Every now and then I see something that wasn't categorized as a Ski and Snow resort, so it's best to check any destination that interests you also. For example, last winter I saw Banff Springs in the Canada section, but not in the ski category.



In my experience, there are usually a few good auction packages.For this pastwinter I picked up one to Snake River Lodge in Jackson Hole. So, I'll be watching the ski area section with you for the upcoming winter.

[lhbrown]

Hi betsyv and disneygal,

We too are avid skiers and ski in Europe mostly. We spent this year's ski vacation at the Hotel FitzRoy in ValThorens, France . The hotel was a bummer and has since been taken off the Luxury Link portfolio, rightly so. However, Val Thorens has superb skiing, and so does the region of the Trois Vallees. Another excelent area is Val d'Isere and Tigne, but nothing has been put on LL for skiers yet, as far as Europe is concerned. I hope LL Moderators read our desire to get more properties for the ski vacation in Europe involved, especially France. Last year this time, the selection for ski vacations was already on LL.

WAITING TO FIND ANOTHER SKI VACATION ON LL FOR FRANCE - PLEASE......

[funtimes]

Hello - we are skiiers too! Last fall I saw a ski package to Austria on LL - perhaps they will offer it again. We Ski US destinations and had a wonderful package through another website a few years ago in Canada - stayed at Jasper Park Lodge and skied Marmot basin GREAT FUN How about it LL???

[lhbrown]

Hi funtimes,
Yes, I have seen the Austrian properties on LL. I have been to the Hospiz at Arlberg and the Kristina Inn at Lech. Both properties are first rate, but the skiing and snow conditions are much better in the French Alps. Unfortunately, the Hotel FitzRoy in Val Thorens, France, was a bust and was taken off the LL list, but skiing was excellent there. Would love to see something in Tignes or Val d'Isere in France. We just spent 5 days at the Gruener Baum in Bad Gastein. Again, the Gruener Baum is an excellent LL property, but you have to take a bus to get to the ski area in the winter, and on top of it, it is a very small and limited ski area.... I still wish LL would consider some properties in the French Alps for skiers like us.....

[disneygal]

I agree, I would also like to see more European properties for skiing, in the French Alps or Switzerland. Zermatt has some wonderful small hotels that might be just right for LL. I have seen a couple of options in St. Moritz, but that's about it. We like to plan ahead, so it would be great if LL would make the winter packages available soon!

[needtoescape]

Another desperate skier here!

We would probably take two LL ski holidays a year if the right offers came up.

Previously, we have takenLL at Badrutt's in St. Moritz and that was a great offer.

Also in St. Anton at the Arlberg Hospiz which was fine with decent food but smaller room.

Thisyear, LL set up an 'a la carte' deal for us at Fairmont Chateau Whistler which was relatively expensive but not too bad for the busy time we chose.



I think the problem here in Europe is that really high quality ski hotels are thin on the ground, but there are surely enough to add a few more, LL!

[lhbrown]

Hi needtoescape,
How was the Badrutt Palce in St. Moritz? I have seen the offer last year but did not act on it because I think it is in the middle of town and you have to take a bus/hotel shuttle??? to the ski areas. I love the places where you can ski-in and ski-out. I hate to walk around in my ski boots, shoulder my skis and schlepp myself to the slopes. We found a wonderful hotel in Hochsoelden, Austria called the Edelweiss. The hotel is perfect, wonderful rooms with southern exposure balconies and nice sitting area, marble bath, great spa, excellent food, including coffee and cake at 4:00 pm when everybody gets back from skiing (included in the price) and ideal ski-out situation. The ski-in situation is a different kettle of fish. To get back to the hotel, everybody (and I mean everybody....) has to funnel through the rather steep ravine at the end of the day and this causes frequent pile-ups/accidents. Skiing in Hochsoelden in the Oetztal is wonderful, the slopes are great and varied and the weather ist quite sunny most of the time. The only drawback is this ravine to get back to the hotel. We have skied there for the last 8 years but are ready for a change of scenary.....

I hope LL is coming through soon with some ski properties in Europe, especially France...... LL Moderators How about it?????? Like to plan in advance.....

[needtoescape]

Hi,

Yes, you're right - the downside of St. Moritz generally is no real ski-in, ski-out hotels.

However, Badrutt's does have a rather good shuttle to the central ski lift which runs as needed and takes you to the door. (The staff also carry your skis for you!)

Food in Badrutt's is a bit strange. There is a main restaurant which is very grand but the food is (to my taste) a bit nursery-ish. (I suspect to suit the many aristos who stay at Badrutt's) They also have a casual Italian restaurant which is much better.



To add to your suggestion: other luxury European ski hotels .... in Courchevel, Megeve, Chamonix, Meribel, Crans Montana, Verbier, Kitzbuhel, Cervinia... all Relais & Chateaux

:~)

[lhbrown]

Hi needtoescape,
Great suggestions - I love the Relais&Chateaux properties - I hope LL Moderators will hear us......