Montage Big Sky

I feel like TripAdvisor needs a "Very, VERY Good" because The Montage Big Sky is better than good and their managers are superb - beyond excellent. My only concern here is really about environmental sustainability, as detailed below. However, first, the great stuff: I. LOCATION and SPORTS ACTIVITIES = fabulous. You will enjoy speedy access to the slopes (I assume everyone is here to ski just because I am but there are tons of other activities as well, from tubing (gratis every afternoon) to snow shoes to cross country skiing to bowling (yes, really - in the Beartooth Pub on the Montage's lower level). For the more adventurous, the concierge is eager to arrange excursions and there are plenty of trails to go trekking on. A word of caution for those who crave scenes like Aspen - Big Sky is not really like that. There are a series of outdoor musical concerts but they're more low key and less of a "scene." There's also very little shopping and the town center is pretty small. Do not come here for the shopping. It's a place to enjoy the spectacular outdoors and reconnect with family and friends. That being said, there are definitely plenty of bars and there is a small party scene but it's just not over the top. II. FOOD. I like healthy, plant-based whole foods (stop judging me) and this can be tough in the area. I recommend using an app like Happy Cow to find good restaurants. That being said, I have four places I'd happily give 5 out of 5 stars to and who I'd return to again and again. At the Montage: (1) Wildflower Market has phenomenal wellness "shots" (think ginger and carrot juices), salads, fruit bowls, oat milk lattes, teas, and just overall great breakfast and snack options that will keep you healthy and energized. (2) Hand's down, my favorite restaurant at Montage Big Sky was the Beartooth Pub & Rec on the lower level of the hotel. It's relaxed, laid back and the manager, who I met my 2nd night there, is a bright shining star of awesomeness. She was so helpful and helped my spouse to an off-menu double decker, fully loaded Impossible (vegan) burger that was absolutely out of this world delicious. They also have a quinoa bowl that is anything but bland - it's super fun, plant based and packs you up with a huge amount of protein. My other favorite here is their phenomenal pizzas which can be both veganized with a very scrumptious, healthy non-dairy cheese AND made gluten-free, should you so desire. One thing I noticed when I ordered (I'm not sure if this always happens or not) was when I ordered the gluten free (I'm not generally gluten free but I wanted to try it just to see), it came as a typical-looking round pizza pie and was great. When I ordered the "regular" (wheat) crusted pizza, it came more like a flat bread, oval style. Equally delicious, just a different shape and presentation. The other great thing about Beartooth is they have so much fun stuff there - from a games room to pool to a bowling alley. You could spend a whole night there. Last but not least, their bartender is wonderful. Both the cocktails and mocktails were A+. (3) The spa. SO, if you get a spa treatment at Montage Big Sky (I had many), you will get access to the spa pool and jacuzzi which also has food and beverage service. The veggie wraps and smoothies there were out of this world. (4) Off site but well worth the short drive is Tres Toros (145 Town Center Ave Unit B, Big Sky, MT). Fantastic vibe, super fun, incredible tequila flights and they offer diary-free vegan cheese and tacos. Just ask. The elote, which they call Street Corn, is mouth waveringly good, as are their nachos, which we veganized and were so, so, so good. One thing to note is the wait is pretty long (it's not just me - everyone loves this place) and the waits can be long. They don't take reservations. The trick is to go a little on the early side of when you actually want to eat, put yourself on the waitlist and then go shopping and explore the town center a little while you're waiting. It works out beautifully. III. BARS AND DRINKS The bartenders at Montage were all top notch. I did not have one drink anywhere that I didn't love and I got one from all the places on property. That being said, here is my first complaint: the service at Alpenglow was not great. Especially after the wonderful service at Beartooth, for example, I was really surprised by the vibe at Alpenglow. I went the night I arrived for a cocktail to just settle in and relax and a waitress whose name tag read Fernanda ignored me for a long while even though hardly anyone was there. When she finally came to take my order, I asked about food options (there is food on the menu) and she rolled her eyes and said, "We get our food from Cortina and they're just so buys so I will have to ask the chef if you can order." I pointed out the food on the menu for Alpenglow and she said, "The chef says no, it's out of my hands, nothing I can do." Unless she spoke to the chef via ESP or can time travel or bend the laws of space and time, there's no way she asked the chef or that the chef said no while I was showing her the food options on the menu. That was so bizarre and off putting, I just left without ordering. Luckily, I found the waitress at Backcast to be super kind and happy to help me out. A few days later, after experiencing great service at Backcast and Beartooth, I decided to give Alpenglow a 2nd chance, figuring I'd just try to avoid Fernanda. I went back and got a different waitress but very similarly, she ignored our table for about 25 minutes before she came to take the order and then, when one of my friends asked for water, never brought it at all. An hour later, I went to the bar and asked for a water for him and she ran over and TOOK THE WATER AWAY FROM ME and said she'd bring it to the table ... and didn't. That was enough for me. I didn't return again. 1 star for Alpenglow because their bartenders are great, but the waitstaff needs improvement. III. MANAGERIAL STAFF Phenomenal. If you have an issue, the managers swoop in without even being asked and make it right. Really. The hotel had a water issue that required them to access our room while we weren't there. Constantin, one of the managers, made sure he was there to greet us and explain when we returned, upgraded our room without us even asking and left us a handwritten note later that night with a tower of sweets. WHAT?! This man is amazing. We love him forever now and he turned what could have been a negative experience into a cementing of our loyalty and a desire to return to the property every year. IV. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY This is my only true substantive critique (beyond the odd experience with the two waitresses at Alpenglow) and it really applies to Montage corporate, not really any of the on-the-ground staff at Montage Big Sky. Montage corporate really needs to do better in terms of their environmental commitment. Luxury consumers do care and we do notice this stuff. So, for example, there are both trash and recycling containers in the rooms. Great, right? Except we watched as housekeeping dumped them both into one big garbage bag and, when I asked about it, they told me they don't recycle at the property. Bad not to recycle. Worse to pretend you do by giving guests recycling receptacles which we had painstakingly sorted our recyclables into. Likewise, the hotel offers (and I love this) recyclable and re-useable metal water bottles which your room is stocked with daily, gratis. This is awesome. However, people just throw them out because there is no option to recycle them. You can't really even re-fill them unless you're ok with tap water, which some of us were and did re-use one bottle throughout the trip, but most don't. There is recycling available in Big Sky, just not at the Montage, apparently. It may be complicated or challenging for the hotel to work with the local govt to get their stuff recycled and/or composted, but they should. Especially if they care about the gorgeous environment that is the reason we all go to stay there. Finally, the to-go food containers and cutlery, and straws. (1) The to-go food boxes and cutlery all say COMPOSTABLE on them. That is great! Unfortunately, Montage does not compost. As the containers say on them, they only will break down in "industrial" composting, not regular trash. Yeah, so...better than plastic, yes, but like the recycle bins for a place with no recycling - kind of annoying. Finally, (2) the straws. I thought most of us had determined we really like sea turtles and sworn off plastic straws so I was very disappointed to see Montage still using plastic straws. Plus, who wants to consume the microplastics from them? If you're greenies, as I call my family, you'll collect your recyclables and take them to one of the town recycle bins and you'll re-use one water bottle and then take it home with you and you'll remind everyone "no straw please" when you order your drinks. We did that. But most people won't and I don't really blame them - they don't want to be inconvenienced and they have a finite time for their holiday. This is not a burden the hotel should shift to the guest. Montage is a wealthy entity that can absolutely afford to devote more time and resources to true, not just superficial, environmental custodianship. V. Overall, service, amenities and staff were lovely. Even with the funky experiences at Alpenglow, I would have given 5 stars but for the environmental concerns. Otherwise, this is a top tier place that my family enjoyed immensely.

There aren't enough perqs to justify staying here. Just save your money and go into the big sky village, where you can still have ski-in-ski-out, but better food and more easily accessible ski lessons.

Beautiful resort, great dining options. Need to improve their offerings for families and ski valet needs to improve. Very limited complimentary shuttle service to Mointain Village (where kids ski school is) and coordination of shuttle times with ski school and ski lessons is poor.

5 star resort with 3 star service. Immaculately clean, great food, but really needs to train their seasonal staff for the price point. Service quality was lacking based on other resorts we have stayed (Four Seasons, Aman, Auberge and other Montage). When I addressed issues with hotel manager, he said he would follow up and it never happened. Really disappointing. Not sure I would return for what we paid…

My friends and I decided to get together for a ski trip, but didn't have an idea on where we wanted to go. We finally came to a consensus and decided on Montage Big Sky. This was the best decision ever made because right from entry to check out the entire stay was just magical. Not only was the hotel itself extremely beautiful, but the view it offers is absolutely breathtaking. I also have to give huge credit to the staff as they were all extremely professional and genuine at the same time. There is one person I would like to highlight as they were the reason our trip was genuinely taken to a whole other level of hospitality. The manager Justin Boykin from start to finish truly made our experience one to remember as he was in constant contact with us for setting up reservations on and off property, answering any question we had for him, and truly giving the best recommendations for our trip. This young man will have a bright future in the hospitality industry.