The ski season is just a few months away and with over 6 million Brits now participating in the winter sport, there is plenty of competition when it comes to booking the best trip. Whether you're an avid skier or a novice ready to embrace the thrill of the slopes for the first time, now is the perfect time to start plotting your dream winter getaway.
Das Central, Sölden, Austria
The iconic Das Central hotel, a modern Alpine escape in the heart of Sölden, high in the Austrian Alps, is undergoing some major developments, elevating the guest experience to unparalleled heights. The new spaces include a cutting-edge rooftop spa and treatments room, complete with an infinity rooftop pool, an impressive new lobby ‘Living Lounge’, 31 new rooms and suites, event spaces, Bistro & Bar, all meticulously crafted to provide a haven of comfort and elegance. They have just released a first glimpse of their plans that will soon become a reality. Their idea is to create an extraordinary spa experience high above Sölden’s rooftops, where relaxation meets a breathtaking mountain panorama.
Book it: Das Central Hotel, Sölden, Austria offers double rooms from €200 per person per night, based on two people sharing on a half board basis. central-soelden.com/en
Hotel La Majun, Alta Badia, Italian Dolomites
Located in the Alta Badia region of the Dolomites, Hotel La Majun is a family-run mountain retreat which radiates Alpine elegance, traditional Italian charm and offers awe-inspiring views of the peaks of the Lavarella and the Sella group. What’s more it is new to the UK market.
Alta Badia forms part of Dolomiti Superski, the largest ski circuit in the world, boasting 1,200km of ski slopes accessible by 50 lifts across 15 resorts. So, whether you’re a beginner or a slalom champion, there is something for everyone. After a day exploring in the mountains, Hotel La Majun is perfect for guests to savour that home-from-home feel. Set in the quaint and quiet village of La Villa, it’s as authentic as it gets. Guests can dine on the flavours of South Tyrol at the property’s restaurant, featuring a menu of Ladin dishes and local wines handpicked by the property’s sommelier. The hotel’s spa is an oasis perfect to retreat to after an active day and is complete with a large indoor pool offering panoramic views, sauna and outdoor hot tub.
Book it: Hotel La Majun offers rooms from €370 per night, based on two adults sharing a Standard double room, on a B&B basis during the winter season. lamajun.it/
Cervino, Valle D’Aosta, Italy – opening 6 December
Set to open in time for the 2023/24 winter season, VRetreats’ Cervino Hotel is a five-star, 70 room and suite mountain paradise located in the ski resort of Cervinia. You’ll find it at the end of the Aosta Valley on the Italian-Swiss border, just below the Matterhorn and at the foot of Monte Cervinia. The high-altitude ski resort of Cervinia not only guarantees fantastic snow coverage with most pistes lying well above 3,000m, but also gives access over the border to Zermatt, meaning it is possible to ski between Italy and Switzerland on the same day.
The resorts offer one of Europe’s longest seasons as well as a total ski area of 360km when linked with Zermatt. Cervino is currently undergoing a full renovation that will transform the property into an elegant retreat with a refined design, perfectly integrated with the local surroundings. The project has made use of natural eco-friendly elements such as wood and glass and every room has a view of the valley or mountain range surrounding the hotel. The property is due to open on 6 December. July 2023 also saw the opening of the Matterhorn Alpine Crossing; the highest cable car crossing in the Alps which offers a new route between Cervinia and Zermatt. The 90-minute crossing is an experience in a class of its own – gliding over the stunning mountain landscape that straddles the Italian-Swiss border, with the Matterhorn always in view it takes visitors on a journey through the Alps.
Book it: Cervino, Valle D’Aosta, Italy, offers double rooms from €320 per night, based on two adults sharing on a B&B basis. vretreats.com/en/cervino
Tschuggen Grand Hotel, Arosa, Switzerland
New for this winter season, Tschuggen Grand Hotel has launched four new Mountain Lofts, offering panoramic views of the Arosa Mountains as well as total comfort and privacy without having to forgo the 5* service of the hotel. Built using high-quality sustainable materials, the lofts blend seamlessly with the mountain landscape. Inside, guests can enjoy chic modern alpine interiors.
The lofts range from one to three bedrooms and offer fully equipped kitchens, living rooms, bathrooms, saunas and balconies. Guests staying in the lofts will also have access to the full range of services at Tschuggen Grand Hotel, including their Bergoase Spa and private Tschuggen Express Mountain railway. Those looking for the perfect time to experience a Mountain Loft should book a stay for the annual Private Mountain Event. On Friday 1 December, guests of the Tschuggen Grand Hotel will have the opportunity to ski the first snow of the season, before all the other tourists in Arosa and before the official opening of the ski resort. The Tschuggen Grand Hotel is the only hotel in Switzerland with its very own mountain railway which transports guests straight from the doors of the hotel directly on to the pistes of Arosa in just under four minutes, where there are 225 kilometres of slopes to explore, with no queues!
Book it: Tschuggen Grand Hotel Mountain Lofts start from CHF 1,620 based on two adults sharing a one-bedroom loft. This rate includes service & VAT, access to the Bergoase Spa and use of the Tschuggen Express. tschuggencollection.ch/
