 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello everyone,
Every year I start organising our family ski trip I go through hours of hotel porn before deciding on the more financially reasonable option. I am thinking of treating myself next year to somewhere special, but still within a somewhat reasonable budget.
Can anyone suggest the most breathtaking hotel they have seen while on their ski travels in any EU resort?
I have always looked at the HOTEL KOH I NOR in VAL-T and thought it looked incredible, also a lot of the Club-Med ones are amazing. Have you ever stayed in any 5* luxury places that you think changed your life? or even some budget hotels that you would never forget due to the amazing time you had.
Any suggestions would be amazing! Thank you.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Sainter, "Have you ever stayed in any 5* luxury places that you think changed your life? "
Being skint for the rest of the year could do that! 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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lots of opulent hotels out there. And I've stayed in in a great many over the past 30 years.
Best hotels however have been 3 star, usually family owned. One of my favorites was Gasthof Tyrol in Warth, roomy, good honest food, sensibly priced. Sadly however this has now been converted to holiday appartments.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Not EU...but stayed at Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec...the iconic building in photos. Inghams or some such had it in the brochure and it was pretty cheap. We couldn't afford to eat or drink anything at the hotel but were very spoiled by having a ski concierge and a private taxi to take you to the ski area of your choice everyday...included.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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How about the Portetta at Courchevel 1650 very very nice, classy, not tooooooo expensive and all the trimmings you could wish for.
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Does it have to be EU? There are some very nice hotels in Switzerland.
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| Bob wrote: |
lots of opulent hotels out there. And I've stayed in in a great many over the past 30 years.
Best hotels however have been 3 star, usually family owned. One of my favorites was Gasthof Tyrol in Warth, roomy, good honest food, sensibly priced. Sadly however this has now been converted to holiday appartments. |
+1
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Not quite sure about the life changing part, but Copperhill Mountain Lodge in Åre, Sweden is probably the nicest ski hotel we've stayed in, it has a standalone chalet / villa too, which looks quite cool:
https://copperhill.se/en/
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Hotel Post in Ischgl! And the One next to it - can’t remember the name !
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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High on my list (for post retirement skiing I think) is the Hotel California in the Monte Rosa area.
http://www.hotelcalifornia.vda.it/
I would like to stay in a hotel that had a fairly unique "difference" and this seems to fit the bill
I would love to say that I had stayed in the "Grateful Dead" room or the "Sandy Denny" room
It gets good reviews but I can't say that I have ever stayed there. Yet
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Krallerhof in Leogang, Austria.
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Purely based on the exceptional food (and I used also to enjoy the smells coming from the kitchen as I skied past at 9am!) I would suggest the Chabichou in Courchevel. No idea what it's like as a hotel, but you wouldn't get food like that in a Travelodge.
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You know it makes sense.
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Favourites for me in the EU would be the Schloss Lebenberg in Kitzbuhel and Post in St Anton
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Hotel Montana in Oberlech is excellent. Not 5 star admittedly but food is amazing as is the ski area
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| DrNo wrote: |
| Favourites for me in the EU would be the Schloss Lebenberg in Kitzbuhel and Post in St Anton |
Schloss Lebenberg is an excellent hotel with an exceptional swimming pool. But there's a lot of waiting around for minibuses as it's quite far out from the town and lifts. Go there in summer, instead. (We did, twice!)
Others? Alpine Palace in Hinterglemm and the Bergwelt in Obergurgl.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Bergmeister, I'm like you but will occasionally pay a lot for a very good meal. Since I recommended it I see that the Chabichou rates are well beyond anything I would consider paying. Up to the OP whether it's likely to be worth it.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I could recommend some great hotels in Switzerland, but it’s not in the EU so presumably wouldn’t be of interest.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| king key wrote: |
@Sainter, "Have you ever stayed in any 5* luxury places that you think changed your life? "
Being skint for the rest of the year could do that! |
HAHA very good.
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| holidayloverxx wrote: |
| Not EU...but stayed at Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec...the iconic building in photos. Inghams or some such had it in the brochure and it was pretty cheap. We couldn't afford to eat or drink anything at the hotel but were very spoiled by having a ski concierge and a private taxi to take you to the ski area of your choice everyday...included. |
OH WOW!! THAT LOOKS AMAZING!!! 10/10 for hotel, although a million miles from the pistes. What was your favourite ski area from that hotel? How many different ski resorts did you get to visit while staying here?
Ok wow that is something! Best view award goes to you. I imagine its not on crystalski haha. Was this a £3000pp trip haha?
| vjmehra wrote: |
Not quite sure about the life changing part, but Copperhill Mountain Lodge in Åre, Sweden is probably the nicest ski hotel we've stayed in, it has a standalone chalet / villa too, which looks quite cool:
https://copperhill.se/en/ |
This looks INCREDIBLE, my only issue is the ski area looks very small!
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Banff Springs Hotel in Canada is impressive by my penny pinching standards.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I'd save my money and go for a luxury 5* trip to Asia instead, as that has some fantastic hotels and the service is sublime. If you are skiing, do you really get the full 5 * experience, as you will be out 9-4 most days? Just saying!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Cheesie168, personally I find ther 'service' in Asian and Middle East hotels intrusive.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@Sainter, Hostellerie de Mascognaz, Champoluc. Go for one of the chalets, rather alpine-plush.
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You know it makes sense.
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We stayed in the Hotel Altapura, in Val Thorens, for a few days just three weeks ago. We were blessed with good snow conditions. https://en.altapura.fr/#!val-thorens-hotel/montain-stay
This well-known five-star hotel has a spectacular piste-side position - you can literally ski onto (or off) the terrace. It is cosy, with quirky modern, very stylish décor. It also has a free shuttle for whenever you want to go into the centre.
However, our trip didn't get off to a great start. When we arrived by private transfer at about 1.30pm on the Monday, there was nobody at reception (an open plan room with a few desks - didn't look like a hotel reception, and was hidden around a corner). After a good few minutes of searching for any sign of staff, I foolishly staggered down the stairs into the main bar with my bag. On making enquiries of a knot of staff gossiping behind the bar, I was pointed to the reception - right back up the stairs (there are lifts tucked away, but I hadn't seen them). The bar staff carried on chatting to each other as I struggled back up.
By now, my wife had found a receptionist. So we duly tried to check in - only to find that they had no record of us, and appeared never to have even heard of Erna Low, the company though which we had booked. After a rather fraught interval, our booking was eventually located (apparently, the names had been reversed). I have to say that at this point I wasn't really feeling the warmth of a five star welcome.
But that was the low point. It got better. Our bag was then taken to our room, which proved to be very comfortable, with a big bathroom (though, if one wanted to quibble, there were some black marks on one of the wet-room walls, and a service hatch that had been recently re-sealed but not yet re-painted).
And the ski locker room was in a truly unbeatable location - you literally skied straight out, or in. But the woe betide you if you tried to use it during morning rush hour - the place was far too small for the number of guests, many of whom resorted to trying to get their boots on while standing. And the actual ski lockers were a bit pokey - we could barely fit our stuff in. The ski hire place was on site, next to the locker room, and had helpful staff and excellent equipment. But, once again, during peak periods we saw it descend into mayhem, packed with people waiting to be served.
Even though it wasn't school holiday time, there were a lot of kids about. Now, I like to see them enjoying themselves, but my wife gave up trying to find a quiet time to use the inside-outside swimming pool. I didn't even bother. And I was sitting on the terrace having a beer one afternoon when I found myself being snowballed by kids in the pool. Oh well. (Rumour has it that I was a kid, once.)
The bar area was excellent - and so was the service, most of the time. However, one early evening they seemed short-staffed and we eventually gave up trying to get served. We got up and walked into town instead. We were on a B&B deal and we didn't eat in the hotel's restaurants, but I gather the food is very good. Certainly, we couldn't fault their breakfasts, or the spectacular view from the breakfast room.
Overall, we had a very enjoyable short break. The skiing was great, and I don't regret the expenditure. Would we go again? Possibly - but only at a really quiet time of the year, and certainly not paying the mainstream rates.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Hotel Matterhorn Focus in Zermatt..(So not strictly in EU). Great spot by Klein Matterhorn lift station. Lovely staff. Excellent spa. No half board option, but they do light meals in the evening, which often is all you need after a lunchtime on the slopes. We had one of the nicest rooms for our honeymoon in Nov 16..so the room rate was almost reasonable!
On other occasions we have stayed in the more reasonable Hotel Bristol in a Matterhorn view room. Great breakfast, and you can’t tire of that view.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Orange200 wrote: |
| Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Canada is impressive by my penny pinching standards. |
Very impressive indeed.
Was going to say this too. Stunning. Didn't stay there though and judging by the looks of the 'clientele' when we stumbled inside, we weren't particularly welcome!
Best hotel we stayed I think has to be the Hotel Konig in Saalbach. Service and food was exceptional. Rooms were comfortable and had a nice vibe at the bar. Met some nice people there.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
vjmehra wrote:
Not quite sure about the life changing part, but Copperhill Mountain Lodge in Åre, Sweden is probably the nicest ski hotel we've stayed in, it has a standalone chalet / villa too, which looks quite cool:
https://copperhill.se/en/
This looks INCREDIBLE, my only issue is the ski area looks very small!
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Definitely not as big as some Alpine resorts, but I believe the whole network is connected, so no need to stay on the beginner pistes near the hotel:
https://www.piste-maps.co.uk/Piste-Maps/Sweden/Are-PisteMap-2017.pdf
I think there's some good off-piste too, but others on here will be far more knowledgeable than me on that.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Badrutt’s Palace or the Kempinski Grand in St Moritz are both ok for a few days. Badrutt’s more old-money / eurotrash, Kempinski more for German industrialists indulging their “nieces”...
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