Tom Passavant
North America's poshest powder
When it comes to skiing, luxury means privacy. Avid snow sliders will go to almost any length to ensure that their precious days on the slopes take place as far from the crush of lift lines as possible.
They'll endure connecting flights on tiny planes into even tinier airports to spend a few days at a hard-to-reach ski resort. They'll pay big bucks for private instructors who can cut to the head of the gondola line. And they'll rent luxurious log homes in the woods just to be able to savor the surroundings in silence...
North America's poshest powder
When it comes to skiing, luxury means privacy. Avid snow sliders will go to almost any length to ensure that their precious days on the slopes take place as far from the crush of lift lines as possible.
They'll endure connecting flights on tiny planes into even tinier airports to spend a few days at a hard-to-reach ski resort. They'll pay big bucks for private instructors who can cut to the head of the gondola line. And they'll rent luxurious log homes in the woods just to be able to savor the surroundings in silence...
Tom Passavant
North America's poshest powder
When it comes to skiing, luxury means privacy. Avid snow sliders will go to almost any length to ensure th... more
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CURRENT SCORE
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Rank
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211
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376.00
Created
06/10/08
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1
Beaver Creek, Colo.
Good grooming is the byword here, from the impeccably manicured slopes to the "Personal Groomer" fashion consultant from Neiman-Marcus who'll take you shopping for ski outfits. The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch (doubles from $655;) evokes a National Park lodge gone to heaven, while the sprawling condos at McCoy Peak Lodge (from $1075;) are perfect for, say, three couples who want to be in the center of the village. Above it all is the freshly renovated Trapper's Cabin ($2085 per night for four people;), a four-bedroom log hideout that comes with a private chef and access to the area's three private dining cabins.
2
Deer Valley, Utah
Lift tickets here are limited to 6,500 per day here, so you're practically assured of peace and quiet. If the Ski Magazine Dream Home is booked, you'll hardly be slumming in a suite at the freshly renovated Stein Eriksen Lodge (doubles from $725;), where you should sign up for a half-day ($800) or full day ($1500, up to ten people) of skiing with the legendary Stein himself. Need a condo? Chateaux at Silver Lake should do the trick (one-bedrooms from $1025;). Just be sure to leave the snowboard at home: They're still banned here.
3
Aspen, Colo.
Luxury comes in many forms at America's most famous ski resort. For something unique, book Penthouse 45 at the new Hyatt Grand Aspen ($2500 per night;), which comes with two outdoor hot tubs and views over the lights of town. Then there are the seven decorated-to-the-max suites at The Residence Hotel ($549 and up; 970-920-6532; aspenresidence.com), whose themes range from English Victorian to The Raj. For the luxury of a great ski turn, contact John Clendenin, aka The Ski Doctor (private lessons: $979 per day;). For that perfect espresso without lifting a finger, call Espressgo (970-948-8213).
4
Sun Valley, Idaho
Sun Valley has been coddling celebrities from Gary Cooper to Arnold Schwarzenegger since 1936. The area's sheer isolation means lift lines are unknown, and the beautiful on-mountain day lodges, complete with piano player, offer soothing lunchtime respites from the challenges of the long (3400 vertical feet), relentless trails of Baldy. At night, there's just enough old-fashioned glam at the Sun Valley Lodge (doubles from $287;), including dancing at dinner in the Duchin Room, to make you feel like you're skiing in a kinder, gentler era. And yes, Sun Valley Serenade plays continuously on your in-room TV.
5
Telluride, Colo.
Telluride offers both a beautiful alpine setting and a split personality. The tiny, funky Western town has a slew of excellent restaurants and watering holes, while the shiny Mountain Village features lavish ski-in log homes like six-bedroom, six steam shower Alpen Ridge ($3900 per night) and spacious condos like the Fairmont Heritage Franz Klammer Lodge. Still, don't miss Tempter House, a two-bedroom stone and glass aerie on a ridge at 12,200 feet that rents for $5000 per night, or $20,000 for a weekend that includes heliskiing (866-888-7197; tellruideplatinumproperties.com).
6
Whistler, British Columbia
For a long time, Whistler and adjacent Blackcomb Mountain were known for mind-blowing skiing and decidedly middle-brow lodging and dining. That all changed two years ago with the debut of the Four Seasons Resort Whistler (doubles from $353; 604-935-3400; fourseasons.com/whistler). Among the amenities in this stone and timber hideaway are a first-rate spa, excellent dining, a ski shop that rents outfits from Prada and Spyder and a guests-only lounge right at the lifts, where cheerful staffers proffer hot chocolate, then help buckle your pre-warmed boots.
7
Vail, Colo.
Vail's ongoing base village renovations will yield the spiffy new 36-room Arrabelle at Vail Square, which debuts this January (doubles from $599; 866-662-7625, Arrabelle.rockresorts.com). While it shakes out there's world-class pampering at the Sonnenalp Resort (doubles from $476; 970866-284-4411; sonnenalp.com), whose rooms provide Old World coddling--and there's a fine small spa to boot. Up top, Game Creek Chalet ($2800 per night; 970-476-5011; gamecreekchalet.com) is Vail's answer to Trapper's Cabin at Beaver Creek. Excellent restaurants like Larkspur and Kelly Liken are at once big city serious and resort town casual.
8
Jackson Hole, Wyo.
Pampering may not be the first word that springs to mind here, considering the unforgiving terrain and duct-taped local skiers. But step into the new-ish Four Seasons Resort (doubles from $475; 307-732-5000; fourseasons.com/jacksonhole) and you'll savor Jackson's softer side. Ten miles away is Amangani (doubles from $650; 877-734-7333; amangaini.com), the only American link in the Amanresorts chain. The zen-like calm, awesome Teton views and sexy lighting make this a romantic hideout supreme. Snake River Grill, in downtown Jackson, is the choice for urbane dining before hitting the saddle barstools at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar.
9
The Yellowstone Club, Mont.
You'll need an introduction to join timber magnate Tim Blixeth's private ski and golf resort (888-700-7748; theyellowstoneclub.com), but once you pass muster, you'll definitely be savoring crowd-free skiing. You'll also need several million dollars to build or buy your dream chalet on the 13,400 acres that adjoin Lone Mountain ski area in southwestern Montana. Once you're in though, your only competition for fresh tracks will be people like Jack Kemp and Bill Gates. And with 40 trails scattered across Pioneer Mountain, you can probably get away from them, too.
10
Private Heliskiing, British Columbia
If the last word in skiing is powder, then the ultimate way to experience it is via helicopter in the steep and deep Canadian Rockies. Canadian Mountain Holidays (800-661-0252; canadianmountainholidays.com) pioneered the sport in the 1960s, and today they offer private heliskiing weeks out of three well-appointed backcountry lodges, meaning you and your friends ski where, when and as much as you wish. You will, not surprisingly, pay dearly for this: from $117,280 (for five skiers) to $172,904 (for ten skiers), per week, depending on which lodge and date you choose.
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