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Romantic Ski Resorts | |
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COOL TRAVEL MAIL'S
TRAVEL TIPS
Tips & Advice for the Seasoned and Armchair Traveler Alike!
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http://www.CoolTravelMail.com
Dec. 25, 2007
Merry Christmas and welcome to another great edition of
Travel Tips. Today you can discover some of 'The world's
most romantic ski resorts'.
P.S. If you're interested you can now post comments on this
and recent issues on our forum at... Travel Tips Forum
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The world's most romantic ski resorts
Pamper each other and cuddle up at these classic ski spots
By Lena Katz
"A rose on your pillow... chocolates at turndown... rose
petals sprinkled down the hallway... gifts arranged under
the tree." These are but a few of the little gestures that
Jo Jones, concierge at Deer Valley's high-end Residences at
the Chateaux, plans for couples visiting the resort.
From private fireside fondues to midnight snow shoe
adventures to couples' spa treatments, today's luxury ski
destinations are turning up the heat on wintertime passion.
Cupid has been sighted floating around European chalets,
rustic Argentinean lodges and at least one Kiwi mountaintop—
plus all the best American spots.
At fractional ownership properties such as Residences at
the Chateaux, the staff keeps record of their guests'
preferences, special needs and even their birthdays. They
offer the "second home" experience plus all the concierge
services of a luxury hotel. For guests on a romantic
getaway, this could include a horse-drawn sleigh ride to
the nearby Empire Lodge for a fireside meal... and then
back home, where chilled champagne and a drawn bath await.
A combination of beauty, history and status, Aspen proves
itself a top romantic getaway year after year. There,
luxury rental specialists have a your-wish-is-my-command
attitude.
"When you book a rental through most Aspen realtors,
there's typically a service charge on top which covers
full concierge services—any requests from catered candle-
light dinners to hard-to-come-by event tickets. I've even
worked with local boutiques to show their wares in guests'
houses, so they don't have to visit the stores," says Kelli
Gardner of Five Star Destinations.
Though Gardner says most people prefer to be in the six-
by-six block radius that constitutes the "core" of Aspen
(where the bulk of the season's social activities take
place), she also has country properties that appeal to
lovers in "getaway" mode.
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"You get a view of majestic mountain peaks... there are
open pastures for snowmobiling right out your back door...
but it's easy to rent a driver, and you can still access
the town of Aspen easily," she says.
For in-town romance, book a penthouse through Gardner and
arrange for a private chef to cook up spreads accented by
caviar and truffles from the Butcher's Block. The St. Regis
and Little Nell penthouses are popular and some insiders
opt for the Brand Building, but for a real splurge, a
lavish 4-bedroom private rental property will cost you from
upwards of $12,000 a night off-season.
"No Pizza Hut, no Gap, no chain hotels," locals proudly
state. That means at any of the 50 restaurants, 60-odd
hotels and B&Bs, the owners offer personalized service
and their own informal version of concierge service. There
are loads of romantic hideaways in Stowe, but at the Stone
Hill Inn, proprietors Amy and Hap Jordan seem intent on
perfecting the Cupid-friendly experience—especially as it
applies to epicureans.
"My husband I are foodies and plan travel around food
experiences," says Amy, who offers a "Fun for Foodies"
package, fondue dinner tours and chocolatier classes.
As for the other romantic extras, she lets guests provide
the inspiration.
"I have hopeful grooms-to-be calling me up saying 'I want
to propose, I'm nervous, what do I do?' so the proposal
packages were a natural extension," she says. The Jordans
consider all pre-planned packages to be just a "starting
point," though they understand that everyone wants their
special occasion to be unique.
The legendary Canadian ski resorts of Banff/Lake Louise and
Whistler offer every kind of accommodation from luxe five-
star hotels to ski-in, ski-out chalets. But lately,
boutique hotel properties have been stealing international
attention away from the big names. In Lake Louise, a team
of Swiss brothers runs the picturesque Post Hotel to old-
world European standards, offering intimate accommodations,
an Alpine spa and fine cuisine with a 35,000-bottle wine
cellar. Nestled in Banff National Park, this property gets
the insider vote for a romantic Rocky Mountain getaway.
In Whistler, the Sundial Boutique Hotel sets the standard
for interior style on a super-luxe but intimate scale.
"Boutique hotels are typically authentic with the essence
of the location/destination. When you close the curtains,
you are going to know you are someplace special," explains
Andrew Fine of Boutique Hotels & Resorts. In his opinion,
the Sundial exemplifies this.
Sundial staff recommends suite #705 for the ultimate
romantic splurge. With two fireplaces, a heated slate floor
in the bathroom, a jacuzzi in the bedroom and another on
the patio, it's designed to inspire guests to... er...
make themselves comfortable. The concierge staff arranges
special activities such as couples' spa treatments, moon-
lit cross-country skiing around Lost Lake, or fondue
dinners on the mountain.
Of course, when it comes to Alpine spas and mountaintop
fondue, no one does it better than the Europeans. Lodgings
run the gamut from stately to charming, modest to downright
palatial. At Badrutt's Palace in St. Moritz, Switzerland,
service is discreet, but everything else—the views, the
decor, the crowd—is suitably over the top. Perched on Lake
St. Moritz, this property offers everything from private
dinners in its wine cellar to apres-ski high tea to horse-
drawn carriage rides through the nearby Fex Valley. Alpine
view suites are worth the splurge.
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Over in the French resort of Courchevel, the Hotel de
Charme les Airelles recently wrapped up a $31 million
renovation and is set to lure high-ticket travelers from
every corner of the world. The property maintains a refined
"chalet" feel, with apres-ski cocktails in the fire-lit
piano bar and cuisine by Pierre Gagnaire. The top-floor
suite features frescos, indoor and outdoor jacuzzis and
two balconies that afford south and western valley views.
Though we recommend it as an ultimate couples' getaway, it
is a definite splurge at $14,760 a night.
For an alternative to the Alps, venture over to the
Baqueira-Beret resort area in the Spanish Pyrenees. La
Pleta Hotel & Spa's spa/food/wine experience leaves you
purring. Insiders suggest staying in the two-floor
Presidential Suite (with infinity jacuzzi), booking the
"Two Lovers Treatment" in the couples' treatment room,
then retiring to the restaurant (or your suite) for dinner
and heated spiced wine.
If Europe's ski resorts are stately and historic, South
America's are rustic and a bit rough around the edges—but
they make up for it with stunning natural scenery and
vivacious local culture. And, because of the Southern
Hemisphere location, their peak season is July and August.
The Argentinean town of Bariloche is a sister city to Aspen—
and with 100,000 residents, it dwarfs its Colorado sibling.
What's more, it's located along Lake Nahuel Huapi, which
"makes Tahoe look like a pond" according to Tom Nugent,
mountain vacation specialist for Ski.com (formerly Aspen
Ski Tours).
"For romantic luxury lodgings, the Pire-Hue is as good
as it gets," he says. "It reminds me of a rustic hunting
lodge, with comfortable common areas, soft leather
furniture, a great little bar and ski-in, ski-out access.
The main chair lift is on one side of the hotel exit, and
the ski shop is on the other." For a truly memorable
getaway, though, he recommends taking a two-day trip to
Llao Llao, a famous hotel between two lakes in Nahuel
Huapi National Park.
For off-season a deux adventures further afield, New
Zealand offers experiences ranging from the iconic "grand
lodge" getaway to the high-energy Queenstown urban retreat.
Caroline Davidson of the luxury group Select Hotels says,
"Our properties appeal to a very eclectic group of high-end
travelers. Just juxtapose two of our top properties, the
classic Huka Lodge on the banks of the Wa River, with the
Spire, a brand new Queenstown property offering avant-garde
luxury in the heart of town."
Couples who want to run away to the rugged North Island
stay at the Huka Lodge and spend the week heli-skiing or
bathing in thermal springs. The Spire is for hipsters in
search of South Island adrenaline action by day and sexy
adventures by night—with Philippe Starck furnishings to
provide the properly hip backdrop.
Though Australia has fewer ski areas, it is developing more
properties on the snow. For now, the Hotel Pension Grimus
is a top pick. It's ski-in, ski-out, on fabulous treed
terrain, and has won a recent industry award for "best
Australian alpine accommodation." Pension Grimus is famous
for its traditional Christmas in July. Austrian-style
hospitality, great food, schnapps tastings and impromptu
entertainment by Australian celebs are part of the annual
program. Whether you and yours are making history or
celebrating it, these ski resorts fit the bill for true
snow lovers.
Well, that's it for this week, group. Thanks again for
reading, and please keep those comments, complaints and
questions coming in.
You can send me an e-mail message at: Email Pierce
Until next week, thanks for reading.
Your Tipmeister,
Pierce
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