Luxury Travel in Winter
When one thinks of winter travel, one typically conjures up images of white beaches and glistening, turquoise waters. Maybe this vision also includes sitting with a margarita in hand or an iced cold coffee. If you’re from somewhere up north (I’m right there with you), this might sound truly tantalizing after weeks of snowstorms, shoveling driveways, and 4 pm sunsets.
Then again, there are thousands of travelers who love to embrace the chill! More than just the average beachside winter getaway, many travelers long for the brisk weather, enchanting snowfalls, and dreamlike atmosphere that only winter can bring. With more people than ever planning to travel for their winter vacation, there are so many ways travel advisors can thrill their clients by sending them off on an unforgettable winter holiday.
The Activity Lover
For sports enthusiasts who love the great outdoors (especially in below freezing temperatures), there are many exciting winter activities to experience. For decades now, action lovers have flocked en masse to ski lodges and resorts for snowboarding, skiing, and snowshoeing. Anyone searching for that dream ski trail or outdoor adventure will not be disappointed with these options below, no matter their level of expertise.
Vail Ski Resort, CO
Renowned for its snow-capped peaks and daring slopes, the Vail Ski Resort near the town of Vail in Eagle County, Colorado, would be on any skier’s bucket-list. The trails are like no other. Think: freshly groomed snow, plenty of beginner, intermediate, and advanced terrains, and complementary mountain tours to help get new skiers on the right path. Aside from the most remarkable skiing that one could imagine, travelers can also spend time exploring Vails’ village shops, restaurants, and cafes.
Park City Mountain Resort, UT
As one of the largest ski resorts in the United States, the Park City Mountain Resort is hard to beat. The mountain features a variety of expert-level hills and over three hundred trails, with over half of those trails groomed every night. What sets the Park City mountain apart from others of its kind, however, is the history - skiers can expect to pass by remnants of the town’s old mining history and can even explore this past on a free, guided, intermediate-level ski tour, (the Silver to Slopes Historic Mining Tour).
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, WY
It’s inconceivable that an experienced skier would ever dream of missing out on a trip to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming. The skiing and snowboarding trails are extreme, the views are phenomenal, and the amenities are next level. Jackson Hole is truly an athlete’s dream. Apart from skiing and snowboarding, travelers can also soak in the sights and sounds of the wildlife in any of the nearby national parks, from Yellowstone to Grand Teton.
The Thrill Seeker
Not a fan of winter sports, but still want to experience something quintessentially winter? No problem. For the thrill seeker looking for a once-in-a-lifetime winter experience, nothing says winter like an ice hotel. These intricately carved, prismatic hotels offer an experience beyond compare. Walk around and explore the grounds handcrafted by expert artists or book a stay and sleep overnight, grabbing some local cuisine for breakfast.
Icehotel in Swedish Lapland
An ice hotel is the very definition of ephemerality. Since the late 1980s, in the village of Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, the Icehotel has been recreated from scratch each year, given new life by its designers and sculptors. Beyond staying overnight in the palace of ice and snow, travelers can enjoy dogsledding, ice sculpting, visiting the local reindeer, and watching the Northern Lights.
Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel in Norway
Much like Sweden’s Icehotel, Sorrisniva’s Igloo Hotel is a masterpiece of ice and snow rebuilt every year. Travelers can stay overnight on an ice bed covered with blankets and furs. Rooms feature veins of snow and ice carved into the shapes of trees, reindeer, mountains, and vikings of yore. Even if not staying overnight, travelers can sign up for guided tours of the Igloo Hotel and snowshoe in nearby forests, making for a truly unforgettable trip.
Hôtel de Glace in Quebec City
For something a little closer to home, thrill seekers can venture up into the icy heartland of Quebec to visit the Hôtel de Glace in Quebec City. Like any respectable ice hotel, the Hôtel de Glace is handcrafted by local ice sculptors - every bed, table, door, and archway - and is the only hotel of its kind in all of North America.
The Winter Aesthete
Now what about those travelers that just want to embrace the winter aesthetic? Those dreaming of a Wes Anderson-style chateau fitting seamlessly into a winter backdrop, sitting fireside with a mug of hot chocolate overflowing with marshmallows ever-so-slightly roasted and a velvet-jacketed book. For those travelers, we present the array of chateaus found across North America. Even domestic travelers can experience a European-inspired holiday.
Alberta’s Fairmont Banff Springs
Looking at a picture of the Fairmont Banff Springs, you’d be hard pressed to imagine a chateau of this grandeur situated outside of a Bavarian fairytale. The imposing breadth of its walls and towers are staggering even from a mile away. What’s more, the surrounding Albertan mountain views and Bow River only make the Fairmont Banff Springs even more picturesque. For the North American traveler looking for a European-style winter holiday, they’ll find everything they’re looking for here.
Quebec’s Le Château Frontenac
Open since 1893, this historic hotel is one of the oldest in Canada and the oldest hotel in Quebec. The Chateauesque architectural style is immediately recognizable from its turrets and red-brown exterior as one of Canada’s grand railway hotels. The luxury extends into the rest of the hotel with a variety of boutiques, shops, and even an on-site florist. Pop in for an afternoon tea, take a dip at the aquatic center, or settle in at the Moment Spa for a much-needed massage - there’s no desire that can’t be accommodated.
Newfoundland and Labrador’s Fogo Island Inn
Fogo Island Inn offers a different kind of luxury. The hotel’s exterior itself is one of understated elegance and simplicity - an unassuming white edifice facing the Labrador sea. Inside the hotel, however, the sense of luxury is unmistakable, from its floor-to-ceiling windows, matte black fireplaces, crisp linens and porcelain bathtubs, all overlooking the rocky coastline.
Travelers staying at the Fogo Island Inn can observe the Northern Lights from a vantage point that few in Canada will ever experience, making the Inn one of the most captivating stays in the northern hemisphere.
The Rustic Lover
Luxury isn’t always high-end hotels and 5 course meals. Sometimes luxury is defined by one-of-a-kind experiences. Are your luxury travel clients looking for exclusivity, but with a more rustic feel? An experience that feels unique and tailored to their interests, but off the beaten path? This might mean roughing it in the great outdoors or a resort learned only through word of mouth, but no matter what, this traveler can expect a trip that few others will ever experience.
Ranger cabins in Algonquin Park
These rustic wood cabins situated deep in Algonquin Park’s backcountry are a magnet for any travelers looking for a truly rough and ready getaway. With fewer than fifteen cabins to choose from (and some even only accessible by canoe), travelers can expect complete tranquility. Particularly for travelers looking to hike and camp across the wide expanse of Algonquin Park, the ranger cabins offer a relaxing repose.
Oceanstone Seaside Resort in Nova Scotia
Somewhere between rustic and luxurious, the Oceanstone Seaside Resort is nestled right up against the Indian Harbour, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. For travelers looking to curl up by the fire with a book, but stay within driving distance of the city, this resort is ideal. Travelers can explore the surrounding community in their free time, perusing local art galleries, tasting samples at the local chocolatiers and caramel shops, and grabbing a bite to eat at the Ryer Seafood Market.
Mini-Chalets in Quebec
Quebec is well-known for its winter escapes (it kind of has to be, given the sheer number of months that Quebec remains below freezing temperatures). The Panörama chalet, located in Lac-Beauport, is a tiny chalet located in the middle of nowhere, forests surrounding it on all sides. It’s fabulous. The mini chalet is a must-visit for visitors eager to access the trails on Mont Tourbillon, curl up next to a fireplace, and gaze out of its panoramic windows at the lush forest teeming with evergreens just outside.
Curious about how Umapped can help you meet all of your clients’ needs?
All of these hotels and more are available in Umapped’s Vendor database - start a trial to start building your clients’ dream winter trips.
