February 23, 2004

Comin’ Down the Mountain

DailyCandy Goes Skiing

Skiing? Love it. Snowboarding? Heck, yeah. Roughing it subzero? No thanks. On those precious winter days off you want the whole package: shredding, indulging, and relaxing. We’ve got it all here, in DailyCandy’s guide to some of the best resorts.

Room and Board
Snowboarders, rejoice. Pro boarder Marc Frank Montoya recently opened the Block Hotel in Tahoe just for you. In-room snowboard racks and boot dryers are just the beginning. This place has Xboxes and PS2s, WiFi, complimentary Clif Bars, an insane library of DVDs and CDs, and an on-the-premises nightclub. The vibe is definitely young at heart: comfy beds, minimalist decor, and brightly colored walls.

Ride the Matterhorn
The hottest spot in the Swiss Alps is the new Coeur des Alpes, an intimate fourteen-room loft-style hotel, done up in muted tones and glass. The best feature? It accommodates “educated dogs” during the summer. Located at the base of three exceptional mountains (including the famed Matterhorn), the automobile-free town of Zermatt offers 394 kilometers of pistes, excellent ski schools, and tons of winter games, from sleigh riding to paragliding.

Old School
Let other resorts get all newfangled. The family-owned Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico is happy to be a quaint throwback — in the best sense — right down to the no-snowboarding policy. Its famed ski school is a must. When it comes to accommodations, opt for El Monte Sagrado, a new eco-resort with a sort of global-village feel; suites and villas are decorated with artifacts from all over the world. The spa has everything, from facials and massages to acupuncture and Reiki, and the restaurant serves up sophisticated local (as in yak and bison) fare.

Rocky Mountain High
Telluride‘s been on the map since Butch Cassidy robbed his first bank. But there are new attractions for skiers and resort enthusiasts alike. Three-year-old Prospect Bowl is great for skiers of all levels. Novices should hit Ute Park. Air Garden Terrain Park has A-frames, rails, and half-pipes galore. The lush rooms at the new Hotel Telluride have views of the San Juan Mountains (all 14,000 of them), and custom furnishings include the famed Incredible Bed, whose 250-thread-count sheets and feather bedding promise “the ultimate night’s sleep.”

Olympic Thrills
Home to the 2010 Winter Games, Whistler Blackcomb is ideal not only for skiing and riding but also dogsledding, heli-skiing, horse-drawn sleigh riding, and snowshoeing. Where to stay? The Pan Pacific is an intimate luxury retreat in the center of town with outdoor heated pools and hot tubs. Rooms have kitchens, fireplaces, balconies, and Aveda products. Don’t miss the spa’s mineral-salt exfoliation and lava-stone massage. The just-opened Sundial Boutique Hotel features 49 suites with kitchens, beautiful views, and (in some cases) private hot tubs.

Stowe Away
Still the best skiing in the Northeast, Stowe, Vermont, now has a true luxury resort, Stoweflake Mountain Resort and Spa, which recently completed a massive renovation. What’s new? A 50,000-square-foot spa, featuring mineral soaking baths, a yoga studio, and salon services. The rooms are decorated in Vermont country style. The restaurant, helmed by Ritz-Carlton alum Jeffrey Weiss, serves upscale comfort food and more than 250 wines.

Summer Cool
If you don’t get to that ski trip this winter, there’s a southern hemisphere full of amazing downhill racing during our summer months. Valle Nevado Chile is what they call a European-style resort. Three hotels make up the complex, and they’re all swell. The top of the heap is the flagship, Hotel Valle Nevado, renovated by Chilean architect German del Sol. Those with kids might prefer the family-style Puerta del Sol. Either way you’ll have easy access to trails and a host of apres-ski options, like a sauna, massage, a swimming pool, and plenty of shopping.