Photo courtesy of Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
Winter is upon us, but there is no need to fret over the chilly temps and shorter days. Instead, head out and embrace the snow and winter wonderland, incorporating this festive season into your travel plans.
Here are a few of the top snow globe stays and winter wonder spots to make it all the merrier once the snow starts to fall. Pack your skis, cameras and jackets, and come taste the frozen north!
Photo courtesy of Hotel Schweizerhof
Relaxing at the Hotel Schweizerhof, Zermatt’s best winter retreat
Zermatt, Switzerland is a gorgeous place no matter the season, but in the winter, the small Alpine village really comes into its own, with quaint shops, charming bistros and incredible views of the Matterhorn from every angle. The iconic Hotel Schweizerhof, recently renovated by French hotelier Michel Reybier (of La Réserve Paris fame), sits right in the center of town and offers all the trappings of an authentic Swiss chalet with plenty of contemporary luxury.
In addition to its dapper suites with views of Zermatt’s most famous peak, you can choose from traditional fondue or Peruvian Japanese fusion restaurants, and then relax with an après-ski spa treatment to boot.
Photo courtesy of Hotel Schweizerhof
Epic skiing under the Matterhorn
Zermatt is one of the top winter ski destinations in Europe, and the Schweizerhof even has an in-house ski rental service, along with personal lockers for winter sports equipment that include ski boot heaters! Even if you’re not alpine-inclined, there’s still plenty to do in Zermatt. Take the Gornergrat Cog Railway up above the evergreens and admire the vistas of the Swiss and Italian Alps, go ice skating on Zermatt’s public rink, or just wander around and enjoy the old timber homes, charming chalets, and twinkling lights that all make for one wonderful winter atmosphere.
Photo courtesy of Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
Glass igloos at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Finland
There are rooms with views, and then there are rooms with views. At Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, set in the heart of Lapland in the north of Finland, you can spend the night in a glass igloo. You’ll be looking out on some fabulous Northern Lights displays if you’re lucky, and you’ll be able to do so from the comfort of your own bed.
The resort boasts a giant smoke sauna and is set in a location with almost no light pollution, so it’s perfect for when those magical lights appear. Even if it’s 40 below outside, the resort provides guests with down sleeping bags, and you’re guaranteed to be cozy and in awe most of your stay.
Photo courtesy of Valtteri Hirvonen + Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
Winter magic at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
In addition to just laying in your igloo and marveling at the surroundings, you can also do reindeer, husky and snowmobile safaris, go ice fishing, cross-country skiing or even head out on an icebreaker cruise. Being stranded indoors by the cold and dark is not an option up here in the far north, rather, it’s all about getting out and making the most of it.
In addition to their glass igloos, Kakslauttanen also offers real snow igloos to sleep in, as well as log chalets and traditional Lapland houses to bunker down in, should all that bright light get a bit too blinding.
Photo courtesy of Apukka Resort
Kammi Family Suites under Northern Lights, Apukka Resort in Finland
Another excellent Lapland getaway and beautiful rural hideout is the Apukka Resort set near two remote lakes on the edge of unspoiled wilderness, not far from Finland’s main Arctic city, Rovaniemi (better known as the official hometown of Santa Claus).
The resort’s new Kammi Family Suites boast a lakeside location and come with two bedrooms and a full kitchen. Northern Lights viewing possibilities figure prominently here. And for the intrepid, there are also ice cabins, made of 100% logs of ice, complete with double ice beds all swathed in reindeer hides and thermal sleeping bags to ensure you stay snug.
Photo courtesy of Apukka Resort
Apukka’s Aurora Cabins
At Apukka, you can also avail yourself of a plethora of Arctic activities, from dog and reindeer sledding to saunas, snowshoeing and ice fishing. Best yet, opt for an “Aurora Wagon,” basically akin to a small mobile trailer that comes with a glass roof and is set deep out in the forest away from the resort.
You’ll be equipped with thermal sleeping bags, hot drinks, have a bonfire prepared outside your door and then left alone for the night to have the Northern Lights show all to yourself. Should you still feel the chill in the morning, they’ll even pick you up and deliver you straight to a morning sauna.
Photo courtesy of Whitepod Eco-Luxury Hotel
Snow pods in the Swiss Alps at Whitepod in Switzerland
Featuring 18 eco-luxury pods and nine Swiss cabins, this alpine gem set at just under 5,000 feet in the Valais region of the Swiss Alps is unique, hopelessly romantic and one vacation experience to be savored. At Whitepod, the luxurious tent pods sit on their own wooden platforms, have a self-supporting framework and come equipped with their own pellet stove to ensure the cold stays outside.
The resort provides packs, maps, snowshoes, spikes for your shoes, flashlights and walking sticks upon arrival, to assist you with getting to and around your pod. Your luggage gets whisked up by snow scooter, while you get your first taste of the dramatic surroundings on a short 15-minute walk up to your pod.
The snow pods look out from their mountain perch down to pristine Lake Geneva below, framed by a background of snowy peaks, and should you get a bit chilled from sitting around and gazing at the scenery, there is a Finnish sauna to heat up in as well.
Photo courtesy of Whitepod Eco-Luxury Hotel
Dog sledding at Whitepod, Valais, Switzerland
There’s a large array of activities to engage in at Whitepod. The resort features 15 miles of marked trails, its own ski touring tracks and dog sledding tours. You can even parasail from this alpine abode. Certified mountain guides also lead snowshoe hikes and teach orienteering skills.
The hotel will also take you over to Les Portes du Soleil, which is one of the largest ski areas in the world, running from France to Switzerland, and just a 30-minute drive from Whitepod, should you be primed for some big league slopes. It’s active, alpine and breathtaking here, so put it on your must-visit list.
Photo courtesy of Hotel de Glace
North America’s only ice hotel, Hôtel de Glace in Quebec
Unique in North America, Quebec’s Hôtel de Glace ice hotel offers a one-of-a-kind winter experience. You’ll be surrounded by snow arches and ice sculptures. created anew each year by sculptors who turn tons of giant ice blocks into a fantasy castle, complete with ice bars, ice furniture and even an ice slide and ice chapel.
Pick from a choice of 24 rooms and theme suites, some of which even have fireplaces, as well as a Premium Suite with a private hot tub. While Quebec sees some icy temperatures in January and February, the ice rooms here stay at a balmy 27°F and 23°F, and to ensure you a shiver-less sleep, you are provided with sleeping bags rated 5°F to 22°F.
Photo courtesy of Hotel de Glace
Ice room with a fireplace at Hôtel de Glace
Located just 30 minutes by car from Quebec City, Hôtel de Glace is part of the Valcartier Vacations Village, which features the largest winter playground in North America, home to snow rafting, snow slides, tubing and skating. The ice hotel also has a Nordic area that has outdoor hot tubs and a sauna set under the stars, ensuring that you’ll go to bed nice and warm.
Valcartier Village also has a huge spa that has both indoor and outdoor pools. This is a great spot to bring the whole family. And yes, your welcome drinks are even served in glasses made from ice here.
Photo courtesy of Caldera House
Home on the range at Caldera House in Jackson Hole
Jackson Hole is the place to be for forays into the mighty Grand Tetons, and the intimate boutique Caldera House is where you want to call home during a winter outing in Wyoming. Set in the heart of Teton Village right by the Jackson Hole Tram, Caldera House is the perfect spot for an upscale ski, sledding, snowmobile or winter wildlife vacation, as you can literally roll right out of bed and onto the slopes.
The resort is a world unto itself, with only a total of eight 4- or 2-bedroom suites, each featuring spacious living rooms and coming with their own chef’s kitchen, fireplace, outdoor terrace and stunning mountain views. The spa here boasts an infinity hot plunge and dry sauna, plus plenty of signature treatments to avail yourself of after taking in all of your pre and après-ski events.
Photo courtesy of High Mountain Heli-Skiing
Heli-ski adventure in the Tetons
You can pretty much ski right out the door at Caldera House, and the aerial tram, chairlifts and gondolas of Jackson Hole Mountain lead to some of the best powder in the country. At the resort, an on-call concierge can tailor-make a winter battle plan for you, with a choice of skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledding, sleigh riding in the National Elk Refuge or even heli-ski touring should you be up for a big adventure.
For advanced skiers, Caldera House will set you up with the renowned Exum Mountain Guides to tour the backcountry of Grand Teton National Park, and they’ll even pair you up with former Olympic skier Bode Miller for coaching and a couple days of skiing with a master.
Photo courtesy of Alpeniglu Village
Winter wonderland in the Kitzbühel Alps in Austria
Staying in a winter igloo doesn’t have to be restricted to the Arctic. In Austrian Tyrol, you’ll find Alpeniglu, an ice village featuring an ice hotel, igloos and ice carvings, set in the middle of the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental, one of Europe’s top ski locales.
While skiing is a huge draw here in the Kitzbühel Alps, you don’t have to take to the slopes to get here, as a gondola whisks visitors up to the magical mountain setting in under ten minutes. Alpeniglu Village has 18 igloos that come equipped with snow-proof mattresses, sleeping bags and cozy fur blankets. You can even get an igloo guide who leads guests on torchlit hikes through the winter forest, culminating at a cozy campfire.
Photo courtesy of Alpeniglu Village
A dome of your own at Alpeniglu Village
Alpeniglu Village has plenty of special deals, including a romance package where couples get to carve their own ice sculpture and enjoy a candlelit fondue dinner (on an ice table). The igloo ice church here also hosts weddings and other events.
You can choose to ski or snowshoe in here if you’d like. Visitors can also opt for day tours to the ICE LAND art exhibition, where international sculptors carve unique designs each year using 260-pound blocks of ice that are actually manufactured by Alpeniglu’s own ice production facility down in the village of Thale below the resort.
Photo courtesy of The Fife Arms Hotel
Eclectic, artistic and luxurious: The Fife Arms in Braemar, Scotland
Created by a pair of Swiss art gallerists, The Fife Arms is a former Scottish hunting lodge that has been transformed into a boutique, eclectic stay that combines contemporary art with eccentric touches, from taxidermy to antiques and plenty of curios to charm the most jaded wanderer.
Set in the village of Braemar along the River Dee in Scotland, The Fife Arms is situated in the immense Cairngorms National Park, the largest national park in the UK. Hill walking is at the top of the agenda here, and the hotel provides guests with a guide of 20 walks, hikes and bicycle rides in the area. There are 40 munros (3,000-foot mountains) in the vicinity of The Fife Arms and hill walking is extremely popular.
Photo courtesy of Visit Scotland
Cairngorms National Park at its finest
In winter, Cairngorms National Park features three ski resorts, and there is plenty of off-piste backcountry ski touring if you have the winter skill set and navigation abilities. There’s also sledding and dogsledding available if you don’t want to ski or walk, and Cairngorms National Park even boasts a dozen golf courses that date back to the 19th century (this is the home of golf), which stay open throughout the winter.
The end of autumn here is prime time for seeing elk ruts. And in mid-winter, if you’re lucky, you’ll see ptarmigan that have changed colors from drab brown to camouflage white. The Fife Arms even has its own in-house forager should you be interested in getting out and learning about local plants that can be turned into teas, tinctures, condiments or cosmetics.
