Courtesy of Murphy O’Brien
Though it may be hard to believe, winter will be here in no time. And before you panic, try to remember all the good things that come along with this time of year: the holidays, home-cooked meals, and most importantly, ski season. Again, don’t spiral, because ski season can mean whatever you want it to mean, depending on what kind of winter person you are.
Whether skiing is in your blood, you would rather get a massage and relax in the lodge by the fire, or you simply ski just to après-ski, the following boutique hotels are the coolest spots for the season. From the base of the Tetons to 6,000 feet high in the Swiss Alps, or brand-new spots arriving in quieter towns like Ketchum—whatever your style, we’ve considered it. All that’s left is booking the trip that makes the most sense for you at one of these ski hotels.
Bourbon Hotel (Courchevel, France)
Courtesy of Bourbon Hotel
Opening in December of this year, Bourbon Hotel is reigniting Courchevel 1850. The latest addition to Chapitre Six, the boutique group behind iconic French destinations like Hôtel La Ponche in Saint-Tropez, this 31-room boutique haven is incorporating traditional alpine style but opting for a cozy, dramatic feel of a private London club.
Forsthofgut Nature Hotel (Salzburger Land, Austria)
Courtesy of Forsthofgut Nature Hotel
Buried in the dramatic peaks of the Leogang Mountains, Naturhotel Forsthofgut brings over 400 years of family heritage to the Austrian Alps. Run by the Schmuck family for five generations, it earned a spot as a ski-season favorite due to its direct slope access, world-class spa, and storied connection to the Salzburg landscape.
Tschuggen Grand Hotel (Arosa, Switzerland)
Courtesy of Tschuggen Grand Hotel
Prepare to never view a public ski lift the same. Guests of Tschuggen Grand Hotel hit the Arosa Lenzerheide domain by way of private, 9-seat monorails that travel from the hotel lobby up the mountain in just 4 minutes. The property sits at close to 6,000 feet above sea level, so it feels as if you’re sleeping in the Swiss mountains rather than at the foot of them. Plan on never wanting to wait in a chair lift line again.
Montana's Wandering Buffalo (Bozeman, Montana)
Courtesy of Montana’s Wandering Buffalo
Right on East Main Street, this Bozeman lodge will have you skiing two legendary Montana mountains in one single trip, located just 30 minutes from Bridger Bowl and an hour from Big Sky’s 5,800 acres of terrain. Wandering Buffalo takes the hassle out of ski season, and makes post-ski mode enticing through cedar saunas, fire pits, and outdoor winter tailgating.
Alpine House (Jackson, Wyoming)
Courtesy of Alpine House
Two blocks from Jackson’s Town Square, The Alpine House is a Scandinavian-style lodge that was originally founded by two former Olympic skiers. Steaming in a Finnish sauna after a day on the Snow King Mountain, followed by drinks in their library—what could be better?
Hotel Marina Riviera (Big Bear Lake, California)
Courtesy of Hotel Marina Riviera
Hotel Marina Riviera places you just five minutes from Bear Mountain and Snow Summit in a thoughtfully restored 1968 waterfront lodge. Take in the frozen lake views from your private balcony before hitting the mountain, or skip the slopes entirely for the sauna and cold plunge. However you spend your time, dinner over family-style Italian at De La Nonna brings the evening to a warm, satisfying close.
Experimental Chalet Verbier (Verbier, Switzerland)
Courtesy of Experimental Chalet Verbier
Located in central Verbier with views of the Grand Combin, Experimental Chalet Verbier is not your average quiet alpine stay. This is the hotel for the traveler who doesn’t like full wellness takeover, but doesn't need to be up until 3am every night partying—it’s a perfect harmony. Offering a plethora of spa treatments and being Verbier’s ultimate late-night institution since 1971 takes a certain level of hotel mastery.
Miiro The Mansard (Gstaad, Switzerland)
Courtesy of Miiro The Mansard
Gstaad has long been defined by rigid exclusivity, but The Mansard brings a far more relaxed energy to ski season. The 29-room village stay serves as an easy basecamp for hitting the Bernese Oberland, setting skiers up with private mountain-view balconies and the resort's only rooftop bar for sunset après-ski.
Experimental Chalet Val d'Isère (Val d'Isère, France)
Courtesy of Experimental Chalet Val d'Isère
Differing from its Verbier counterpart, this 113-room Val d'Isère hotel puts ski convenience first. Positioned at the base of the Vanoise massif, it matches signature retro interiors and a grand indoor pool spa with classic Savoyard comfort food like table-side raclette at L'Aiglon.
The Observatory, A Viceroy Resort (Sun Valley, Idaho)
Courtesy of The Observatory, A Viceroy Resort
Opening in late 2026, The Observatory, A Viceroy Resort is welcoming a fresh luxury edge to downtown Ketchum, an alternative to high-traffic hubs like Aspen and Jackson Hole. Sitting minutes from Bald and Dollar Mountains, the property will offer prime ski access with a unique after hours twist: a professional-grade telescope and stargazing program capitalizing on the surrounding Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve.