The best ski trips get the essentials right: great terrain, straightforward access, and a hotel or chalet worth returning to after a day on the slopes. But the dinner reservations and the reasons to take a day off skis deserve just as much consideration. Here we present five 2026 Ski Destinations worth planning around.
When we spoke with Best of the Alps, the collective representing nine European mountain destinations, a useful distinction emerged: its member towns existed before their ski areas. Generations of hoteliers, guides, and restaurateurs helped shape the places travelers visit today. Two members, Courmayeur and Lech Zürs, illustrate the appeal. Alongside Andermatt, Méribel-Mottaret, and Big Sky, they offer five different approaches to a winter holiday, with five star accommodations and meals that put the destination’s character on display.
Andermatt, Switzerland
For demanding skiing and a well-planned dinner
Andermatt makes a strong case for travelers who want challenging terrain and a substantial restaurant itinerary. Gemsstock is the mountain for advanced skiers, with predominantly red and black pistes and freeride terrain to explore with a local guide. The wider Andermatt–Sedrun–Disentis area offers more than 180 kilometers of pistes, allowing groups to vary the difficulty and scenery throughout the week.
Make The Chedi Andermatt your base. Its Alpine and Asian design influences give it a distinctive identity, while indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, and treatment rooms provide a persuasive reason to finish skiing before the last lift.
Dinner at the hotel’s Japanese Restaurant merits advance planning. The kitchen combines Japanese and European influences in omakase menus, with counter seating for guests who want to watch the preparation. For lunch on the mountain, The Japanese at Gütsch serves Japanese cuisine at approximately 2,400 meters.
Away from downhill skiing, the Urseren Valley offers cross-country routes, winter walks, and snowshoe outings. The Nätschen-to-Andermatt toboggan run adds another option for groups whose enthusiasm for skiing starts to diverge midway through the trip.
Courmayeur, Italy
For mountain heritage and lunches worth lingering over
Courmayeur’s skiing spreads across the Chécrouit and Val Vény sides of the mountain, combining groomed runs, wooded sections, and more demanding off-piste terrain. Hire a guide for the latter, a fitting introduction to a town whose mountain-guiding society dates to 1850.
That history helps explain Courmayeur’s place in Best of the Alps. According to the collective, 85 percent of its hotels are family-run. The pedestrian center has cafés and boutiques that give non-skiers somewhere to spend the morning and skiers a reason to stay out after returning from the mountain.
For a smaller village setting, stay at Auberge de La Maison in Entrèves, a historic hamlet within Courmayeur. Stone-and-timber buildings and narrow lanes establish the surroundings; the hotel’s L’Aubergine restaurant continues the regional emphasis at dinner, with local cuisine and views of the Mont Blanc range.
Food is a substantial part of Courmayeur’s identity. Best of the Alps points to FontinaMI On Tour, which pairs Michelin-starred chefs with local cheese producers, as one expression of that connection. During a ski stay, leave room for mountain lunches as well as restaurant reservations in town.
For a day off skis, Skyway Monte Bianco carries visitors to Punta Helbronner at 3,466 meters. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in Val Ferret offer a quieter outing, with Mont Blanc remaining the main attraction.
Lech Zürs am Arlberg, Austria
For family-run hospitality and a ski circuit with history
Lech Zürs offers broad cruising slopes alongside steep runs and freeride terrain. Its signature outing is Der Weisse Ring, or the White Ring, a circuit linking Lech, Zürs, Zug, and Oberlech. Plan a day around it rather than treating the route as a race; the changing views and places to stop are part of the attraction.
A second Best of the Alps member, Lech Zürs has roots as a Walser settlement and a hotel tradition closely tied to local families. Hotel Post Lech, run by the Moosbrugger family, makes an appropriate base. Antiques and country-house interiors give the historic inn its character, while its central location keeps village life close at hand.
The hotel offers several dining settings, including the Panorama Restaurant and traditional Kutscherstube. There is also a heated outdoor pool, a sauna, and a steam bath—useful amenities after a full day covering the Arlberg.
For something beyond the usual spa afternoon, visit Skyspace Lech, James Turrell’s installation above Oberlech. A winter walking route leads toward the work, making contemporary art part of a mountain excursion. Across Lech Zürs, approximately 50 kilometers of groomed winter hiking trails provide further options for exploring without skis.
Méribel-Mottaret, France
For a private home and plenty of ground to cover
Méribel-Mottaret puts Les Trois Vallées’ 600 kilometers of linked slopes within reach, making it a strong choice for skiers who like to head in a different direction each morning. Beginner areas accommodate newer skiers, while Mont Vallon offers more demanding descents.
For a private base, consider the HomeExchange Collection apartment on the top floor of a chalet building, with panoramic views toward Saulire and direct access to the ski area. Light-filled interiors combine contemporary design with Alpine warmth, with room to settle in beyond the usual hotel routine. The property is available through HomeExchange Collection’s membership community for luxury homeowners, subject to exchange agreements and host availability.
Make time for lunch at Le Clos Bernard, tucked into Méribel’s Altiport forest, where wood-fired meats share the menu with Savoyard specialties such as fondue and croziflette. On a day off skis, explore the valley on a guided snowshoe walk, try ice skating, or take the family sledging.
Big Sky, Montana
For a ranch house with room for the whole group
Big Sky’s terrain spans beginner runs through to the demanding upper reaches of Lone Peak. Strong skiers have ample reason to spend their days on the mountain, while less experienced companions can build confidence on gentler terrain.
At Lone Mountain Ranch, the accommodation becomes a substantial part of the trip. Bison Lodge, the former owners’ residence, sits on a private ridge overlooking Lone Mountain. The 5,000-square-foot house has six king bedrooms, generous communal spaces, a heated infinity pool, a hot tub, and a sauna.
Its interiors incorporate Montana artwork, antiques, ranch artifacts, and Pendleton textiles. Five wood-burning fireplaces and a speakeasy hidden behind bookshelves make it particularly suited to a group planning to spend its evenings together.
The ranch provides transfers to Big Sky Resort, but its own Nordic trails offer a reason to alternate downhill days with cross-country skiing. Snowshoe routes provide another option, and a guided snowcoach excursion into Yellowstone National Park merits setting aside a full day.
For dinner, Horn & Cantle emphasizes ingredients from Montana producers. Book the ranch’s sleigh-ride dinner for another evening: guests travel to historic North Fork Cabin for prime rib cooked on a century-old railroad stove, accompanied by cowboy songs and storytelling. It is the reservation that most clearly places this ski holiday in Montana.
