Alpine Escapes: the best locations to hit the slopes this ski season
With ski season on the horizon, make the most wonderful time of the year a truly special occasion by enjoying a white wonderland either après-ski or simply relaxing by roaring log fires surrounded by idyllic views.
Booking.com has now made it even easier to book your perfect ski trip. Customers can now filter by their level of ski experience, identify maps, ski lift information and transport, as well as finding the perfect property for their needs, with everything on one page.
For those planning their next getaway to the mountains, Booking.com shares the top skiing destinations for this coming season according to search data.*
Bolzano, Italy
The capital of Italy’s northernmost region of South Tyrol, Bolzano is an alpine destination ideal for ski fanatics. Included in the top 10 trending destinations for 2023**, this city is situated amongst the stunning snow-capped mountains of the Italian Dolomites, where travellers can head to one of the acclaimed ski resorts in winter.
With views of the Dolomites, Castel Hörtenberg is a refurbished Renaissance castle in the centre of Bolzano with majestic towers, original wood paneling and a wine cellar. Guests can unwind at the luxury spa of this historical haven offering chromatic showers and even a wall of pink Himalayan salt for the ultimate relaxation. The property has a Booking.com Travel Sustainable badge for its impactful efforts to offer a more sustainable stay, including its commitment to organic food and bicycle hire for guests to explore the neighbouring hills and riverside paths.
Val Thorens, France
600 km of connected ski runs make this one of the largest combined ski resorts in the world, with each village offering its own unique vibe. Most slopes are long but there are runs for all abilities, with majestic landscapes varying from one valley to the next. The après-ski party crowd tend to stick to Val Thorens, which has plenty of bars, hotels and clubs like La Folie Douce – one of the highest open-air nightlife spots in Europe. The resort also accommodates families, with ski schools, sledging hills and tobogganing on offer.
Hotel Pashmina Le Refuge
Hotel Pashmina Le Refuge is a luxury hotel located in Val Thorens, offering ski-to-door access to Les Trois Vallées, the largest ski area in the world. If a more relaxing environment is your vibe, head to the hotel’s spa and wellness centre to enjoy a long, well-deserved massage.
Zermatt, Switzerland
Matterhorn FOCUS Design Hotel – Travel Sustainable Property
Open to skiers all year round and home to the most photographed mountain in Europe (the Matterhorn), this well-equipped resort is the highest the Alps has to offer at a nearly 4,000 metre elevation. You’ll find a large choice of ski runs for all abilities, as well as cross-country slopes and three areas dedicated to children’s skiing. Stunning scenery and a host of alternative activities like hiking and biking make this ideal for visitors of all kinds.
Matterhorn FOCUS Design Hotel boasts extraordinary views of the Matterhorn. The hotel's rooms and suites were designed by Swiss artist and designer Heinz Julen, featuring flat screen TVs and a Nespresso coffee machine. Rooms offer stunning views of the Matterhorn, with some boasting a balcony to enjoy your morning coffee overlooking the slopes. Matterhorn FOCUS Design Hotel also has an exclusive spa area that features an indoor and outdoor hot tub, a salt-water bath, a Finnish sauna and a relaxation room with warm deck chairs – tranquillity after a day of skiing or for those wanting a day off from the slopes!
Innsbruck, Austria
Innsbruck, Austria is one of Europe's oldest and most beautiful ski centres. Nestled in the Tyrolean Alps, the area has some 200 trails covering 310 miles and is perfect for beginner and intermediate-level skiers.
Alpen Resort Hotel – Travel Sustainable Property
Situated close to the ski lifts in Zermatt, Alpen Resort Hotel features a Swiss cuisine, an outdoor tennis court on site. Guests can also make use of a ski storage room with a ski boot dryer and personal ski lockers.
Tignes, France
Tignes is a group of villages that make up a high-altitude ski resort in the French Alps, close to the Italian border. It is a popular ski area, linked by a network of lifts.
Hotel Le Levanna is located at the heart of Tignes ski resort, with ski-to-door access. A private balcony with a deck chair is available in each room, with some of the rooms featuring a beautiful view of the lake and surrounding mountains. A ski pass vendor is available on-site for ease. Relax after a day of skiing with free access to the sauna, hammam and hot tub.
Methodology:
*Based on search sessions during the month of October with check-in during the winter months (any time between October and April). The destinations had to be within a kilometre to a ski resort.
**Destinations had to be in the top 1,000 most booked on Booking.com between 1 August 2021 and 31 July 2022. The resulting list was sorted by year-over-year increase and destinations with a large decrease in the share of domestic bookings were removed. This was to ensure that the list represents destinations that have managed to maintain domestic interest (as well as international), even in the face of loosening COVID-related travel restrictions.