The pinnacle of luxury - new hotels in ski resorts

After a hot summer, winter sports enthusiasts hope for a snowy winter. Nobody can guarantee that, but the right accommodation is always available, including five new luxury hostels in top Austrian and Swiss ski areas.

In February 2023, the "Six Senses Crans-Montana" in the Swiss canton of Valais will welcome its first visitors directly above the main gondola lift in Crans. Guests look out over the Valais valley and from the Matterhorn across the Four Vallées chain to the French Mont Blanc massif.

The 45 terrace rooms as well as the suites with one and three bedrooms are kept in the Swiss chalet style and surrounded on three sides by nature and pine forest. Natural materials such as quartzite stone, larch, oak and slate were chosen for the furnishings, the furniture is made of solid wood and natural fabrics.

The main restaurant "Byakko" serves hoba miso, hot stones, sushi and fish as well as grilled meat and hotpots with Japanese influences. The bar offers exotic sake blends and cocktails with aphrodisiac herbs. And in the brasserie "Wild Cabin" there are classic Swiss dishes and a panoramic view from the large, open terrace.

The 2,000-square-foot Six Senses Spa includes nine treatment rooms, stretch pod, fitness facilities, and a yoga studio. Facilities also include an indoor pool leading to the outdoor, rooftop pool, steam room, hammam, Jacuzzi and cold plunge pool.

The World Cup ski resort of Crans-Montana has 140 kilometers of open pistes leading down from the 3000 meter high Plaine Morte glacier through the forest to the hotel. The ski concierge organizes ski passes and courses and also takes care of repairs.

"Six Senses Crans-Montana": from 1415 euros per night and double room, ski pass from around 42 euros per day, children up to 9 years have free access to the facilities, sixsenses.com/en/resorts/crans-montana

In the Engadin, the prestigious "La Margna" celebrates its reopening as "The Grace La Margna St. Moritz" in December. The historic Art Nouveau building on Lake St. Moritz has been renovated in recent months and a new building has been added.

The 47 suites and rooms in the historic building La Margna Wing are between 30 and 80 square meters and offer a panoramic view of the lake and the mountains. The Grace Wing connects organically and, with its puristic appearance, forms an exciting architectural contrast to the main building. The 27 suites and rooms are between 35 and 85 square meters and can be individually connected and configured.

In culinary terms, guests have a choice of eight places to stop off, from the Fine Dining Restaurant to the Smokers Lounge. In the "Grace Bar", the heart of the hotel, guests meet local visitors with live music and cocktail classics.

The approximately 700 square meter spa is equipped with two saunas, a hammam, treatment rooms as well as a private spa suite and a spa lounge. There is also a fitness area, ski lockers and our own ski maintenance service.

In the Corviglia ski area, guests can look forward to 38 pistes with a total length of 155 kilometers, of which 42 kilometers are blue, 79 kilometers are red and 34 kilometers are black pistes. Five World Ski Championships and the 1948 Winter Olympics were held there.

"The Grace la Margna": from 1415 euros per night and double room, ski pass from around 45 euros per day, special rates for families, gracestmoritz.ch

The "Relay

From December, the hotel in Samnaun Dorf in the ski region of the Silvretta Arena Samnaun-Ischgl will be open again as a five-star superior hotel and welcomes guests with local materials such as pine wood, larch wood and granite. In addition to the rooms, bars and restaurants have also been redesigned and furnished. A special room fragrance with pine wood ensures a restful sleep.

In the 1500 square meter Montana Spa, guests relax in eight treatment rooms. There are relaxation zones and lounges, a panoramic relaxation room and a pool bar, a grotto with whirlpool and a lady spa with steam bath and sauna. From the atrium you can access the Finnish sauna and the saunarium, the aroma steam bath, the brine steam bath and the infrared cabin.

Outdoors, a year-round heated brine pool invites you to swim. The adventure indoor pool is based on a Roman thermal bath and the fitness room has strength and cardio machines.

Gourmet cuisine awaits guests in the Michelin-starred restaurant "La Miranda", while Italian dishes are served in "La Pasta" and Swiss raclette and fondue in "La Grotta". Meat dishes are on the menu at the “Steakhouse

The Silvretta Ski-Arena Samnaun/Ischgl ski area is one of the largest contiguous ski areas in the Eastern Alps with 238 kilometers of pistes and 45 lifts. Hotel guests can rent equipment that will be delivered directly to their lockable ski box. Ski passes including a piste map are available at reception and the shuttle service takes guests to the valley station of the Samnauner Twinliner and picks them up again free of charge.

"Relay

On December 16, the "Falkensteiner Montafon" will start in Vorarlberg. The 123 rooms and suites with balconies are between 41 and 71 square meters in size and regional dishes are served in both the "Stäffa" restaurant and the "In Fragranti" bar.

Sporty guests can look forward to a gym with Technogym equipment and an indoor climbing wall. Children can let off steam in Falky Land with a soft play area or take part in the Falky Rangers concept, which is divided into three age groups and teaches them how to deal with nature properly and how to recognize biological ecosystems and species.

The 1400 square meter Aquapura Organic Spa offers massages and tailor-made treatments inspired by the element of water and the region. There are also relaxation rooms and outdoor areas with panoramic views, as well as separate areas for families and for adults. The water world features an indoor-outdoor pool, tube slide, wave slide and spray park, and the Family Concierge organizes tailor-made activities for young and old.

The "Falkensteiner Montafon" is located directly at the reservoir in Latschau and in the Golm ski area with 27 kilometers of slopes (13 kilometers blue, twelve kilometers red and two kilometers black slopes) and 17 kilometers of ski routes.

"Falkensteiner Montafon": From 517 euros per night and double room, including half-board plus, ski pass from 45.50 euros per day, family tickets (the oldest child pays, all other children are free) available, falkensteiner.com/hotel-montafon

On January 27, 2023, "The Cōmodo" will be launched in Bad Gastein. The design and wellness hotel in mid-century style is housed in a former hospital building. The 70 rooms are outfitted with art, vintage, and modern handmade furniture, and offer either views over the Gastein Valley or the surrounding pine forest. The interior design is inspired by the modernist style of the 1960s and 1970s with shades of rich green, the original terrazzo tiles and local oak and pine.

Guests have the choice between luxurious Garden Suites, Mountain Suites with a balcony and a free-standing bathtub with a view of nature, cozy double rooms in different categories and family rooms with an extra bedroom with a bunk bed.

In culinary terms, chef Max Jensen follows the "farm to table" idea: the ingredients come largely from local farmers and manufacturers. The spa uses the healing waters of Bad Gastein, which are part of various treatments. There is also an indoor pool, a sun deck, a fitness room with Technogym equipment and a separate yoga room.

In the Gasteinertal, beginners and experts will find four ski areas with a total length of around 200 kilometers. Gastein is part of the Ski amadé ski association, which includes 760 kilometers of fun pistes in five ski regions.

"The Cōmodo" in Bad Gastein: From 388 euros per night and room, ski pass from around 59 euros, children from six years from around 22 euros per day, thecomodo.com

Winter is approaching and in some places the ski areas have already opened. Snow cannons are used to provide enough snow. But they are real power guzzlers. The result is higher prices.