Travel
Downhill Delights: Booking.com Shares Five Destinations for a Picture Perfect Ski Experience
BOOKING.COM
(Pexels Photo)
The mercury is dropping which means ski season must be approaching with many travelers looking to hit the slopes in the next few months. With 27%* of travelers looking for thrills and adventure on their next holiday, we are sharing five destinations ideal for ski and snowboarding trips to get the blood pumping. From steep pistes and thrilling downhill slopes to wide runs with beautiful scenery, discovering a perfect ski or snowboarding spot is only a few clicks away.
With its breathtaking mountain scenery, well-developed ski resorts and family-friendly activities, Hakuba is a haven for younger ski enthusiasts. Located 27.3 miles (44 km) west of Nagano, the mountainous region of Hakuba can be reached easily when flying through Tokyo or Narita airports, with the last leg of the journey being a bullet train ride to the resort. Added to the skiing bucket list following the 1998 winter games, Hakuba is renowned for the quality of its downhill, alpine skiing and super giant slalom terrain, skiing or snowboarding between poles. With a variety of family-friendly resorts on offer, including the popular Happo-One, Hakuba Goryu, and Hakuba 47, there is something for all abilities, including dedicated children’s ski areas, gentle slopes and ski schools with English-speaking instructors. Off the slopes, there’s lots to keep the kids entertained, from snow tubing and snowshoeing to snowmobiling and hot spring visits. Or for a day away from the slopes, book onto this 1-Day Snow Monkeys & Snow Fun in Shiga Kogen Tour and meet the region’s unique snow monkeys.
Where to stay: Centered around the Happo Ski Resort in Hakuba, Merino Chalets offer guests a variety of beautifully designed and catered accommodation options.. This unforgettable forest and mountain landscapes will give families some peace and quiet following a packed day on the slopes, while still being close to restaurants, skiing facilities and shuttle bus stops.
As a classic, world-class skiing location, the Austrian Alps still hold the storybook charms of a mountain village. Featuring 70 ski lifts and 167 miles (270 km) of pristine slopes for skiers and snowboarders, Saalbach Hinterglemm is one such winter wonderland. Set within a picturesque mountain setting and blanketed with pearl white snow, the cozy ski huts and laid-back restaurants lining the village streets make for perfect picture moments. And keep the camera handy as the spectacular Kitzsteinhorn Glacier in Zell am See-Kaprun is just a short drive away. Meanwhile, visitors wanting to experience other activities can try this Private Guided Tobogganing Adventure to Birgitzer Alm to get the adrenaline pumping down the Tyrolean mountains. And after a long day of exploring, don’t forget to feast on some of Austria’s local delicacies, including delicious Pinzgau cheese dumplings and homemade Kaiserschmarrn (shredded pancakes).
Where to stay: Landhaus Saalbach in Saalbach Hinterglemm will give travelers an experience like no other. Nestled amongst the hilly slopes, guests can feel snug in this property and enjoy the surrounding views from their balcony. With access to spa and wellness facilities, a garden, as well as a direct ski lift to the slopes, Landhaus Saalbach is picture-perfect from every angle. Tennis courts are available onsite, while hiking and cycling are also popular activities to enjoy within the area.
Coronet Peak, Queenstown, New Zealand
One of New Zealand’s premier ski fields, Coronet Peak offers terrains and facilities for all abilities from beginners to advanced skiers. Located just a 20-minute drive away from central Queenstown, it still maintains that secluded mountain feel with panoramic vistas of Lake Wakatipu, the Remarkables mountain range and the rugged Southern Alps. As more than half (57%**) of travelers expect to plan activities in the evenings when the sun is at its lowest, at Coronet Peak experience unique night skiing from mid-June to mid-September when runs are floodlit on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings, giving a whole new meaning to the après experience. And there is much more to experience that doesn’t involve salopettes; take a ride on gondolas or rent a toboggan and feel the snow beneath those fingers or discover the area’s longest glacier and hiking routes on this Full-Day Guided Sightseeing Tour of Mount Cook from Queenstown.
Where to stay: Situated a 2-minute drive away from Queenstown’s center, and a 30-minute drive away from the mountain regions of Coronet Peak and the Remarkables ski area, Apartments at Spinnaker Bay is the perfect place to cozy-up after a long day on the slopes. With a heated indoor swimming pool and sauna open to all guests and spa baths kitting out every room, there’s plenty of relaxation time to be had at this property. And if looking for a ski-alternative in some downtime, there is a golf course located directly across the lake.
The Swiss ski resort of Zermatt needs little introduction to seasoned professionals. Also renowned as an intermediate skier’s paradise and one of the most popular resorts in the country, its endless linked runs cascade down the Matterhorn Glacier ending at this quaint alpine village. Sporting some of the highest slopes in Europe, visitors can enjoy runs among jaw-dropping panoramas of the Swiss Alps. At the foot of the Matterhorn, traditional wooden chalets line the streets, while horse-drawn sleighs trot in nearby snowy meadows. To better explore and discover the real charm of Zermatt, check out the Alpine Elegance Private Zermatt Village and Glacier Paradise Tour. And by night, the resort’s après scene fizzes with energy as visitors pack the mountain huts for live music and fondue before a night on the town in some of the area’s nightclubs and bars. And after those thrilling days on the slopes, don’t miss the luxury boutiques and intimate delis for souvenirs to take home.
Where to stay: Located at the foot of the Matterhorn Glacier, Firefly Luxury Suites are ideal for travelers looking to make the most of mountainside luxury. Within a three-minute walk from the mountain’s cable car, guests can be the first on the slopes each day. The hotel offers modern, spacious suites and an indoor pool and spa area, with most rooms featuring a balcony or open fireplace for a full alpine experience. The hotel’s bar hailed ‘the place to be’ in Zermatt comes stocked with the largest assortment of gins in the village (over 70 varieties) to help guests relax after a long day of skiing.
Mammoth Mountain, California, USA
The highest ski resort in California, Mammoth Mountain offers that rare combination of 300 days of sunshine and thick pillowy snow every year and with snowboard rentals and schools on every corner, this is California’s top snowboarding destination. This truly ‘mammoth’ mountain has it all from unbeatable views and wide areas of open space at the mountain’s peak to easy greens through the woods at its end. Known for having powder snow slopes, one of the most popular snow conditions for snowboarders, and thanks to a 9-month season, travelers can make the most of the magical slopes for longer. If traveling off-ski-season, make sure to explore the area’s forests at a Mammoth Lakes Beginners Climbing Class. Like its mountain, the surrounding areas of Mammoth are split into different sections including Canyon Lodge, Eagle Lodge, the Main Lodge and The Village, which is one gondola away from Canyon and one of the prettiest areas in the district. The small town of Mammoth Lakes, the area’s center of après ski, is nestled within the woods and home to a plethora of mouthwatering bars and restaurants.
*Research commissioned by Booking.com and independently conducted among a sample of 32,300 respondents across 32 markets (including 2,000 from the US, 800 from Canada, 1,800 from Australia, 500 from New Zealand, 800 from Spain, 800 from Italy, 1,800 from France, 1,800 from the UK, 1,800 from Germany, 800 from the Netherlands, 500 from Denmark, 500 from Sweden, 400 from Croatia, 800 from Switzerland, 800 from Belgium, 800 from Ireland, 500 from Austria, 1,800 from Mexico, 800 from Colombia, 1,800 from Brazil, 800 from Argentina, 1,800 from India, 800 from China, 500 from Hong Kong, 800 from Thailand, 800 from Singapore, 500 from Taiwan, 800 from Vietnam, 800 from South Korea, 1,800 from Japan, 500 from UAE). In order to participate in this survey, respondents had to be 18 years of age or older, had to have traveled for leisure in the past 12 months including an overnight stay, planning to travel for leisure in 2024 and involved in travel planning. The survey was taken online and took place in January and February 2024.
