12 new ski hotels to glide into this winter

Seasoned skiers and snowboarders know that shredding the snowy slopes is just one part of a successful winter getaway. There’s also après-ski hot cocoa to consider, plus late-night hot tub sessions under the stars, board game tournaments in front of a crackling fireplace, and strolls through postcard-worthy streets adorned with twinkle lights.

Finding a cozy, centrally located lodging—with lots of indulgent winter amenities—is the key to turning those ski trip dreams into reality. Below, you’ll find some of the best new (and newly refreshed) ski hotels in North America to help plan your ultimate cold-weather vacation in the mountains.

Check into Humbird, a 31-room boutique hotel that opened earlier this year at the base of Schweitzer, situated among the Selkirk Mountains in Idaho’s panhandle. With 2,900 acres of skiable terrain, Schweitzer is the largest ski area in Idaho and Washington—and, from the top, you can see all the way to Canada.

Designers imbued the three-story hotel with thoughtful features, like boot dryers to keep your ski boots nice and toasty and binoculars for marveling at Lake Pend Oreille (which, according to local lore, is home to Loch Ness Monster–style creature called the Pend Oreille Paddler). Sip locally roasted Evans Brothers Coffee from mugs painted by local artists, then acquaint yourself with the region’s past by admiring historic photos provided by the Bonner County Historical Society & Museum. And after a day on the slopes, replenish your strength with melty raclette cheese and soul-warming beef bourguignon at the on-site restaurant, Crow’s Bench.

Make Peaks Hotel and Suites your cozy home base for shredding the glittering slopes of Banff Sunshine Village, Lake Louise Ski Resort, and Mt. Norquay, three destination-worthy ski resorts located inside Canada’s storied Banff National Park.

With 71 rooms and suites��many offering views of the Canadian Rockies’ towering peaks—the newly opened hotel has a bright, contemporary feel with subtle nods to the surrounding wilderness. Design elements like sharply angled roof lines, a sturdy stone fireplace in the lobby, tasteful wood paneling, understated plaid fabrics, and tree-slice end tables strike the perfect balance between modern and rustic. It’s also ideally located on a quiet street in downtown Banff, just steps from tasty eateries like Three Bears Brewery and Restaurant, boutiques like Cabin108, and artsy spots like the Brandon T. Brown Wilderness Gallery.

Amid the pandemic, Mary Lou Ricci and Tim Hall decided to take a life-altering leap of faith: They sold their insurance agency and bought a shuttered, 200-plus-year-old inn nestled among the foothills of southern Vermont’s Green Mountains. After undergoing extensive renovations, the reimagined Hermitage Inn in West Dover is now open for its first full ski season.

Set on 112 acres in Deerfield Valley, the boutique hotel—originally built in the early 1800s—offers 14 guest rooms, a high-end restaurant, a private wine cellar, and easy access to the ski runs of nearby Mount Snow Resort.

More than just a hotel, Club Med Québec Charlevoix is an all-inclusive retreat offering skiing and snowboarding at Le Massif de Charlevoix, plus lessons, food and drinks, childcare, and tons of other festive, cold-weather activities, from snowshoeing to sledding. Located about 50 miles northeast of Quebec City, the new resort—which opened last winter—has sweeping views of the majestic St. Lawrence River below.

Set your out-of-office reply and ditch New York City for a few blissful, nature-filled days in the Catskills this winter. Choose between two ski hills—Hunter Mountain Resort and Windham Mountain—when you book into Wylder Windham, a total reimagining of the former Thompson House Resort. Set on 20 picturesque acres dotted with maples along the Batavia Kill River, the property includes seven lovingly restored cottages, lodges, manors, and inns—each with its own homey charm—as well as an on-site restaurant and bakery.

Following a complete makeover, this historic Mammoth Lakes hotel—first opened in 1967 by Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss—has reopened as Sierra Nevada Resort, an Outbound Hotel. For now, skiers and snowboarders visiting to shred Mammoth Mountain’s 3,500-plus acres can choose between 179 guest rooms, suites, and chalets. But crews are also hard at work building 10 one-bedroom cabins, which are slated to open at the hotel in Spring 2023.

As one of Colorado’s oldest ski areas, Winter Park Resort has been luring powder-hungry travelers to the Centennial State since January 1940. Now, there’s a new place to stay while carving up the tree-lined slopes: A-Frame Club.

Slated to open Winter 2022, the two-acre property set along the banks of the Fraser River features 31 standalone A-frame cabins, as well as a 4,660-square-foot community gathering space called The Lodge. A-Frame Club draws inspiration from the 1970s, aka the golden age of American ski culture, with brightly colored Malm fireplaces, vintage electronics, soft leather couches, and other cheeky vintage touches.

After undergoing a $40 million top-to-bottom renovation, the former Westin Snowmass Resort has been reborn as the Viewline Resort Snowmass, Autograph Collection. Situated mid-mountain at Snowmass—one of the four distinct ski resorts run by Aspen Skiing Company—the Viewline offers effortless ski-in/ski-out access to more than 3,300 acres of family-friendly terrain (and a dedicated valet to take care of your crew’s gear, too).

Before rallying for après-ski drinks in the light-filled Lobby Bar, soothe your aching quads and calves with an alpine sports deep tissue massage or a replenishing body polish at the on-site Lupine Spa, which specializes in Ayurvedic wellness practices.

A $40 million refresh turned the former Vail Marriott Mountain Resort into The Hythe, a Luxury Collection Resort, Vail, a posh new hotel that opened in the town’s Lionshead Village last winter. Inspired by the 1960s and the surrounding Colorado Rocky Mountain wilderness, the Hythe’s 344 guest rooms and public spaces feature thoughtful design details like Douglas fir paneling, carved black stone walls, marble flooring, and carved wood art.

After gliding around Vail Ski Resort’s massive 5,300-plus acres—including its sprawling back bowls—retreat to Revel Lounge or 10th Mountain for elegant après-ski cocktails and hearty bites ranging from smoked brisket sliders to whipped burrata. The hotel is a quick walk from both the Eagle Bahn Gondola and the Born Free Express Lift, which quickly ferry skiers to the mountaintop so they can link up with Vail’s 195 trails.

Named for the nearby, protected Desolation Wilderness, this new South Lake Tahoe micro-resort makes the perfect basecamp for exploring the rugged Sierra Nevadas, including nearby Heavenly Ski Resort. Cleverly designed to maximize efficiency and minimize its footprint, Desolation Hotel offers 21 luxury studios, townhomes, and suites that draw inspiration from Scandinavian and Japanese design. The dog-friendly property also has a saltwater pool and pool bar, an on-site restaurant and bar called Maggie’s, and abundant electric vehicle charging stations.

A quick 90-minute drive north from Boston lands you on the sparkling slopes of Mount Sunapee, a 233-acre ski resort in southern New Hampshire. After cruising the ski area’s 67 trails, retreat back to one of the 53 refreshed guest rooms at Bluebird Sunapee (formerly the Sunapee Lake Lodge). The Newbury hotel has a rustic retro vibe, complete with wood paneling, green and white wainscoting, vintage skis and snowshoes, and a wood-burning fireplace in the lobby. The brand—known for re-invigorating historic motor lodges around the country—also has a new 1970s-inspired hotel in the Catskills, Bluebird Hunter Lodge, located just steps from New York’s Hunter Mountain.

Put Big Sky at the top of your must-ski list. With 5,800 acres of terrain and more than 400 inches of average snowfall each year, this massive ski area in southwestern Montana lives up to its name. And as of last winter, travelers adventuring in the rugged Spanish Peaks have a new place to rest after a day on the hill: Montage Big Sky.

Offering ski-in/ski-out access to Big Sky’s slopes, the upscale hotel has 139 rooms and suites, plus a full-service spa and six restaurants. If your legs need a break from skiing, it’s also home to a bowling alley and a tranquil indoor pool.