DAY TRIPS FROM THE FRONT range to your favorite ski resorts are, well, fine–apart from the whole waking at the crack of dawn, dealing with I-70 traffic, and finding a parking spot. Skip the hassle and book a weekend getaway (or two!) this season. Whether you prioritize slopeside accommodations, want a chic yet unique condo, or expect a massage at the end of the day, here are five great choices for Epic and Ikon passholders alike.
The one with the three-story fireplace and the spa
Beaver Creek Resort: The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch
Don’t stay near the mountain. Stay on it. Tucked within Beaver Creek ski boundary lines, the Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch offers unparalleled access to your parallel turns. Get first chair on the Bachelor Gulch Express Lift (located steps from the hotel entrance) and hit the glades on Grouse Mountain, but save time to cozy up next to the fire roaring in the towering stone fireplace. Après tip: Honey, avocado, and shea butter make the on-site spa’s skin-nourishing Alpenglow treatment an ideal way to ahh-près. Starting nightly rate: $1,200
The one where you sleep in a retro-luxe A-frame
Winter Park Resort: The A-Frame Club
Blending the nostalgia of old-school downhill culture (Lange girl posters, for example) with the bliss of Malm fireplaces and in-room soaking tubs, the new-last-December A-Frame Club is a sexy tribute to what skiing once was and a lesson in what it should be. Set within an old-growth pine grove alongside the Fraser River, the collection of 31 individual cabins offers away-from-it-all bliss that’s still a mere 0.3 miles from the slopes. Après tip: Sip a Mezcal Monk from the on-site Saloon. Starting nightly rate: $350.
The one that might inspire you to belt out “The hills are alive.”
Architecture throughout Vail Village pays homage to The Sound of Music’s signature, Bavarian style, but Austria Haus–with red shutters adorning its exterior and exposed, knotty pine beams adding a richness to the indoor decor–dials up the charm to Julie Andrews-worthy levels. Gondola One is just a short stroll away, but don’t walk there in your ski boots. Pick up your gear from the hotel’s slopeside ski concierge instead. Après tip: Enjoy your German Glühwein cocktail with a side of lederhosen at Almresi. Starting nightly rate: $319
The one with can’t-beat-it ski access
Aspen Snowmass Ski Resort: Top of the Village
Plenty of slopeside accommodations boast ski in/ski out access. Book the right two-, three-, or four-bedroom condo with Top of the Village, a Destination by Hyatt Residence, and you could, theoretically, schuss right through the sliding glass door into your bedroom. Not that we recommend it. What we do recommend: Hitting the on-site sauna, hot tubs, and outdoor heated pool in any order you see fit. Après tip: With a full kitchen, gas grill, and mountain views, why après somewhere other than your condo? Starting nightly rate: $349.
The one that’s steps from the terrain park
Copper Mountain: Copper One Lodge
If catching (or just watching) Shaun White-worthy air is your jam, then schedule a stay at Copper One Lodge. All of their privately owned hotel-style rooms and studio, single bedroom, and two-bedroom condos sit at the base of Copper Mountain’s 22-foot Superpipe–and some offer direct views of this giant park feature from their living rooms. Après tip: Snag a patio seat and Dominga from Fort Collins-based New Belgium Brewery at Downhill Duke’s. Starting nightly rate: $230
