8 Gorgeous New Ski Resorts We’re Checking Into This Winter

It doesn’t get more off-the-grid than the remote Troll Peninsula, in Iceland’s far north. This is the home of Deplar Farm, a 12-room turf house-turned mansion in a valley surrounded by 3,000 acres of some of the purest heli-skiing terrain in existence. Interiors are homey (think taxidermy and reclaimed wood furniture) and there’s a heated outdoor pool, spa, and sauna for thawing out from days in the mountains—but it’s the time spent away from the hotel guests come for. Travel outfitter Eleven Experience is known for their outdoorsy focus, and in between the short heli-skiing season (March through June; the lodge has two helicopters for whisking guests to thr surrounding peaks), you can get up to all manner of adventurous pursuits, from fly-fishing for Arctic char to skeet shooting and snowmobiling.

Picturesque Chandolin, perched 6,500 feet above sea level in Switzerland’s pine forest-covered Valais canton, is one of Europe’s highest year-round resort towns—so you can imagine the kinds of views you’ll find at this brand-new eco-retreat. Everything at Chandolin Boutique is meant to pay homage to the beauty of the region, from the bespoke natural materials and terraces or balconies in its 25 guest rooms to the seasonal, locally sourced ingredients—Val d’Hérens beef; just-caught fish—and bay-window views served at its restaurant. After a day on the slopes, hit up the Wine Bar for your choice among over 400 hand-picked vintages—or better yet, grab a table at the Sunset Chalet Bar for craft cocktails and fondue.

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The tiny alpine village of Megève, an hour or so outside Courchevel, drew Europe’s elite back in the ‘20s when Baroness (and devoted skier) Noémie de Rothschild built a quiet resort right on the slopes of Mont d’Arbois, but it could not compete with nearby resort towns St. Moritz and Chamonix, and the hotel fell into disrepair. This month, in partnership with the Rothschild family, the property reopens as a newly minted Four Seasons, and Megève is suddenly back on the jetsetter’s map. Five restaurants—including the two-Michelin-starred Le 1920—and the French Alps’ largest spa cater to just 55 modern guest rooms. If you’re here for the slopes, there’s a dedicated ski concierge who readies everyone’s boots and skis before the day as well as helicopters at the ready for anyone looking to heli-ski or visit other resorts nearby.

New York-based firm Studio Tack has perfected the throwback style design trend, and it comes to a head at this hip new bolt-hole in downtown Jackson. Thanks to a tip-to-toe overhaul, the 1950s motel is now a slick 49-room lodge that deftly blends the rugged with the refined with an emphasis on local craftsmanship. The lobby has its own wood-burning stove, bakery, and retail store by outdoor outfitter Westerlind, while guest rooms evoke the American West with their iron bed frames, Woolrich blankets in earthy hues, and bathrooms complete with brass accents. The restaurant Glorietta Trattoria, meanwhile, dishes out seasonal Italian flavors and craft cocktails from Death & Co. alums.

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The $60 million renovation of the former Vail Cascade Resort & Spa concludes this season with the debut of Hotel Talisa, the town’s only luxury ski-in/ski-out property—along with a dedicated chairlift, the hotel has its own on-site ski rentals and ticket office. Slope-side access aside, you’ll also find 285 rooms done up with deep soaking tubs and balconies overlooking the trees, a kid’s club, a large athletic center and indoor/outdoor spa (psst—make use of the Jacuzzi), and a glamorous après-ski scene at the restaurant and fireside lounge.

You won't find any heavy chandeliers or deep carpeting of grand ski lodges past at Valsana. Instead, everything is hip and modern, from the oak parquet floors to the Aztec fabrics, aviator egg chairs, in-room record players, and eye-catching botanical prints. There’s eco-cred here, too: electricity is powered by an “ice vault” (essentially a thermal energy storage system) while furniture is built using sustainable materials. Just 40 rooms (and nine apartments) feature balconies overlooking the forest landscape. While Swiss ski town Arosa is still well off the radar, the vibe here is anything but sleepy, what with the hotel’s weekly film nights, yoga studio, and self-service wine dispensers in the bar keeping things lively. Best of all? The impossibly affordable (for Switzerland, anyway) price tag.

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“Refuge” is an apt name for this exciting opening in eastern France. The only way to reach Terminal Neige is by private mountain train from Chamonix—which might explain how isolated you’ll feel here, 45 minutes from the closest town. An old 1880 mountaineers lodge in the Mont-Blanc range has been transformed in a chic 20-room boutique overlooking the Mer de Glace glacier (reachable by gondola), done up quirky design details in the form of miners lamps, leather-trunks-turned-nightstands, and a “Mountaineer Dormitory” set up with bunk beds. There are also two restaurants serving traditional Savoyard cuisine (think steak tartare and morel toast), one of which has a terrace with 360-degree views.

You won’t find a more fashion-forward crowd than in glamorous Gstaad, Switzerland’s playground for the rich and famous. Huus, refreshingly, is a break from the mold—a down-to-earth hideaway for adventurers at heart. Norwegian architect Erik Nissen Johansen decorated the 136 cozy guest rooms with globe pendant lamps, rain showers, and tablets, along with backpacks and binoculars that nudge you to get out and explore. While the miles of nearby trails will keep you occupied for hours, don’t forget to spend time decompressing in the hotel's lounge living room, complete with a fireplace and 500-book-strong library, or tasting what’s on the menu at restaurants La Vue and La Cave, Fondue Chalet, and the bar.