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Skiing is second nature to the team at The Aficionados, so this Alpine Ski Edit is not only all about the best boutique hotels, luxury spas and the coolest desginer dens in the alps, it also is a guide to the ski destinations and the slopes of Austria, Switzerland, Germany and Italy.
Packed with rustic charm and a cool winter vibe, we take you through the best hidden secrets in which you can soak up those quaint chocolate box exteriors with a twist. From sleek luxury to edgy urban cool mixed with stylish comfort - with possibly a mandatory antler or two - you can dive from foodie hotspots to the very best slopes to some of the best views around, should you wish, all on skis.
Skiing is a sense of freedom, and in this day and age it has the potential be so much more; here, with our ski hotels, we show you how.
With a chill in the air as October comes to a slow close we are looking forward to officially entering November and with it, the opening of ski season. For a head start on the celebrations head to joyful Obergurgl-Hochgurgl in Tirol for a start to the 2019-2020 season that goes off with a bang.
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Bordering Germany, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, Austria’s western Vorarlberg region is famous for its incredible skiing prowess, fantastic alpine views and also for holding the oldest and most influential ski club in the world.
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Perfect family ski holidays? - Take the kids to the gentler ski slopes of Austria's Salzburgerland and the boutique lakeside retreat Der Seehof - just 80km south of Unesco Salzburg.
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Surrounded by the stunning Arlberg mountain range and famous for being drenched in both snow and sunshine, it’s not hard to figure out why Lech is one of the hottest winter ski destinations in Austria.
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Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn" in Western Austria is fast being heralded as the coolest place to strap on skis or a snowboard in all the Alps.
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Everything in the long-established Ski resort of Zermatt evolves around Switzerland’s icon, the majestic and unmistakable, Matterhorn standing at an hypnotic 4478m, (affectionately tagged as the Toblerone Mountain) which puts this well-to-do, rustic alpine village firmly on the adventure map in since the mid-19th century, Zermatt being mentioned as far back as 1470’s.
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As The New York Times, The Guardian, and international travel sections begin to fill up with articles about winter getaways, we’re going to throw our recommendation into the mix. Tried and true, Alta Badia, on the border of Austria and Italy, offers unparalleled winter sports, relaxation, and cuisine.
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South Tyrol in Northern Italy offers you a panoramic winter wonderland - if Tom Ford did skiing locations, this would be it. Its diverse and impressive landscape makes it the perfect winter getaway; offering hikes, snowboarding and skiing, to let’s face it, some serious spa time in our gorgeous White Line Hotels.
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Skiing in South Tyrol means two things: the Merano 2000 Ski Area and the soaring, breath-taking beauty of the Dolomites - a famed UNESCO World Heritage Centre and a favourite part of the Alps for any skier worth his (or her) post-ski-Raclette.
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With its soaring mountain ranges, rushing fjords and powerful, majestic forests Norway has the feel of an ancient land about it; the aching beauty of its natural scenery is akin to the stuff of legend, and it isn’t bad for skiing either, did we mention the Norwegians invented the sport…?
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There is nothing more appealing than curling up after a day out on the slopes with a good page-turning book in hand. We've put together a ski holiday reading list of books for the slopes - inspired by the alps.
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The cross-country skiing area in Norway that hosts the annual World Cup. The sloping forest trails and the panoramic plateau define this first-class area for nature lovers and die-hards.
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Switzerland’s picture-perfect Valais valley is eponymous with all things ski; from guaranteed snow and cutesy Alpine villages to what we are all here for, an exhilarating foray into the wild: cross-country skiing. Valais’ 1000km of immaculate trails accompanied by soaring sights of the Matterhorn and numerous frozen lakes make it a dream of a rural Swiss location. Best crossed the old fashion way, on skis.
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A chilled habitat of modern alpine vibe, this ski bolthole is dapper, plush and Martini cool. A suave lair of modern alpine style that flirts with the traditions of the Alps and is the perfect habitat for the ski fraternity and summer activity junkies.
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It was that familiar allure of the Swiss Alps that inspired the brand of MALOJA – an authentic, fantastically imaginative take on the traditional dress sense of the Alps. Think here of re-crafted, cultivated attire made for the modern day Alpinistas.
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For anyone who enjoys a challenge, spending their days in the snow and having the world at their feet, the famous Haute Route across the Alps is a dream come true; let us introduce you. The Haute Route is a true Alpine adventure in which you traverse the Alps on foot, from Chamonix in France to Zermatt in Switzerland, in just 10-12 days.
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A lair of nature wrapped by the mountains and forests with perhaps one of the best nature-inspired spas in Austria, all overlooking the Leogang Rockies. This design hotel hugs smooth modern interiors that brush up to loveliness of the Alps, complete with its own lake.
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An eye-catching designer hillside bastion of cool contemporary interiors framed by lush alpine forests and snow-capped mountains, where simple luxe shakes hands with age-old tradition, this is Hotel Bühelwirt Ahrntal in Italy’s stunning Valle Aurina.
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Close to the Tirol mountains of the Tux and Zillertal Alps, this new boutique hub of chilled design and nostalgic tradition, stepping away from the chocolate-box picture-post-card image with creative art installations and a casual approach to life in the alps.
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An epic mountain setting that could easily inspire a novel or two, this is a sleek Bavarian bolthole where the past cuddles up to organic modernity. Hand-finished in every detail, this is Alpine living with a fashionable edge, all authentically wrapped in natural woods, stitched linens and fluffy sheepskin throws.
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The designer cool cat of the Alps, this appealingly smart modern lodge opts for a stylish clubhouse vibe alongside re-worked rustic elements. This is all about the luxury of the Alps – traditions and respect, bubbling with fun. A fashionable hideaway with trendsetting, popular eateries, all tucked away close to the Matterhorn.
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The Schgaguler Hotel is a modern pearled white luxury resort in the UNESCO heritage-protected mountain village of Castelrotto. The interior design is eminently simple: floor-to-ceiling windows, bespoke carpentry, and a clean Alpine aesthetic that borrows from Italian design, the Danish principals of Hygge and a touch of sweet sophistication in the Japonesque detailing.
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Wonderfully humble, this authentic exclusive-hire farmstead hideaway dating back to 1885 comes with the mandatory choc-box appeal of a rural Alpine chalet besieged by the hush rhythms of lush green pastures, ancient forests and hum of the mountain waters.
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The chilled design hotel Miramonti sits perched atop Merano, nestled in forestry with spectacular, Bond-like views. Modernity subtly reigns whilst snuggling up to Alpine traditions – the vibe is relaxed, chilled and most definitely easy-going.
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Birds, botanicals and fauna headline the canvas of this Austrian designer den found in Tirol wrapped in a fusion of honeyed Alpine traditions and chic urban style.
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A legendary crash pad of royalty, celebs and lovers of Arlberg, this is the chic chalet hotel and spa of consummate five star style. Interiors are dedicated to Alpine heritage and modern luxe running through the hotel’s family history.
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Drenched in Tirol originality and crafted by a setting of mountainous vistas. This luxury ski & spa hotel is all about boutique personality, passion, delicious food and a perfect location that hugs the snow-capped plateau, with windows that frame endless Austrian mountain eye-candy.
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A lovely Alpine lodge for families that has had a chic, eclectic refit. Quirky design elements, stacks of well-positioned collectables and lively, modern takes on heritage prints and textiles decorate this boutique interior. An urban family retreat that is alive with positive energy, as inspired by the Aveda Spa, yoga and setting.
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An old logged, fairytale-like gingerbread house, wrapped in a lush carpet of nature. Inside, designer interiors narrate this chameleonic hub of eclectic creativity – it is traditional, pleasingly crafted and naturally cool.
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A fabulously humble basecamp of good design for kindreds of style, Brücke 49 is a collection of rooms, suites, studios and apartments in the high-in-the-mountains creative enclave, Vals. Nordic elegance, designer furnishings and a creative narrative marry the concept of a loveable Swiss refuge with urbane cool.
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Unapologetically vivid, this preferred pad of intellect and creativity is awash in Art Nouveau flamboyance tamed with clever 1950’s-inspired design interventions. A stylishly cool home of the arts, brushed with boldness.
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An unfussy architectural gem that floats above a bed of the greenest and most delicate fauna like a scene from the latest Hobbit epic, this is total immersion in nature from your spectacular viewing pods – here, less is definitely more.
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A peak-side, sophisticated bolthole oozing fifties Vogue glamour. A firm favourite of the design fraternity, it is a trove of timeless, postmodern pieces that feel perfectly at home in this Alpine masterpiece of creative chillax.
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Niedermairhof is no ordinary bed & breakfast; it is a wonderfully restored nest egg vision, with a combo of traditional heritage and classic designer pieces – complete with all the creature comforts of a dinky luxury hotel.
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Dating back to the 1700s, Gasthof Hotel Hirschen Schwarzenberg in Bregenzerwald is a boutique art hotel boasting an eclectic combo of choc-box appeal, culture and rich history woven throughout, with an enviable personal collection of artworks that span the centuries and styles. An informal gallery sets the tone of this cute, boutique heritage hotel, cradled by the Bregenzerwald mountains.
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Well-turned books, art-decked walls, plump cushions and deep sofas set the rhythm of this lakeside foodie haunt where late night chats are accompanied by a bottle of the local brew. A crafted, fun-spirited, taste of bonhomie and a place where the good life feels like the natural choice.
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