Archive for ‘Ski Destinations’
Why You Need to Visit Niseko
Japan’s outstanding success as a ski destination can be summed up in one simple word – snow. Our Ski Specialist Iona is one of our resident Niseko experts after spending a season there working as a ski instructor. Read on for her Niseko highlights, and why it’s a destination not to be missed.
Skiing in Niseko
Whistler and Niseko are two of the most popular ski destinations with Australians. So why have the British been so slow in exploring Niseko? Depending on flight connection times the journey can be only a couple hours longer than the journey from the UK to most North American resorts. Those extra couple of hours will offer you a holiday different to any other you have experienced before.
Luxury and Innovation in St Moritz
Synonymous with old school glamour and historic mountain luxury, St Moritz conjures up images of fur coats, dinner jackets and cigar rooms. After enjoying a long weekend at the iconic 5* Badrutt’s Palace, I realised it was all these things but also much, much more.
After a quick transfer through Zurich Airport and onto the incredibly efficient Swiss Rail network, I settled in for a beautiful journey to St Moritz. Classic Swiss mountain vistas appear at the window only 20 minutes after leaving Zurich and these continue all the way for 3 hours 40 minutes. They say the best things in life take time…
Powder Highway: The Ultimate Ski Roadtrip
The Powder Highway in Canada is a legendary circular ski road trip route through the interior of British Columbia and the Kootenay Rockies. It features up to seven of Canada’s best powder destinations: Panorama, Kicking Horse, Revelstoke, Red Mountain, Whitewater, Kimberley and Fernie. If you’re a good skier looking for the ultimate road trip, this should be high on your bucket list!
Revelstoke Mountain Snow Ghosts. Image: Andrew Strain
What’s new in Europe this year
Despite the hot summer weather, we can’t help but look forward to the upcoming winter season. The addition of several new and exciting properties to our European programme has us daydreaming about being back in the mountains. Whether you’re looking for the ultimate luxury retreat in exclusive Megève, a stylish hotel in family-friendly Avoriaz or spacious apartments in popular Val d’Isère, these brand new properties have got you covered.
We’ve put together our pick of the best hotels and residences opening in time to book for this winter.
Lefay Resort & SPA Dolomiti, Pinzolo
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Italian Dolomites, the brand new 5-star Lefay Resort & SPA Dolomiti offers fantastic accommodation with truly breathtaking views. The Resort enjoys an ideal location, just 350m from the ski lifts and a 10-minute walk from the centre of Pinzolo, a traditional Italian village oozing charm and authenticity. Among the exceptional facilities on offer are two restaurants, a lounge bar, reading room and 5000m² spa featuring indoor and outdoor swimming pools and no fewer than 9 saunas– perfect for soothing tired muscles after a day exploring the extensive Campiglio Dolomiti di Brenta ski area!
- Unrivalled spa facilities
- Charming village nearby
- Stunning scenery
Read the rest of this entry »
Making the Most of Whistler
Whistler is one of the most impressive ski resorts on the planet. It has an incredible snow record: Last season saw over 9.5m of fresh powder and 80 snow days. Combine this with amazing skiing in Whistler Blackcomb’s huge ski area, world class accommodation, and fantastic restaurants throughout the village – and you’re already halfway to the ski holiday of a lifetime.
View of the Peak to Peak from Blackcomb – Image: Mike Crane
To help you get the most out of your Whistler ski holiday, The team at Ski Independence have put together a few of our top tips to getting you on your way, both on and off the slopes. Read the rest of this entry »
48 Hours in Vancouver: The Ultimate Stopover
Vancouver is a city of bright lights nestled among some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the world -If you’re thinking of travelling to Whistler for your next ski holiday, we highly recommend spending a day or two in Vancouver before heading home. The Ski Independence team have put together a guide with all their favourite places to eat and things to do in Vancouver.
Top 7 Reasons to Ski BC Interior
The BC Interior ski resorts include Big White, SilverStar, and Sun Peaks. Each of these mountain resorts are unique in their own right, however all share the same great lightweight floaty powder and family friendly features in resort.
Our team of Ski Specialists have tried and tested all of these resorts, and together we’ve created a shortlist of a few of our favourite features.
Silver Star Mountain Resort – Credit: Destination BC/Andrew Strain
Top 5 Stops on the Icefields Parkway
The Icefields Parkway stretches over 144 miles (232 km) from Lake Louise to Jasper. The road is ever changing and you will find yourself glued to the window of your car as the views take your breath away. The scheduled drive time according to google maps is just over three hours, however it will most likely will take you longer with various stops to take in the incredible views. There are view-points dotted along the route, so you safely can pull in to admire the views and take photos. It’s likely there will be wildlife sighting opportunities too, so remember to keep a look out!
Our top 5 stop-off points on the Icefields Parkway are:
Athabasca Glacier
Our Top 5 Places to Instagram in Alberta
Alberta is filled with picturesque viewpoints and photogenic vantage points. A few members of the Ski Independence team were away on a fam trip to Alberta a few weeks ago and visited a few of these amazing places. Magda has given us a shortlist of her top 5 places that’ll look great on any Instagram feed.
#1 Sky Bistro on top of Sulphur Mountain
Credit: Brewster
5 Hotel Rooms and Suites in Alberta You Might Not Have Stayed In
A few members of the Ski Independence team were away on a fam trip to Alberta a few weeks ago and stayed in some pretty amazing places along the way. Aodhan has given us a rundown of some of the incredible places they stayed on their trip; read on to find out his top 5.
Moose Hotel & Suites – Rooftop 2 Bedroom Suite
These spacious units occupy one of the best locations in downtown Banff, giving you uninterrupted views of the surrounding mountains; Cascade, Rundle, Tunnel and Sulphur. Comprising two full bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as a generously sized living room featuring a double sofa bed, these suites work perfectly for families or groups of friends up to 6. When you’re finished on the mountain, you can retire back to your home-from-home for the remainder of your day.
Moose Hotel & Suites – Rooftop Pool Area