Muddy Stilettos


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-for-glamour-courchevel-1850-france">Best for glamour: <a href="https://courchevel.vip/courchevel-1850/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Courchevel 1850</a>, France&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="690" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-09-at-09.22.39.png" alt="Aman ressort at Le Courcheval 1850" class="wp-image-79045" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-09-at-09.22.39.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-09-at-09.22.39-600x414.png 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-09-at-09.22.39-761x525.png 761w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>The Aman </figcaption></figure>



<p>Euro flash as its finest. Part of France’s vast Les Trois Vallées, with Méribel and Val Thorens next door, meaning incredible skiing opportunities are on your doorstep. 1850 is the highest of four Courchevel resorts, and the most bling. Enjoy aprés ski drinks around the terrace fire-pit at La Cave des Creux, then dine at Le 1947 at Cheval Blanc, a three Michelin-star restaurant.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Where to stay:</strong> At the <a href="https://www.aman.com/fr-fr/resorts/aman-le-melezin" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Aman</a>, darling. Book a room with an outdoor hot tub to complete the sybarite experience.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-for-celeb-spotting-aspen-colorado">Best for celeb-spotting: <a href="https://www.aspensnowmass.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Aspen</a>, Colorado&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="623" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-09-at-09.35.37.png" alt="Skiier on the slopes at Aspen, Colorado " class="wp-image-79050" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-09-at-09.35.37.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-09-at-09.35.37-600x374.png 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-09-at-09.35.37-843x525.png 843w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>North America’s most famous ski resort lies in the Rocky Mountains and has attracted stars for decades from Kate Moss to Kendall Jenner. When you’re not cruising along some of the best power on the planet, book a table at <a href="https://www.startpage.com/sp/search" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Matsuhisa</a>, a favourite place for sushi among the Hollywood holiday set.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Where to stay:</strong> The ‘slebs tend to book private chalets or a suite at <a href="https://www.thelittlenell.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Little Nell</a>, the only ski-in, ski-out five star on the mountain. &nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-for-apres-ski-meribel-france">Best for <strong>après ski</strong>: <a href="https://www.meribel.net" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Méribel</a>, France</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="693" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-09-at-13.05.49.png" alt="Le Rond Point festival in Meribel, France " class="wp-image-79099" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-09-at-13.05.49.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-09-at-13.05.49-600x416.png 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-09-at-13.05.49-758x525.png 758w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Le Rond Point </figcaption></figure>



<p>If you’re all about the party scene, Méribel (or should that be merry-bel?) is hard to beat. Situated in the heart of France’s Les Trois Vallées area in Savoie, it has a reputation as a ski-hard, party-hard kinda place. Legendary piste of the action <a href="https://www.lafoliedouce.com/fr/meribel-courchevel.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">La Folie Douce</a> bar leads the way, think DJs, Champagne and dancing on tables (and that’s the afternoon), while <a href="https://lerondpointmeribel.com/fr/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Le Rond Point</a> is a lively spot for live music and crowd-surfing (possibly still in your ski boots), or hit Jack’s Bar for post-piste pizza and fizz.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Where to stay: </strong>Chalet-style <a href="https://www.legrandcoeur.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hotel le Grand Coeur &amp; Spa</a> is part of Relais &amp; Chateaux, a minute from the slopes and action, plus has a hammam, sauna and Jacuzzi to unwind in.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-for-beginners-val-d-isere-france">Best for beginners: <a href="https://www.valdisere.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Val d’Isère</a>, France&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="657" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-09-at-14.13.55.png" alt="Val D'Isere, France " class="wp-image-79119" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-09-at-14.13.55.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-09-at-14.13.55-600x394.png 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-09-at-14.13.55-799x525.png 799w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>This is a fantastic resort for all levels of skier (so it works well if you’re a beginner but travelling with advanced friends), but it gets the L-Plate green light from Muddy due to its brilliant ski schools. Also, it&#8217;s a resort high enough to be snow-sure (the season runs Nov-May), but doesn’t feel scarily high altitude; think nursery slope with a couple of moving carpets to stand on (no dodgy button lifts) and plenty of surrounding blue runs when you get the hang of things. Best of all, it’s easy to meet up with pals for lunch without having to negotiate tricky ski lifts or black runs. And <em>relax</em>.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Where to stay:</strong> <a href="https://tsanteleina.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Le Tsanteleina</a> at the foot of the slopes is great value for money compared with similar hotels and also chic, with its white decor and cosy corners.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-for-advanced-st-anton-austria">Best for advanced: <a href="https://www.stantonamarlberg.com/en/service/lifts-pistes/valluga-viewing-platform" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">St Anton</a>, Austria&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="551" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-09-at-13.29.42.png" alt="Mountain peaks at St Anton in Austria " class="wp-image-79106" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-09-at-13.29.42.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-09-at-13.29.42-600x331.png 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-09-at-13.29.42-900x496.png 900w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>If you’ve been there, done that, got the Les Trois Vallées T-shirt, it might be time to head for higher things (literally). St Anton’s home to some of the hardest black runs in the world including the Valluga, a north face decent so steep you’ll get an instant face lift tackling it. There’s also plenty of white-knuckle off-piste to ‘enjoy’. The reward for all this bravery? Epic views and glorious peaks. Rumour has it a red run at this resort is like a black at any other &#8211; you have been warned.</p>



<p><strong>Where to stay: </strong><a href="https://hotelanton.at/en/hotel/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hotel Anton </a>has a cool rooftop spa and the kind of contemporary, comfortable interiors you want to return to after a day risking your life, sorry, skiing. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-for-families-jasna-slovakia">Best for families: <a href="https://www.startpage.com/sp/search" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jasná</a>, Slovakia</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="626" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/c_Marek_Hajkovsky_foto_TMR_hotely_exterieri_zima_2022_12_634d5535828ec.jpg" alt="Grand Jasna Hotel, Slovakia " class="wp-image-79109" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/c_Marek_Hajkovsky_foto_TMR_hotely_exterieri_zima_2022_12_634d5535828ec.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/c_Marek_Hajkovsky_foto_TMR_hotely_exterieri_zima_2022_12_634d5535828ec-600x376.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/c_Marek_Hajkovsky_foto_TMR_hotely_exterieri_zima_2022_12_634d5535828ec-839x525.jpg 839w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Grand Jasná Hotel </figcaption></figure>



<p>What Muddy would ideally like for a family ski trip is a lovely nursery slope, ski school with kind instructors who won&#8217;t hand our little ones back with snot icicles, bargain food choices, some harder runs for adults and fun stuff to do away from the slopes. Not asking much, are we? Well, turns out Jasná ticks all the boxes. Not only does it have a ski area for various levels, including a red-rated top-to-bottom run, but also boasts an indoor waterpark, meaning guaranteed fun on and off the slopes. And its prices are seriously competitive compared to chichi French getaways. Rejoice.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Where to stay:</strong> <a href="https://www.startpage.com/sp/search" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Grand Jasná Hotel</a>, across the road from the ski lifts, is family-friendly (think kids entertainment in the evenings) and has rooms from £83pn, need we say more?&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-for-ski-in-ski-out-avoriaz-france">Best for ski-in, ski out: <a href="https://www.avoriaz.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Avoriaz</a>, France&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="687" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Unknown.jpeg" alt="Avoriaz resort, France " class="wp-image-79112" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Unknown.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Unknown-600x412.jpeg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Unknown-764x525.jpeg 764w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Don’t want the hassle of carrying clunky equipment on transfer buses and waddling around like a penguin in ski boots? We hear you. Better book a place where you can glide effortlessly to the front door and step out of your skis straight into the restaurant/bar/chalet then. Avoriaz is high altitude, car-free and just a joy &#8211; Muddy’s been and loved swishing down to places for lunch and arriving right up to our hotel.&nbsp;It&#8217;s not the prettiest resort in the Alps  (Heidi wouldn&#8217;t be happy at the lack of cute wood chalets) but we think it&#8217;s the most convenient. </p>



<p><strong>Where to stay: </strong><a href="https://www.hotelmil8.com/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hôtel MiL8</a> is the dream: ski-in, ski-out, plenty of kit storage, spa and wellness centre and you can buy your ski pass from reception. Hassle-free ski at its finest.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-for-snowboarding-laax-switzerland">Best for snowboarding: <a href="https://www.flimslaax.com/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Laax</a>, Switzerland&nbsp;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ski.jpeg" alt="Snowboarder in Laax, Switzerland " class="wp-image-79115" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ski.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ski-600x400.jpeg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ski-787x525.jpeg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Laax is snowboard heaven, so it’s not surprising the Burton European Open has been held there numerous times. There’s a beginners’ terrain park, freestyle academy and a cool lift system &#8211; lots of gondolas, hardly any drag lifts (phew). From the Galaxy you can access four snow parks, including the largest half-pipe in Europe.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Where to stay: </strong><a href="https://en.ridershotel.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Riders Hotel</a> (the name says it all) is eco, cool and even has yoga sessions for a post-ride stretch out.&nbsp;</p>


The best resorts for every type of ski and snowboard escape

You may also like