By Nicky Holford
Ski season starts early in top North America resorts so why not test out some new hotel destinations where the snow is guaranteed? When it comes to snow reliability it is hard to beat records set by Canada and many of the Colorado ski resorts.
Mont Tremblant
Mont Tremblant, eastern Canada’s top resort, is a great first transatlantic stop for skiers and makes a fun two centre with Montreal. Combine city and snow or settle into Ermitage Du Lac a new hotel to Virgin Snow located between Lac Tremblant and Lac Miroir. Quebec is full of character and takes eating and après ski seriously. Check out “Queues de castor” a pastry shaped like a beaver tail. Start après ski at the Octobar Rock then drop in on Eastern Canada’s best bar, Le P’tit Caribou or stick to steak, frites at Fat Mardi’s.
Lake Tahoe
There are 14 ski areas around Lake Tahoe where you can ski your socks off or combine, a city and snow break and even a spot of Black Jack across the Nevada border. Why not try the new (opening December 2009) Ritz Carlton Highlands at Northstar as part of your California Dream ski holiday? This 5 star hotel is ski in, ski out, has a restaurant by Traci des Jardins, San Francisco’s celebrity chef, and a 17,000 sq. foot spa and with signature treatments and serious pampering. The resort of Heavenly with breathtaking views over Lake Tahoe has seven mountain restaurants which have natural hormone free meats and poultry and organic dairy products. Check out Café Blue (first stop on the gondola) or the Gun Barrel Grill.
Banff
New for this winter is the Inns of Banff, with the award winning Japanese restaurant Miki, and stunning hot outdoor pool and hot tub.
This gateway to the Rocky mountains, is full of character. Don’t be surprised to see elk walking down the street or stuffed buffalo heads on the walls of your hotel. The small town is a short distance away from three resorts, Mount Norquay, Sunshine and Lake Louise where the ski season starts in mid-November and runs until the end of May. If you don’t want to ski there’s lots to do; shop, watch the sunset descend over Mount Rundle from the Banff Springs Hotel spa or simply take in the scenery and wildlife in the national park. The three resorts are covered on the same lift pass which includes the bus service. On the slopes you can find out just how much you have skied with the SlopeTracker, an armband with GPS technology that records your speed, number of runs and number of calories burnt.
Whistler
With the new Peak 2 Peak gondola which opened last year connecting the two resorts of Whistler and Blackcomb there is now 8.171 acres to ski, comprising of 200 runs, four glaciers and 38 lifts. In the last few years Whistler has been gearing up to be alpine host for the 2010 Winter Olympics in February. This year Virgin Snow introduces the stylish Sundial Boutique Hotel which has a rooftop pool and a spa lava stone massage and lavender milk manicures. There’s also a new $8 million spa opening at the end of 2009, Le Scandiave Whistler. Yoga enthusiasts can check out the new Loka Wellness & Yoga centre based on healing practices and remedies.
Steamboat
Get a taste of the Wild West in the home of 'Champagne powder'.
Steamboat broke its already impressive snow record last winter with over 12 meters of powder. Since being bought by Intrawest Steamboat’s base area is being completely rebuilt. A new high speed 6-man chairlift has replaced three chairs in the beginner area making it even more kid friendly. Steamboat has skiing on three mountains and more than 100 restaurants. Try the Hearthstone in a 120 year old house for modern American or see the lights from the top of the gondola at Hazie’s where the house favourite is duelling shrimp grilled in a banana leaf. After a day on the slopes you could relax at Strawberry Fields, natural hot springs, or get a beer at the Gold Pan Saloon. According to legend it is the oldest bar west of the Mississippi.
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Nicky Holford is a freelance travel writer. She writes regularly for the Sunday Telegraph and is addicted to powder snow! Her favourite resorts are Chamonix, St. Anton and Alagna in Italy.