The world is full of great ski resorts, it can be so hard to pick which one to grace with your presence on their slopes each winter. Some of us find our perfect place and return year after year, others try somewhere new each season. The good news is that some resorts have that little bit of extra, the special something, that take them up about the rest and into the status of bucket list resort. It could be a great skiing heritage, being part of one of the world’s big ski areas, hosting a famous ski race or perhaps a world-class vertical. Whatever it is, some resorts have that extra something which means you must ski them sooner or later.
RED Mountain Resort
RED may not yet be one of the best-known ski areas in North America, but with incredible terrain, no crowds, an authentic ski town nearby and a local culture second to none, it’s soon going to be. The question is, are you going to get there before everyone else does?
In fact, RED is actually the oldest ski resort in Western Canada; it’s just remained off the beaten track for many years. But now, after several expansions over the last decade (the most of anywhere in BC), RED has quietly become one of the top 10 largest ski resorts in North America. Today you can ski or board a massive 3,850 acres here!
The RED community is proudly Canadian despite (or perhaps because of) its location only minutes over the USA border in the snowy Kootenay mountains.
RED is still independently owned and the local community are core skiers and snowboarders. Most are based in the former mining settlement, now amazing ski town of Rossland, just a five-minute drive from the mountain base. Rossland has been voted the top ski town in Canada for the past two years in a row and also made it into a National Geographic list of the top slopes you must ski in your lifetime.
So there are no pretentious vibes here; you’ll just meet welcoming locals and discover a laid-back environment combined with amazing terrain, world-famous tree skiing, pristine powder and, best of all, little to no crowds.
RED has a whopping 890m of vertical drop and an impressive 7.6m annual snowfall average. The resort has no less than five skiable peaks. The largest, Granite Mountain, can be skied from all sides offering an incredible choice of descents. There’s no “front side” or “back side” here, just every side!
Mt Kirkup, on the other hand, is best known for its $15 cat skiing. Here you can experience the excitement and freedom that cat skiing offers but only pay $15 (Canadian) per ride up. You and just 11 other people have an area of 200 acres to enjoy between you. At the base, the runs ski you right back into the in-bounds terrain and a chairlift.
Although half of RED’s terrain is graded advanced or expert, the resort’s last two expansions have included two more chairlifts which in their case access some superb intermediate terrain as well, and there are plenty of glorious groomers to enjoy if you need a break from all that soft powder.
You can stay a snowball’s throw from the lift at a clean, modern hostel, kick back at a slopeside condo or in a boutique hotel, or sign up for incredible unique experiences such as mid-mountain overnight backcountry cabins with dinner included and first tracks in the morning.
So there you have it. RED was once under the radar; now it’s the Next Big Thing. This winter it’s time to find out what everybody is talking about.
Méribel at the Heart of Les 3 Vallées
© Sylvain Aymoz
One of the first resorts in the Alps, Méribel has preserved its timeless appeal since 1938. A step into one of the three villages that make up the resort – Méribel centre, Méribel village or Méribel Mottaret – will immerse you in the magic of the mountain atmosphere.
Nestled in between Courchevel and Val Thoren, its central location in the valley means Méribel is brilliantly positioned to access every corner of this vast area quickly and easily, a big part of the resort’s phenomenal success. Over time, the resort has grown and sprouted neighbouring hamlets, while maintaining a strong community feel. The traditional Alpine architecture of local wood and stone chalets has also been preserved to allow that feeling of traditional French ambience to flourish.
The resort’s charming atmosphere is enhanced by being within an area of stunning natural beauty close to the beautiful Tueda Nature Reserve. Méribel’s traditional wood and stone chalets blend perfectly into the forested valleys and mighty peaks beyond.
At the same time, Méribel has developed into a world-class resort with a vibrant international feel, as skiers and boarders arrive from all over the world each winter. There’s also a strong British community that is here year-round. This helps deliver an eclectic mix of cafés, restaurants, shopping and off-slope activities that give plenty for you to enjoy even before we start on the 600km of ski slopes surrounding you.
Unlike many other Alpine resorts, visitors to Méribel will be met by a wide variety of cuisines to choose from, from classic French mountain food and hearty burgers to Indian takeaways and a mushroom-themed restaurant. Visitors will be treated to an array of both on- and off-mountain eateries that cater to all age groups, wallets and tastes, right up to Michelin-starred level.
Chez Kiki, founded in 1960, is a resort institution that has recently been revived by Chef Fifi after his father ran the popular dining spot for an incredible six decades. Le Restaurant Partajo is another of Méribel’s best spots for foodies, taking visitors on a gourmet journey through France with a menu using high-quality, local cuisine, inspired by Savoie, Burgundy and Corsica.
Similarly, the après-ski scene is another strength of the resort, fuelled by the high proportion of international guests. This is definitely one of the bigger and better resorts if you still have the energy to party into the night. But again, the size of Méribel and its great mix of clientele from around the world means that there are plenty of less noisy options too, from quieter, traditional French café bars to sophisticated cocktail lounges. Great choices include The Rond Point for après-ski (also known as Ronnies) and Copina, a classy cocktail bar located in Méribel centre.
The choice of accommodation is equally extensive and eclectic, again with something for every taste and budget. There are hotels of 3 to 5★, chalets of all sizes and styles, ski-in/ski-out slopeside options, family-friendly apartments and many more options to agonise over when making your choice.
A new choice this winter, created to blend perfectly into the natural environment, is the luxurious Falcon. It comprises apartments and three chalets and offers hotel services, including a wellness area, ski room, concierge service, breakfast delivery and shuttle service.
Finally, Méribel is located at a great altitude for snow-sure skiing, with base villages situated between 1,450m and 1,750m altitude. Lots of the accommodation is ski-in/ski-out too so that you can be the first one on the slopes each morning. It’s no surprise that so many of its die-hard fans return year after year.
Furano
Discover The Bluebird Powder Paradise of Furano
Japan continues to grow in popularity for British skiers and snowboarders. Being easy to reach, friendly, great value, serving fabulous food and of course having the world’s best snow are all big draws.
When we think of Japanese skiing, though, the same name keeps cropping up. Perhaps it’s time to start looking at the many other ski resorts Japan has to offer?
UK-based experts Japan Ski Experience report that Furano enjoys the same incredible Hokkaido champagne snow as other resorts on Japan’s famous northern ski island. Typically, though, it gets less extreme weather and fewer multi-day storms than further west and is instead famed for its blue sky powder days.
It also recently opened up its powder snow potential after years of being piste-only with side-country freeride terrain now available.
Furano is perfect for families, with lots of gentle groomed runs; a quieter, relaxed atmosphere and, best of all, kids ski free! There are also two new luxury condominium hotels by the slopes.
Japan Ski Experience provides impartial advice on the best Furano accommodation and can book this, and resort services for you, for the same prices as booking direct. But you benefit from expert local advice and support throughout the booking process and in resort.
Reconnect with Nature in Chamonix
Chamonix may be one of the world’s best-known ski resorts, but it also lies at the heart of a valley with a soul, surrounded by spectacular, beautiful nature, which many fall in love with and keep coming back to.
Most love the buzzing alpine town itself, this winter celebrating 100 years since it staged the world’s first-ever Winter Olympic Games. But there’s also the spectacular backdrop of the Mont Blanc region, a sanctuary for wildlife including chamois, ibex, deer, white hares, black grouse and ptarmigan.
Snowsports lovers are here for the world-class skiing of course, with snow-sure conditions from December to May as 90% of the skiing is above 2,000m.
Epic trips can include a cable-car ride to the famous Aiguille du Midi at 3,842m, with its 360° breathtaking panorama, also the starting point of the world-famous Vallee Blanche descent.
While Chamonix has forged its reputation on its outstanding off-piste possibilities, the valley also offers plenty of great intermediate-level cruising terrain, tree-lined trails, snow parks and several excellent beginners’ areas for everyone to fall in love with.
Snow-Sure Val Thorens
When it comes to topping the table for the greatest ski resort in Europe, it’s hard to get better than Val Thorens.
At 2,300m it’s the continent’s highest-altitude ski area and a safe bet for reliable snow cover. It also offers one of the longest ski seasons in the Alps, this winter from 25 November to 5 May, 2024.
If high and snow-sure wasn’t enough, we are also talking the top of the world’s biggest ski region, Les 3 Vallées, with its world-leading 600km of ski slopes, with something to suit every taste and ability, from complete beginner to the most seasoned pro.
With all these facts it’s no surprise that Val Thorens has been voted the best ski resort in Europe, and the world, seven times, in the prestigious World Ski Awards.
Having only just passed its 50th birthday, Val Thorens is actually one of the youngest resorts in the world, built with skiing in its DNA from day one, but growing and evolving ever since.
Today, besides the fabulous snow and skiing, it is also at the forefront of technological innovation and can offer many other activities for the nearly 2 million skiers that now visit each winter.
Serre Chevalier Briançon
Experience A Magical Adventure in the Heart of The Giants
We skiers love our snow, but we love sunshine too, and one ski area offers the best of both worlds!
Serre Chevalier Briançon, located at the gateway to the Ecrins National Park in the southern French Alps, has one of the biggest ski areas in Europe. There’s an incredible 250km of slopes spread over 410 hectares of terrain and is bathed in sunshine for an average of 300 days per year. Yet thanks to its location, high mountains with peaks over 3,000m, it also has a great snowfall record with excellent snow cover all season long.
But there’s much more beyond the great snow and sunshine that differentiates Serre Chevalier Briançon from many of the other big ski regions. It’s a valley with a rich history, complete with three main resort bases (Le Monêtier les Bains, Chantemerle and Villeneuve-la-Salle) and Europe’s highest town, Briançon, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. There are culinary and local traditions here handed down from generation to generation and natural hot springs that made the valley famous long before skiing was dreamed of. Altogether this is one of the biggest and best ski areas and the most authentic valleys in the French Alps.
You can check out our regular podcast here Apple | Spotify | Podcasts or search The White Out on your chosen podcast directory.