Places to Ski and Stay in Style this Winter

From the Alps to Japan to North America, these winter wonderlands beckon with bracing outdoor adventures, cozy après-ski scenes, and rewarding stays at a variety of Fine Hotels + Resorts®, The Hotel Collection, and Select Homes + Retreats™ properties.

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For skiers and riders, winter promises fresh powder and bluebird days ahead. Whether you’re an expert looking to shred black diamonds and moguls or a beginner getting your footing, your Platinum Card® gets you more at coveted places to ski and snowboard.

When you use your Platinum Card to book a Fine Hotels + Resorts* property through American Express Travel®, you’ll enjoy an exclusive suite of benefits that includes 12pm check-in, when available, daily breakfast for two, guaranteed 4pm check-out, a room upgrade upon arrival, when available1, and a $100 credit that can be applied towards eligible charges, such as food and beverage, spa, or other on-property charges2.

Book a stay of two nights or more at The Hotel Collection* properties with your Platinum Card through American Express Travel and receive a $100 credit2 towards eligible charges, a room upgrade upon arrival, when available1, and 12pm check-in and late check-out, both when available.

Plus, get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection3 bookings through American Express Travel, made with your Platinum Card.

If you prefer the comforts and convenience of a vacation rental, consider Select Homes + Retreats*, our curated portfolio of professionally managed homes in a growing selection of U.S. destinations, bookable at AmexTravel.com.

Explore our recommended ski getaways across North America, the European Alps, and Japan. And remember: You can freely explore with no foreign transaction fees4 on purchases made abroad with your Platinum Card. 

Places to Ski in North America

Whistler is a year-round destination for active travelers with a walkable downtown and North America's largest ski resort, comprising over 200 trails of deep, fresh powder, with options for all skill levels; 35 percent of trails are designated as green.

Four Seasons Resort Whistler is a Card Member favorite for its alpine-style suites with gas fireplaces, elements of rustic wood and stone, and spacious living areas. Put your $100 credit toward an après cocktail at Sidecut, the resort’s steakhouse and bar, or unwind at the 14-room spa. The Four Seasons Whistler Signature Treatment features a scrub made from real Canadian maple syrup and brown sugar.

Perfect for: Outdoor Enthusiasts, Families

The chalet-style Waldorf Astoria Park City is a ski-in, ski-out property at the base of the slopes, with a private gondola to the peak just for guests. The cozy rooms and suites are outfitted with gas fireplaces, premium linens, and stone-tiled bathrooms. While the ski resort does reserve around 17 percent of its trails for beginners, it’s known as a destination for avid skiers. After taking on Park City’s challenging terrain, look forward to complimentary s'mores served nightly and a soothing spa treatment. The Mountain Salvation Sports Massage, for instance, feels all the sweeter knowing that instead of the standard $100 credit, this Fine Hotels + Resorts property provides a $150 spa credit to Platinum Card Members.

Perfect for: Luxury Travelers, Outdoor Enthusiasts

Travelers flock to Vail not only for its world-renowned skiing, but also for its bustling base village full of upscale boutiques, bars, and restaurants. Manor Vail Lodge is adjacent to Vail Mountain’s Gold Peak base where you can ski and snowboard; winter fly-fishing and dog sled rides are also on the agenda. The lodge makes it easy to spread out and relax; rooms are equipped with full-size kitchens, generous living areas, and patios or balconies with grills. Sample complimentary hot cocoa and cookies each afternoon in the front lobby – and follow it up with locally brewed beer and bites at Fitz Bar & Restaurant, one of the eligible ways to use your $100 credit.

Perfect for: Shoppers, Nightlife Enthusiasts

Stowe has some of the most demanding terrain on the East Coast and two distinct mountains, Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak. Just steps from the trails, The Lodge at Spruce Peak enables you to pull up your boots and go. The 250-plus rooms, suites, and residences feature large windows with mountain views, rustic chic décor, and furnishings made by Vermont artisans. Fuel up with daily complimentary breakfast for two at family-style restaurant Alpine Hall. Then head out for activities like cross-country skiing, guided snowshoe treks, concerts, and kids’ programming.

Perfect for: Families, First Timers

Teton Village sits at the base of Jackson Hole, with trails and pathways linking it to the town of Jackson and Grand Teton National Park. Yellowstone National Park is also in reach for year-round wildlife safaris to spot bison, elk, and bears. Teton Mountain Lodge and Spa makes a convenient jumping-off point for exploring. Select suites feature stone-faced gas fireplaces, private balconies, and fully equipped kitchens. No need to worry about preparing your breakfast though; this property goes beyond the standard benefits for The Hotel Collection to provide daily complimentary breakfast for two at Spur Restaurant, known for its seasonal American food.

Perfect for: Outdoor Enthusiasts, Spa Enthusiasts

Maybach Lake House is a Select Homes + Retreats property that can accommodate up to 11 guests with five bedrooms and ample living space (it’s also pet friendly). The elegant lakefront home delivers wall-to-wall views of Lake Tahoe and the towering mountains beyond. Suit up to hit the slopes at nearby Heavenly Mountain Resort, which has a ski and ride school as well as an area reserved just for experts, and Kirkwood Mountain Resort, geared toward serious skiers – its challenging terrain includes chutes, cliffs, and narrow gullies. Back at home, relax and ease your sore muscles in the hot tub or cozy up around the outdoor brick fireplace.

Perfect for: Families, Group Travel  
Hosted by: Tahoe Luxury Properties

The Pinnacle is a Select Homes + Retreats property that sleeps up to 12 guests (pets welcome upon request) and counts 6,800 square feet of living space, including a large stony fireplace where you might gather to swap stories and play card games. Five of the six bedrooms come with adjoining full baths and musically inclined guests can tinkle the ivories on the home’s baby grand piano after a day on the slopes. The cozy-chic home is centrally located in vibrant Mountain Village, with easy access to Telluride for the skiing, eclectic dining options, and all the Western-inspired shopping you could desire. 

Perfect for: Friends Getaways, Shoppers  
Hosted by: Nocturne - Exceptional Stays

Places to Ski in Europe

Perched high on the sunny side of St. Anton village in the fabled Tyrolean Alps, Hotel Tannenhof is an intimate retreat whose seven suites have fireplaces, soaking tubs, and balconies. Nearby Ski Arlberg is one of the biggest alpine ski resorts. After skiing or snowboarding, feast at the hotel’s fine dining restaurant, where the wine cellar stocks more than 400 selections. The hotel also has an outsize spa program; put your $100 credit toward the Silver Quartzite Urstein Massage, which uses herbs, oils, and a sacred rock from South Tyrol to strengthen the immune system and improve circulation.

Perfect for: Wellness Enthusiasts, Wine Lovers

Styled after a French château, Aman Le Melezin offers an elevated ski-in, ski-out experience. It’s directly on the Bellecôte Piste, in Les Trois Vallées, an interconnected ski area, with kid-friendly trails and others for seasoned experts. Head straight to the slopes with early check-in, when available, to catch the freshest powder. Afterwards, leave your gear in an innovative ski room with direct access to the piste – take advantage of the heated boot racks and the assistance of Ski Butlers. You can put your $100 credit toward a treatment at the on-site spa, equipped with a wood sauna, stone hammam and yoga areas, or dinner at Nama, the resort’s washoku-style Japanese restaurant.

Perfect for: Families, Luxury Travelers

In France’s Val d’lsère region, Airelles Val d’lsère Hotel is a slopeside resort marked by refined furnishings, terracotta tiles, and a warm color palette. Take your pick among a range of beginner slopes and high-altitude pistes. The hotel also hosts a winter camp to keep kids engaged while you take some runs. There’s much to do off the mountain as well, with outdoor activities like paragliding, ice diving, dog sledding, and MoonBikes. Soak up the vibes at Le Bar Rouge, a cozy piano bar where you can put your $100 credit towards signature cocktails and gourmet bar snacks.

Perfect for: Outdoor Enthusiasts, Families

The Swiss Alps are known for some of the best skiing in the world, and Riffelalp Resort 2'222m, a ski-in, ski-out resort at the base of the Matterhorn peak, has been welcoming avid skiers since 1884. Make the most of your day snowshoeing or sledding with 12pm check-in, when available. When it’s time to chill out (and warm up), take a dip in the resort’s outdoor heated pool while taking in views of the pine and larch forests. Unwind in the hotel spa—equipped with steam baths, saunas, saline baths, a solarium, and a relaxation room spa—and indulge in regional specialties, including fondue, at Restaurant Walliserkeller.

Perfect for: Wellness Enthusiasts, Experienced Skiers/Riders

A former boarding school for girls, Giardino Mountain welcomes guests to 77 rooms and suites blending Alpine and Mediterranean décor, with rich Italian fabrics, wood paneling, and historic black-and-white photographs. The surrounding trails are available for day and night skiing as well as bobsled rides. One of the most unique area experiences is cheering on a polo or cricket match on the frozen Lake of St. Moritz. Back at the hotel, your $100 credit can be put toward an Ayurvedic-inspired treatment at the Dipiù Spa or a meal at the Ecco St. Moritz restaurant, which serves gourmet Engadin cuisine.

Perfect for: Culture Vultures, Couples 

Places to Ski in Japan

A Ritz-Carlton Reserve property, Higashiyama Niseko Village stands out for its personalized service and philosophy of ­discovering oneself through nature. At the base of Mount Niseko Annupuri, the ski-in, ski-off resort has easy access to the Niseko United Ski Area with 30 miles of slopes, 70 runs, and 12 miles of backcountry skiing. Unlike in other parts of Japan, going off-piste is encouraged in Niseko, allowing experienced skiers to swoosh through tree groves and thigh-deep champagne powder. Snow rafting, sledding, and snowmobile rides are alternative ways to get your adrenaline pumping. With guaranteed 4pm check-out, toast your last day of vacation over cocktails at Ume Lounge.

Perfect for: Experienced Skiers/Riders, Outdoor Enthusiasts

If you like to pair snowy weather with a frosty beer, at Hotel Sosei Sapporo, you won’t have to travel far to find one. The resort sits inside the Sapporo Factory complex, where the namesake beer is brewed, on the northern island of Hokkaido, known as the “powder capital.” With your room upgrade upon arrival, when available, enjoy accommodations that fuse Japanese and Western elements and feature a rich palette of greens, cinnamon red, and gray. Four nearby ski resorts include Sapporo Kokusai, which transports intrepid skiers and snowboarders to the rugged backcountry terrain of Mount Shiraidake and Mount Asari by gondola. In February, the town hosts an annual Snow Festival.

Perfect for: Beer Enthusiasts, Experienced Skiers/Riders

When you’re ready to plan your ski trip, visit AmexTravel.com to get started.

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