SkiResort

What You Didn't Know About Your Ski Resort Vacation

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Sports

Heading off for a snowy adventure on the slopes might sound like nothing but fun but like it or not there are some dangers and inconveniences to be aware of.

There are more and more snow boarders out there, and it's good for business. Skiers and snowboarders don't always mix but there's little that can be done about it when skiers' numbers are dwindling and the snowboarding population is on the rise. Some resorts have separate slopes but many don't have the money or space to divide people up -- you'll have to get along.

Reported snow conditions may or may not be accurate. The truth is there's very little consistency or regulation in how ski resorts report fresh snowfalls and exaggeration is common. Studies have shown that resorts regularly report more new snow on weekends than during the week, apparently in hopes of encouraging impulsive last-minute weekend trips.

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Tags: luxist-awards, main-pedia, ski, ski resort, ski resorts, skiing, SkiResort, SkiResorts, winter, winter-travel-pedia, wintertravel-pedia

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Ralph Lauren Opens New Outposts in Gstaad

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

Ralph Lauren has just opened the first of two new boutiques in the ultra-chic ski resort of Gstaad, Switzerland, haven of royalty and the international jetset. The designer restored and revamped a historic, intimate three-story building in the center of the village (above) for the first outpost, while the second is planned for the lobby of the luxe Gstaad Palace hotel. Capturing the architectural heritage of local alpine chalets mixed with a dash of American mountain lodge, the interior is finished in pine, oak, local stone and plaster evoking an atmosphere of comfort and warmth. Navajo rugs, antiques, beautiful showcases and unique artwork exuding the Ralph Lauren lifestyle make up the interior decor. The store highlights the brand's iconic collections - Ralph Lauren Collection, Purple Label, Black Label, Blue Label, Polo and RLX Ski - as well as the three new Ralph Lauren Watch collections.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: boutique, Gstaad, Ralph Lauren, RalphLauren, ski resort, skiing, SkiResort, Switzerland

Westin Monache Resort Wants to Make Skiing Mammoth Rewarding

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The "Mammoth" in Mammoth Mountain, California actually comes from the 19th century gold rush, when a group of prospectors among the clamoring hordes founded the Mammoth Mining Company. But with winter -- and a yearly average of 400 inches of snow -- rapidly approaching, the kind of mammoth you should be concerned with right now is the resort, its luxury, its skiing, and the fun you can have with all of those.

The Westin Monache Resort in Northern California is Mammoth Mountain's only 4-star resort, and it intriguingly lists "excellent soundproofing" as one of its signature features. When you're finished testing your bedside klaxons, you'll find it is also just steps from the mountain's 15-passenger express gondola that will begin the trip to 3,500 skiable acres and 3,100 vertical feet of skiing at a maximum altitude of 11,053 feet.

At the conclusion of exploring any of the 150 named trails you can head back to your suite -- the resort has 230 of them in studio, 1- and 2-bedroom varieties, each one benefiting from a kitchen and a fireplace, and that Heavenly Bath (you'd never guess how good a second shower head can make you feel; it's almost like being tenderly scrubbed to by mermaids... or so we've imagined). Regardless of whether you brought your own skis or snowboard or used the on-site shop's pro fitments, the ski valet will be happy to relieve you of your equipment and prepare it for the next day's adventures, 24 hours a day.

Book a package before November 5 and you could save 25% on your winter getaway. Direct air service on Horizon Air begins December 17 from some West Coast and Nevada cities, and the Village Ski Back Trail should open around that time as well, so you can glide straight from the mountain into the base Village. The only thing you'll need to worry about then is getting back in time for the Korobuta pork chop in a cognac demi-glaze at Whitebark and saving room for s'mores...

Gallery: Westin Monache Mammoth Winter 09

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Tags: california resort, CaliforniaResort, destination, hotel deals, HotelDeals, mammoth mountain, MammothMountain, ski resort, SkiResort, spa, westin monache, WestinMonache, winter-travel-main

Three New Developments In Winter Park Colorado

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

For those priced out of Aspen or Vail, Winter Park, Colorado may offer a quieter and more economical alternative. Winter Park boasts the closest ski area to Denver and offers year-round recreation including mountain biking and fishing, kayaking or boating on nearby lakes.

Intrawest is developing three projects in the area: Fraser Crossing, Founders Pointe and The Village Lofts. Fraser Crossing and Founders Point are value-priced properties with prices ranging from $244,900 to $649,900 for the fully furnished, studio , one or two-bedroom residences.

The Village Lofts, which are expected to be ready for occupancy in May, provide a more exclusive experience at the base of the mountain. The Lofts are 14 townhome-style condominiums, located above the Village at Winter Park complex of restaurants and retail shops. The three- and four-bedroom luxury residences are available in one- or two-story floor plans with combined kitchen, dining and living areas. Amenities include stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, Toto, Jado and Kohler bath fixtures, jetted tub, balconies with village and mountain views, single car private garages and gas fireplaces. Prices range from $945,000 to $1,349,000.

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Tags: colorado, real estate, RealEstate, ski resort, SkiResort, winter park, WinterPark

The Trouble in Tamarack

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

Just a year ago I was writing about booming sales at the Tamarack Resort in Donnelly, Idaho. Now a Wall Street Journal article reports that the luxury ski resort is in big trouble now that financing for the project has dried up.

Tamarack was welcomed with acclaim when it was announced in 2003 and so far buyers have committed more than $500 million for condos, houses and building sites bringing a big rush of Aspen-style prosperity to the area. Tennis stars Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf were attached to building a luxury hotel complex, the Fairmont Tamarack Local stores and restaurants flourished, jobs abounded and rents rose. But last winter the building slowed. The ski town's lifts still ran but tourism fell and unemployment rose.

Things started to go south around a year ago when the investor who had already put up money for the Fairmont Tamarack decided not to put up any more money for the project. This led the developers to slow construction. Combine this with the nationwide real estate droop and you have a recipe for a boom town gone bust. Tamarack went into default on its loan payments to the Credit Suisse bank and business entities involved in the project have filed for bankruptcy. Credit Suisse then followed with a foreclosure suit and is now looking to take over Tamarack's majority-ownership stake. The town, which was once a timber town and was hoping for an economic resurgence is now grappling with seeing tourism cut in half and the eyesore of an unfinished base village for the ski resort. The resort still expects to run lifts over the winter but the dream of a new prosperous winter resort town in Idaho is dead for the moment.

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Tags: idaho, ski resort, SkiResort, tamarack