19 Sep Kaluma’s Top 10 Ski Resorts
Our Top 10 resorts: (in no particular order)
- St Anton am Arlberg – a resort that is always evolving and always getting better. Sublime skiing for the intermediate to advanced skier and endless off piste runs for the beginner of piste to the extreme adventurous type. The birthplace of après ski, vibrant, lively and now sophisticated, with an excellent choice of restaurants. Let your hair down, dance on tables, ski great lines and great slopes and enjoy what many people describe as “the best resort in the world!”
- Verbier – Home from home for many a celeb and socialite, off piste mecca for the brave, party town for the all or nothing club, Verbier is town of many layers. It takes more than the odd trip to get under the skin of this unique town, but once bitten by the big, you may never want to ski anywhere else. We are delighted to offer the class leading Chalet Maurine in the center of this bomb proof choice of ski resort.
- Courchevel – Once revered as THE number one European ski resort, Courchevel has fallen from grace somewhat in the eyes of some luxury buyers. When mere multi -millionaires are priced out of the market, the resort’s sales pitch may be an exclusive step too far. HOWEVER, the simply brilliant slope access, piste links and lift system will always be the best anywhere on this planet. There is no better place for families and intermediate skiers to enjoy the biggest ski area in the World. Fact. And certainly reason enough to claim a top 3 slot.
- Val Thorens – Guaranteed snow, the best après ski outside of the Arlberg party mecca and now there’s a choice of luxury accommodation and fabulous restaurants to match. There will always be a crowd thanks to the affordable but wholly unattractive apartment blocks built in in the 80’s. However, the eyes seem to naturally tune out of the uglier spots and concentrate and the forever ultra wide panoramic vista. The resort is heading for a top three finish.
- Ischgl – a resort we should do more business in. Extensive cruise skiing mixed in with some excellent and accessible off piste (when the powder is down). There’s an extreme side to it, with an awesome snow park and frankly phenomenal après ski, complete with a Pasha Super Club! Tax free shopping too when you ski down into Switzerland.
- Kitzbuhel – an old favorite of ours and where, many moons ago Andy and Richard first met. A charming old town and always a very “in” place to be seen in the winter. Long runs, a ski safari and great skiing when the snow is good. An abundance of mountain restaurants and a very relaxing yet vibrant café bar culture in the old town itself. Home of the world’s most famous and thrilling downhill race, and to the infamous Londoner Pub.
- Lech am Arlberg – Lech is without doubt one of the chicest places to ski. Refined, elegant, sophisticated it ticks all the boxes. Well groomed wide pistes weave around the mountain and flatter all skiers. Relaxed, ice bar style après ski and delightful restaurants make up the nightlife scene. It’s not a party town and that to many, is a major plus.
- Warth am Arlberg – a little hidden gem that many people would not know existed…but we do! A new lift connects Lech to Warth, a VERY small village at the very end of the Arlberg with surprisingly GREAT skiing. Long runs and fantastic interconnecting off piste with natural rollers and kickers for those extreme enthusiasts! Also great food, at reasonable prices. Your next visit to the Arlberg has to include a Kaluma guided trip to Warth!
- St Martin de Belleville – where less is more. If you enjoy authentic French cuisine, if understated is your bling and you have an appetite for hundred’s of kilometers of pisted runs from your back door, then consider St Martin. Glorious views, peace and a quiet, and just a short trip to far more hedonistic places, it’s a canny choice for the annual family pilgrimage to the mountains.
10. Val d’Isere – Currently France’s number one resort for the well heeled Brit family. It’s low on our list as the airport transfer is, well, frankly a bit long. Some of the key runs heading home are a bit scarey for the once a year skiers. But that aside, it’s seriously fun place, with great luxury hotels, Monaco style shopping, fine dining and après ski to rival Austria (almost). Our tip is to dig deep and take a helicopter transfer!
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