10 Luxury Ski Resorts Worth Visiting for the Après Ski Alone

Home to the largest spa in the region, Four Seasons Megève, an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property, is a French Alpine enclave initially built by the legendary Rothschild family. Its restaurant, Le 1920, has two Michelin stars and offers superb après ski feasts. Stay in the Rocheburne suite, an expansive chalet-loft with views of the valley and a rooftop terrace. Megève is the quintessential French Alpine town—cobblestone streets open only to pedestrians are beautifully lit up at night. Sitting right on the slopes of Mont d’Arbois, the Four Seasons specializes in après ski—as General Manager François Arrighi says, “We take care of everything.”

Sip on a pisco sour overlooking the Andes Mountains après ski at the American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property the Ritz Carlton, Santiago. Santiago is a particularly unique skiing destination, as you can spend the day on the slopes and then watch the sunset over the beaches of the Chilean coast that same evening. The resort is situated right by Valle Nevado, in the foothills of the Andes. The Ritz offers ski packages for the winter, but a non-skiing member of your party will have plenty to do in Santiago, between exploring the Las Condes district and enjoying the Ritz’s rooftop spa.

Another American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property, this UNESCO World Heritage Site situated in Banff National Park, tailors the best (and most luxurious) parts of Alberta to you. For your après ski drinks, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise has one of the highest ice bars in Canada, overlooking the Rockies. (Just because you’re at an ice bar doesn’t mean you have to opt for a cold drink; the Chateau recommends their signature mulled wine.) To help your muscles recover after an intense day of skiing, you can join one of the Fairmont’s yoga classes—they offer pre-ski and post-ski stretch, as well as a tea and meditation class.

Lake St. Moritz is a luxury ski destination in the Swiss Alps that somehow gets 300 days of sunlight a year. To say the vistas are legendary is an understatement—the park of the Kulm Hotel hosted the Winter Olympic Games opening ceremony in 1928 and 1948. As après ski goes, their restaurants will keep the gourmands happy. Sunny Bar offers modern takes on Peruvian classics, and the K restaurant is by twice Michelin-starred chef Tim Raue. For après ski drinks, visit Kulm country club’s “alpine-style bar.” They’ve been known for their hospitality for 160 years, and the fact that Kulm offers snowy chateau aesthetics is just a bonus. The spa has spectacular views of Lake St. Moritz—try the saltwater grotto treatment while you’re there.

The St. Regis Deer Valley (an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property) deluxe suite comes with two fireplaces, a private balcony overlooking the Wasatch Mountains, and butler service. Après ski, you’ll enjoy the champagne toast they host every evening on the mountain terrace, complete with a champagne sabering ritual. In between all the skiing and champagne sabering, you can relax in the outdoor hot tub or try one of their après ski spa packages focused on rehydrating your skin after its exposure to the cold and massaging your sore muscles. For a little something extra, they also offer personalized dining in the St. Regis Wine Vault.

“The most awarded private hotel in the country,” Eichardt's is a secluded paradise in Queenstown, New Zealand. For an unforgettable après ski experience, staying in the penthouse comes with a jaw-dropping view of Lake Wakatipu and the most substantial private terrace in Queenstown. The terrace has a spa pool and fireplace, and there’s also a sauna inside the penthouse. It also comes with a butler, private chef, and a driver and car. Eichardt's Private Hotel, an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property can facilitate your lift tickets to adjacent Coronet Peak. You can also opt for their après ski package, which comes with a tapas meal and drinks after a day on the slopes.

Cristallo, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Cortina d’Ampezzo is nestled right in Cortina d’Ampezzo, which boasts some of the best skiing in Italy. The American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property spa specializes in après ski rituals, and their treatments all feature products sourced locally from Northern Italy. Stunning views of the Dolomites, which are a UNESCO world heritage site, are a given. Unwind in the Finnish sauna and Turkish bath après ski, or swim in their enormous indoor swimming pools. Their four dining options run the gamut from set tasting menus at La Stube 1872 to rustic Italian fare at Gazebo & Veranda.

Ski Jackson Hole at this ski-in/ski-out resort in the Tetons. Teton Mountain Lodge and Spa is essentially on the slopes of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, and just a mile from Grand Teton National Park. They have five hot tubs, including one on the roof, and three indoor pools. Book an après ski massage at SpaTerra before heading to drinks at Spur. Most of the suites have rain showers, whirlpool tubs, and incredible mountain views. Their spa is the pièce de résistance of their après ski, featuring treatments with “elements found in nature [including] herbs, salts, mud and spring water.” And the eucalyptus steam rooms are a ready-made cure for sore muscles.

Chalet Husky is as extravagant as it gets. It sleeps 14 in seven bedrooms and has a private indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna, and massage room. Après ski, you can get a deep tissue massage, relax with champagne on the sprawling terrace, and enjoy a five-course meal prepared by your private chef. The chalet comes complete with Laurent-Perrier champagne and five-course meals served nightly, afternoon tea each day, a private driver to take you to and from the mountain, and two individual hosts that will look after your every need.

Aspen's historic Hotel Jerome, an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property, recently unveiled major enhancements after a year-long renovation in 2018. The hotel's courtyard has been transformed with a new pool, terrace, and multiple hot tubs. The 140-year-old Aspen Times printing house was completely updated and the basement now includes Bad Harriet, an underground bar that serves creative cocktails and small bites.