luxury hotels for group skiing
If your whole ski group agrees they would like to ski in luxury, why not choose a 5 star hotel for your group ski trip. It's common to think of booking a luxury chalet for your group, but we think large groups looking for 5 star ski accommodation are often best served by considering a luxury hotel too. The simple truth is that, while a group chalet might be cosier, and you can often book them for sole occupancy, it's likely that the extra facilities which are to be found in the most high end hotels will satisfy more skiers within your group. It's also fair to say that, with a very big group skiing and staying together, it can often help to have accommodation which gives everyone a little more of their own private space.
If you'd like to propose some luxury hotels to your group when organising your group ski holiday, below we've added some of the best luxury group ski hotels, with a link to each so you can all browse and make a note of preferences before your next group ski meeting. To help everyone look at the ones which appeal, you can also click “Like” on the ones which you think the group should look at and consider.
If your ski group expects the world's best après ski from the resort where you stay, then choose a luxury hotel in one of the two nightlife meccas of the Alps. The brand new Kaila in Meribel is right in the centre of town and newly opened in December 2013. If it just has to be St Anton then choose the St Antoner Hof run by local legends the Raffl family.
For snow sure group skiing in Europe's highest altitude ski resort, we love Le Fitzroy for its superb location ski in ski out location in Val Thorens and direct access to the awesome 3 Valleys ski area which is still considered the biggest lift linked ski area in the world (with this much terrain, it doesn't matter how varied the ability of your group is, there is miles and miles of great skiing and snowboarding for everyone).
For ultimate old-world-chic it just has to be the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof in Zermatt. They're top of the shop when it comes to style and yet are much more child friendly than the French. Ski across the border into Italy for lunch beneath the majestic Matterhorn, and dine in the main restaurant if you prefer to be with those who ‘make a bit of an effort' in the evening (jacket requested in main restaurant, but not in other so it's your choice throughout your ski week).
Rub shoulders with European old-money and minor royalty in a place that only the ski cognoscenti know about – the family run Sporthotel Loruenser in Zurs is famed (in the right circles) as “the most understated luxurious hotel in the Alps” and rightly so. Definitely “U”. Take your furs.
cheap 5 star hotels for ski groups
If your group is looking at cheap luxury ski hotels, you can't beat the 5 star hotels of Bulgaria and Slovenia on price. For premier pampering on a pittance, take a look at the eye wateringly low prices of packages to the Kempinski in Bansko or the Grand Toplice on the shores of Lake Bled. If you can spend slightly more for a better ski area and resort, or keep the cost down by driving there, our favourite cheap luxury ski hotel is the Alpine Palace in Hinterglemm, Austria. But group organisers beware, this is probably the best value 5 star ski hotel in Europe (i.e. not including eastern Europe where many luxury skiers won't consider) and it's not huge, so book early if you're organising a large group.