While many people have just begun to enjoy the changing colors of fall and the pumpkin spiced versions of everything under the sun, now is the time to plan ahead for winter getaways before the snow and colder temperatures roll in. Whether your clients are looking to spend some time on the slopes or enjoy other snow-filled activities, these properties and tour companies around the world are offering a variety of experiences fit for wintertime fun.
Book Now, Ski Later
With 450 inches of annual snowfall, Squaw Valley, California turns into a winter wonderland every year, drawing in snowsports enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels with its diverse offerings of beginner, intermediate, and advanced terrain. At the Resort at Squaw Creek, A Destination Hotel, your clients can take full advantage of the mountain’s snowy slopes with the property’s convenient ski-in, ski-out location.
When they’re not ploughing through the snow, the Resort at Squaw Creek offers several events and activities to enjoy through its annual Magical Memories celebration, which begins on Thanksgiving and lasts through mid-December. Guests can explore the gigantic Gingerbread Village, attend the Grand Tree Lighting Ceremony, have breakfast with Santa, go ice skating at the resort’s private rink, and roast s’mores outside in the crisp winter air. The Resort at Squaw Creek also features five onsite restaurants, a spa, three outdoor heated pools, and a shopping promenade.
For your early bird clients who book their November and early December visits at least 30 days in advance, they’ll receive a 20 percent discount through the Book Now, Ski Later special. Rates start at $137 per night.
For more information, visit squawcreek.com.
For the Millennial Skier
Contiki continues its tradition of bringing groups of young adult travelers together for new and exciting experiences with this season’s wintertime offerings in Switzerland and Austria.
In the heart of the Swiss Alps in Lauterbrunnen, travelers between the ages of 18-35 can spend their days at Contiki’s Swiss Chalet found at the foot of Jungfrau Mountain. From the Chalet, your clients can take in the stunning views of the waterfalls and snow-covered Swiss Alps, hop in a cog rail to the highest railway station in Europe at the peak of the Jungfrau Mountain, or head down below the Chalet to throw back a few drinks at the authentic bomb shelter turned bar. When the munchies hit, guests will find a kitchen known for it’s authentic Swiss fondue and other Swiss specialties, which they can enjoy in the Chalet’s large communal dining room. Travel to this authentic Swiss Chalet is included on several Contiki tours, including European Horizon, European Escapade, and European Adventurer. Pricing for these tours starts at $1,592 pp.
For your millennial clients who want to spend their days in a constant rotation of eat, hit the slopes, sleep, repeat, Contiki’s Austria Ski Only tours are for them. These one to 2-week adventures take guests to the Austrain Alps of Tyrol where they’ll enjoy more than just time to ski and snowboard down the mountains. Included with these tours are access to Contiki’s exclusive bar, a stopover in Contiki’s Austrian Gasthof (Inn), day trips to other parts of Austria—including Salzburg—skiing mountain tours, and optional excursions like tandem paragliding.
Pricing for Contiki’s Austria Ski Only tours start at $662 pp. For more information, visit contiki.com.
A Twist on Winter Fun
For those looking to do a little more than skiing and snowboarding on their winter wonderland getaway, properties in the Four Seasons Hotels and Resort Mountain Collection are offering unique snowy activities.
Guests at the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole can strike their best downward dog and warrior poses with the property’s Snow Yoga sessions or enjoy some slopeside champagne while relaxing on a lounge chair at the outdoor pop-up Veuve Clicquot Bar.
At the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail, your clients can participate in an exclusive tour of the Colorado town’s well-known back bowls, spanning 3,000 acres of the mountains. With local celebrity Pete Seibert, son of one of the founders of Vail, as their guide, guests will end the day with a chef-curated picnic lunch. Your clients can also head farther north to the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Whistler in Canada for its 21st annual Cornucopia celebration of food and drink. Executive Chef Eren Guryel of the Four Seasons Whistler location will team up with chefs from the Jackson Hole and Vail properties to bring guests a meal showcasing a twist on their signature steak dishes accompanied by wines from Orofino in the Similkameen Valley, an up-and-coming wine region in British Columbia.
For more information, visit fourseasons.com.
