The top three ski resorts in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado

Where to ski, stay and play in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains as voted by Travelplan Ski.

Home to 58 mountain peaks, 26 ski resorts, heavy snowfall (762 centimetres on average), 1803 snow trails and more than 300 days of sunshine each year, it’s easy to see why the Centennial State is known as ‘Ski Country’. Whether you’re an expert at the back bowls, still perfecting your plough or more interested in the après-ski options, Colorado has a resort to suit any traveller. It’s this overwhelming bounty of options that makes deciding where to go the hard part. We asked Travelplan Ski, Australia’s leading operator of snow holidays to the world’s best ski resorts, for the big three.

Breckenridge skier — Choose from 58 mountain peaks and 1803 snow trails.

Beaver Creek

The world’s number one luxury family resort, Beaver Creek, is a vacation spot you’ll remember forever. Here, even the smallest details have been considered; heated walkways and escalators shuttle you from one village to the next, staff hand out warm chocolate chip cookies each afternoon in the alpine village, a mountaintop adventure area has activities for the whole family to enjoy, and dedicated attendants help weary guests carry their gear. Add in scrupulously groomed runs, few crowds, glitzy accommodation and fine dining to boot, and Beaver Creek is a place you’ll want to come back to year after year. Take a sleigh-ride to dinner at Beano’s Cabin or time your visit to catch the Winter Culinary Weekend to take your trip to the next level.

Mountain information: Hit 150 runs via 23 lifts with the longest run a cool 4.43 kilometres.

Average snowfall: 852 centimetres.

Known for: Hosting the who’s who of the ski world with upscale accommodation and some of the best corduroy in the state.

Where to stay: Indulge at The Ritz Carlton Bachelor Gulch, The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa, The Pines Lodge, Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort & Spa, St. James Place or The Osprey.

Where to eat and drink: Think world-class restaurants and laidback bars in a charming alpine setting. The open sleigh ride to the award-winning Beano’s Cabin for prime game cuts prepared over an open flame grill is a must.

Travelplan Ski deals: Stay five nights and save 10%, seven nights save you up to 15%, or go for 10 nights or more and save 20%. Book here.

Beaver Creek ice rink — Ice-skating at Beaver Creek is an activity the whole family can enjoy.

Vail Mountain

An epic mountain backdrop, varied terrain and beautiful backcountry has warranted Vail’s status as one of not only Colorado’s but the world’s premier mountain resorts. The tree-ridden trails of Blue Sky Basin and the legendary Back Bowls will lure you in for your first trip, but it’s the cute cobblestone streets, central clock towers and idyllic restaurants, bars and taverns of Vail Village that will keep you coming back again and again.

Mountain information: Choose from 195 runs across 11 kilometres and three distinct ski areas; Back Bowls, Blue Sky Basin, and the Front Side.

Average snowfall: 899 centimetres.

Known for: Being Colorado’s biggest (and possibly most picturesque) resort with the most impressive terrain variety and interesting villages.

Where to stay: Vail Valley is dotted with places to stay. Try the Arrabelle at Vail Square in the heart of Lionshead, The Lodge at Vail or The Sebastian Vail, or – for the ultimate in luxury – the Solaris Residences, the Four Seasons Vail or the Ritz-Carlton Residences.

Where to eat and drink: From ski-in/ski-out fine dining, European chalets and alpine-inspired local fare, the dining options in Vail are as varied as the mountain’s terrain.

Travelplan Ski deals: Stay four nights and save up to 15%. Book here.

Skiier on Vail mountain — Experience Vail’s epic mountain backdrop and beautiful backcountry.

Breckenridge

Five huge peaks, 1,200 hectares of skiable terrain or 167 kilometres of piste, four terrain parks, a 6.7-metre Superpipe, the highest chairlift in North America, a world-class ski and snowboard school, magic carpets, monster mogul runs, steep chutes, gentle green runs, ‘Kid Adventure Zones’, and we could go on. If you’re travelling with a family, then Breckenridge – or ‘Breck’ as it’s known – likely fits the bill. With over 250 historic buildings, including some that have stood for over 100 years, it’s one of the largest historical districts in Colorado with an authentic (and pretty hip) mountain spirit making it a fun place to enjoy a few non-ski activities, too.

Mountain information: 187 runs, four terrain parks and a 22-inch Superpipe accessed via 34 lifts. Need we say more?

Average snowfall: 889 centimetres or an average of more than seven meters of snow annually.

Known for: High-alpine skiing, family-friendly terrain and small town charm at one of Colorado’s most welcoming and authentic resorts.

Where to stay: Experience the ‘real’ Breck at Mountain Thunder Lodge, Gravity Haus, One Ski Hill Place or The Village at Breckenridge.

Where to eat and drink: Grab a crepe in a cardboard sleeve at Crepes a la Cart (if there isn’t a line that is) or get cosy at Hearthstone – a romantic restaurant located off Main Street in a historic Victorian home with views of the town and the slopes.

Travelplan Ski deals: Seize the season rates* start from $139 per night at Village at Breck Studio, the River Mountain Lodge will set you back $119 per night, Mountain Thunder Lodge is $175 per night, while Crystal Peak Lodge and One Ski Hill Place are $199 and $225 per night respectively. Book here.

Breckenridge village at night — Stroll the quaint village streets at Breckenridge.

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For more information or to book your next Colorado ski holiday, visit Travelplan Ski or call 1300 754 754.

*Sale starts 1 October 2019.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

Colorado’s big three ski resorts