Season’s treatings: luxe holiday retreats for the winter

It’s winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the south, meaning either warm sunshine and sand or crisp snowy scenes are each just a flight away. Whether you’re more ski or surf, here are some of the best winter getaways to retreat to this holiday season. 

Snow bunnies 

Colder climes are calling: zip up that snowsuit and hit the powder. 

Montage Big Sky

Montana, USA 

Breathe crisp winter air at Big Sky, where sparkling snow blankets the evergreens and slopes of the Spanish Peaks. You’ll find alpine sanctuary at Montage Big Sky , a sleek lodge offering mountain vistas and your gateway to adventure. As well as quality ski runs, there’s endless fun to be found in activities like snowshoe hiking, dog sledding and snowmobiling. Afterwards, warm your bones at the residence’s dining venues, including a cocktail bar and an Italian restaurant, then recharge with a massage at Spa Montage. You’re also just an hour from Yellowstone National Park, where guided hikes introduce native wildlife and pristine forests. 

Four Seasons Resort Whistler 

Whistler, Canada 

Follow the scent of eucalyptus to Four Seasons Resort Whistler , where fragranced steam rooms and cedarwood saunas welcome skiers and snowboarders. The hotel’s ski concierge provides everything from lessons to lockers at the nearby Blackcomb Mountain alongside other fun winter activities such as bobsledding and ice fishing. At nighttime, soak in the outdoor heated swimming pool while gazing up at the canopy of stars over the snowy mountains. But for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, hop onto one of the resort’s helicopters and soar up to Tantalus Glacier, where you’ll be served a luxurious afternoon tea on top of the world. 

Higashiyama Niseko Village, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve 

Niseko, Japan 

If sinking into an onsen after a day barrelling down the mountain sounds like heaven, choose this snowy sanctuary , which boasts stunning views of Mount Yotei and Niseko Annupuri’s snowcapped peaks. It has both indoor and outdoor onsens, easy access to the sweeping Niseko United Ski Area and Sushi Nagi, an in-house omakase experience. For a spot of pampering, Spa Chasi La Sothys specialises in treatments which combine French and indigenous Ainu-Kaributo techniques to blissful effect – think hot-spring water facials and muscle-soothing black silica massages. 

Sun-seekers 

Bask in the summer warmth at these southern sanctuaries 

Mudbrick Vineyard and Restaurant 

Waiheke Island, New Zealand 

Just a ferry ride from Auckland, Waiheke, known as the island of wine, is home to the distinctive Mudbrick Vineyard and Restaurant . Famed for its bold reds, Mudbrick features a collection of luxury cottages and lodges tucked away among its vines. The accommodation is cosy, has amazing views of the Hauraki Gulf and is a fantastic base for further exploration of the island. Facilities, such as spa pools, are best enjoyed with a bottle of award-winning wine. Speaking of which, wine tasting is par for the course here, and the Mudbrick restaurant’s pairing menu celebrates the best of this region’s land and sea. 

Amanpuri 

Phuket, Thailand 

Aman is synonymous with glamour, and Amanpur i is where it all started. This acclaimed white-sand retreat reopened in September after a refurbishment of its stunning pool villas. There’s a vast array of global cuisines on offer across the property’s restaurants: don’t miss the newly revamped Italian restaurant Arva. Amanpuri’s wellness programme incorporates Muay Thai, tennis and traditional Chinese medicine for those in need of a total reset. 

Pumphouse Point, Lake St. Clair  

Tasmania, Australia 

Disappear to this adults-only wilderness retreat , located on the glacier waters of Lake St. Clair. This former electrical pumphouse-turned-luxury lodge contrasts modern interiors with its historical setting. Surrounded by verdant national park forests, this resort reconnects you to nature through bushwalking tours, picnics, fishing excursions, cruises and cycling. Given that barbecuing is practically a national sport in Australia, the hotel hosts “fire feasts”: sumptuous banquets where nearly every dish has been kissed by the coals. There’s no Wi-Fi at this lodge. Turn up and tune out. 

Lion Sands Ivory Lodge

Kruger, South Africa 

This swish lodge in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve redefines the safari experience, swapping tents for ultra-luxe villas decorated with Tom Dixon Melt lights and marblebathrooms. You can spy leopards and elephants from the comfort of your own plunge pool,though the lodge’s game drives will take you even closer to the action. Sign up for a guided tour of a nearby Shangaan village to explore the area further. 

Wild sights at Sabi Sands 

You’ve heard of the Big Five; how about the Sabi Sands Secret Seven? Mostly nocturnal, these rare creatures are tougher but potentially more rewarding to locate than the headlining megafauna. 

-Servals 

-African wild cats 

-Aardvarks 

-Pangolins 

-Civets

-Porcupines 

Discover more amazing hotels here.