Ski Resorts – Picks of the Season…
With the 2025/26 ski season on the horizon — and an early snowstorm hitting the Alps — it’s only fitting to suggest some of this season’s thriving ski resorts.
For Socialising and Après-Ski: French Alps
If your ski trip centres around socialising, and of course après, the only way is to visit a resort with the infamous French special: La Folie Douce. This lively, atmospheric venue offers long, extravagant meals or mountain-side parties. Branches of this phenomenal establishment are found in some of the most prestigious resorts in the Alps: Val d’Isère, Val Thorens, Les Arcs (pictured), Avoriaz, Chamonix, Alpe d’Huez, and Megève. But the Folie isn’t the only pinnacle of the Alps, nightlife also peaks in bars such as Cocorico and the Ice Bar.
For Powder and Culture: Japan
If you are looking for something further afield, Japan offers cheap lift passes, incredible cuisine, insta-famous snow-covered trees, and powder every good skier dreams of. Top picks include Hakuba, with ten different valleys ranging from the world’s largest baby slopes in Tsugaike Kogen to an off-piste paradise in Cortina (pictured), and Niseko, a resort for amateurs and pros alike, offering Japow with views of a volcano. Both resorts combine comfortable skiing with vast backcountry options. Sushi and skiing – what’s not to like?
For Snow-Sure Luxury: Switzerland
For guaranteed snow, altitude is key, preferably somewhere with a glacier. Switzerland offers luxury, large ski areas, traditional charm, and some of the highest skiing in Europe. Verbier (4 Valleys) hosts over 400km of pistes with Mont Blanc views and has been open since November 1st. Zermatt offers a traditional Swiss village with enchanting architecture and a car-free experience. The Matterhorn, famously known as the “Toblerone Mountain” (pictured), towers over the resort. Linked to Italy’s Cervinia, it offers skiing up to 3,883 metres. Finally, St. Moritz is a classy, elite resort home to the Morteratsch Glacier, offering varied terrain and prestige.
My Pick?
That’s easy – Val d’Isère. Linked to Tignes by just one lift, it offers over 300km of runs, from simple greens to un-pisted blacks, alongside off-pistes like the north face of the Grande Motte Glacier. The village is modern, with the newest ski gear and top restaurants, yet still full of alpine character. The food is unforgettable, from fondue and mulled wine to classic hot chocolate and French fries. And of course, skiing home to La Folie Douce means every ski day ends in style.
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