The world's most romantic ski resorts

By Lena Katz

updated 12:27 p.m. ET Dec. 14, 2007

“A rose on your pillow… chocolates at turndown… rose petals sprinkled down the hallway … gifts arranged under the tree.” These are but a few of the little gestures that Jo Jones, concierge at Deer Valley’s high-end Residences at the Chateaux, plans for couples visiting the resort.

From private fireside fondues to midnight snow shoe adventures to couples’ spa treatments, today’s luxury ski destinations are turning up the heat on wintertime passion. Cupid has been sighted floating around European chalets, rustic Argentinean lodges and at least one Kiwi mountaintop—plus all the best American spots.

At fractional ownership properties such as Residences at the Chateaux, the staff keeps record of their guests’ preferences, special needs and even their birthdays. They offer the “second home” experience plus all the concierge services of a luxury hotel. For guests on a romantic getaway, this could include a horse-drawn sleigh ride to the nearby Empire Lodge for a fireside meal … and then back home, where chilled champagne and a drawn bath await.

A combination of beauty, history and status, Aspen proves itself a top romantic getaway year after year. There, luxury rental specialists have a your-wish-is-my-command attitude.

“When you book a rental through most Aspen realtors, there’s typically a service charge on top which covers full concierge services—any requests from catered candlelight dinners to hard-to-come-by event tickets. I’ve even worked with local boutiques to show their wares in guests’ houses, so they don’t have to visit the stores,” says Kelli Gardner of Five Star Destinations.

Though Gardner says most people prefer to be in the six-by-six block radius that constitutes the “core” of Aspen (where the bulk of the season’s social activities take place), she also has country properties that appeal to lovers in “getaway” mode.

“You get a view of majestic mountain peaks… there are open pastures for snowmobiling right out your back door … but it’s easy to rent a driver, and you can still access the town of Aspen easily,” she says.

For in-town romance, book a penthouse through Gardner and arrange for a private chef to cook up spreads accented by caviar and truffles from the Butcher’s Block. The St. Regis and Little Nell penthouses are popular and some insiders opt for the Brand Building, but for a real splurge, a lavish 4-bedroom private rental property will cost you from upwards of $12,000 a night off-season.

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The East Coast ski village of Stowe, Vt. is Aspen’s foil in many ways: small-town and old-world, with all family owned and operated businesses.

“No Pizza Hut, no Gap, no chain hotels,” locals proudly state. That means at any of the 50 restaurants, 60-odd hotels and B&Bs, the owners offer personalized service and their own informal version of concierge service. There are loads of romantic hideaways in Stowe, but at the Stone Hill Inn, proprietors Amy and Hap Jordan seem intent on perfecting the Cupid-friendly experience—especially as it applies to epicureans.

“My husband I are foodies and plan travel around food experiences," says Amy, who offers a “Fun for Foodies” package, fondue dinner tours and chocolatier classes. As for the other romantic extras, she lets guests provide the inspiration.

“I have hopeful grooms-to-be calling me up saying ‘I want to propose, I’m nervous, what do I do?’ so the proposal packages were a natural extension,” she says. The Jordans consider all pre-planned packages to be just a “starting point,” though they understand that everyone wants their special occasion to be unique.

Post Hotel & Spa There are plenty of larger, higher-profile properties in the Rocky Mountain region, but the Post Hotel at Lake Louise is an under the radar fave. "Five star all the way, with fabulous service, award-winning food and one of the largest wine cellars in Canada. What else would you need after a wonderful day of skiing in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta?" says Judy Love Rondeau, an Alberta tourism professional.

The legendary Canadian ski resorts of Banff/Lake Louise and Whistler offer every kind of accommodation from luxe five-star hotels to ski-in, ski-out chalets. But lately, boutique hotel properties have been stealing international attention away from the big names. In Lake Louise, a team of Swiss brothers runs the picturesque Post Hotel to old-world European standards, offering intimate accommodations, an Alpine spa and fine cuisine with a 35,000-bottle wine cellar. Nestled in Banff National Park, this property gets the insider vote for a romantic Rocky Mountain getaway.

In Whistler, the Sundial Boutique Hotel sets the standard for interior style on a super-luxe but intimate scale.

“Boutique hotels are typically authentic with the essence of the location/destination. When you close the curtains, you are going to know you are someplace special,” explains Andrew Fine of Boutique Hotels & Resorts. In his opinion, the Sundial exemplifies this.

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