Resorts that offer icing on their breaks

Resorts that offer icing on their breaks

Trade favourites

Operators choose top areas

Colorado

Nina McMaster, product manager, Neilson Ski

“Colorado is the most memorable ski destination for me because of the great variety of resorts.

“I was able to visit some of the main ones on a recent holiday and I loved the superb skiing, the open roads, outstanding scenery, genuinely friendly people and the huge portions of food – just what you need after a day on the slopes.

“I started at the resort of Breckenridge and suffered for a short time with altitude sickness – it’s one of America’s highest ski areas with the resort at a level of more than 2,900 metres. Its long, easy terrain makes for very flattering skiing but you can easily dive off into the trees for more of an adrenaline run.

“Off the slopes there’s plenty to do along Victorian Main Street with its host of shops, bars and restaurants.

“My last destination was Steamboat, which has a real Wild West feel to it.

“It’s geographical location ensures the slopes are always in pristine condition and the views from the mountains down into the valleys are breathtaking.

“On my last night I snuggled under blankets for a horse-drawn twilight sleigh ride, followed by a barbecue chicken feast at a barn dance.”

California

Bernie Aird, senior contracts manager, Crystal Holidays

“I enjoy combining the ski resorts of Lake Tahoe and Mammoth in California in a one-week trip. They both offer very good skiing but the landscapes and facilities are very different.

“They are reasonably close to the attractions of Los Angeles and San Francisco and it’s best to hire a four-wheel-drive if you intend to journey to the resorts from either gateway city.

“I prefer to start the week in Lake Tahoe, which is about a three-and-a-half hour drive from San Francisco and then move on to Mammoth, a two-and-a-half hour drive away. But you can fly from London via Minneapolis/St Paul to Reno in Nevada for a shorter 40-minute transfer to Lake Tahoe.

“There are several ski areas here but Heavenly has the best breathtaking views of the nearby desert and the lake, half of which is in California and half in Nevada. Reno itself is a mini Las Vegas with high-rise casino hotels and is a fun spot.

“On the Californian side of the lake, there are more lodge-style hotels and some great restaurants and shops. So you have the best of both worlds.

“Heavenly is good for intermediate skiers and has some fun and challenging off-piste skiing.

“A new cable-car system opens in December and will take guests to the main ski areas from the hotel doorstep.

“I like to combine Mammoth on the same trip because it offers more intermediate and advanced mountain skiing similar to what you can experience in Austria and France.”

Utah

Alison Espley, product manager, United Vacations

“Last season, I spent an exhilarating 10 days sampling some of the ski resorts around Salt Lake City in Utah and could see why the destination has been chosen to host the Winter Olympics in February 2002.

“The facilities are outstanding and the conditions superb for all levels of ability. There are actually nine resorts, all less than a one-hour drive from Salt Lake City Airport, which makes it very convenient as lots of US resorts have quite long transfer times. United Airlines offers daily connections from London via Chicago, as well as through Los Angeles and San Francisco.

“The main Utah locations of Park City Mountain Resort, Snowbird, Deer Valley and The Canyons are also within easy striking distance, so I was able to experience plenty of variety.

“Deer Valley is also known as the St Moritz of the US and home to one of the finest hotels in North America – the Stein Eriksen Lodge, which is rated highly for its dining and guest service.

“It has large stone fireplaces and beams, which give it a rustic, Norwegian feel. And it offers ski-in/ski-out facilities, with the nearest ski lift just 90 metres away.

“Over half the trails here have been designed for intermediates and many are carved straight down the fall line – very dramatic! Snowbird and Park City Mountain cater well for all levels of skier.

“The Canyons features wide-open runs with 80% of the mountains aimed at intermediate and advanced level skiing.”

Deer Valley resort: known as the St Moritz of the US

Steamboat: a town with a real Wild West feel

Tahoe: breathtaking views