Happy Thursday Hidden Gem Community! How are your preparations for the holidays going?
Question – what traditions are you embracing or revisiting during this unusual holiday season? For our family, I’m digging out the board games that we used to play years ago (yes, I still have Star Wars Monopoly).
*Happy Hanukkah today – enjoy the Festival of Lights!
*Countdown to Christmas Eve – it’s only two weeks away :0
*Countdown to New Year’s Eve – it’s only three weeks away 😊 Bring on 2021!!
Quick Reminder:
Join me on Facebook in the virtual Holiday Sip & Shop event in December benefitting Circle of Care.
Circle of Care provides “emotional and financial assistance to children and families, from day of diagnosis through treatment and beyond, with programs and services that meet the unique and challenging needs of pediatric cancer treatment.”
How can you help support small businesses AND a worthy nonprofit? It couldn’t be easier:
- Follow the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/AnnualHolidaySipandShop and share it with your friends and family – thank you from all of us!!
Back to our countdown, there are only 11 days until the winter season arrives. Do you love to ski, snowboard, ice skate, sit in a hot tub that’s surrounded by snow?
If your answer is yes, this newsletter is for you as we cover some amazing snowy vacations for your family! Read on for wintery destinations and experiences that will inspire you…
Where Small is 5-Star!
Yes – smaller is better in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Caldera House is a luxury boutique hotel at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Teton Village. With only 8 suites with either 4-bedrooms or 2-bedrooms, you will be away from the crowds but with every convenience imaginable.
A Virtuoso Best of the Best hotel, Caldera house’s suites have every comfort. All suites boast a fully equipped chef’s kitchen, dining area, living room, and outdoor space with mountain views.
Virtuoso perks include daily continental breakfast for four guests per 2-Bedroom Suites, for six guests per 4-Bedroom Suites, and a $100 food & beverage credit.
After a long day on the slopes, enjoy the terrace’s infinity pool and hot tub. If you still have energy, head to the Spa & Athletic Club. Guests have 24-hour access to the fitness studio, equipped with Peloton bikes and a yoga corner. Massages and therapies are available in a treatment room or in-suite upon request.
On non-ski days, arrange a cool experience such as heli-hiking, snowshoe trekking in Grand Teton National Park, or horse whispering at a nearby ranch. Your dedicated concierge can arrange it for you!
Hotel Tip
Hotel guests enjoy access to the member’s lounge and patio of Jackson Hole’s exclusive Alpine Club. Curl up by a fireplace with an Irish coffee and share peak adventures during a lively après-ski conversation.
Uplevel with a Ski Concierge
Attention – a game-changer for ski vacations!
The Four Seasons Vail Resort in Colorado offers a ski concierge who majorly up-levels your ski vacation! Whether you bring your own equipment or rent, your concierge orchestrates everything. Hotel guests arrive to find their equipment waxed, custom-fit, and ready in Swiss-made lockers with air-drying technology.
Your ski concierge can arrange private or group lessons on bunny slopes or double black diamonds. In between runs, fortify yourself with hot cocoa, tea, muffins, and tips on the best runs of the day.
Are you a more advanced on the slopes or an adventurist? Your concierge can arrange a backcountry tour guide to take you off the beaten path. Or how about skiing with an Olympic gold medalist before the lifts open to the public? Skiers and snowboarders who love fresh powder can access daylong heli-skiing experiences.
Non-skiers or children in your party? There’s plenty to do including snowmobiling, dog sledding, snowshoeing, and sleigh rides. As with all Four Seasons resorts, there are loads of activities and services to keep the kids happy and entertained. Adults can relax in the spa or get a workout in the well-equipped fitness center.
Virtuoso amenities apply – reach out for the details.
Foodie Alert! I’ll reserve a table for you at La Nonna Ristorante in Vail. The chef grew up in Italy at Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Dolomites (Italian ski country!). From the first bite of pasta (made that morning), you’ll swear you’re in Italy. Yum.
Utah’s Finest at Your Service
Only 10 minutes from Park City’s celebrated main street, Montage Deer Valley is a craftsman-style mountain resort considered one of America’s finest. Add unrivaled ski-in/out access to Deer Valley, and you have yourself a winner!
The convenience factor continues with your Montage Mountain Host handling your equipment and arranging lessons and services. How about a family-friendly dog sledding adventure?
You’ll eat and drink like royalty at the resort’s apres-ski terrace and restaurants including a gastro pub, Yama Sushi, and American Grill.
Take time for yourself and bliss out at Spa Montage, the 35,000 square foot alpine oasis. Kids (ages 5-12) will be thoroughly entertained at the Paintbox children’s program.
Virtuoso amenities apply – reach out for the details. Bucket list checked for amazing snowy vacations for your family!
Club Med is a Hidden Gem for Family Winter Vacations
If you’re all about value, then believe it or not, Club Med is the way to go for your family ski/snowboard vacation! There’s so much included, and you won’t sacrifice comfort. For active families, this is a far better experience than an Airbnb crash pad driving distance to a ski mountain.
The best value and experience is found in Europe – think the majestic Swiss Alps, Italy’s Dolomites, and France’s stunning iconic ski areas.
What’s included?
*Lift Tickets & Lessons (for beginners too)
*Kids Club from ages 4-17 (Baby Club Med for an extra cost)
*All day dining & open bar
*Apres-Ski entertainment + activities for all ages
*Wifi & Gratuities
Other activities include learning to snowboard, snowshoeing, nordic walking, fat biking, snake gliding, air boarding, snowmobiling, and boardercross.
For an extra cost, you can avoid the schlepping. With the Easy Arrival service, your equipment will be prepared in advance and stored in your own private locker. Don’t delay, head straight for the slopes!
For parents who want some adult-only time, Club Med has kids’ clubs within the resort for ages 4-17. G.O.s lead fun activities, supervise lunchtime, and help kids make new friends staying at the resort which allows them to make their own, special memories!
Bottom Line – Club Med in Europe is an unforgettable, wintery bucket list experience for the family in 2022 that won’t break the bank 😊
Stay Tuned
We have a long, cold, socially distant winter ahead, so I’m planning some virtual entertainment to help you pass the time. The theme will focus on the future through travel dreaming. More on this to come!
Inspired? Email me to schedule a call to discuss your next winter vacation be it 2021 or 2022 (www.hiddengemtravelconsulting.com/contact). It’s never too early to brainstorm and plan the next amazing snowy vacations for your family.
💎 Hidden Gem Tip: Ski resort towns are just as much fun in the summer as in the winter! There are loads of activities for all ages, and I have partnerships with the very best of the bunch both in the USA and abroad. It’s not too early to think about summer 2021!
Wishing you and your family continued good health,
Susan
