No matter how much you’re willing to conquer, the rewards here are especially tempting. A newly refurbished, rebranded Luxury Collection resort called Cristallo Resort & Spa can arrange overnights in glass domes under the stars (if you’re not content with its 73 spacious, country-chic rooms). A bobsled track provides an out-of-the-box adrenaline rush, and regional dishes such as canederli—dumplings filled with parmesan and speck and then poached in broth—offer delicious reminders that there’s always a bonus to being in Italy. That you’re smack in the middle of the prosecco-producing Veneto area is icing on the cake.
Whom you’ll see: Cinecittà A-listers; foodies with an adventurous spirit
What to do on your day off: Book a ride down the local bobsled track, a feature few mountains can offer
Cost of a lift ticket: From 47 euros per day
Don’t want to go to Europe? Vermont’s Stowe has recently been acquired by Vail, meaning you can now access its long, tree-lined trails with the EpicPass; out West, Beaver Creek has a whopping 805 acres of groomers that are famously manicured to perfection.
Best for Après-skiers: Aspen, Colorado
Aspen’s among the few mountain resorts that’s as well known for its scene as its slopes, and that’s for good reason: People start popping corks here at lunchtime. Yet Aspen knows how to have fun and keep its class. This year, the epicenter of the mountain’s posh party culture, the Little Nell, is fresh off renovation. The crisp interiors, rethought by design maven Alexandra Champalimaud, are all new—as is a space for (relatively tame) wine tastings and cellar dinners. But Chair 9, the hotel’s perennial hotspot for “private chair” bottle-service packages, is just as regulars remember it—uproarious. Throw in an afternoon drinking al fresco at Cloud Nine, where dance parties break out in full ski gear, and a nightcap at Woody Creek Tavern, a celeb-favorite dive bar just out of town, and you’ll see why it’s imperative to schedule days off from skiing in this ultimate alpine playground.
Whom you’ll see: Pretty young things in Moncler snowsuits
Where to see and be seen: Matsuhisa has all the polish you’d expect from the sushi empire—but not the crazily inflated prices. (Tasting menus start at $125 per person.)
Cost of a lift ticket: $155