While beach honeymoons are certainly popular, can anything beat the unique experience of mastering a snow-capped mountain to a romantic après-sky snuggle by the fireplace in a romantic chalet? A winter landscape can be unsurpassed in beauty and is especially stunning when decorated for the holidays.
If skiing is your passion, create a lifetime of loving memories in one of the world’s coziest and most stunning ski resorts. Following are some breathtaking options.
Vail, Colorado
Best Time for a Vail Honeymoon
The snow in Vail is best between December and March. It is one of the U.S.’ major skiing destinations, as well as one of its busiest. Visiting in April can usually still ensure a snowy getaway but at a less expensive post-season rate. As a bonus, the Taste of Vail Festival in April is one of the country’s best food festivals. Honeymooners can enjoy the Vail Film Festival in December.
Vail has many luxury resorts with skiing instructors.
What do to on a Vail Honeymoon
Alpenrose Gondola Dinners – these delightful gondolas are imported directly from Italy and are added to the Alpenrose Restaurant in Vail Village. They are ideal for a romantic dinner a deux consisting of an appetizer and a three-course entree. There are heaters to ward off the cold. Couples can adjust the light to their own liking and switch on the music of their choice.
Sleigh Rides and Dinner
4 Eagle Ranch offers horse-drawn sleigh rides through the fresh alpine air and beneath the starry night, providing a fairy tale experience. Upon the return to the Ranch, a delicious dinner awaits while a singer serenades the diners.
Romantic Accommodation for a Vail Honeymoon
The Sonnenalp lodge is a throwback to European hospitality with 112 suites and 15 rooms. Suites have a living area and a cozy fireplace. The lodge’s King’s Club serves premium liqueur and genuine German beer while guests relax to live music.
There is a heated indoor and outdoor pool with a pool bar and an indoor and outdoor whirlpool with a stunning view. The lodge will arrange for outdoor activities ranging from skiing to snowshoeing as well as guided hiking excursions, which are especially popular at sunset.
The Manor Vail Lodge is conveniently located by the slopes of Vail Village and close to the lovely Betty Ford Alpine Gardens and offers luxurious rooms and suites. The Ridge & River Restaurant offers guests a splendid view of Vail Mountain. The Fitz Vail Bar has comfort food, cocktails, and beer. Honeymooners will enjoy the rejuvenating spa with its steam room, hot tubs, and sauna. The spa is green-certified, and all products used are organic.
Banff, Canada
Banff, Alberta, Canada may not be a honeymoon skiing destination, but it is a surprisingly exquisite and appropriate one. With its snow-capped mountains, clear, azure lakes, and fine resorts with excellent dining, Banff is the place for outdoor adventures.
Best Time For a Banff Honeymoon
The snow season is long here and stretches well into May as Banff is known for its springtime snowfall and vibrant après-sky life. While strolling through Banff, the Rocky Range mountains of Mt. Rundle and Mt. Cascade invariably rise ahead of you.
What to do on a Banff Ski Honeymoon
It may get chilly in Banff, but there are ways to keep warm besides snuggling. The Banff Hot Springs are located outside of Banff by Sulphur Mountain. Soak in this heated pool (don’t forget your bathing suit on this skiing trip) that reaches a warmth of up to 104 degrees.
Visit beautiful Lake Louise.
Honeymooners can check out the resorts surrounding Lake Louise and revel in their outdoor hot tubs, regardless of the temperature.
For a romantic dinner at the Fairmont Hotel, the Grape Restaurant bar cellar offers a vibrant charcuterie option of the finest cheeses and meat with fresh bread.
Couples can unwind at the Meadows Spa without being guests of the Moose Hotel and Suites. The Couples Escapes includes a soak in a private couples tub, a one-hour couples massage, a couples pedicure, and lunch.
Romantic Accommodation for a Banff Honeymoon
The views from the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise are awe-inspiring. Chic accommodations face the Rocky Mountains or Lake Louise. The Fairmont’s sophisticated “Gold” standard rooms on the seventh floor entitle guests to an honor bar, complimentary afternoon snacks, their own concierge, and a private lounge.
The Chateau has several restaurants and serves an elegant afternoon tea. Room service, of course, is always available.
Honeymooners will find a plethora of activities here, such as ice skating on the lake, which is lit up for night skating, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowboarding. Couples can experience honeymoon magic by engaging in a sleigh ride around the lake.
Swiss Skiing Honeymoon
A skiing honeymoon in the Swiss Alps is an obvious choice as one of the best destinations in Europe for a snowy holiday. This is the land of chalets, amazing vistas, and the crispest air anywhere, all wrapped in an aura of luxury. Most Swiss destinations are amazing, but they are not cheap. One secret to making this snow paradise fantasy come true is to create a honeymoon registry instead of a wedding registry. This can pay or help pay for this fairy tale.
Best Time for a Swiss Honeymoon
Switzerland is legendary any time of the year. When it isn’t snowing, it makes the perfect apres-ski destination. For the best snowfalls, visit between January and March; however, it does snow in October and April as well. Some high peaks are covered throughout the year. Most skiing enthusiasts put Switzerland on top of their wish list.
What To Do On a Swiss Skiing Honeymoon
Visit the Matterhorn.
This is truly one of nature’s miracle creations. The most accessible town to the Matterhorn is Zermatt, which is reachable by train. For an incredible journey passed the Matterhorn, take the Glacier Express train from St. Moritz.
Davos/Kloster is a lovely alpine village filled with museums and first-class restaurants. Kloster is the favorite winter getaway of the British royal family and other elites, so there is no telling whom a couple will run into on the slopes. It is a premium destination.
For ski enthusiasts, here is one of the longest runs in Europe. There are 97 kilometers of slopes accessible by ski lift, and skiers love the early runs on the freshly fallen snow. Guests have a wide choice of accommodation, including an igloo village, which is an actual work of art. For March honeymooners, the Coverfestival pays a rock tribute to artists such as Abba, Bob Marley, Elvis, and the Beatles.
Top skiers can have their slalom filmed by the Raiffeisen Skimovie Run to show to friends and family back home.
Romantic Accommodation for a Swiss Honeymoon
Walliserhof – Saasfee is conveniently located in Glazier Village amid the Saas mountains.
The hotel has several special packages to delight honeymooners. The Energy of Wine stay includes 2 nights, a wine and granule body scrub, dinner both nights, a welcome drink, cake, and the use of the spa.
The Time for Two package includes a 3-night stay, a welcome drink, cakes, breakfast at the Caesar Ritz restaurant, a four-course dinner, spa care and cocktail for him, facial treatment, body peel, and cocktail for her. Couples have the use of the spa upon arrival and before leaving. This is perfect for honeymooners.
For avid skiers, Walliserhof has its Traces in the Snow package. Guests receive a drink, six days of free ski equipment, cakes from the bar, entry to the fitness center, and bus shuttles to the mountain.
The fitness center includes cardio training, full body training, Pilates, meditation, and an aqua gym.
Japan Skiing Honeymoon
Niseko, Japan is one of Japan’s best ski destinations located on the island of Hokkaido. Honeymooners have several mega-resorts from which to choose.
Best Time for a Niseko Skiing Honeymoon
The sky season in Niseko stretches from November through May. In Niseko Village, the best months are December to April. There is fantastic night skiing, but that depends on the condition of the snow. The skiing is excellent around the holidays, which can easily be combined with a honeymoon. That is peak Niseko snow time.
April usually has no crowds, decent snow, and low cost.
What To Do On a Japanese Skiing Honeymoon
Fuji’s Five Lakes
Fuji’s Five Lakes is the best way for couples to enjoy Japan’s famous mountain in the winter. The optimal lake to see the great Fuji is Lake Kawaguchi, the closest lake to Mt. Fuji, and there are several resorts surrounding the lakes. The Kawaguchiko Museum specializes in paintings of Mt. Fuji.
Honeymooners shouldn’t miss the Gem Museum near the lake with its more than 2,000 crystals and precious gems and watch the process of gems being cut and processed.
Beautify Kyoto is quiet and soothing in the winter. There is magic in the air when it snows. It gets quite cold, but Kyoto is still enticing. The best way for couples to get warm is to snuggle in one of Kyoto’s hot springs. These iconic springs are located everywhere and contain at least 19 healing minerals.
When off the slopes, enjoy a honeymoon package at a genuine Kyoto Tea House. This romantic package includes photographs, male and female wedding kimonos, a private tea ceremony, special delicacies, a sushi class, and a calligraphy lesson.
Romantic Accommodation for a Japanese Skiing Honeymoon
Ritz Carlton Higashiyama is set amid Japan’s winter resort, Niseko, and is surrounded by its natural charm and beauty. Niseko, with its abundance of snow, is the ideal site for skiing, snowshoeing, and snowboarding.
The rooms with their floor-to-ceiling windows face the mountains. There are several eateries specializing in Japanese cuisine, sushi, and Japanese beef. The Ume Lounge offers cocktails, beers, whiskies, and a relaxing aura.
The spa uses traditional Japanese healing techniques. Private treatment rooms are available overlooking Mount Yotei.
