The Most Charming Ski Chalets

The Savoy Hotel is a grand chalet-style property set in the stunning surrounds of northern Italy’s Val Gardena. Direct access to the Sella Ronda ski circuit from the hotel’s ski room makes it a popular choice among skiers, while trails that start nearby attract hikers in the summer months. Leisure facilities are top-notch, especially the spring-fed pool and spa, and the restaurant and extensive wine cellar also impress. Rooms are a little lackluster for an advertised four-star hotel, but overall it’s an excellent choice, albeit not a particularly cheap one.

This rustic, luxury lodge is one of Vail's premier options, with a location in the heart of Vail Square, near the Eagle Bahn lift. The 62 luxurious rooms feature massive bathrooms, stone fireplaces, and scenic balconies, and both the lavish spa and rooftop lap pool pack serious wow factor. The apres-ski scene is thriving here, with a spacious outdoor patio and cozy tavern for snacks, cocktails, and full meals.

This upscale mountain escape in the Italian Alps near the French border (thus the French name "Heart of Snow") is less a hotel and more a cluster of 16 charming chalets all sporting rustic-luxe decor and modern conveniences. Wooden furniture, working fireplaces, and faux fur throws on the beds make each chalet (with private entrances) feel like a separate cabin in the woods. Situated within minutes of the ski slopes, the hotel’s location allows guests to ski in/ski out of the property to the gondolas for outdoor activities, and then return to recover in their quiet mountain retreat with a restorative spa. The spa has gorgeous views, which most of the rooms lack.

The 62-room Cristal Palace Hotel is an upscale chalet-style property close to the center of Madonna di Campiglio, a quaint skiing village. The amazing mountain setting is the star attraction here, and lends the hotel some serious storybook charm. The Cristal Palace is a solid choice for vacationing skiers, thanks to free shuttle service to the lifts, and an on-site spa. The kids' club accommodates families with young children, too. The hotel is well-priced, offering rates lower than most of the same caliber in the surrounding area.

The Hotel Gardenia is a traditional mountain-style chalet hotel with elegant interiors and a home-like, family-friendly ambience. Its setting in the Puez–Odle Nature Reserve means picturesque surroundings, while a free shuttle gives easy access to nearby skiing. There's enough to keep kids and adults entertained, from spa facilities to a kids' club, and rooms have quaint alpine style, although some are a bit small. Rates aren't cheap, but plenty of extras make it a reasonable value, especially given its stunning scenery.

There is little to find fault with at the sustainability-minded, upscale, 43-room Corona Dolomites Hotel. The building itself is well presented and the interiors are a mixture of contemporary smart and traditional cozy. Rooms are particularly modern, minimal, and well equipped, as are the spa and pool areas. Mountain views can be enjoyed from spaces, though other hotels do obscure some of the views. An on-site restaurant and activities for kids make this a good spot for a family vacation, and it’s a short walk from the ski lifts.

The Hotel Laurin is a small and upscale chalet-style hotel set in the center of Selva Gardena village with heaps of mountain charm, even if a couple of alpine touches border on the generic. The pool is particularly nice, and the four on-site saunas are perks, but there are no spa treatments on offer. Rooms are modern yet cozy and many include partial mountain views. For the most part, the hotel delivers on its "small and charming" tagline, with plenty of comfy nooks and homey touches such as floral still-life paintings and grandfather clocks. Note that the hotel is only open in summer and winter months.

The rustic Chalet Village consists of private cabins in the gorgeous foothills of the Smoky Mountains. Close to ski resorts, golf courses, and hiking trails as well as attractions like Dollywood, these cabins allow guests to comfortably stay in or go out and enjoy what Gatlinburg and the nearby towns have to offer. Ranging from one to eight bedrooms, all units are differently styled but remain consistent in their charming, cozy feel (although some find it a bit kitschy).