Jackson Hole, the evocatively named Wyoming location, is not for the faint-hearted. Of its more than 20 double-black runs, Corbet’s Couloir is the ultimate test with its stomach-turning initial drop through a 10ft-wide enclave. Adrenaline junkies will struggle to run out of mountain, but there is also plenty of more approachable skiing to be had.

Our top accommodation pick is Caldera House, a boutique hotel in the centre of Teton Village. The eight-suite hotel has established a reputation as the A-lister’s choice. Verging on understated – by the standards of such things – the digs are packed with thoughtful touches and mountain must-haves (fire pits, heated terraces) and a spa completes the package.

If you’d rather admire the Grand Tetons from a distance – or don’t mind travelling up and down for a day’s skiing – then Amangani is for you. Nestled in the Snake River Valley, it’s well positioned for a range of activities on and off the slopes, from fly-fishing to back-country snow-shoe trekking or family sleigh rides. And as you’d expect from any Aman hotel, the spa is well equipped for post-piste relaxation.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of assuming that every alpine resort is more or less the same – especially from pictures of pine benches strewn with cow-print rugs and steaming hot tubs. But Val Thorens’ geography gives it its own character. As Europe’s highest resort, it sits above the treeline, making the slopes harder to read. There aren’t many expert runs, but there aren’t many for beginners either and intermediate skiers may take some time to get used to skiing without many visual aids.

We recommend a duo of hotels, refurbished in 2021 under Beaumier’s ownership: Le Val Thorens and Le Fitz Roy. The former is one of the resort’s oldest hotels and leans heavily into the 1970s vibe with mustard-coloured crushed velvet sofas, Italo-disco playlists and period magazines, plus, the obligatory fondue. Le Fitz Roy, meanwhile, is more traditional Alpinist, with 1930s posters, open fire pits and jazz standards on the jukebox. Both have been – the only word for it – curated by panels of artists, photographers and publishers under the guidance of interior designers Vicky Charles and Julia Corden. The results are hotels that wouldn’t look out of place in a movie by Quentin Tarantino.

Of course, there’s nothing old-fashioned about the wellness treatments, or the experiences, which include ice climbing, ice diving, zip-lining and paragliding. Recharge with a trip to either hotel’s lively cocktail bar, or head out to one of the region’s 10 Michelin-starred restaurants.

French hotspot Courchevel is not new to ski-season roundups – or to thousands of yearly visitors, for that matter. But if the mantra “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it” is anything to go by, then you have all the reasons to visit the Savoyard alcove. Those looking for the ultimate winter refuge will feel right at home at Les Airelles Mountain Palace. Conceived by interior designer Christophe Tollemer, the idyllic hideaway has everything you’d expect from a 19th-century Austro-Hungarian style castle, including the majestic, frescoed facade, panelled ceilings and stained glass to a breath-taking panoramic view of the snow-capped Saulire peak.

Aspen Snowmass, to give the four-mountain resort its proper title, needs little introduction. Aspen Mountain and Aspen Highlands have the skilled runs and heritage character; Snowmass the sheer scale that dwarfs other resorts and Buttermilk the more family-friendly slopes, as well as a world-renowned ski school. With numerous international competitions to their name, the quality of the skiing itself is assured, and the Colorado powder is usually plentiful well into the late season.

With nigh-on 70 years of attracting the jet-set, its credentials as one of the best ski towns in the world also need little in the way of embellishment. We’d be staying at Hotel Jerome, the historic venue that dates all the way back to 1889. As you’d expect, it majors on dark, plush, warm spaces to wind down (or live it up) chief among them the hotel’s cocktail bar, Bad Harriet.

If your heart is set on ski-in, ski-out accommodation, it would have to be The Little Nell, nestled at the very foot of Aspen Mountain and offering suites and residences with a more contemporary, minimalist touch.

Nestled in the southern Dolomitic Alps at an altitude of over 1,000m, Cortina d’Ampezzo is a melting pot of natural wonders, style and culinary experiences. The resort has always been a mainstay for high-society Italians, but it’s recently began to amass a wider breadth of international clientele thanks to its many cultural happenings – book festivals, vintage car races and more – and sporting events, such as the ski and snowboard world cups. So much so that it’s been selected, alongside Milan and its hinterland, to host the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

Amid the backdrop of an ever-growing, jet-setting crowd, a rising number of luxury hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants have opened their doors, blending the neighbouring South Tyrolean spirit with Italian traditions. Think of Rosapetra Hotel Spa and Faloria Mountain Spa Resort, both of which offer up the perfect mix of ruggedness and sophistication.

High altitude means reliable snow at Zermatt, and there is an ambience to this lofty enclave that’s hard to replicate. Its car-free approach is a large part of it, and although heli-transfers from Sion are an unmissable experience, especially as you skim over the Zinalrothorn ridge, there is also a lot to be said for losing yourself in a book as the train winds up through the valley from Visp.

This season, it’s all about the super-chalets. Who needs a hotel when you’ve got a private chef, in-chalet spa and massage rooms, and your own daily concierge? The 7 Heavens development, comprising a series of chalets each named after some of the world’s highest mountains, provide the most luxurious accommodation right in the heart of Zermatt.

Meanwhile, Chalet Zermatt Peak is a short walk away on the fringe of town. Benefiting from its elevated location, its wrap-around balconies provide that most desirable quality: clear views of the Matterhorn, while the gym, spa, indoor-and-outdoor Jacuzzi and wine cellar complete the package.