Alyeska Resort, Alaska

This chateau-style hotel is the utmost in comfort and modernity, with touches of indigenous design to ensure you’re at one with your surroundings. Native Alaskan artwork adorns the walls in this palatial building and it’s the perfect place to recover from your action-packed itinerary and outdoor escapades in the region. We’re confident that the magnificent backdrop will leave you taken aback each time you step out of the door.

Location

Nestled away in a valley of the Chugach Mountains is the year-round resort of Girdwood, surrounded by hanging glaciers, spectacular ocean views, with the Alyeska right at its heart. This luxury hotel is the perfect place from which to experience the magnificent Alaskan wilderness – groomed cross country ski trails start at your doorstep, and a 16-person whirlpool with bay windows overlooking the north face of Mt Alyeska awaits you at the end of the day. Girdwood is just a 45-minute drive from Anchorage, but why not make a day of it; take the scenic route around various icy rivers and glaciers and spot wildlife galore on your way.

Your room

All 304 guestrooms of the Alyeska are adorned with plush carpets and interiors and offer the perfect antidote to a day in the mountains. Summit rooms on the top floor of the hotel offer spectacular views and are easily our top choice – but for something that extra bit special? The Royal Suite comes hard to beat – a veritable mansion with floor-to-ceiling windows, a marble bathroom with king-size bathtub and cherry wood interiors.

Why we love it

The attention to detail at Alyeska ensures you’ve got all the time you need to gaze at the looming alpine scenery, glacial vistas and verdant slopes. If the view from your room isn’t quite enough though, hop aboard the resort’s tram to 2,300 feet above sea level. After a peruse around the museum, ski back to the hotel for a guilt-free trip to the spa, offering Vichy treatments, yoga sessions, facials, massages, and body treatments.