Best Ski Vacations 2026-2027: 7 Resorts Across North America and Europe
US destination picks
Aspen is the signature US ski trip. The four Aspen mountains (Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Highlands, Buttermilk) give enough variety for a week without repeating. Expect $2,800 to $9,000 per person for a week with mid-tier lodging, lift tickets, and food, with the top of that range at holiday weeks. The sweet spot for value is the first two weeks of January and the first three weeks of March (after Presidents Day). Early-season Aspen (first two weeks of December) is cheaper but snow coverage is less reliable.
Canada for value plus big terrain
Whistler delivers more skiable terrain than any US resort at consistently lower pricing. A week at Whistler typically runs $2,200 to $6,000 per person all-in, roughly 20 to 30 percent cheaper than Aspen for similar lodging quality. The season runs late November through mid-May on the glacier. Flights from US cities to Vancouver plus the two-hour transfer to Whistler is the main planning tradeoff versus flying straight to Aspen or Vail.
European Alps for the longest season
Zermatt has the longest reliable ski season in the Alps, with lift-served skiing year-round on the Theodul Glacier. A week in Zermatt typically runs $3,500 to $9,000 per person including flights, hotel, lift tickets, and food. The town is car-free, which some travelers love and others find limiting; getting there means train from Zurich or Geneva. The best weeks are mid-January through late March. Swiss Alps Lucerne-based trips offer an alternative with closer city access and multi-resort skiing.
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