The ski season is now upon us, as resorts in Europe and North America open up their hotel doors, and get the chair lifts running for another busy few months on the slopes. There are some resorts which are so glamorous, you’d want to arrive in a private jet! Whatever your mode of transportation, here is our pick of the world’s top luxury ski destinations.

Five luxury ski destinations

Zermatt, Switzerland

Dominated by the shadow of the beautiful and imposing Matterhorn, Zermatt has always been, and remains, one of the best places in the world to have a truly exceptional skiing holiday. Accessible only by train unless you have a residents’ permit and own a chalet – Zermatt is car-free – it is also very clean, quiet and refined. Boutiques and excellent après-ski go shoulder to shoulder with wonderful pistes and great off-piste action too, plus some of the best restaurants of any resort in the world. Hop on the train for an unforgettable ride to the highest altitude railway station in the world. The panoramic views of the Swiss, Italian and French alpine peaks will quite literally take your breath away (if that doesn’t, the high altitude will!).

Lech, Austria

Forget the bustling party-hungry St Anton; Lech is the place to go for a laid-back atmosphere, very high-end chalets and pensions, and some lovely skiing. This is a resort that attracts Europe’s royals – the Dutch royal family spend their ski holidays here every year.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Again, it is not about Aspen or Vail, though these do remain some of the US’s best ski resorts. Jackson Hole in Wyoming is an excellent place for some steep and ambitious skiing and some decadent lodging experiences – Amangani is the place to look out for here. Certainly a place to see and be seen and perfect for the ultimate indulgence after a day out on the slopes.

Megève, France

Brilliant for families and skiers of mixed abilities, this little sister in the Alps is a real delight and an excellent place to go for a fulfilling one or two week break. The skiing in Megève is great and the scenery even better – plus if a few members of the family don’t want to ski one day, there are lots of options for lovely walks, or some spa-and-shopping time to enjoy instead.

St. Moritz, Switzerland

There is a reason Switzerland is included twice in this list. St. Moritz is perhaps the most exclusive of all exclusive resorts. If what you are after is the uppermost in glamour and spending, then the glitz of Moritz is for you. It also has an excellent snowfall, meaning you can go close to the end or beginning of season, and thanks to its amazing and very tempting selection of bars and restaurants, it is also often relatively quiet on the pistes. One more reason to visit St. Moritz is the White Turf horse races where the rich and famous gather for a day of exciting races, fine cuisine and art on the frozen lake amidst stunning mountain scenery.