Continuing our outdoor series, we decided to record another episode all about our favorite ski trips since we have been fortunate enough to visit a few more destinations this year and just had to share them with you all. Listen for our favorite ski trips part II!

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Transcript:

JQ: Hey Travel babies, have you hit the slopes this season? We just had to record another episode all about our favorite ski trips. We visited some new destinations this year and couldn’t wait to share them with you all.

Juliana: This is travel babies. We’re just two sisters trying to travel the world in style, but sometimes things don’t go as planned. Each week we talk about the important travel topics to help you decide when, where and how to explore the world in style. I’m Juliana from Travel with Juliana.

JQ: and I’m JQ from the travel blog jqlouise .com. This month, we are discussing our favorite outdoor trips. It’s important to stay as safe as possible while traveling, so spending as much time outside is key. This is our favorite ski trips. Part two. Let’s start with one of my favorites, Charmonix. OK, great.

Chamonix

So what was the best way to get there JQ.

JQ: So Chamonix is in the French Alps, but it’s actually easiest if you fly into Switzerland. So we flew into the Geneva Airport and then drove out to Chamonix.

Juliana: OK, so how far of a drive is it?

JQ: So with no traffic, it should be under two hours. But if there’s a little bit of traffic, getting out of Geneva might be over two hours.

Juliana: OK, and were there any direct flights from Boston to Geneva?

JQ: So for us, we flew from Boston to Zurich and then Zurich to Geneva because we flew on Swiss Airlines.

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Juliana: OK, OK, so what is Charmonix actually like? Like the town itself.

JQ: So Chamonix is actually known as Chamonix Mont Blanc officially. And it’s really started off as kind of like a sleepy little ski village. But now it’s internationally known and it’s it’s turned into a year round destination.

Juliana: Yeah, I feel like it’s now like a super chic, you know, French city. I mean, I think, you know, there’s a ton of shopping there, obviously a lot of skiing. So I feel like it’s just a really cool mix of everything.

JQ: Exactly. I mean, this is why this is one of the big reasons why I’m recommending this as a ski destination and kind of as a winter trip destination, because even if you don’t want to ski, there’s so much to do. And I think that’s what really sets Chamonix apart from some of the other, like big Alpine resorts, because, you know, usually if you’re going to go to one of these, you have to ski the whole week. Otherwise it feels like a waste. But in Chamonix, you could ski one day, take a day off, go shopping, explore the town, explore the restaurants and, you know, do that every other day and you’ll have a great time.

Juliana: Right. And what’s the best time to visit Chamonix? Do you think so? We actually went in 2019 and we went towards the end of the ski season. So we went in late February, early March and in Chamonix in well so it depends. There’s lots of different mountains that you can actually ski. But on the ones that we went to, they’re both sunny, face it, like sunny side mountains. So they were super warm.

Juliana: Right. So you don’t have to have that frigid cold New England winter while you ski so  its kind of like a great mix of everything.. It can be, you know, more of a wintery town, but also have all these other things that you can do besides ski. So that really makes a lot of sense if you just want to have a nice trip where it’s not solely a ski trip.

JQ: Exactly. And like when so we skate on Brevent, which is one of the mountains. And I mean, the sun was shining the whole week we were there. I mean, it was just beautiful blue skies. They got a bunch of snow like the week prior. So when we were there, it was just sunny all day long.

Juliana: Yeah. And so after you, you know, ski you I’m sure that you headed to, you know, some of the shops. So what are those like.

JQ: So downtown Chamonix is awesome. So I actually bought this white ski suit and I wear it all the time now and there’s all these really cool, funky French brands that we don’t have in America. And they’re all really high end like athletic outdoor brands. And they’re super chic, though.

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Juliana: Yeah, I love that’s honestly something I really, really miss about Europe. You know, not having been there. What feels like so long is just all the shopping. They just have so many smaller boutique brands that we don’t have here and it’s really good quality, pretty good prices. And they’re yeah, like you said, just super chic even for skiing, which is like, you know, here we think of it as really athletic. But I think obviously in the French Alps, you know, you can make style and, you know, being athletic.

JQ: Exactly. Yeah. I mean, I just noticed right away everyone was so stylish on the slopes that, you know, I kind of needed to up my game a little bit. So that’s what we kind of poked around in the shops. And I found this awesome ski suit. I remember it was on sale. It was such a good deal. And I wear it all the time now. And it’s it’s really good quality.

Juliana: Yeah, I love that. And then other than that, what else is there to do besides, you know, skiing and shopping?

JQ: So one place that you have to go to if you’re in Chamonix, is go to. The QC, Terminix, which is a holistic Alpine spa, and they practice what’s called aqua therapy wellness. So this is like perfect for after a day of skiing. So it’s basically you’re in this spa and there’s all these indoor pools, outdoor pools, hot tubs, whirlpools, all these different types of aqua therapy treatments. So there’s hydrogenate sauna, steam bath, sensory tubs. There’s like there’s so many things like I feel like there’s like 50 different, like types of water treatments you can experience and there’s a whole program to it. So you go from one to the next to the next to the next, and it’s supposed to relax your muscles, you know, kind of relax you and really soothe you after working your body so hard on the mountain.

Juliana: Yeah, I love I mean, I think so many ski resorts have stuff like this, but maybe not quite as extravagant. So this one just seems so cool and OK. So let’s move on to, you know, where to eat. Obviously in France, everywhere you can find really good food. So what were some of your favorites?

JQ: So in Chamonix, the food is definitely a must try. I mean, there’s so many different types of places to eat. So there’s definitely the on mountain restaurants. And one of the highlights is there’s so many places that have these beautiful outdoor terraces. So every meal we had on the mountain, we were outside with, like, the best of you ever. Like we’re 10,000 feet in the air, a view of the Alps. The sun is shining down. You know, everyone is taking off their heavy winter jackets. And you would think it was like a spring day on the Riviera.

Juliana: Yeah, this is just making me miss France so much like this is. Yeah. This is what it’s all about, honestly.

JQ: Exactly. And then, you know, in the town, there’s lots of cafes and fine dining and also little boutique hotels where you can have really homey meals. But also I have to mention this, you know, the French Alps is really known for their apres ski scene. And there’s a really famous brand that just opened a hotel two years ago on the mountain, a ski in ski out hotel called La Folie Douce. And if you’re a French or Swiss skier, you know the La Folie Douce brand. And that’s like the scene that you want to be in for apres ski. And, you know, normally there’s DJ’s and crazy parties going on. Things are a little bit different this year, but normally the apres scene in the afternoons gets pretty crazy.

Juliana: Yeah, I feel like, you know, this is why Chamonix just sounds like such an amazing place overall, not just for skiing. There’s all of these different, you know, things you can experience shopping, food, culture, you know, nightlife sort of thing. So I think, you know, and skiing among all of that. So I really want to go.

JQ: Yeah, I mean, I hopefully we can all go back next year. I just really can’t wait. But in the meantime, let’s switch gears and head back to New England, because I know you’ve gone on a lot of local ski trips, Juliana, so why don’t we talk about the Omni Mount Washington Resort?

Favorite ski trips: Omni Mount Washington Resort

Juliana: Yeah, honestly, this was probably one of my favorites that I’ve been to so far. So there’s the Omni Mount Washington Resort, which is the hotel, and then Bretton Woods is just like a five minute drive. So they’re really like right in the same spot. And I think my favorite part about it was really that it’s it feels like you’re in this huge castle. You know, it’s only like a two hour drive from Boston. So it makes for a great weekend trip and you get there and just the sheer size of the place is like you drive up and you’re like, whoa, this is crazy. Like, it really makes you want to go inside. So, you know, and especially when we went, it was freezing that weekend and snow cover, like New Hampshire had just gotten a fresh coat of snow. So it looked really wintry and picturesque, but it was great to go inside in the warm you know, there’s a fireplace, as soon as you walk in and just going in there, it feels like you’re in a castle.

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JQ: It looked so cozy. I mean, I’ve seen pictures of the Omni Mt. Washington and it just looks amazing. I mean, it looks like such a cozy place to head back to after days of skiing. And I know the whole resort is just it’s massive and it’s just a beautiful area.

Juliana: Yeah. And I think one amazing thing that they also have is just from any window you look out, the view is amazing. You know, you see the mountain. I think I got some really good pictures. We were coming in right as soon as the sun was setting. And then I was nervous about skiing the next day. So I woke up pretty early and I saw the sun kind of rise. And it was just gorgeous, like from any from any, you know, actual hotel room, from the dining room, the lobby I. Actually, when we were there, there was a wedding going on that weekend, so there was you know, they had like probably rented out the ballroom in that area for all the for the actual wedding. But outside of that room, there’s a huge kind of balcony that wraps all the way around. So honestly, I really want to go back in the summertime to and maybe the fall, because I’m sure that even the views are gorgeous then. And, you know, I have some friends from high school who live in New Hampshire now or they’re from New Hampshire and they’re always telling me, like, go there on the off season, too, because it’s just gorgeous.

JQ: Yeah, I’ve seen pictures of the views from the hotel in the fall. And just the foliage is insane. I mean, they have you can just see for miles all the red and orange trees and it looks beautiful.

Juliana: Yeah

JQ: But let’s talk about the dining. I mean, I read that their main dining room was recently renovated. So how was that?

Juliana: Yeah, I mean, the dining room was gorgeous. I love how, you know, they kept kind of the structural integrity of the place. So it still has that, you know, I don’t know, I guess antique feel to it. And obviously all of like the decor was really antique feeling. So it really just felt super cozy. The food was amazing. Perfect again, for after skiing, you know. Well, priced. So I think and you know, we also ate breakfast before skiing in there. And just the natural light that it gets was just so crazy and so, you know, uplifting. So I think it was a perfect place to eat, you know, before and after skiing.

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JQ: That’s awesome. So now what about the skiing? Like, how was Bretton Woods?

Juliana: Bretton Woods was so great. I honestly think that this was the first place where we really didn’t feel scared the entire day. It was freezing that day. So like I said, it was, you know, you had to really bundle up. And, you know, luckily they had their indoor lodge open so you could go in, you know, take a break, warm up, eat there. But the slopes themselves were, like, perfect for a beginner like me because they kind of went and, you know, they also have a ton of slopes that are great for advanced skiers, too. But the beginner slopes, they were really like up and down hills. So, you know, if I was going really fast, I didn’t have to be that scared because the hill was kind of going upwards. So I would just slow down. I think that was perfect for me. And, you know, they’re also doing private lessons, so they’re also really staying covid safe. So, yeah, I just really want to go back again.

JQ: That’s awesome. That sounded like a great trip.

Juliana: Yeah. OK, so let’s move on to one of your most recent ski trips at Snow Basin.

Favorite ski trips: Snowbasin

JQ: Yeah. So we just got back from Snow Basin and it was one of the best ski trips we’ve ever had. I mean, just the quality of the skiing is insane. I mean, we ski in Utah last year, Deer Valley in Park City. But this time around, we just got so lucky with the snow. I mean, literally the day we got there, it started snowing. So we had a powder day. Then we had several Bluebird days. So it just like we can’t complain. It was just a perfect week for skiing.

Juliana: Yeah. And what airline did you guys fly when you went?

JQ: So we flew from Boston to Salt Lake City on Delta, which was great. They have a lot of direct flights and they have even more during the ski season. So it was so easy to get there. We actually took an early morning flight, so we left on a Saturday at like 6:00 a.m. our time got there at about 10:00 a.m. their time.. So we had the whole day on Saturday to get settled to check into our hotel and just kind of explore the town.

Juliana: Yeah, that sounds awesome. So what is the town like? Is it really just like a ski, you know, one of like your valley or one of these heavy ski cities?

JQ: So we actually stayed in a little town called Huntsville and it’s just the cutest little country town. I mean, it’s it’s different from some of these other ski towns where they’re really built up with, like, lots of high end shops and restaurants and things like that. But Huntsville, it just had a really authentic feel and it just felt like we’re out in the countryside.

Juliana: Yeah, that sounds amazing. And as for the skiing, like, what was that like? I mean, obviously you’re pretty advanced, but was it, like, really powdery? Obviously, they had a ton of snow, like you said. So how was the actual skiing conditions?

JQ: So the conditions were awesome. I mean, this was a great example of that best snow on earth that Utah talks about because it snowed about a foot and a half that first day that we got there. So the second day was a true powder day. It was still snowing. And this was my first time experiencing a true, true powder day. And while powder skiing definitely takes some getting used to, I had a lot of fun. I mean, their terrain is amazing. I mean, they have such a wide variety of terrains from all different kind of experience levels. But then also in just the types of terrain. I mean, they have, you know. Normal trails, they have trees, they have blades, they have bowls, they have like literally everything you could think of that it’s snow and has and for me, it was a great kind of intro to powder skiing that first day. And then the next two days we got to just have fun on the fast groomers.

Juliana: Yeah. So just like what you’re used to and yeah, that sounds amazing. And it also looks like you guys had so many amazing views, like from the lift or just being on the mountain. It looked so pretty.

JQ: Yeah. It was beautiful. I mean it really reminded me of being in the Alps. I mean, we were you know, there’s high elevation, but then there’s just so many other mountains and peaks that you can see from wherever you are. It was just it was just such a treat to be out in the fresh air and have all those nice views.

Juliana: Yeah. And how was the food while you were there?

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JQ: Oh, it was awesome. I mean, they’ve had to make some adjustments because of covid, but I think the team has just done an amazing job. They’ve added a lot of outdoor kind of grabbing go it these really cute little yerts, actually. So you can grab there’s a lot more outdoor dining options. So I think they’ve done a great job adapting. But also, you know, heading into the town in Huntsville, we had some great dinners back at our hotel as well.

Juliana: Yeah. And what hotel did you stay at?

JQ: So we started the Compass Rose, which is a new boutique hotel. It’s like a family owned, really cool, funky hotel. Highly recommend it. The rooms are really chic and stylish and they have such kind of a, you know, rustic charm. It was just such a cool spot. And they actually are doing some really cool programming that’s also covid friendly. I mean, they have an outdoor at apres Ski kind of thing going on the weekends where they have live music. It’s all outside. They have food trucks come. There’s lots of outdoor seating so everyone can be spread out but still enjoy all the fun. And I just definitely recommend it.

Juliana: OK, well, that sounds great. So we hope you liked part two of our favorite ski trips that you should take this winter. Catch us next week for off season New England trip ideas. Thanks, JQ.

Juliana: Thanks, Juliana.