Issue link: https://www.balharbourdigital.com/i/1543791
G U T T E R C R E D I T T E E K AY Once the snow has melted, resorts in the Alps remain busier than ever. Exeter International's Gwen Kozlowski, a travel specialist who focuses on the region, now sees consistent business year-round, rather than solely in the snowy midwinter. She describes trips there in warmer months as "this ideal of the mountains: fresh air, safety, and security, and a gorgeous resort." Moreover, climate change has affected many low-altitude resorts to depend on consistent snowfall, from Italy to Switzerland—and the Med can feel swelteringly unpleasant come late July. One major player has staked its claim on the spring and summer months: Suvretta House in St. Moritz, that grande dame of family-run Euro hotels. Last December, it opened a vast new wellness wing, its first major expansion in decades, expressly to help burnish its appeal when the slopes are green. The three-floor spa includes indoor and outdoor pools, a sunbathing garden, and a multi-room, mixed sauna complex. Nearby, Kulm Hotel has hosted a pilgrimage-worthy, summer-only series of al fresco, upscale dinners for the last two years with Argentine BBQ guru Mauro Colagreco, who will return for another season this year. Look for grilled local lamb from Zuoz. COMO Alpina Dolomites opened a little more than two years ago in the picturesque Northeastern Italian mountain range; from the outset, the 60-room property in South Tyrol set out to make summer as appealing as winter through a guided hike program. It includes everything from short, family-friendly three-hour jaunts to an e-bike–and-zipline outing that begins at an altitude of 6,600 feet. If you'd rather rent a villa than rub shoulders in a hotel, consider the six-bedroom Chalet Hobhouse in Verbier, run by former British army officer Matthew Burnford as part of his MBM Chalets portfolio and open year-round. He has recently expanded his structured programming with warm-weather options, launching this summer with a hike-focused itinerary for families: a dedicated guide, ability-based routes for all ages, and even a three-night hut-to-hut hiking diversion. Just remember to pack your walking boots instead of your salopettes. —MARK ELLWOOD Après-Ski, Without the Snow SUITE LIFE As ACQUALINA approaches its 20th anniversary, the Sunny Isles resort has introduced a new way to settle into its singular lifestyle: the Oceanfront Villa Suite. Staying in the 2,700-square-foot space feels less like checking into a hotel and more like borrowing an impossibly glamorous beachfront apartment from a chic friend. The gourmet kitchen, outfitted with Miele appliances, opens directly into a living room made for gathering, with enough room for a dozen friends to drift in and out. The real draw, though, is outside: a 700-square-foot oceanfront balcony with a six-person dining table that practically demands a long, lingering meal. In the master bedroom, start your morning on the private terrace with an Illy coffee in hand, though the kitchen's built-in Miele brewing system makes it tempting to upgrade the ritual. And while the Acqualina Spa's new cold plunge is reason enough to venture out, the Villa Suite's master bathroom may just rival it: a steam shower, shimmering Cosmos stone floors, and a dramatic onyx wall deliver a spa atmosphere so you don't have to leave your room. A cleverly designed den conceals a queen-size bed, easily transforming into a second bedroom, and doubles as an elegant work space, complete with an Italian-milled desk and sitting area. With nearly twice as many residences as hotel rooms, Acqualina truly feels like a home away from home—with perhaps a few extra amenities. —T.J.M. C O U R T E S Y C O M O A L P I N A D O LO M I T E S ; P H OTO BY T R OY C A M P B E L L FO R AC Q UA L I N A Mountain biking in the Dolomites The 700-square-foot balcony overlooks Acqualina's iconic beach club.