Snowboarding at Parwengesattel, St. Stephan. Photo courtesy Gstaad Tourism.

Destination: Gstaad, Switzerland
Why You Should Go: There’s nothing quite like a quaint Swiss village to escape to for a ski vacation. Here you will find three world-class ski areas very accessible from the village: Snowpark Gstaad, Snowpark Glacier 3000 and Highland Park, all which total to 22 ski lifts, 10 gondola lifts, 17 chairlifts, and four aerial cableways. This region is considered to have some of the safest skiing in the country, with plenty of runs for beginners, so black diamond-only skiers should look elsewhere.

Luring celebrity and jet-setting clientele since the ’60s, there is a lot of luxury to soak up in this tiny destination. You can roam around the traffic-free chalet village, popping in and out of high-end boutiques, like Louis Vuitton, Hermes, and Cartier, or stop in for a bite at one of the many restaurants and bars.

Our pick for must-stay (or at least do a spa treatment) is the iconic Gstaad Palace. With breathtaking views of the Alps, 109 luxurious rooms, 9 restaurants and bars, plus a recently renovated spa, it really doesn’t get better than this. We suggest reserving a table at La Fromagerie for some fondue, followed by dancing at their on-site nightclub GreenGo.