The northern winter, beautifully planned.
Fresh snow in the Alps or Hokkaido, candlelit markets in old European towns, a Christmas morning in Lapland. These are ideas and possibilities, not fixed itineraries. I help you choose and book the right destinations, places to stay and experiences for your dates and budget.
START PLANNING YOUR WINTER ESCAPE
A winter holiday that suits everyone, skiers or not.
Planning a winter holiday is about far more than booking flights and a hotel. I create personalised itineraries around who's travelling, from first-time skiers and young families to couples chasing the Northern Lights and multigenerational groups gathering for Christmas.
✓ The right resort for your group
Families, couples, beginners or strong skiers: I match the resort to who's travelling, not just the snow report.
✓ Somewhere beautiful to come home to
Ski-in, ski-out hotels, private chalets, or a classic hotel a short walk from the Christmas market.
✓ Christmas dates secured early
Festive dates and the best rooms book out months ahead. I'll help you plan in good time.
✓ Lift passes, lessons and ski hire sorted
Arranged before you arrive, so your first morning is spent on the snow rather than in queues.
✓ More than skiing
Husky sledding, Northern Lights, winter trains and alpine spas, for non-skiers and rest days alike.
✓ Every detail taken care of
Flights, trains, transfers, accommodation and practical advice for travelling in the cold, all planned before you leave.
The magic of a European Christmas market.
From late November, the old squares of Europe's prettiest cities fill with wooden stalls, twinkling lights and the sound of carols. Sip mulled wine as the snow falls, shop for hand-carved decorations and gingerbread, and warm your hands on a bag of roasted chestnuts. Each market has its own character. I'll help you choose the ones that suit you, whether that's one city for a long weekend or two or three linked by rail.
Vienna
Many markets, from the grand square in front of the City Hall to smaller ones in palace courtyards. Pair them with a concert and a coffee house afternoon.
Salzburg
Set between the cathedral and the Residenz, with the fortress lit above. Compact, musical and easy to explore on foot.
Strasbourg
The self-styled Capital of Christmas, with markets spread across the old town island and a towering tree in Place Kléber.
Colmar
Smaller and very pretty, with markets set among canals and painted houses. A lovely day trip from Strasbourg, or a quieter base.
Prague
Old Town Square framed by Gothic towers, with a festive feel that lasts into early January, ideal if you're arriving after Christmas.
Nuremberg
One of the oldest Christmas markets in Germany, known for gingerbread, small sausages and hand-made decorations.
Classic central Europe
Nuremberg, Salzburg and Vienna, travelling east by rail through Bavaria and Austria.
Alsace
Strasbourg as your base, with a day in Colmar and the smaller wine villages nearby.
Two capitals
Prague and Vienna, linked by a direct train of around four hours.
Classic Christmas Markets river cruise.
NUREMBERG TO FRANKFURT · 8 DAYS · MAIN AND RHINE RIVERS
Unpack once and let the markets come to you. Sail through Germany's fairytale towns, stepping ashore each day to wander a different festive market, taste traditional treats with the people who make them, then return to your cabin for dinner as the lights glow along the riverbank.
The right mountain for the way you ski.
A family with young children needs gentle slopes and good ski schools. A couple may want a car-free village and long lunches. Experienced skiers look for big, linked terrain. I'll help you find the resort, and the place to stay, that suits your group.
Switzerland
Zermatt is car-free and sits beneath the Matterhorn, with skiing at altitude. Wengen and Grindelwald offer mountain railways and wide views of the Jungfrau, while St. Moritz brings a more polished, social atmosphere.
Best for: couples, confident skiers, families in the Jungfrau region
Austria
Austria pairs excellent skiing with warm, traditional hospitality. Lech and Zürs in the Arlberg are refined and quietly exclusive, Kitzbühel combines a medieval town with varied terrain, and St. Anton is a favourite of strong skiers.
Best for: families, mixed abilities, lovers of Austrian hospitality
France
Courchevel and Méribel open onto Les 3 Vallées, one of the largest linked ski areas in the world. Val d'Isère suits experienced skiers, while Megève offers a gentler pace, village charm and very good food.
Best for: experienced skiers, food lovers, beginners in Megève
Italy
The Dolomites are some of the most beautiful mountains in Europe. Alta Badia is known for its scenery, its mountain huts and the Sella Ronda circuit. Cortina d'Ampezzo is elegant and lively, with town life alongside the skiing.
Best for: couples, intermediate skiers, long lunches with a view
Japan
Niseko in Hokkaido is known for consistent, light powder snow, with seasonal direct flights from Sydney to Sapporo. Hakuba, in the Japanese Alps, offers dramatic scenery, a village feel and an easy pairing with Tokyo or Kyoto.
Best for: powder lovers, families, combining snow with culture
Canada
One of the largest ski areas in North America, with two mountains linked by the Peak 2 Peak gondola and a lively, pedestrian village at the base. Fly direct from Sydney to Vancouver, then take the scenic Sea-to-Sky Highway up into the mountains.
Best for: families, mixed abilities, a fun village atmosphere
USA
Vail in Colorado is known for its vast terrain, famous Back Bowls and reliable sunshine. The charming, car-free village is full of restaurants and shops, and ski schools are excellent for children and beginners.
Best for: confident skiers, families, sunny bluebird days
From historic alpine hotels and private catered chalets to ski-in, ski-out properties where you clip into your skis at the door, I'll suggest places that suit how you like to travel. Some resorts release early-booking offers for the season ahead, so ask me what's currently available for your dates.
Spend Christmas somewhere magical.
Think snow-covered villages, twinkling Christmas markets, cosy fireside evenings and the magic of waking up to a world blanketed in white.
Finnish Lapland. Soft blue light, reindeer, husky sledding and a chance of the Northern Lights.
Switzerland and Austria. Snowy villages, sleigh rides and long Christmas dinners, with skiing for some and spas and walks for others.
Norway. Fjords, Arctic light and a calmer Christmas, with Northern Lights and cosy lodges around Tromsø and the Lyngen Alps.
New York. The tree at Rockefeller Center, skating in Central Park, glittering shop windows along Fifth Avenue and a Broadway show. Big-city sparkle at its best.
Quebec City. A walled old town that looks straight out of Europe, with cobbled lanes under snow, a German-style Christmas market and cosy French bistros. A lovely pairing with New York or Montreal.
Christmas dates book early, so it's worth starting the conversation well ahead.
Long nights, a sky worth waiting up for.
Finnish Lapland and northern Norway are among the best places on earth to see the aurora, usually from late autumn to early spring. Days are spent outdoors in the snow; evenings by the fire, watching the sky.
Northern Lights
Watch the sky in Lapland or northern Norway with a guide who knows where the skies are clearest that night.
Huskies and reindeer
Drive your own husky team through silent forest, or meet reindeer with a Sámi herding family.
Snowmobiling and snowshoeing
Cross frozen lakes by snowmobile, or slow down on snowshoes through deep, quiet woods.
Ice hotels and glass cabins
A night in a room carved from ice, or beneath a glass roof watching for the aurora from bed.
A slower way to enjoy the snow.
Not everyone wants to ski. Some of the loveliest winter days are spent watching snowy valleys pass by a train window, or in warm thermal water with the mountains all around.
Scenic winter train journeys
The Glacier Express and Bernina Express in Switzerland, or Norway's Bergen Line, are at their most striking under snow. I can build a journey around them, with a beautiful hotel at each end.
Thermal spas and alpine wellness
Thermal baths, saunas and quiet mountain spa retreats, the perfect counterpoint to a cold day outdoors, and lovely for non-skiers or a rest day.
A few of the places I love for winter.
Each has a strong sense of place. There are many more, from family-run chalets to grand city hotels, and I'll suggest the ones that suit your style and budget.
Riffelalp Resort 2222m
A historic ski-in, ski-out hotel high above Zermatt, facing the Matterhorn, with a heated outdoor pool, a spa and a children’s playroom in winter.
Perfect for: families and couples who want to ski from the door
VISIT THE HOTEL
Forestis
An adults-only mountain retreat above Brixen, built around a 1912 sanatorium, with forest views, a remarkable spa and the Plose ski area nearby.
Perfect for: couples seeking quiet, design and wellness
VISIT THE HOTEL
Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono
Ski-in, ski-out at Hanazono with views of Mount Yotei, an onsen and spa, and suites with their own private baths.
Perfect for: powder skiers and families wanting ease
VISIT THE HOTEL
Hotel Sacher Salzburg
A classic grand hotel on the river Salzach, a short walk through the old town to the Christmas market.
Perfect for: Christmas markets, music and a touch of grandeur
VISIT THE HOTEL
Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
Glass igloos and log chalets north of the Arctic Circle, made for watching the Northern Lights from bed.
Perfect for: Northern Lights and a white Christmas
VISIT THE HOTEL
Lyngen Lodge
An eight-room, family-owned lodge on the Lyngenfjord, with fireside dinners, husky sledding and Northern Lights over the water.
Perfect for: small groups, couples and adventurous families
VISIT THE HOTELLet's plan your winter.
Every winter journey I design begins with a conversation. Tell me who's travelling, when you'd like to go and what you're hoping for, whether that's fresh powder, a candlelit market or a quiet Christmas in the snow. I'll come back with ideas tailored to you, then look after the bookings and the details.
START A CONVERSATION