From its ambiance to the altitude, Cervino offers an elevated experience.

This stylish Italian mountain retreat sits at an elevation of 2,050 meters (6,730 feet) and boasts 93 miles of ski slopes, with one of Europe’s most stunning and extensive runs.

On a glorious blue-sky day last month, New York-based content creator Marcel Floruss shredded the legendary Ventina no. 7 piste. The 6.8-mile route starts at 3,500 meters (11,500 feet) on Plateau Rosà, a glacier on the Italian-Swiss border, winds down the mountain and finishes in the charming, cobbled-street village officially known as Breuil-Cervinia.

“I was going fast, but it was a joyful cruise,” said Floruss, who grew up riding the trails in Laax, Switzerland, and also hit Vermont’s Sugarbush and Stowe. “I think it might have been my best day ever snowboarding!”

The conditions were perfect, as luck would have it. “The snow was soft-packed and groomed,” he said. “I waited no more than four minutes for the lift, and the ride was a scenic experience: You look left, and there’s the iconic Matterhorn, and you look right, and there are panoramic views.”

Cervino is part of a giant winter wonderland, linking to the Valtournenche resort on the Italian side and to Switzerland’s fabled Zermatt station via a network of slopes and fast lifts. The Matterhorn Glacier Ride II, a state-of-the-art cable car inaugurated in 2023, bridges the borders (for an extra fee, passengers can book a Crystal Ride cabin with a transparent floor, all the better for viewing the awe-inspiring landcape below).

But it’s not just the combined 147 trails of all levels and the long ski season that make the area such an attractive destination. It’s also the superb mountain cuisine, the lively après ski scene, the picturesque towns and the wide variety of winter sports on offer. Add to that irresistible prices: Even including transatlantic air fare, it’s significantly less expensive to vacation in Cervino than at top American mountain resorts. For instance, a single-day lift ticket with insurance for Cervinia Ski Paradise costs just $64 (60 euros) for adults, as compared to a whopping $240 and up at Colorado’s Aspen and Vail and Utah’s Park City. Ski lessons, equipment rentals, lodging and dining both on and off the mountain are also cheaper in Italy.

STUNNING RETREAT 

Take VRetreats Cervino, an elegant new five-star hotel with rooms from $350. Nestled in the Aosta Valley with majestic views of the Matterhorn, the glass-sided and wood-lined structure is cosy as a chalet and boasts next-level perks. Its 66 rooms and suites have incredibly comfortable beds, luxurious amenities and are beautifully decorated in earth tones. 

The property is about two hours by car from Milan and 90 minutes from Turin, and guests can either rent a car at the airport or book a pickup ($425 for a roundup Milan transfer). The retreat is less than a mile from the slopes, and free shuttles whisk guests there and back in minutes.

For convenience, there’s even an equipment rental store on site, which leases skiing and snowboarding gear from $42 per day. Meanwhile, the front desk sells the Ski Pass at no extra cost.

One of the undeniable benefits of an Italian sojourn is the outstanding food and wine. At VRetreats Cervino, guests can start with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at Zero Lounge Bar & Bistro, then choose between its two glamorous restaurants. Panorama serves Italian cuisine with an international twist (and a copious and delicious breakfast buffet geared to athletes). Abrì, meanwhile, focuses on local specialities that are meant to be shared, like fondu and raclette. The tiramisu is a must in both restaurants.

There are plenty of winter sports to try nearby, from freeriding, heli-skiing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, ice skating and snow shoeing to dog sledding. Sign up for The Husky Experience, which offers mushers’ excursions around a snowy track for adults and children. The session starts with a brief training session by an instructor, who later leads the pack. Each rider drives a lightweight sled pulled by a team of three or four Siberian huskies. Between shouting commands at the pups to start, slow down or stop, and leaping off the contraption to push it up a hill, it’s an exhilarating and memorable hour out.

Cervino is also a summer paradise. In warmer weather, guests can play the 18-hole golf course in front of the hotel, hike the summits, paraglide or take an e-bike out for a spin.

WELLNESS  BOOST

After an exhilarating day on the slopes, guests can relax and rejuvenate in the hotel’s modern, marble-clad Adara Spa and fitness center. There’s a multi-room water circuit comprised of several saunas, a steam bath, an ice waterfall and emotional showers with colored lights and mint- and lemon-infused aromatherapy. Framed by enormous windows, the 12-yard swimming pool and jacuzzi look out onto nature.

Guests can also choose from a menu of treatments, including a sports massage, a couples massage, an exfoliating and moisturizing leg massage and a moisture-balancing Hydraremedy facial.

APRÈS SKI MOMENTS

Ready for an aperitivo or zuppa alla Valpellinese? Duck into one of the buzzy bars, clubs and restaurants in the quaint, pedestrian-only village of Cervino. Ymeletrob is an art-filled rustic mountain pub and restaurant renowned for its homemade pastas, pizzas and flame-seared steaks served with jacket potatoes and grilled vegetables. Once discovered, visitors return.

At nearby Lo Copa Pan, the huge fireplace and friendly service warm an already homey room. Patrons refuel with homemade pastas, braised meats and local wines, then head upstairs to the bar for live music.

HOW TO GET THERE

Check your skis, snowboards and golf bags with clubs for free on La Compagnie, the all-business class airline to three European destinations with affordable rates. A direct flight from Newark’s Terminal B to Milan Malpensa’s Terminal 1 is $2,400 round trip on a fuel-efficient Airbus A321neo jetliner. That price includes an full-flat seat for a great night’s sleep; unlimited high-speed Wi-Fi service that really works; an entertainment program updated monthly and chef-designed gourmet meals with a selection of organic wines. The airline even has dedicated lounges in both airports where passengers can enjoy complimentary food and drink. That way, the holiday fun starts before boarding.