A fine pick of posh Christmas markets …
For someone averse to snow, some of my most memorable travel experiences have been in bona fide “winter wonderlands”. Austria has a special place in my heart, particularly Vienna and Kitzbühel, both renowned for their Christmas markets. (Stay at Hotel Motto and A-Rosa Kitzbühel, respectively). For me, festive pop-ups are more about absorbing the vibe than present buying. The more off-radar the destination the better. Trips to Innsbruck for the opening of Swarovski’s stunning Crystal Worlds museum, and Zaha Hadid’s spectacular Hungerburgbahn station, provided the opportunity to discover this medieval town where myriad arty Christmas markets take place every December. I stayed in the Goldener Adler hotel; it dates from c1390, though there’s nothing stuffy about the rooms or service. From €164. www.goldeneradler.com
Gstaad was another revelation. The pedestrianised centre of this cinematic Swiss village is punctuated with designer boutiques and interesting cheese shops and pharmacies. I’ve stayed at Gstaad Palace Hotel, which doesn’t disappoint for people watching or alpine glamour, and also recommend the Bernerhof Hotel. It’s in an excellent location with good spa facilities including a Kneipp pool. From €354. www.bernerhof-gstaad.ch. Don’t leave without a visit to Hotel Olden, frequented by former residents Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.
Italophile marketing consultant Margaret Ryan recommends Como. “You can see the snow on the Alps from afar, the air is pure, and because there is rarely any snowfall in the area, visitors have all the ambiance minus the slush!” Festivals of lights, ice skating in Viale Corridoni, choral performances, Baroque and Renaissance churches festooned with flowers, plus excellent food and craft markets are other attractions. Margaret recommends the Palazzo Albricci Peregrini guest house in the old town. From €270. www.palazzoalbricciperegrini.it.
Megève
Elizabeth Morrison, founder of From Jaipur With Love Rugs, loves the markets in Basel and also Megève, founded by the Rothschilds in the 1920s as the French alternative to the Swiss resort of St Moritz. “Megève has a quiet elegance that is unmatched; even if you are not a skier there is so much to enjoy.” Elizabeth’s tips for hotels include Les Fermes de Marie, Lodge Park or Hotel Mont Blanc, and for shopping, Blu & Berry, Big Boss and Aallard. “It’s wonderful to sit in the warm, dimly lit restaurants (Le Prieure, Le Torrent and La Table du Trappeur) looking out onto the cobbled streets admiring the stylish tourists and horse and carriages driving past.”
SEE MORE: 10 Festive Getaways To Suit Every Budget