Four Seasons Resort Whistler

There are hotels in the mountains, and then there is Four Seasons Whistler. The distinction is not merely one of degree but of kind. From the moment the valet takes your vehicle and the warmth of the lobby envelops you — stone fireplaces, the scent of cedar, the quiet efficiency of a staff that anticipates rather than reacts — it is clear that this property operates at a register few can match.

The ski-in/ski-out access to Blackcomb Mountain is the obvious draw, but the resort earns its Forbes Five-Star designation through the totality of its offering: the Sidecut Steakhouse, whose dry-aged programme rivals the finest in Vancouver; the spa, which manages to feel both indulgent and restorative; the suites, where every surface and proportion has been considered with the care of a private residence. In a village of exceptional hotels, Four Seasons Whistler remains the standard by which all others are measured.