Park City
Utah


The Experience

Stein Eriksen -- Olympic gold-medal downhill champ, Norwegian national hero, a World Cup regular -- drew on his extensive experience of ski lodges (and après-ski events) to create one of the world's most luxurious ski lodges in the early 1980s. Like the man himself, the lodge blends sophistication and rugged individualism, modern Scandinavian design with a Rocky Mountain edge. Since it's set at the foot of the Deer Valley snow sports area, you can ski or snowboard right out of the front door in winter, and hike or mountain bike all over the surrounding terrain in summer. And when you return after a tough day on piste or path, Stein Eriksen pampers you with great food, comfy accommodation and eager-to-please staff.

The Rooms

If you're looking for woodsy, rustic accommodations, look elsewhere. Rooms tend toward urban upscale: The basic decor blends light-wood furniture, earthen fabrics, wood-beam ceilings and large windows with window seat or balcony to view the surrounding terrain. At a minimum 375 square feet, the low-end rooms can feel cramped. But at a place like this, how much time do you spend in the room? If you are planning a more romantic rendezvous, a few more bucks gets you a private deck, fireplace or hot tub. And a lot more cash fetches a Grand Suite, which includes a living/dining room, Euro-style kitchen, large balcony and fireplaces in both the living area and master bedroom.

The Service

Snow-related service is great: ski valets who warm your boots, help you in and out of your bindings and hand you hot coffee or cocoa as soon as you glide off the slopes. The lodge also pledges to "find and deliver" any nonstandard amenity, be it electrical or personal.

The Highlights

He-man that he is, Stein Eriksen made sure the lodge spa was no sissy affair. Sure, you can get a facial or manicure, but macho guys opt for the Norseman Vichy treatment -- a steam room session followed by a full-body microderm exfoliation, rain shower rinse, deep-heating herbal liniment rub and sandalwood enzyme lotion application to get your muscles gleaming like a Viking warlord. Afterward you can triumphantly march into the Glitretind Restaurant for dinner (the braised boneless buffalo short ribs are amazing) and then retire with your mates to the Troll Hallen Lounge and toast to the day's success.

-- Joe Yogerst

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