Sundial Boutique Hotel

Whistler is home to, hands down, North America's finest skiing and snowboarding. Forget Aspen and Vail with their celebrity clientele, or the gentle hills of the Northeast — and forget about tacky Tahoe, steep as the slopes may be. Whistler is blessed with the best location, and the town itself is rigidly planned, a welcome respite from the grab-bag of faux-Swiss chalets and strip malls that comprise most ski towns.

Fitting, then, that Whistler would be home to a slope-side boutique hotel like Sundial, a small and stylish all-suite property, offering the sort of personalized service that is unheard of in the average big-business ski lodge. The hotel is lavishly outfitted — its 49 individually decorated suites come complete with full kitchens and gas fireplaces, and some have private decks and even private outdoor hot tubs.

There are three restaurants within the hotel, and if you prefer to self-cater, the concierge can have your grocery order delivered. With the Whistler and Blackcomb gondolas close at hand, you may be able to pass your entire stay within the hotel and on the slopes. But like any resort town, Whistler likes to blow off some steam at night; there are any number of nightlife and dining options within the village, just steps from the hotel. In short, it's the best of both worlds — a small hotel with a generous helping of personality, and all the convenience and luxury of the big-money megahotels.