Adara Hotel

Class: First

Style: Cutting edge

Rooms: 41

For the most part, ski hotels are a conservative lot; most lie somewhere on the continuum between the classic Alpine chalet and the bland and shapeless corporate chain. Not this one. Fresh and inspired, the Adara is Whistler's first designer boutique hotel, bringing urban boutique cool to the slopes of Whistler and Blackcomb, twin resorts that have gone from cult classic to blockbuster status in the last couple of decades. And if it’s not too crass to say so, the whole point of the Adara is this: now that the beautiful people are skiing Whistler, they’ll need somewhere beautiful to lay their heads.

Forget about chunky stone fireplaces and awkward rustic furnishings; were it not for the sight of fresh snow falling on the ski slopes outside the windows, these rooms could almost pass as urban Vancouver loft apartments. The traditional ski lodge comforts are all present, however, including big high-tech bathrooms, kitchenettes, and sprawling luxurious beds piled high with down.

At just 41 rooms Adara is on the small side, and lacks the comprehensive facilities of some of the bigger hotels. Fortunately Whistler is a thoroughly modern resort town, and most anything you’ll need is just steps away. If you absolutely require in-house squash courts, Balinese massage and an Olympic-size swimming pool, then you’ll want to shop around — however if you’re the sort of person who appreciates the novelty of a Verner Panton desk chair in a British Columbia ski lodge, then Adara is for you.