I always believed that there were two types of people in winter, people who complain and people who love it. I fall somewhere in between. I do not run gaily into an ice bath, but it is something special to stamp your feet on the snow, to listen to a frozen morning, to run along a down hill, and in winter everything is alive.

I have been lucky to pursue snow in various parts of the globe over the years and every one of them has given me a story.

The journeys themselves often begin before the mountains, sometimes even at the airport, where small conveniences like Long Stay Parking Stansted make the start of a trip feel smoother and less stressful, leaving you free to focus on the adventures ahead.

St. Moritz, Switzerland - Powder/Glamour.

When I first came to St. Moritz, I thought I had walked into a James Bond film. Imagine the following: fur coats, winking glasses of champagne, and sparkling mountains of the Swiss Alps. It is as fancy as you can think, but beyond the fancy, St. Moritz has some of the best ski trails I have ever laid eyes on. I recall that I was sitting at a cafe on the mountain top atop after my morning run and having a hot chocolate that was more like dessert, and skiers were gliding down the fresh powdery hills with ease.

One of the locals informed me, here, skiing is not only a sport, it is a way of life. And I could feel that.St. Moritz is a world of its own in case you want to go away on a winter vacation and enjoy skiing, but at the same time enjoy a refined life.

Niseko, Japan - Powder Heaven

Niseko made me think of Japan the first time I thought of skiing, as it is no longer the first thought that comes to mind. The snow here is mythical, dry, fluffy snow which makes you feel like you are sliding through clouds. I spent the bulk of my days with wide eyes to ask myself whether it was possible to have too much perfect snow.

Aspen, Colorado - The traditional American winter.

Aspen has this all-American quality that I like as my favorite winter place. The mountains are enormous, the runs are exciting and apres-ski scene might entertain you for days. I recall coming into a lodge that was rustic and my cheeks were numb because of the cold and I was greeted by a roaring fire and a crowd that appeared to be half locals and half celebrities.

I went on a beginner trail one day and was content to go very slow; and I did meet some retired Texas teacher who spends his winters in Aspen.

He joked when we were riding on the lift that he did not ski the fastest, but the happiest. That stuck with me. Aspen is not about adrenaline, but about community and collective happiness of winter.

Note: Don’t forget to check short stay parking Heathrow and book according to your needs.

Banff, Canada - The masterpiece of nature.

When you ever saw a post-card of the turquoise lakes under jagged mountains, it was Banff. When skiing here it is as though entering a painting. The Canadian Rockies are wild, vast and magnificent. I remember one of those runs when I halted, and stood to look out at the snow-white-tipped mountains in the distance, at the pine-trees, and a kind of silence that seemed almost solemn. This is also another way of bringing adventure and serenity that Banff possesses. The day on the slopes is followed by a soaking on the Banff Upper Hot Springs which is pure therapy. I can still remember the way I could sense the steam everywhere around me when the snows were dripping on my hair.

Chamonix, France - the birthplace of Alpine Adventure.

Skiing is a craft at Chamonix. It is located at the base of the Mont Blanc and it is among those places that push one out of the comfort zone. I was too afraid to participate in the extreme runs, but by merely being there I felt like I belonged to the history of skiing.

Reflection on Winter Escapes.

The insights that I have gained in pursuing snow all over the world is that winter travel is not entirely about skiing. It is about the small things, a laugh with someone in a ski lift, warming your hands with a mug of coffee, or just lying down and staring in amazement at a mountain so beautiful that it does not seem to be real.

To snow lovers and skiers, each destination has something to offer: St. Moritz will provide you with glamour, Niseko will provide you with perfect powder, Aspen will provide you with community, Banff will provide you with raw beauty and Chamonix will provide you with adventure.