Montana’s Big Sky resort has long been known as a world-class ski destination. But it’s also been known for its lack of upscale accommodations. 

That’s changed. 

The Montage Big Sky hotel opened in late 2021 as the mountain’s first five-star property, the same year the four-star Summit at Big Sky underwent a massive renovation.

And this winter, One&Only will open its first U.S. property, at Big Sky’s Moonlight Basin. And during a March visit during the spring break season, I was able to check out both the Montage and the Summit at Big Sky.

Montage: New levels of luxe at Big Sky

The $400 million, ski-in/ski-out Montage brought a new level of luxe to Big Sky. The 150-room property has its own chairlift onto the slopes, a snow-tubing run, indoor and outdoor pools, several dining venues and bars and an 11,000-square-foot Spa Montage.

I found the Montage buzzing at night while offering a variety of ways to spend winter days.

Alpenglow, the resort’s primary bar, with floor-to-ceiling windows, gas fireplaces and named for the hue of Big Sky sunsets, hosts live music and draws a crowd of hotels guests and those vacationing nearby. A winter homeowner who came with her two dogs to meet friends said this type of lively and stylish space had been lacking in the area.

Dining at the Montage

The Montage’s onsite restaurants were both packed. The spacious Italian eatery Cortina was busy with groups big and small, its open kitchen showcasing a variety of homemade pastas and open-hearth wood-fire oven. Cortina blends a rustic Italian menu with Western, mountain offerings like venison and dry-aged steak.

Families and groups of friends were especially drawn to Beartooth Pub & Rec, a restaurant with a game room and two-lane bowling alley. Despite having a waitlist most nights, the space almost goes unnoticed to casual visitors, in its tucked away location on the property’s lower level. It’s essential to make a reservation, both for a table and a lane. A jumbo soft pretzel and pizza are among the casual menu offerings, as are eight Montana beers on tap.

Ski rentals and spa time

The Montage has an onsite location of Compass Sports that offers ski and snowboard gear rentals. Its doors lead right to the short path to the Big Sky lift. I found the Montage the ideal spot to take a day off from skiing to enjoy a massage and take advantage of the steam room, indoor pool and hot tub at the Spa Montage. 

A stay at the Summit

The Summit hotel is situated in Big Sky’s Mountain Village, the main base area with four hotels and a variety of restaurants, bars and shops.

Room options at the Summit range from doubles to five-bedroom penthouses and various suites with full kitchens. 
Our one-bedroom suite had a gas fireplace and views of the Big Sky slopes from both the bedroom and living room, which had a very comfortable (and easy to pull down) Murphy bed.

With two bathrooms and a full kitchen, the suite is perfect for those on extended stays who want to have breakfast in the suite before hitting the slopes. Being right at the base of Big Sky, it’s also an easy stop for a lunch break.

The Summit’s 2021 upgrade included the renovation of all its 213 rooms and public spaces, giving it what the property describes as a lighter and sleeker “alpine luxe” aesthetic.

Lounges, restaurants

The remodeled Carabiner Lounge has a fun, casual atmosphere with a gastropub menu. It’s popular spot for live music and apres ski gatherings; dinner reservations are needed.

Both Carabiner and the property’s signature, seasonal restaurant, Peaks Chophouse & Wine Lounge, offer views of Big Sky’s slopes, and their window seats are hard to snag. Peaks also underwent an overhaul and reopened in 2022. Its Wine Spectator award-winning wine list and impressive service are standouts here, as is the bison steak. Peaks is part of the Western Sustainability Exchange, sourcing ingredients from local farms that practice regenerative agriculture. 

The Summit’s sanctuary: Refuge

A recent, and big, addition to the Summit is the Refuge, which opened last year. The property calls it “a sanctuary designed to elevate your alpine experience.” A midday visit enabled it to be just that: A relaxing spot to undergo a sequence of rituals: the Himalayan salt sauna, a cold shower and warm tiled benches. It’s part of a complex with a huge, heated indoor/outdoor hot tub looking at the mountain. 

Around 4 p.m., Refuge became an apres-ski adventure for the scores of kids coming off the slopes and loving the challenge of who could stay the longest in the cold shower, knowing they would quickly be in one of three heated areas. 

For adults and kids alike, the huge outdoor hot tub was the place to be for a soak or a drink as the sun set and snowflakes swirled, portending a great ski day ahead.

Indore: This Independence Day, which falls on a Friday, has created an exceptional long weekend for travellers, leading to a notable surge in hotel bookings at various tourist destinations in Madhya Pradesh with property at most locations sold out.Popular locations such as Pachmarhi, Orchha, Chanderi, Shivpuri, Parsili, Tawa, Khajuraho, Mandu, Maheshwar, Hanuwantiya, Gandhi Sagar, and Saliani, as well as wildlife spots, reported an average occupancy rate of 80% in hotels managed by Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (MPTDC). MPTDC managing director Ilayaraja T stated, “We are recording very high demand during the Independence Day long weekend. We have received almost 80 percent bookings, and many locations are fully sold out. This level of interest indicates a vibrant tourism trend in our state.”Industry experts attributed the surge to new adventure offerings, including water sports, trekking and village trails, which have attracted tourists. The MD said, “The influx of visitors to Madhya Pradesh’s quieter and less-explored destinations is proving advantageous for tourism growth and local economies alike. With the continued rise in tourism, stakeholders are optimistic about sustainable growth, promoting the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of the region.“Lesser-known rural and tribal homestays are also witnessing an increase in bookings, providing supplementary income to local communities. In the state, Indore region recorded the highest bookings for Mandu, Hanuwantiya, Maheshwar and Gandhi Sagar.MPTDC regional manager for Indore, Ajay Shrivastava said, “Bookings are much higher than the previous year. Tourist flow is from MP, Maharashtra, Gujarat and many other states. The addition of rooms and infrastructure upgrades have helped a lot in attracting tourists.”Amruta Khere, a homemaker, has booked a rural homestay near Orchha with her family for the long weekend. “Wherever we go, we take up a hotel, but this time we decided to experience something different. We are joined by our family friends and have booked a rural homestay for two days. We are super excited for this getaway as this is going to be very different from what we have observed in the past,” Khere said.Travel agents noted that the newfound interest in experiential tourism, connecting with nature and engaging with local communities, is promoting rural tourism and household incomes. Travel Agents Association of India MP and Chhattisgarh chapter chairman Hemendra Singh Jadon emphasised the shift in travel preferences, stating, “Many travellers are opting for road trips instead of air travel due to soaring airfares. This trend is not only beneficial for local tourism, but also encourages people to experience the unique lifestyle and culture of rural areas.”

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