St. Moritz

The Luxist Awards' Readers' Choice nominees for the Best International Ski Destination nominees include one of the planet's most decadent getaways that is nestled in the southwestern Swiss Alps. Another is a mile-high Swiss village that is one of the best-known holiday resorts in the world. The third nominee, based in the French Alps, offers dramatic slopes that are among the most challenging in the world. The fourth nominee offers the glamour and glitz of Milan or Paris in the setting of a quaint mountain town while the final nominee, features challenging slopes, spectacular panoramic views of the Alps and delectable Italian cuisine.

Chamonix, France
For Francophiles and French homebodies alike, winter paradise can be found in Chamonix. Located in the shadow of Mont Blanc, Western Europe's tallest, Chamonix is a popular destination for winter sports, and not just wealthy ski bums. Its dramatic slopes are among the most challenging in the world, drawing ice climbers, paragliders, and extreme skiers and snowboarders who relish the chance to go "off-piste" and conquer inclines sometimes steeper than 60 degrees while dodging dangerous crevasses. There are a multitude of slopes for skiers who are beginners and intermediate level, as well. Chamonix offers tremendously long slopes, skiing through the trees and free ride. For those with tamer tastes, there's the spectacular cable car ride to the top of the Aiguille du Midi; during the trip, riders rise 2,800 meters in 20 minutes.

Chamonix's skiing extends over three main areas: Brévent/Flégère, offering south-facing slopes and exceptional views of the Mont-Blanc chain, the Grands Montets, high altitude north-facing slopes which dominate the village of Argentière and the Balme area, wide open slopes at the top of the Chamonix valley, bordering on Switzerland. The sister resort of les Houches lies at the opposite end of the valley and is accessible with the Mont-Blanc Unlimited ski pass.

Vote now for what you believe is the best international ski destination. Readers' Choice Awards for the Best in Winter Travel will be announced on January 31st.

Badrutt's Palace, the landmark hotel in the center of legendary ski paradise St. Moritz, is a nominee for a Readers' Choice Award for Best Ski Hotel. Situated amidst breathtakingly beautiful and unspoiled scenery, Badrutt's Palace has long been hailed as a favorite of celebrities and royalty alike since its opening in 1896.

One of the top lifestyle addresses in the world, the family-owned hotel is known for its unrivaled luxury, immaculate service and extravagant and exclusive Après Ski experience.

Located in one of the most challenging ski areas in the world, Badrutt's is renowned as a world class ski resort with extensive and immaculately kept slopes. Guests enjoy moonlit ski runs, skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing, vertical ice-wall climbing, torch-light skiing, among many other activities.

Over the past 10 years, the entire hotel was refurbished and modernized, including its guest rooms, suites, spa and wellness areas. There are 159 guestrooms and 38 suites with stunning views of the Swiss Alps and Lake St. Moritz. Luxurious suites include the two-bedroom Hans Badrutt Suite with a surface area of 280 square meters, wood-paneled library. The two-bedroom Helen Badrutt Suite is 250 square meters in size.

The renovated "Palace Wellness" spa offers therapeutic luxury treatments along with the latest in fitness equipment in addition to indoor and outdoor pools with breathtaking views of the Swiss Alps. The exclusive treatment menu offers carefully selected product lines such as Anika Organic Luxury, Intraceuticals, Shodeea and La Biosthetique. Specialized treatments use mainly natural and predominantly organic ingredients to achieve maximum results.

Gourmet dining includes such well-known favorites as Nobu, which offers unique fusion cuisine combining traditional Japanese ingredients with Peruvian influences. The restaurant is only open during the winter months. Another fine dining experience will be had at Le Restaurant, the Grand Dame of the Palace restaurants. Here, guests enjoy glamorous nights in a unique, but classic setting. The venue features international and French cuisine. During the winter months, a harpist entertains guests for breakfast while there is a musical ensemble during the dinner service. The hotel's Chesa Veglia, one of the oldest farmhouses in St. Moritz, features three restaurants and two bars.

The hotel also offers an exciting nightlife at the King's Club and exclusive shopping including Bulgari, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Emilio Pucci, Loro Piana, Van Cleef & Arpels, Chopard and De Grisogono boutiques among others. The Kid's Club features such activities as cooking classes, baking classes, horse carriage excursions, husky sledge excursions, dancing lessons, ice skating lessons and much more.

Daily rates at Badrutt's Palace for 2010 start at 465 Swiss francs for a standard room during the peak and high seasons during the winter months and 4,185 euros per night for a superior suite. Rates include buffet breakfast, internet access, service, tax and VAT.

Vote now for what you believe is the best of breed for each of the Winter Travel categories. Readers' Choice Awards for the Best in Winter Travel will be announced on January 31st.

Gallery: More from Badrutt's Palace