winter-travel-main

Tucked away on a quiet Colorado mountainside ideally situated between Beaver Creek and Arrowhead in the heart of the majestic Rocky Mountains is the exclusive enclave known as Bachelor Gulch. The village is aptly named for its original settlers---seven pioneering, single men who came in search of wealth and a better life. Today, the crown jewel of the village is the Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, which is a Readers' Choice Nominee for Best Ski Hotel.

The property opened in 2002, is reminiscent of the architecture of the grand lodges of Yellowstone and Yosemite National Parks. This unique style, known as parkitecture, features a variety of indigenous natural materials such as logs, timbers and stone. The hotel has 180 guestrooms including 40 suites (with 1, 2 or 3 bedrooms) and the 1,800 square foot "Ritz-Carlton Suite". No fewer than 95% of the guest rooms offer spectacular mountain or resort views and 77 have fireplaces.

Bachelor Gulch is the centerpiece of Beaver Creek's village-to-village ski experience. More intimate and removed than its Beaver Creek or Arrowhead neighbors, Bachelor Gulch proved to be the perfect setting for a family-oriented ski resort that combines privacy with authentic Rocky Mountain luxury. The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch is situated right at the base of the Bachelor Gulch chairlift, a high-speed quad chairlift, providing unparalleled ski-in, ski-out access. The daily Fire Pit Lighting Ceremony starts at 3:15 pm and is a favorite amongst guests and locals, with hot chocolate, cookie and s'mores.

Guests can literally hit the slopes and finish up the day right from the resort's back lawn. There is a wide array of other winter outdoor activities available to guests at the resort, including snowshoeing, snowmobiling, dog-sledding, cross-country skiing, and hot-air ballooning. During warmer months, guests can enjoy more than a dozen world-class Colorado courses in Vail Valley and have exclusive access to the Red Sky Golf Club, which was recently rated in "Top 100 Courses to Play" by Golf Magazine.

Other nice amenities offered by the hotel is its Ski Concierge and Ski Nanny services. The Ski Concierge provides valet service to securely store and dry skis, boards and boots for overnight hotel guests. Guests have the option to have their equipment waiting slope-side, or the Ski Concierge staff can assist with loading equipment onto the Beaver Creek shuttles. The Ski Concierge can also assist with booking lift tickets; private lessons and facilitate equipment rentals. The Ski Nanny program enables parents to enjoy their morning and hit the slopes for a day of skiing or spa, at their leisure. The Nanny will make sure the resort's young guests get on the ski school bus that takes them to Beaver Creek Village for group lessons. After a day on the slopes, the Ski Nanny will meet children at the Ski School drop-off point and escort them into Ritz Kids for munchies and a movie where parents can pick up their children at the end of the day.

The resort also boasts a 21,000-square-foot, Mobil Four-Star rated Bachelor Gulch Spa featuring 19 treatment rooms, a luxurious separate manicure/pedicure salon, and men's and women's locker rooms offering sauna/steam and water therapies. A unique feature to the Spa is the rock-lined Grotto with a lazy river hot tub. There's also a year-round heated pool and three hot tubs.

A state-of-the-art fitness center boasts beautiful views of Beaver Creek Mountain and the Vail Valley and offers a cardiovascular room with top-of-the-line Precore elliptical trainers, treadmills, step machines and stationary bicycles. All cardio machines are equipped with flat panel screens, DVD/CD players and iPod station docks. The Fitness Center also offers a full line of Cybex equipment and free weights. Certified personal trainers are on hand to assist during workouts or to provide customized one-on-one training. Classes are available in the center's aerobics room daily with classes such as Step Aerobics, Body Sculpt, Kickboxing, Yoga and Pilates.

The Ritz-Carlton offers a bevy of dining options including Spago, the only Colorado outpost of Wolfgang Puck's renowned flagship restaurant, which features imaginative, seasonal American cuisine with Asian accents in a sophisticated, warm environment. For those seeking a more rustic ambiance , there's Anderson's Cabin, which is situated just above the resort and boasts sweeping views of the surrounding National Park. There's also outdoor dining, year-round, both poolside and mountainside at The Mountainside Terrace which offers grilled Colorado specialties.

Another unique feature to The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch is its resident Labrador Retriever, Bachelor, who is available for guest walks via a Loan-a-Lab program. Available Monday through Friday at 9:30 a.m. and on select weekends, Bachelor can accompany guests on a 30-minute or one hour hike or snow shoe out the backdoors of The Ritz-Carlton on two designated trails.

Standard room rates vary by season and range from $195 per night for a single or double occupancy in the spring/fall to $450 in the summer and $725 in the winter. Suite rates begin at $540 per night in the summer and $950 in the winter.

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 the Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch

Arguably the grandest, most magnificent ocean liner ever built, Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2 is a nominee for a Readers' Choice Award for Best Caribbean Cruise. Queen Mary 2 is the flagship of Cunard, whose history dates back to 1839 when Her Majesty Queen Victoria awarded Sir Samuel Cunard of Halifax, Nova Scotia, the first ever license to deliver mail across the Atlantic Ocean.

While she is described as "timeless elegance", Queen Mary 2, which debuted in 2004, offers the latest luxury amenities, from the pampering services of the first Canyon Ranch SpaClub® at sea to a pool with a retractable roof, allowing it to be enjoyed in inclement weather. Queen Mary 2 also offers an award-winning intellectual and entertainment enrichment program led by prestigious experts in a variety of fields, including literature, the arts, politics, the sciences, culture, maritime history and academia.

The ship, which cost an estimated $800 million to build, is 1,132 feet long--113 feet longer than her predecessor Queen Mary, with space for 2,592 guests in lower berths and 3,056 total guest capacity, when including third and fourth berths. Her crew numbers 1,253.

Queen Mary 2 has more than 10 different restaurant and other dining venues, including the first eponymously named restaurant at sea by celebrity chef, Todd English. She also boasts the only planetarium at sea (also serving as a movie theater and lecture hall) and a casino with 12 gaming tables and 115 slot machines. There are a total of six swimming pools on the ship, including one designed especially for children. There's an authentic English pub, complete with darts, ale and traditional pub fare including cottage pie and fish and chips. Guests can dance the night away in the elegant Queens Room, the largest ballroom at sea. The Royal Court Theatre, which can accommodate 977 guests, features lavish theatrical productions and guest entertainers. Sports enthusiasts can enjoy two golf simulators, paddle tennis, basketball and shuffleboard. The Zone/The Play Zone children's programs provide age group-specific activities and entertainment and even certified British nannies for the youngest guests.

During November, December and January, Queen Mary 2 offers 10-, 11- and 15-day voyages to the Caribbean, all round-trip from New York. The 15-day Festive Caribbean itinerary includes stops in Grand Turk, Tortola, St. Maarten, Curacao, Grenada, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and St. Thomas; the 11-day Caribbean Delights itinerary stops in St. Thomas, St. Lucia, Grenada, Barbados and Grand Turk; and the 10-day Caribbean Calypso voyage calls into St. Thomas, St. Lucia, Barbados and Grand Turk. There's also an option to extend the Caribbean Delights voyage to 17 days by adding a six-day Transatlantic Voyage from Southampton, Great Britain. Click here for more information about dates and rates.

Accommodation onboard Queen Mary 2 is lush, stylish and contemporary. Nearly three-fourths of the staterooms have private balconies. Suites, called the Grills, range in size from 506 square feet to enormous Grand Duplex apartments of up to 2,249 square feet. For her Caribbean voyages, per person rates start at $1,695 for inside rooms, while suites start at $3,955 per person. All rates are based on double occupancy and do not include government taxes and fees, air or ground transfers. Cunard's Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth, which debuts in Fall 2010, also offer voyages to the Caribbean. Click here for information about fares and itineraries.

For more information about Cunard Line, consult your Travel Professional, call toll-free 1-800-7-CUNARD or go online to www.cunard.com.

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 Cunard

Aurelio Lech, Austria's most luxurious ski and spa lodge, nestled in the exclusive resort of Lech am Arlberg, is a nominee for a Readers' Choice Award for Best Ski Hotel.

Aurelio Lech, which opened in December 2008, provides all the sophistication and comforts of a world-class hotel combined with the ambiance and elegance of a private residence. Each of its nineteen bedrooms and suites were individually designed and offer cozy, chic and extremely luxurious amenities. The resort's 14 deluxe double rooms and five suites and junior suites all offer views of the snowy slopes.

The resort offers two spas, including the Spa at Aurelio Lech which is a holistic day spa with exclusive treatments, a modern fitness center complete with the latest equipment and a personal coach, several indoor pools including an activity pool, an extensive thermal suite and a tranquil meditation center where guests relax in front of an open fire. The Ski Spa has a herbal sauna, aroma vapor bath, cooling-off pool, blossom bath, adventure showers, Jacuzzi, Techno-Gym equipment and treatment rooms. At 23 meters in length, one of the resort's two swimming pools is the largest and deepest swimming pool in Lech.

The hotel's butler and concierge service can arrange a variety of activities, including heli-skiing and heli-boarding in the Arlberg Mountains. There's also Nordic walking, tobogganing, horse-drawn sleigh rides, ice-skating, snowshoeing, paragliding and much more.The resort has professional instructors and fully certified ski guides. The Lech Ski School is one of the first of its kind and was established in 1925.

One part of the Hotel Aurelio, "The Aurelio Club", can be rented exclusively as a chalet with nine rooms, its own spa, including a swimming pool, chimney room lounge and a separate meeting room.

Rates for a deluxe double room range from 675 euros to 1,500 euros per night, depending on the date; while suites range from 900 euros to 2,200 euros a night. A video of the hotel can be viewed here.

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 Hotel Aurelio

Located in the heart of Mayfair in London, Claridge's hotel is nominated for a Readers' Choice Award for Best City Hotel.

The historic art deco hotel is known for its award-winning service and luxury and is a key part of London's history. Stars, statesmen, socialites and the crowned heads of Europe have enjoyed this five-star hotel for more than 100 years. Its grand hallways and staircases were designed to be wide and spacious so that ladies wearing wide skirted ball gowns, with crinolines, would be able to walk two abreast.

The hotel's history dates back to the first half of the 19th century when it was founded by William and Marianne Claridge ran a hotel at 51 Brook Street. The five next-door houses were the famous Mivart hotel. In 1854 the Claridges bought the Mivart buildings and the combined property became known as Claridge's, late Mivart's until Mivart's death in 1856. The ultimate seal of approval came in 1860 when Queen Victoria and Price Albert arrived at the hotel. They were visiting the Empress Eugènie of France, who had made Claridge's her winter quarters.

In 1893 Claridge's was bought by Richard D'Oyly Carte, owner of the Savoy. He commissioned the designer of Harrods to rebuild the hotel from the ground up. The new Claridge's opened in November 1898. Through the years, the hotel became the destination of choice for royalty. During World War II, many exiled royals made their way to Claridge's, including the Kings of Greece, Norway and Yugoslavia, as well as the Queen of the Netherlands. In 1947, a diplomat telephoned the hotel asking to speak to "the King". The polite response was "Certainly sir, but which one?"

Tradition has it that when two Kings arrived on the same day both demanding to stay in the Royal Suite, a diplomatic incident was avoided by a quick thinking manager who advised them both that the ceiling had fallen down and gave them equally large suites on separate floors instead.

On July 17 1945, the hotel's Suite 212 briefly became part of Yugoslavia. Sir Winston Churchill made the concession so that Crown Prince Alexander, the heir to the throne, could be born on Yugoslav soil. According to legend, Claridge's staff placed a clod of Yugoslav soil under the Queen's bed during her labor. Of course, even Winston Churchill, himself, took up residence at the hotel. At the end of the war, when unexpectedly defeated in the General Election of 1945, Churchill had to leave Number 10 Downing Street in a hurry. While temporarily homeless, he took a suite at Claridge's, "with a rather poignant view back to the Palace of Westminster".

Claridge's, which is considered to be the most glamorous hotel in all of London, has been the destination of choice by many of America's Hollywood royalty, too, from Yul Brynner and Audrey Hepburn to Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn and Bing Crosby. Spencer Tracy once said, "not that I intend to die, but when I do, I don't want to go to heaven, I want to go to Claridge's." The hotel remains a favorite for celebrities with regular visitors ranging from Nicole Kidman and Naomi Campbell to Jude Law and Mick Jaggar. Model Kate Moss has been known to celebrate her birthday at the hotel.

The hotel recently redecorated its Fumoir bar, which features new Lalique chandeliers, bar fittings, glassware and votives, in addition to a cocktail menu featuring authentic 1930's. The new Lalique enhancements make this aubergine-leather clad, candlelit bar the chicest and most luxurious venue in town. Claridge's restaurant, was frequently visited by Her Majesty the Late Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. One particular table in the restaurant was referred to as the Greek Cantina because Aristotle Onassis regularly chose to sit there. Today, the restaurant, Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's, features modern European dishes in a lavishly redesigned space by New York architect Thierry Despont.

The hotel has 203 rooms rooms including 67 suites, each of which were individually decorated and designed. One-third of the hotel's suites were recently re-designed or restored by Viscount David Linley while designer Diane von Furstenberg is creating 10 guest rooms and suites for the hotel, which will launch in June. Each room comes with fresh flowers and the latest entertainment equipment. Rooms start at 490 pounds while 1-bedroom suites start at 1,700 pounds per night.

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 Claridge's

Lindblad Expeditions, in partnership with National Geographic, offers an expedition to the Galápagos Islands that is a Readers' Choice Nominee for Best Luxury Family Winter Vacation.

Lindblad Expeditions offers this educational 10 day expedition to the Galápagos Islands, also known as the "Land of Darwin", which are located 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador. The islands are a natural habitat for some of the world's most interesting and unusual animals. Only in the Galápagos can you come face to face with wildlife up close that has never developed a fear of people, from the diverse bird life to the giant Galápagos tortoise. The Galápagos are one of the most fascinating travel destinations in the world both from a geographical and a wildlife perspective.

The itinerary includes visits to seven or more islands, including Floreana where guests can snorkel and observe a large colony of sea lions. At Fernandina, guests will see flamingos, visit a tortoise breeding center, caves and beaches. On the excursion to Fernandina Island, the youngest island in Galápagos, guests will observe marine iguanas and see dramatic volcanoes.

Activities include Zodiacs and kayaks that take guests to the volcanic shores and pristine beaches. There's also an undersea program that utilizes underwater video, glass-bottom boat and hydrophone that bring seldom seen or heard worlds to life.

Lindblad Expeditions keeps two ships permanently in the islands: the National Geographic Endeavour, which is a 96-passenger ship and the National Geographic Islander, a 164-foot twin-hulled vessel that can accommodate 48 guests (and reach places inaccessible to larger ships due to its small size). Both ships makes 48 expeditions to the Galápagos each year.

Lindblad Expeditions also offers a 16 day long cruise to Galápagos that includes a visit by land to Peru. Guests will be taken to Lima, the ancient Incan capital of Cusco and Machu Picchu.

The cruises are known for excellent service and knowledgeable staff. Every expedition to the Galápagos is led by a team of five English-speaking naturalists (including an underwater specialist), a videographer, and an expedition leader. Together, they provide a multitude of resources for a rich and unmatched understanding of all that you'll see.

While the cruise is priced as a luxury vacation, don't expect the kind of nightly entertainment you might expect aboard a luxury Caribbean cruise. One guest summed it up this way: "People might wear their wealth with jewels on another luxury vacation, but on a National Geographic/Lindblad cruise, guests are more apt to show off their intellect."

Rates for a double occupancy cabin on the National Geographic Endeavour range from $4,980 (for a standard cabin with two single beds) to $8,040 (for a suite with separate sleeping and sitting areas, including a sofa to accommodate a third person). Included in the cost of the cruise are all meals and nonalcoholic beverages aboard ship and on land, service charges, taxes, shore excursions, sightseeing, entrance fees, special access permits, transfers to and from group flights, use of snorkeling equipment, use of kayaks and shorty wet suits. The ships are fully air-conditioned and has a spa, sauna, fitness center, a small swimming pool, library and full-service bar. There's also a ship physician on most voyages. The prime months to vacation at the equator are January through May.

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 Lindblad Expeditions' National Geographic Endeavour

One of Europe's finest skiing locations, Lech and Zürs offers the glamour and glitz of Milan or Paris in the setting of a quaint mountain town. Packed with top-notch restaurants, stellar scenery and copious entertainment opportunities, it has been nominated for a Readers' Choice Award in the Best International Ski Destination category.

Made up of the neighboring hamlets Lech am Arlberg and Zürs, Lech and Zürs dates back to the fourteenth century. Like many ski resorts in Austria – as opposed to ones in France and Switzerland – Lech and Zürs offers a slightly younger, more laid-back atmosphere. It is established as one of the world's greatest ski resorts and a snowy playground for Europe's rich and famous. Renowned for its five month guaranteed snow season, glamour and quality skiing, attractions include outdoor performances like "Viva Verdi: The Magic of Arias in the Alpine Landscape," a riveting performance of light, fire and passion enacted on a unique outdoor stage setting consisting of several hundred cubic meters of snow and ice with an impressive natural backdrop.

Located in a particularly snowy region, the road between Lech and Zürs is sometimes blocked during the winter, making the villages unreachable each other except by ski or snowmobile. Fortunately, the two towns are linked by countless trails and lifts. Lech is almost entirely self-sufficient thanks to a local biomass power plant.

The Lech ski lift system has a limit on the number of day passes to prevent over-crowding and queuing. A 14,000 limit on the number of day passes is strictly enforced but anyone staying in the village of Lech has a guaranteed pass during their visit. The 2009/2010 winter season began on December 4 and will last until April 24th.

The villages of Lech and Zürs have only a few dozen hotels and guest houses between them. When in the area, check out Hotel Aurelio (a nominee for a Readers' Choice Award for Best Ski Hotel) or Hotel Almhof Schneider. With an unfavorable exchange rate for Americans, an Austrian ski vacation won't be cheap, but it will no doubt be as memorable as any in the international ski destination category.

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 Lech and Zurs, Austria

Do you know of a cruise line that offers everything from beautiful accommodations to great dining, activities, and itineraries? Which is the premier international ski destination? Which ski hotel is the best in the world? Can you recommend a city hotel that offers luxurious accommodations, as well as the best service and amenities? Is there a luxury family winter vacation with activities for both young and old in an extravagant setting? If so, we want to hear from you!

The Luxist Readers' Choice Awards for Best in Winter Travel will be awarded based on your nominations and voting. We're currently seeking nominations for the best-of-breed in the following categories:

Best Caribbean Cruise Line
Best International Ski Destination
Best Ski Hotel
Best City Hotel
Best Luxury Family Winter Vacation

One nomination per category, please. Submissions can be filed until January 15th, 2010.

Just about everyone agrees---while necessary for everyone's safety, the experience of dealing with airport security lines can be a hassle.

Here's what to know before you go, along with a few tips to help you get through the line faster:

1. Pack an organized carry-on bag using layers.
This helpful tip comes straight from the Transportation Security Administration. In your carry on, pack a layer of clothes, then electronics, more clothes, and then any heavier items. This will help transportation security officers see what's in your bag when it goes through the X-ray machine. Innocent items can actually appear to be potential threats in an X-ray machine, simply by the way they were packed.

2. Do not pack over-sized electronics in your checked baggage, whenever possible.
Over-sized electronics are laptops, full-size video game consoles, DVD players and video cameras that use cassettes. If you decide to carry any of these items on the plane, airport security will require you to remove these items from your carry-on bag and submit them separately for X-ray screening. Small electronics, such as iPods can remain in your carry-on bags.

3. Do not wrap gifts.
If a security officers needs to inspect a package, they may have to unwrap your gift. It is better to wait until you reach your final destination before wrapping items.

4. Pack all of your coats and jackets in your checked baggage, whenever possible.
Wear socks and shoes that are easy to take off and put back on.

5. Prepare your quart-sized, clear, plastic zip-top bag of liquids before arriving at the airport.
Containers that can hold 3.4 ounces (100ml) or less of liquid or gel are permitted. One bag per passenger is the limit. If you are carrying larger amounts of liquids, such as medications, baby food, milk and formula, are allowed in reasonable quantities, but you must declare them first.

6. There are certain foods and gifts you should put in your checked bag, ship ahead or leave at home.
These items include creamy dips and spreads, sauces, maple syrup, jams, alcoholic beverages, snowglobes and perfumes, among others. For a more complete list, click here.