For those considering international ski holidays, Switzerland has many of the finest resorts in the world. The 3-star hotel Maloja Palace, at an altitude of 1817 meters/5961 feet in the Engadine Valley, is located in one of the most snow-reliable recreation areas in the country. The family ski area at Piz Aela is within walking distance, and the world-famous winter resort town of St Moritz, Switzerland is just 15 km/9.3 miles away. Maloja Palace has a history as one of the great Switzerland hotels. The Belgian Count Camille de Renesse built it in 1884 in elegant Neo-Renaissance style, to serve as a gathering place for Europe’s aristocrats. Recently renovated to serve as an exclusive alpine resort, the Maloja Palace Hotel offers newly refurbished guest rooms and suites with gorgeous views of Lake Sils and the Engadine Mountains. Guests can eat in one of the elegant dining rooms or have a less formal meal in the traditional Swiss Stuva on the lower floor, which has direct access to the cross-country slopes. Maloja Palace invites its guests to take advantage of its new spa facility, and the staff can arrange ski instructors for them. The Engadine Ski Marathon, one of the most important Swiss ski events, starts in front of the hotel. The closest skiing and snowboarding is at Piz Aela, which offers a ski lift to 2200 meters/7218 feet above sea level and two tow lifts to 1815 meters/5955 feet above sea level. The Engadine Bus provides access to the 60 mountain transports/ski lifts and 350 km/217 miles of ski slopes in the entire upper Engadine. Around the Maloja Palace Hotel are 150 km/93 miles of cross-country trails.