xxx

JW, no I'm not joking! Although they were on Lago Lugano, not Maggiore (actually their townhouse wasn't on the lake itself, but less than a mile away). The town (pop. about 4000) has several cafes and restaurants, some great food markets and wine shops, nice flat bike paths, and easy access to the city of Lugano by mass transit. It's funny that all of this came up because as it turns out, I'm heading to Basel myself on Thursday for the second interview (i.e., the "on site" interview) for a job there! Will keep in mind many of these suggestions--I will have about 2.5 days for a quick look around.

Ursula

jw:<BR>Just wanted to let you know that the next Art Basel (the 33rd one!) will take place June 12-17, 2002.<BR><BR>Art Basel Miami Beach (which was due to take place December 13-16, 2001) was postponed to December 5-8, 2002<BR><BR>www.artbasel.com

jw

Thanks, all, for letting me ride the coattails of this nice thread. I've made a note of the ArtBasel info, Ursula. Since Thanksgiving is just ahead, I'll say again how much I appreciate the kind, positive replies I receive from so many of you, especially since I'm usually interrupting someone else's thread. These exchanges give me a great deal of pleasure. By the way, what's become of the comfort food thread (you know, the one with the garlic yogurt)? I was looking forward to re-visiting it many times, and now I can't seem to locate it. Any ideas? Affectionately, J.

swiss

Back from Basel! Turned out there was a mixup in hotel reservations and I ended up staying the Hotel Garni Steinenschanze, which is more or less a Swiss version of Novotel. Clean and comfortable, but not luxurious or distinctive.<BR>Had an excellent time. One problem, though, on a business trip is that they actually expect you to *work* at least some of the time--what's up with THAT ;-) ??<BR>The first night I ate at the Pomo Doro restaurant close to the hotel (jet lag) and had a surprisingly good risotto al funghi. We also ate at (I'm forgetting the exact names, don't have my visa slips in front of me) something like Zunft zu Safran, Schlussel something (a traditional restaurant specializing in game, at least this time of year, and I had a delicious venison dinner), and at an Argentinian steak restaurant along the Rhein. Very good steak (though still not up to the best of the U.S.) and nice live Spanish music. <BR>Had some superb cappuccinos along the way, particularly at the Fumare/Non Fumare (Smoking/No Smoking) coffee bar (the smoking/non smoking sections are actually separate wings of the restaurant, rather than right next to each other). And we came across some outstanding live music at the Sperber jazz bar--it was boogie woogie night and a crowd of all ages was really enjoying the music.<BR>On my free time I walked around and did some heavy duty shopping--Schlossberg bed linens, Swiss schnapps from Globus (what a food department! free wine tastings and chocolate fondue tastings), calendars, Rieker shoes, etc. Based on shopping alone, Basel was a winner! I don't know if I'd ever actually choose to go to Basel for a vacation, but I certainly enjoyed my business trip and wouldn't mind going back. Thanks again to all the suggestions...<BR>And also thanks to all the Fodorites...this is one of the longest threads I've seen recently that has no flamers or trolls in it!!! <BR>Swiss Miss<BR>P.S. Found out that Crossair, which is taking over from Swissair, will make Basel its intraEurope hub starting next year. Long haul flights will still leave from Zurich, as in Swissair days, but intraEurope flights will be coming in and out of Basel.

Ursula

Wow, you went to some nice places, Sperber, Schl&uuml;sselzunft, Zunfthaus zur Saffran (nice real guild halls).<BR>The Argentinian Steakhouse might have been the Churrasco. That's a chain in Switzerland. Quite good for those who can't live without a steak.<BR>Globus IS famous for the food halls, yes.<BR>Also happy, you went to the Fumare/Non Fumare Cafe. Very trendy.<BR>Schlossberg bed linen are the best!

jw

Hi. Just now I was reading through the posting which mentioned the Violon -- the old hotel which used to be a prison? I visited the website and it looks very nice (does renovated prison cell mean no windows?) Ursula, you describe it as 'hip', and since I'm as far away from hip as a person can get, I wonder if you might be able to recommend another small place in the old town? (a 2-star or a B & B?) Thanks in advance. J.

Ursula

jw: Well, the Au Violon is a hip place, yes. But I don't think there is an age limit!! The rooms have windows, small ones and the French Brasserie is very trendy.<BR>Another nice, completely renovated place is the ****star Victoria, opposite the main train station. A very nice place. Its restaurant Le Train Bleu is outstanding.<BR>www.victoria.balehotels.ch<BR><BR> Another absolute gem is the Hotel Teufelhof***. Very small, every room diffentely decorated. Could figure in Karen Brown's guide, but apparently, they have no interest, as they have enough regular guests (just 41 beds). They have an outstanding restaurant that includes a wine shop.<BR>www.teufelhof.com<BR><BR>As a B&B, I would recommend the Hotel Rochat**. A small, well located place as well. On top of the famous Spalenberg where you will find some outstanding small shops.<BR>www.hotelrochat.ch<BR><BR>jw: Where do you live? Just curious.

bonnie

jw...I posted the website for the Hotel au Violon though hip was not my adjective for description but it is very attractive, maybe trendy too. Anyway, I'm a middle-aged extremely unhip lady who was in the middle of a hiking trip and dressed mostly in gore-tex, fleece and hiking boots during my stay at the hotel and I never felt uncomfortable. The other guests I ran into there included a couple of 60-ish Americans, and several Swiss business types who were there for a computer exhibition.

jw

Thanks Ursula, Bonnie. Louisiana.

jw

encore. Which is closer to the SBB, the Violon or the Rochat? Merci. (I really do not speak French; I used to pick up little phrases from my aunts and the kids I teach.) J.

Ursula

jw: The Au Violon is somewhat closer to the train station. But the Rochat isn't that far either. Both are in the so called old town.<BR>Chances you can snag a room at the Rochat are bigger, it has 80 beds, whereas at the Au Violon there are only 33.<BR>Avoid to visit Basel during important trade fairs. At those moments, it's almost impossible to get rooms.<BR>Sorry, don't have all those dates at hand. You will probably find them under www.baseltourismus.ch<BR>Greetings to Louisiana!

Phil

jw:<BR><BR>There is one more option: A new smallish *** hotel is opening today: It is called "la Balade" and is located in the very centre of the old town, one street away from the rhine. They have 24 rooms, prices ranging from 170 to 250 Swiss francs a night (roughly $ 100 to 145 according to season). There is a wine bar and a restaurant in the building and the tramway stop to the Swiss railway station is just a few steps away (tramway line 8, no change).<BR><BR>The rooms are located in a modern building adjacent to a former mill. In my opinion, you should have a pretty view from the upper floor rooms. Their website is at: http://www.hotel-balade.ch/ (I'm afraid the English version ist still under construction)<BR><BR>Enjoy your trip<BR><BR>Phil.

Ursula

Topping for Jeff.