Engadine, Lucarno, Lugano
 

Will be on a trip beginning the 12th of June until the 24th. Don't like spending bunches of money on accommodations, but want places that have some charm, clean, friendly. Have found a number of places off the Internet and have either email them or faxed. Have received no responses.<BR><BR>Don't know if they are booked-up or do they have a problem with Americans with the threat of war? Or am I being unrealistic with time period for a response?<BR><BR>Am looking for some more suggestions in the Engadine are, prefer small village, old and charming. Can be a hotel, B&amp;B, zimmer frei either with or without a bath. Want to keep the cost to under $100 and I know that is hard with the exchange rate being what it is.<BR><BR>Any suggestions?

I'm not a big fan of hostels, but the hostel in Lugana was fantastic -- incredibly clean, modern, and of course cheap. You may want to consider that.

Already checked with them and they are full for the period. Thanks though!

How about Hotel Moosmann in Gandria, which is a short ferry ride from Lugano. Gandria is a car-free fishing village at the edge of Lake Lugano, with winding paths, steep clims, and tiny shops, restaurants, and a hotel. There's also a great footpath along the lake that you can walk almost all the way into Lugano. I think it's about $100 a night. Here's a link to some information. http://www.ticinohotel.ch/hotel.php?Lingua=Uk&amp;Id=31

Price quoted is per person not for the room. Thanks for trying!!!

Norma, Some of the places you are contacting may be closed for the season. In Locarno I stayed at Albergo Navegna. It was lovely and right on the lake and the promenade.

NormaB: Try this site for the rates for the Hotel Moosmann in Gandria. It looks like this might be in your price range if you go without a lake view (even for 2 people). It qoutes a rate of about $99 for 2 people if you're staying 2 nights or less (with breakfast and tax included). http://www.hotel-moosmann-gandria.ch/index.html

Albergo Navegna rates must have gone up, but I have emailed them to see if they can do anything for us.

Looked at Hotel Moosmann. We have a car and I have recently had knee surgery so want to be in an area where we can rely on the car if my knee does not heal as well as I expect.

Norma, I just looked at their website and the rates are the same as last year. YOu do realize that those numbers are Swiss francs, don't you? That means that for 2003 their most expensive room in the high season is $93.

Rates quoted at www.navegna.ch are per person not per room, so cheapest room figured at 1.36 per $ is about $115 per day unless I am reading it incorrectly. Please tell me I am wrong!

Norma, Looking at the website again, I'm pretty sure they are have stated it differently than they intended. It makes no sense that it would cost more per person for a double than a single. I'm quite sure that the 98 and 125 sfr is per room. But they will clarify by email. The staff there was very very helpful. When you get there you won't want to leave.

You are not wrong. Unfortunately.<BR><BR>I hope to be of any help on the Engadine. You might want to have a look at the Samedan website.<BR>http://www.samedan-tourismus.ch/logement/hotels/hotel_liste.htm<BR><BR>It's in German only, but you can see the listed hotels and get a first impression.<BR><BR>Try Hotel Weisses Kreuz. Right in your price range.<BR><BR>If you want to stay in a really old and charming village (Samedan's centre is also charming, old and full of beautiful houses, though) try Zuoz or Guarda. Both are very well known.<BR><BR>In Zuoz have a look at Hotel Steinbock www.steinbock-zuoz.ch<BR>Check &quot;Preise&quot; and &quot;Pauschalen&quot; (Packages). There are deals, e.g. stay 4 and pay 3 nights. Should be exactly in your price range.<BR><BR>In Guarda try Pension Val Tuoi. http://www.engadin.net/tuoi/<BR>Very charming and really cheap (for Switzerland!).<BR><BR>For Locarno: I recommend to do a search on www.maggiore.ch There are plenty of one- or two-star hotels in Locarno itself in your price range. Even in the old town. Probably not with lake view.<BR><BR>Ingo

Ha! I was wrong and Grasshopper right!<BR><BR>&quot;Camera doppia per DUE persone ...&quot;<BR><BR>For two persons, definitely.<BR><BR>I.

Now to give back to others. To those of you who may have problems with German like I do inspite of having a German son-in-law, you can do a fairly good translation of a web site by copying the URL site address, going to www.google.com copying the address into the search box. Then go to &quot;translate&quot;.<BR><BR>You can then do the reverse using their langusge tools, saying what you want to say then having Google translate into German. Cut and paste into the web site you want to communicate with.

Thanks for the feedback. In spite of my hours of looking you two have come up with some sites I did not see. I especially appreciate the mustake the web site appears to have made. Saw this site easly in my search but thought it was out of our range. Thanks again!!!

In Lugano, I stayed at the Albergo Pestalozzi in January. Very clean, very comfortable and I had a room with private bath (but not TV) for $60 a night including breakfast. I booked the room from the Swiss railways web site--just punch in your dates, they'll show you which hotels are available, and you can call a number to reserve (they email a confirmation).

Thought you'd like to see the quote I received this morning Grasshopper from Naveara. What is their breakfast like? They said it was continental.<BR><BR><BR>2 double rooms with king size bed, shower, WC, hairdryer, cable TV, radio, telephone at the daily rate of Sfr. 156.- per room.<BR> <BR>or<BR> <BR>1 double room in our main building with twin beds, shower (WC in the corridor), cable TV, radio, telephone at the daily rate of <BR>Sfr. 140.- for 2 persons<BR>and<BR>1 double room in our dependance with twin beds, shower (WC in the corridor), cable TV, radio, telephone at the daily rate of <BR>Sfr. 120.- for 2 persons.<BR><BR>I emailed back and they are standing by the quote.<BR><BR>What I am finding is that almost all the places I am emailing even those that are quoting for summer of 2003 are quoting prices not consistant with their web sites, all higher than the web sites.<BR><BR>It is making it had to make a decission. Did tell these folks I would book with them contingent on getting their hold and cancel policy.

BTilke, rates are too high for the summer months.

Norma, Sorry it's proving so difficult. The room I had, had a double bed, not queen. But the rest sounds similar. The breakfast was good; breads, cereal, fruit, juices, meats, cheeses, jam and great coffee. No hot items. One thing you need to be aware of is the train. It goes by at least twice an hour and is very loud. I got used to it, but if that's a concern you might want to choose another place.<BR><BR>Also, I did not go with the half board and wished I had. Normally I don't eat in the hotel restaurants but there's was wonderful. There is an outdoor portion of the restaurant that looks out on the lake and it was so peaceful. The food was fantastic (but pricey on the regular menu) and the service very good.<BR><BR>Also, if you go to Locarno, be sure to take the Centovalli Train. It is a fantastic ride through the &quot;100 valleys&quot;. You will want to stop and ride a gondola up the mountain for the incredible views.