All,
Thanks a lot – I think our first choice now is St.Josef, both for location and price. Ira, please report when you come back, though it will be probably too late for us to make alternate plans. Hope you’ll like it.

Dear xyz,

I had a really wonderful trip to the Engadine. Our train passed through Celerina which looked charming but we did not get back there to explore. I will tell you that I loved a little town called Sils Maria. I hope you will have time to get there. If you look into Pontresina, there are a number of reasonable but nice options I found including Hotel Steinbock and Hotel Albris. We loved the Walther which is beautiful and gracious, but it's a bit grand and not necessary for a summer trip. We were there over New Year's Eve and with friends who've been going for 40 years so it suit our needs.

I will (I resolve) write a report on our trip. I think it was my favorite family vacation ever. There was something for everyone in the Engadine. Hard to leave.

gruezi

Gruezi,
Glad to hear you enjoyed Engadine – everybody seems to love it, so we’re very excited. Yes, we’re hoping to spend one day in and around Sils Maria, take the horse carriage trip, and explore that area.

We decided to stay in Celerina, at the Chesa Rosatsch http://www.rosatsch.ch/index_en.html
It get good reviews on TA, so I hope it’s a good choice.

In Zurich, we decided on the St.Josef - so in terms of hotels, the trip is planned. It’s time for all the details now :)
Looking forward for your trip report, and hopefully, pictures too.

I have just discovered that Alitalia no longer flies directly from Toronto to Milan, so we booked Air Canada instead which stops over in Zurich, as it is easier than changing in Rome.
Now I'm thinking that although I have been to Switzerland many times, I have never spent time in Zurich, so I am going to ask my usual Hotel question..
I have gotten such excellent advice here
We like the most central location for walking everywhere.
Don't mind noise, and love a location where lots of people walk in the evening.
Love good food as well.
Thinking of three days, and 4 or 5* hotel, but relaxed, no arrogance.
Noticed someone mentioned the Steigenberger in Zurich.
Prefer hotels that include breakfast.
We have stayed at the Steigenberger Franfurter Hof dozens of times, and because of our frequency, breakfast is included, otherwise it is something like 40E p.p.
My husband loves his breakfast, but I just have coffee, and possibly a croissant, so I can't bring myself to spend that much.
Anyway, best location for seeing the sights on foot, and walking in the evening.
Also we are foodies, and any fine, or typical restaurants we shouldn't miss would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Bev

Dear Bev,

If you search the poster "Cicerone" on this site you will find wonderful and thorough restaurant guides and hotel advice.

I have compiled all the postings for my own use as I live in Zurich but I don't know if it's "ethical" to repost under my own name.

A reasonable hotel (4 star I think but maybe 3) with a good breakfast (fantastic chocolate croissant and the rest of the basics) and great location I have stayed at is the Hotel Opera - close to the lake promenade, the Opera house, Bellevue stop, and the old town area as well as Bahnhofstrasse. We stayed here for 2 weeks when we relocated and the neighborhood became our "home". Convenient to everything and a nice/fun neighborhood. Concierge is excellent.

For a more expensive option we also stayed at the Schweizerhof which is just across from the Hauptbahnhof and almost on Bahnhofstrasse. For a bit more money than the Opera the same small sized rooms but a tad fancier and a really lovely breakfast room and grander breakfast.

Check on Cicerones write-ups for the full restaurant review...

enjoy!

gruezi

Here's a great website that helped us during our trip in June - it lists all restaurants with prices, along with tips for hotels and movies, too.
www.outandabout.ch