We have begun to work out the details of our fall trip to Switzerland and want to spend 3 nights in the Swiss/Italian lakes district. Based on previous posts we will probably pick Lugano as our lakes area location. We will not have a car so want something easy to get to and get around from by train (and with easy boat access for sightseeing).

The current plan is to fly into Zurich, head straight for the lakes district, spend 3 nights there before heading on to Muerren.

Now comes the hard part. Which hotel? We would love to have a lake view room (with balcony hopefully) but don't think that would be possible unless we spend $150 -$200 (or more!) per night. Can anyone recommend hotels or B&Bs in the $100-150 range? If we decided to splurge what hotels in the $150-175 range would you recommend?

Thanks!

Go to Karen Brown website and look up the suggestion in Valsolda?Lake Lugano. The hotel is Stella d'Italia. Click on the link and it will take you to the hotel website.

We stayed there for two nights in September and it was terrific. Room with lake view and little balcony. The hotel restaurant was fantastic. We had two lunches and two dinners there, and tried as many things as we could from the menu. The food was outstanding. The prosciutto y melone was mouthwatering. Their desserts were out of this world.

The hotel is a short drive from Lugano and is in the little village of San Mamete. There is a boat dock in front of hotel that can take you to a couple of other little towns whose names escape me.

This place was recommended to me by bobtn (otherwise known as the navigator), and he was right on the money. Cost was 140 euros in September, and the room was spacious with nice, large bathroom.

Sounds great but since we won't have a car I don't know if something that is even a short drive from town will work for us. We would like to be able to stay within walking distance of train station, restaurants, boat docks. Otherwise I assume we would be taking cabs back and forth daily which probably would negate the savings of the reasonable room rate.

Look at Villa Nizza. Not on the Lake, but that will be tough at the price.

Carlton Villa Moritz
http://www.carlton-villa-moritz.ch/
in the residential area Castagnola, northern end of the bay, on the foot of Monte Bre. Beautiful garden and views, quiet. Accessible by bus and boat (sufficient).

Walter au Lac
http://www.walteraulac.ch/
right on the lake promenade in the city centre, could be somewhat noisy (traffic)

Parkhotel Villa Nizza
http://www.villanizza.com/
in Lugano-Paradiso, southern end of the bay. Quiet, beautiful views, garden, excellent food. Short walk down to the lake and bus stops. Maybe a little too expensive.

I don't understand why you must stay in Lugano itself. The neighbouring villages like Morcote, Gandria or Melide are absolutely charming. Public transportation is very sufficient (ferry and bus).

Ingo