Is there anything to see in Lugano? And what about inexpensive places to stay? Marilyn Ham

Certainly not an overwhelming destination for our money. <BR> <BR>A couple of decent mountains with pleasant views. The lake, of course. The old town is 'colorful' and attractive. <BR> <BR>Perhaps the main attraction of Lugano is the weather and the ambience. It will be warmer there than much of the rest of Switzerland during much of the year. And the Italian ambience can be, for many, a pleasant change from the rest of the country. The food is quite true to its Italian roots. <BR> <BR>Not one of our favorite Swiss destinations, though it does have a certain 'je ne c'est sais pas' about it. <BR> <BR>Rome.Switzerland.Bavaria <BR>www.twenj.com <BR>

Good afternoon, Marilyn <BR>Can recommend only the HOTEL LUGANO DANTE which we have used for the last <BR>two trips to Lugano. As Ed says it is <BR>a colorful old town and has the mountains and the lake. Personally liked <BR>this town, perhaps being so much Italian <BR>than Swiss, a change of pace. Can also <BR>recommend the Ristorante Sayanora, which <BR>is Italian with a pizzeria... Also has <BR>a small casino and also one at Campione <BR>d'Italia, reachable by boat... <BR>Richard of La Grange Park, IL&gt;..

I agree with Ed - not spectacular, but nevertheless an attractive little city for a couple of days. Some beautiful ferry rides on the lake (not the cruiseboats, the ferries).Also a couple of funicular railway rides presenting super views. Is also handy for a half or full day trip to Lake Como. <BR>Can recommend the Hotel du Lac, about a 10 to 15 minute stroll along the lake from the city centre. A moderately priced 3 star hotel, with large rooms, good bathrooms, and absolutely fabulous lakeside views.

Agree with Ed, Richard & Tony -- I enjoyed Lugano; it is very pleasant and pretty. We enjoyed riding the funicular up a nearby mountain and seeing the views. But overall, while very very nice, it was not a top-notch destination in my opinion. We stayed in a two-star recommended by a travel agent but unfortunately I can't remember the name. I would not stay in Lugano longer than three days if I were you. I think next time I go to Switzerland I will choose a smaller town or village.

Ms. Ham, <BR>I'm jumping on the bandwagon w/Ed, Tony, & Lisa: Lugano was underwhelming to me. The old town is attractive, but staying there defeats the purpose of being at a *lake*; lakeside has too much traffic, too much noise, too many buildings, too many folks, etc. I also found the city bus system to be rather costly, even for Switzerland. I chose Lugano because I thought it'd be the most convenient base for excursions to Lakes Maggiore & Como, but after two nights, I just fled. FYI, my mother's friend, an elderly Swiss woman, goes to Ascona. <BR> <BR>s

ed, <BR>i think you mean "je ne sais quoi."

What? A place we all agree about? We stopped there overnight after arrival in Zurich and travel on to Italy on the recommendation of a friend. While the lakeside walk is nice, views are nice, the pizza mentioned good, and the staff at our small hotel right in the heart of the old town delightful, we thought it wasn't "special" enough for us to choose as a destination. It was fine for us to rest up and adjust our body clocks, but we were ready to move on early the next morning.

A dissenting voice. I loved Lugano. Of course it was 30 years ago and we were camping through southern Europe. There was a very nice campground on the Lake and it was a very nice rest for us. We rented a small boat and rowed out on the lake while the water show was on and I thought that it was beautiful. I enjoyed the alps rising out of the water on the other side of the lake and in general enjoyed the area. <BR>

Kay: <BR>You're absolutely right! It's been a long time from French 2 in 11th grade. <BR> <BR>Ed