John Norris

Hi, <BR> <BR>My wife and I are planning on spending a week in Switzerland this Sept and staying in either Lugano or Ascona for most of the trip. <BR>Can anyone give me their two cents worth on which town is nicer? We would prefer the more quiet, quaint, slower paced town. Also, If anyone has any fairly reasonable recomendations for hotels on the water, I wouldn't mind hearing them. <BR> <BR>Thanks, <BR>John

Rex

John, <BR> <BR>I asked roughly this same question about 5 days ago - - search on Lugano. There was no information on Ascona, if I recall correctly. There was one reply with little or no enthusiasm for Locarno - - but perhaps because Lugano offers "more" - - maybe you don't want "more". There was a positive comment about Stresa, but my Fodors book is not very positive about Stresa. <BR> <BR>I don't know when you are thinking abiut going, nor if you are considering Lake como destinations as an alternative, but beware that the Grand Prix in Monza is affecting hotel availability all over the region north of Milan. <BR> <BR>Ultimately, we made our decision to stay in Menaggio, and we were assisted with hotel rooms by www.icbellagio.com - - our cotact was someone named Andrea. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex

s

John, <BR>I spent two nights in Lugano in May 2000; I was planning to stay there for a week. I left early because the town was too much like a city for my vacation tastes: too crowded with hotels, apartment buildings, and cars. Most of the lakeside promenade is bordered by a busy street. I stayed on the outskirts of town to get a sense of serenity, but discovered that the bus into town cost 12 CHF, which I considered excessive (I prefer smaller cities that one can walk easily). The old town is very nice and you can easily spend a few days there exploring happily; but then you don't really get the lakeside resort feeling. <BR> <BR>While I haven't been to Ascona, my mother's friend, who lives in Zurich, scolded me for going to Lugano instead of Ascona. SHE went to Ascona in June, and she says it is *the* place to go. She really lit into me. Unfortunately, I don't remember what hotel she stayed at; I think it was a four-star right on the lake. If you want the name, e-mail me and I'll find out. <BR> <BR>s

Rex

Since my previous post, and the one that followed have not helped you with hotel names, let me at least give you this website: www.tourism-ticino.ch - - not that there is a click-on listing for Ticino hotels at the very bottom. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex

richard j vicek

Good afternoon, John <BR>Have not been to Ascona, however have <BR>spent two nights each in 96 and 97. <BR>It is a small city with plenty to do, <BR>including a casino, numerous ristorantes <BR>and shops within the old town area. <BR>The Lake is available for boat trips.. <BR>It is on a main line rail to Luzern <BR>and Zurich. We used the HOTEL LUGANO <BR>DANTE which is perfectly located at the <BR>bottom of the funicular that goes down <BR>from the Bahnhof to the old town area. <BR>see www.hotel-luganodante.ch/ and for <BR>other hotels www. swisshotels.ch/.. <BR>also http://www.ticinoinfo.ch/-----www.ti...ano/lugano.htm.. <BR>Good trip, Richard of La Grange Park, Il. <BR>Excellant Italian ristorante SAYANORA, <BR>just across from the Dante. rjv <BR>