Fodor's Expert Review Hotel Metropole Genève

Massive scrubbed-stone arches, swirled wrought-iron sconces, lush carpeting, and the immediate proximity of high-voltage Rue du Rhône shopping give this 1854 Left Bank palace an air of urban gentility and center-city bustle. Inside, the lakeside rooms nod to the Swiss surroundings with brightly colored wallpaper inspired by the mountain flowers, bath products made from local herbs, and stunning lake views. Technology is integrated seamlessly with a television hidden in a room-high mirror, a central control panel for all electronics, and a personal hammam in many of the bathrooms.