Switzerland - recommended hotels by Mark Sukhija

Switzerland has a bit of a rep for being pricey - and, depending on where you come from, that can be true. If you've ever spent any time in London , Switzerland not bad value. If you're from anywhere else, it's a bit pricey. But the quality is usually of a standard. I've included a selection of hotels from 2 / 3 star places to 5 star places - but all are places I've stayed in.

Please mention MarksTravelNotes.com when contacting these fine establishments. I have stayed at all these hotels.

Berne

1. Best Western Hotel Baeren (Schauplatzgasse 4, CH-3011 Bern) - 3-star Best Western Hotel a matter of minutes from the UNESCO-listed Berne old town, the Best Western Hotel Baeren is excellent value for money. Clean, comfortable, good-sized rooms with a decent breakfast. Reception staff are pretty good and really quite helpful. Hard to beat in this price category.

Fribourg

2. Best Western Hotel de la Rose (Rue de Morat 1, 1702 Fribourg) - Centrally located in the historical centre of Fribourg , the Best Western Hotel de la Rose a matter of minutes from the impressive gothic Cathedral of St Nicholas. Facilities are basic but the the hotel is clean, functional and well located. Breakfast is pretty good and worthy of a mention. Overall, the Hotel de la Rose is excellent value for money.

3. NH Hotel Fribourg (Grand Places 14, 1700 Fribourg) - Actually a tower block of a hotel, the NH Hotel Fribourg still provides good value for money. Facilities are pretty much what you'd expect from a mid-range tower block hotel and at reasonable prices. A steep walk uphill from central Fribourg means it also provides excellent views over the Old Town itself.

Lugano

4. Hotel Splendide Royale (Riva Antonio Caccia, 7, CH-6900 Lugano) - Five-star lake front hotel which is a winner in the Comfy Carpets Stakes and the Good Bathrooms Stakes. With rooms overlooking the garden or the lake, the only difference in quality is the view. And I recommend lake view rooms every time - all of which have a balcony to lounge on. Front of house and concierge are excellent. Beds great and comfortable. All rooms are spacious. Faultless.

Neuchâtel

5. Hotel Beau Rivage (1, Esplanade du Mont-Blanc, CH-2000 Neuchatel) - We've stayed at the Hotel Beau Rivage in Neuchâtel a couple of times now and have always been pleased with it. Right on the waterfront, the Hotel Beau Rivage offers rooms overlooking the Lake of Neuchâtel or town. Rooms are consistently comfortable and it does well in the comfy carpet stakes. Room bathrooms are equally worth a mention. It's our usual hang out for the Fêtes de Vedanges - a rather noisy affair but the noise is consistantly kept out. On our last stay a kick-bick was left in our room for use during our stay - nice touch! Me likes.

Rapperswil

6. Hotel Speer (Untere Banhofstrasse 5, 8640 Rapperswil) - When I first moved to Switzerland , I stayed at the Hotel Speer - which has a fantastic location close to the old town and directly over the road from the train station. Staff have always been very hospitable and professional. Rooms are comfortable and a good size. Highly recommended.

Further reading