Dovster,

Have checked around a little online for a hotel in Lugano. Since I haven't booked a room yet, (have been to busy in LAS lately) do you happen to know about a reasonable hotel to use between Dec 30-31, 2006? :D Thanks in advance if you do.

No, I haven't checked. I always stay at my UIG's house when I am in Lugano so I don't know the hotels. Each of you is going to have to find what best suits you online.

I just suggest that it be in the center of the city.

Dovster, no problem, I will settle on a hotel to book downtown Lugano the next few days. Thanks!

I am unfortunatly out. Did get the M.S. Study spot of my dreams, but unfortunatly I wont be able to head down to Lugano for a day. You guys have a great time!

Are any of you on the possible list ready to be moved up to "definite"? That would put us at the magic number of six.

I am still trying to get back to Zurich after Christmas to spend New Year's Eve in Lugano, so will join you guys if back before the 30th.

fduvall

We'd love to have you there. Remember, Lugano is in the sunny south of Switzerland, so you only have bring three heavy sweaters and a snow suit. :)

Dov, I seem to remember you mentioning a Sheraton in or near Lugano, though I may be confusing that with something else. I recall a thread about a Coke you paid with your Starwood Amex or something along those lines. Can you help me jog my memory?

If there is an SPG option around, I would definitely consider using it.

Alex, unfortunately there is no Sheraton in Lugano. What you are recalling is this thread in Trip Reports in which I discussed how I got a number of Starwood Points by eating in Lugano and by having Cokes in Milano.

Right, that's the thread I was thinking of. I had somehow moved the Westin Milano to Lugano in my mind... :o

In the week of this Do, I should be returning from a trip to Asia to be (hopefully!) booked shortly and I then have a SQ PPS sectors & Krug run LGW-ZRH-MAN-ZRH-LGW on Weds/Thurs.

I'm sorely tempted by the idea of going back to Switzerland on Sat/Sun for this Do! :) However, what exactly are we talking about here with grilled meats ? Is it anything specific to the region ?

We would love to have you there.

The restaurant has a fairly big variety of grilled meats. I tend to stay with the more usual varieties (steak, pork chops, veal) but if you really and truly want to go local you can have grilled horse meat.

(I'm serious -- it is considered a delicacy in North Italy and the Ticino region of Switzerland.)

Of course, you can have your cake and eat it too. Take a steak and combine it with risotto or rosti and and accompany it with a Ticinese Merlot.

If you are still around for a second night, I can give you instructions on how to get to another restaurant in a nearby village where you can have wild game -- boar, venison, and hare are their specialities.

Dovster, I prefere to stay with the more usual meat types like you too. Eventhough wild meats like boar and venison sounds good too. I'm getting hungry already thinking about it!! :D ^

Dovster, thanks for the reply. I think I'll pass on eating Dobbin but the following sounds good!

I'm booked:

Fri 29 Dec - BA576
LHR 09:45
MXP 12:40

Sun 31 Dec - BA567
MXP 17:35
LHR 18:35

No hotel booked yet. As mentioned, there's no SPG and the only IC appears to be a HI (CHF 150/night prepaid). Any recommendations for anything else ?

Looking forward to meeting everyone! :)

That's great news, jhm. I have just updated the first post to include you on our definite list.

I'm not really the one to ask about Lugano hotels -- as I mentioned, while I spend quite a bit of time there I always stay at my girlfriend's house.

As I have told others, I would suggest that you not rent a car but rather take the bus from MXP. It leaves you off in central Lugano. You will have to take a taxi to/from the Meet but that won't be overly expensive.

Even with the taxi fares thrown in it will be a lot cheaper than renting in Italy.

It would be best if you can find a hotel in downtown Lugano although I believe that if you get one in Paradiso it will be less expensive and -- again, I have to emphasize that I believe -- there are constant busses between Paradiso and the center of the city.

I would suggest looking on line for a hotel and if it turns out it is in Paradiso calling them and asking about bus service.