I have just doing some searching on line and found the Acquarello Swiss Q Hotel. It has an excellent location in the heart of Lugano and the price will be $78.12 a night if booked through hotels.com.

It is three stars which means that it is not a luxury hotel by any means, but for its location it is very inexpensive and at least offers the basics (full breakfast, shower in the room, and dial up internet access).

I'm not sure how much sleep you'd get in this hotel though! From Tripadvisor:

:eek:

The funicular works from 5:20 am until 11:50 pm, so you should be able to get some sleep between those hours. :)

However, I just found a very good bargain -- the Hotel Lugano Dante is a 4 star hotel, in a fantastic location, and is considered among the city's best.

At this site I found rooms available for a single at 99 Swiss Francs per night.

(You might want to check its prices at others sites as well.)

Thanks - that's a great price and it includes breakfast! Whilst you can't believe everything you read on Tripadvisor, there are sixteen reviews and all of them were positive. The site you link to is actually the hotel itself:

http://www.hotel-luganodante.com/welcome.cfm?lang=eng

and the rate is the weekend restricted rate. I've booked a single room for a total of CHF 198 (about US$160 I think) for two nights. :)

Hi Dovster, I booked the same hotel for a single night at the same restricted weekend rate of CHF 99. :D Thanks for checking and finding a great bargain for us! :D ^ ^

I just did the same. 99 CHF is a steal. Thanks, Dov!

Looks like the Dante is turning into DO Central for the time being.

The good, the bad and the unknown about the Lugano Dante:

Good: Its location is fantastic. It is within five minute walk of almost every place you would want to be in Lugano: the main square; the Manor department store (check out cashmere sweaters -- there are often big sales on them); the lake; the casino; the only outdoor stand in the city where you can get a bratwurst; 100 chocolate shops, 10,000 banks, and 100,000 watch shops; an outdoor flea market (Saturdays only); Munger -- the best place in Lugano for chocolate pastries; several excellent pizza places.

Bad: It is also very close to two large pedestrian areas where the shops are so expensive that the only ones who can afford to go there are the owners of the chocolate shops, the banks, and the watch shops.

Unknown: I have walked past the hotel a thousand times but never gone inside. I have no idea of what the rooms are like.

Now, you are probably asking yourself, "Self, how good is this Munger pastry shop. Is Dovster exaggerating?"

My answer: Whenever I am in Lugano I make it a habit of getting out of bed early and driving the 4 kilometers to eat cake there in the morning. This may not sound like much to you, but keep in mind that the UIG is in the bed I get out of!

If any of you are there on Saturday morning, around 8 am, I will be happy to meet you at the hotel and take you to Munger. I doubt you will eat anything as your hotel is supplying a full breakfast but you can at least watch me make a pig of myself. I will then give you a quick guided tour of the city.

Why a quick one? Because we are talking about December in Switzerland. The sun will have barely risen and the streets will be C O L D.

As alex0683de and okflyer only appear to be staying one night (Saturday) and chrissxb appears to have become a lot less certain since I became definite (and we only met once for a few hours! :eek: ), it seems that I'm currently the only one around on Saturday morning...

That's assuming this Do goes ahead - one more person required ?

That's also assuming my girlfriend remains locked up for this Do!

Munger ? I just noticed this on the Dante's website - http://www.hotel-luganodante.com/wel...14011&lang=eng

No, seeing as three of you have already paid for your hotel rooms I can't see cancelling the Meet even if we have only 5. It will go on with the only possible impediment being a very major snowstorm.

By all means bring your girlfriend. (If my own UIG were not coming I would ask you to send your girlfriend to the Meet alone.) :)

I am happy to say that I am now confirmed for this event. Looking forward to meeting you!

Depending on the weather, I will stay in Ticino a bit longer, until Jan 2nd at the most...

Hi airoli, it will be fun meeting you in Lugano. Are you staying at the Lugano Dante also? Or do you stay in Ticino the whole time?

airoli, great to have you on board! :)

Is anyone else staying over on Friday night ? If so, I would be happy to hook up for drinks and/or dinner.

Great news, airoli! I have just updated the first post.

jhm, I am almost certain to be there on Friday night. I think I can convince the UIG to let me meet you in town (for drinks -- dinner will be with her).

Thanks, Dovster! Assuming you get the UIG's permission :) , by town do you mean Lugano or the village where the Saturday night restaurant is located ? And round about what time do you envisage having dinner so that I can make similar arrangements for that time ?