Lausanne Travel Guide

It is hard to find a hotel that is not well located in Lausanne because this is a small city and most accommodation is near something of interest. The questions to ask in this city are: how great is the view and is the staff efficient or not?

One of the best places to sightsee from your own bedroom is the luxurious Beau-Rivage Palace, voted Swiss Hotel of the Year a few years ago. Here you will find all the amenities you could ever imagine, plus the bonus of being located five minutes from the lake. The Lausanne Palace & Spa is another example of extreme luxury, located in central Lausanne. This hotel is beautiful and has wonderful views of the lake, but it lacks the discretion of Beau Rivage and can be quite snobby. Both are in the five star bracket, which is the highest ranking in Swiss hospitality. You can therefore expect to find sauna and health care facilities, conference facilities, a number of restaurants offering excellent dishes, suites with personalized options such as fax, modem. Aside from being the two best hotels in Lausanne, they are also members of the ‘Leading Hotels of the World' which is highly reputed for quality service a round the globe.

If you are looking for a hotel with fewer luxuries, there are plenty of options in the four and three star range. These hotels are more affordable and will offer you most of the basic comforts. Better examples of these include La Résidence Hotel–Restaurant which is located on the lake front, and being owned by the Beau Rivage Palace, meets high expectations. It also happens to be the best four-star hotel in Lausanne. If this still remains slightly upmarket and you would rather stay in a larger, better known chain, then why not venture into the Mövenpick Ouchy on the lakefront? While rather bland from the outside, the views fantastic and the rooms are comfortable. Or if you are willing to sacrifice scenery for practicality then why not try the Victoria? Located in central Lausanne, it has recently been tastefully renovated and is right next to the train station.

For a larger hotel in the four star bracket there is the Hotel de la Paix which is located near the Lausanne Palace and benefits from the same panoramic views of the lake and mountains. Although it can be described as slightly disorganized, the interior has recently been refurbished and it is ideal for the businessperson or for a weekend visit. With only three stars, the Continental Hotel is another option. Very practically located right opposite the train station, it is a decent quality place to stay.

Whatever might bring you to Lausanne you are sure to find something that suits your taste. So all we can say is: have a nice stay!2008-08-02T07:29:22.000 126