Travel Notebook
Spotlight: Switzerland
Summer in Switzerland is a glorious time of sunny days, glistening lakes, and wildflower-strewn meadows. In the country’s most captivating cities, locals and visitors linger at outdoor cafes, sipping refreshing cocktails and soaking up the convivial atmosphere as winter is shed and everyone welcomes back in the warmer weather.
Rebecca Recommends is proud to represent several well-heeled properties in Zürich and Geneva, each with their own personality and appeal, and all with insider connections to the community that benefit guests. These are special places where one feels a true sense of place, whether it’s in the thoughtful design of a guest room, the local delicacies on the restaurant menu, or the activities and excursions the staff can recommend and arrange.
Read on to learn more about our favorite Swiss cities and countryside locations, The Living Circle group of hotels, and Red Carnation’s Hotel d’Angleterre. As always, please reach out for an introduction or with any questions.
Zürich with
The Living Circle
Legendary institutions, an inspiring vibe, and international influences – it is no coincidence that Zürich is regarded as a European center of excellence in the matter of taste and design. We hardly need convincing to make our way to this enticing summer destination yet knowing that Rebecca Recommends partners with The Living Circle’s nature-focused, experience-forward Zürich properties, makes it all the sweeter.
This hand-selected group of first-class hotels and restaurants is the crown jewel of their chosen, enviable locations. These are places that stir the soul and inspire decadent dining and indulgent living. From the boutique-style Widder Hotel in the heart of Zürich’s historic Old Town to the intimate Castello del Sole, a farming estate on the shores of Lake Maggiore, every detail has been carefully considered. Farm-to-table dining, cooking classes with local chefs, a masterclass with a sommelier – these are the exquisite moments The Living Circle can provide.
A peek at what’s in store for guests from The Living Circle in Zürich:
Ideally situated for both city and lake activities, the Widder Hotel welcomes guests as family. Whether they’re zipping across the lake on the hotel’s own watercraft, dining on French-inspired, Asian-tinged haute cuisine at the two-Michelin-star restaurant or relaxing beneath venerable oak beams in an individually decorated guest room, Widder guests are ensconced in approachable luxury.
Insider Tip
Close to the Widder, you’ll find a one-stop-shop of backdrops to fill your Instagram feed. Lindenhof Square is conveniently located in the heart of the city and offers panoramic views back at Zürich’s Old Town, Grossmünster Cathedral, Zürich City Hall, and the Limmat River.
Perched on the banks of the Limmat, Storchen Zürich is the epitome of savoir-vivre, exuding an air of undefinable elegance, while at the same time surrounding guests in warm hospitality. The hotel occupies a spot where a guest house has stood for as long as 661 years. A warm, attentive staff, including a 24-hour concierge, oversees 64 newly designed rooms and suites, all with a modern ambiance and thoughtful stylish details.
Insider Tip
THE NEST Rooftop is perched atop the hotel and is a sought-after spot for both guests and savvy locals. Gather to enjoy the sunset from this setting amongst the city’s church towers, enjoying excellent cocktails, a refreshing glass of Swiss wine, and bar snacks prepared by Michelin-starred Chef Stefan Jäckel. From up here, you can view both the Frauenbad Zürich and the Pavillon le Corbusier. Visit the latter, a vision of steel and glass that is open as a public museum and was the last building designed by the architectural icon Le Corbusier.
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Pavillon le Corbusier. |
Frauenbad at Stadthausquai. |
Not far away, the Frauenbad at Stadthausquai is a female-only bathing facility, set against a spectacular backdrop. Two large pools (for swimmers and non-swimmers) allow for a refreshing dip and a relaxed day by the water. (Three evenings a week, men may join in as the facility is transformed into the Barfussbar, or “Barefoot Bar.”)
Guests are inspired to slow down and enjoy the simple moments at the stylish Alex Lake Zürich on the water’s edge. From each studio’s private balcony or terrace, guests feel connected to the unspoiled scenery, clean air, and sparkling lake. Downstairs, decadent yet uncomplicated dining awaits at Restaurant Alex, the heart of the hotel and a new hotspot in Thalwil. Reserve one of the intimate AQUA restaurant’s 14 seats and enjoy the Michelin-starred cuisine of acclaimed chef Michael Schuler.
Insider Tip
The Living Circle provides a unique opportunity for guests to dine around at their three Zürich properties which boast a total of 4 Michelin stars. Enjoy a scenic jaunt across the lake in the hotel’s own speed boat. This 20-minute cruise from the jetty at the Alex Lake Zürich to the Old Town, connects guests to a culinary journey across these award-winning restaurants.
The seasonal, five-star Castello del Sole is a sybarite’s dream, luring discerning guests with 260 acres of lush farmland, fragrant vineyards, and an exquisite spa, all on the banks of Lake Maggiore. Visit the Eden-like Brissage Islands, hike in the Locarnese Valley, visit World Heritage castles, and return in time for a dinner of farm-fresh fare and special wines grown on the estate.
Insider Tip
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Locarno Film Festival at the Piazza Grande. |
JazzAscona. Image credit – JazzAscona |
From Castello del Sole, it’s easy to attend the Ticino area’s cultural experiences, including the Locarno Festival and JazzAscona. Arrange your clients’ stay around the 75-year-old film festival, taking place August 2 – 12, 2023, and turning the entire Swiss-Italian city into the capital of international cinema. JazzAscona is dedicated to jazz and New Orleans Beat, offering open-air concerts fronting Lake Maggiore from June 22 – July 1, 2023.
Geneva with
Hotel d’Angleterre
With its cosmopolitan, multicultural appeal, Geneva is so much more than chocolate and the United Nations. It’s an enticing city of enthralling museums, colorful public art displays, haute cuisine, lake cruises, and vibrant festivals.
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| Enjoy a view of Jet d’Eau from Hotel d’Angleterre Belleview Suite. Image credit – Hotel d’Angleterre |
The famous Jet d’Eau which Hotel d’Angleterre overlooks. Image credit – Hotel d’Angleterre |
We’re smitten with Hotel d’Angleterre, our home of choice when visiting beguiling Geneva. Sitting pretty overlooking the city’s namesake lake and its famous Jet d’Eau, the hotel is ideal for those who love to explore on foot or bicycle. Guests may hop aboard a complimentary boat shuttle for service into the city for sightseeing and shopping, then return to one of the lakeside retreat’s 39 guest rooms or six posh suites for a dreamy night’s sleep. From champagne welcomes to evening turndowns with floating votive candles, the hotel rises above and beyond to provide amenities that make every stay sublime.
As much as Hotel d’Angleterre adores its guests, it also adores its Swiss surroundings. To this end, the hotel can recommend and arrange for excursions, activities, and reservations at the area’s most coveted museums, historic sights, restaurants, and more.
Read on for a few of their favorites:
Forays for Foodies
Take a drive in a Bentley Arnage 2011 to the medieval village of Gruyères for a cheese fondue tasting. Visit the UNESCO-listed Lavaux vineyards and taste the fruit of the vines. Visit the hotel this summer, between July 17th and August 27th, for the Indian Food Festival. During this time, Hotel d’Angleterre will host London Indian chef Alfred Prasa, who will craft an Indian menu to be served at Windows Restaurant. A package including dinner for two, with wine, an overnight stay, and breakfast will be available.
Family Fun
Families love the Natural History Museum, the immersive AI adventures at Dreamscape, the Air-Loop trampoline park, and outdoor escape games. It’s also quite fun to hop on the ferry for a ride to the medieval French village of Yvoire, with its ancient castle and botanic garden. Back in town, walk or rent bicycles and ride along wide pathways that encircle the lake and lead over the water to the famous flower clock and enchanting, cobblestoned Old Town.
Lake Life (and more)
With the arrival of summer, Lake Léman – and other nearby waterways – offers a plethora of activities, from chugging along on a classic Swiss steamboat to kayaking on the calm waters of the Rhone River to rafting on the Arve River, which gets its refreshingly cool water from the Mont-Blanc Glacier. Hotel d’Angleterre can arrange for wakeboarding, motorboat rentals, or pedal boats, or point guests toward swimming at Les Bains des Paquis or the Plage de Eaux, just steps from the hotel. Care to go fishing? They can make that happen, and even prepare one’s catch for lunch or dinner.
Holiday Happenings
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| Halloween afternoon Tea at Hotel d’Angleterre. Image credit – Hotel d’Angleterre |
A gorgeous view for afternoon tea. Image credit – Hotel d’Angleterre |
For those visiting in the fall, there are festive Halloween and Thanksgiving celebrations (including those held at Windows Restaurant and the Observatoire at Hotel d’Angleterre). In November, the Jardin Noel Christmas Market starts up, running through Christmas Eve.
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| The Jardin Noel Christmas Market. Image credit – Hotel d’Angleterre |
Mulled wine at Jardin Noel. Image credit – Hotel d’Angleterre |
Please reach out with any questions or for more information about The Living Circle collection and Hotel d’Angleterre. We look forward to hearing from you.
