Recently in Switzerland Category

Art Basel.jpgOne of the biggest annual events in the world of art is about to take place in Switzerland. Art Basel will be held from June 10-14, 2009, filling the picturesque town of Basel with contemporary art from nearly 300 galleries and 2,500 artists. Approximately 60,000 art enthusiasts will be on hand to marvel at the magic, and art from just about every medium imaginable will be on display, from painting, sculpture, and drawings to photographs, illustrations, and video. While most of the modern masterpieces will be on display in the main exhibition hall, some of the most engaging works can be found outdoors. Last year's "Moonrise, East" (pictured) by Ugo Rondinone, for example, welcomed visitors to the fair and set the tone for a show that shattered any preconceptions people had about art, beauty, and our relationship with the world, and this year is sure to have more than a few surprises. Known as the "Olympics of the Art World," Art Basel, together with its sister event in Miami Beach, defines contemporary art for the season, and provides a great excuse for people to get together in the restaurants and pubs of this charming city on the Rhine. Art Basel is a short drive from the Sheraton Neues Schloss Hotel - Zurich and the Four Points by Sheraton Sihlcity.

[image via nysun.com]

recent articles

more More

Zurich Festival.jpgZurich is known as the cultural capital of Switzerland, and an upcoming festival brings together its renowned opera, ballet, and symphony for three exciting weeks of art and culture under the alpine stars. The Zurich Festival (June 19 to July 12, 2009) features a lively mix of operas, concerts, art, drama, and dance performances in a celebration of the many cultural institutions that have shaped the city throughout its history. Among this year's highlights is a tribute to pianist and composer Felix Mendelssohn on the 200th anniversary of his birth, with performances of classics like the "Hebrides" overture and the Reformation Symphony. Taking advantage of Zurich's summer weather, several Open Air events are scheduled as well, ranging from IOS in the Centralhof, a musical review by the International Opera Studio, to a Midsummer Night's Ball at Zurich's Main Station, an elegant way to welcome the season. I'm most curious about The Sounds of Silence, a wordless play by Latvian director Alvis Hermanis with music by Simon & Garfunkel. Starwood has two hotels in Zurich, the Sheraton Neues Schloss Hotel - Zurich and the Four Points by Sheraton Sihlcity - Zurich.

[image via myswitzerland.com]

recent articles

more More

Sheraton Neues Schloss 200.jpgZurich is the consummate winter destination, with an endless assortment of attractions and activities that celebrate the season. Skiers will find plenty of fresh powder at more than a dozen slopes within an hour's drive from the city center, while those who prefer more genteel pleasures can take in a show at the world famous Zurich Opera House, which once provided a musical home to German composer Richard Wagner. If this sounds like fun, then consider a last-minute winter weekend in Zurich. It's not such an outlandish idea, thanks to Starpicks. The Sheraton Neues Schloss Hotel - Zurich is one of this week's participating Starpicks properties, with last-minute rates of at least 20% off regular rates for stays during the next two weekends. Located near beautiful Lake Zurich, the Sheraton Neues Schloss is just steps away from some of the city's greatest attractions. Shoppers won't be able to resist the bargains in the Bahnhofstrasse shopping district, where high end boutiques can be found alongside quirky independent design shops, while those looking for a taste of nature can head to the Zurich Zoo. Founded in 1929, it's one of Europe's loveliest animal parks, with more than 300 species from around the world. And when it's time for dinner, head to the hotel's Restaurant Le Jardin, which serves authentic, market-fresh Swiss cuisine in an atmosphere of casual elegance. As you sip a glass of wine and toast your evening, you can plot your next great Starpicks getaway.

recent articles

more More

Geneva's Fête de l'Escalade

Wednesday December 3, 2008

Like most European cities, Geneva embraces the holiday season with Christmas markets and holiday-themed events, but one major December festival commemorates something else entirely. The Fête de l'Escalade (Feast of the Scaling) honors the city's victory over Duke Charles Emmanuel of Savoy in 1602, and while it might not be as familiar as the city's Christmas rituals, some residents take it very seriously indeed. As for the name, Escalade refers to the surprise nighttime attack by the Duke's troops, who attempted to "scale" the city's walls with ladders and put the town under the Duke's control. The townspeople fought back mightily and repelled the invaders, maintaining their sovereignty. Now, more than 400 years after the historic event, costumed reenactors participate in a three-hour torchlight parade in the city's old town, while onlookers enjoy a confectionery version of vegetable soup. Why confectionery soup? According to legend, Mère Royaume dispatched of an invading soldier by dumping a cauldron of hot vegetable soup on him from her window. Hey, whatever works. The three-day festival occurs on the weekend closest to December 11, and is convenient to the Hotel President Wilson, Geneva, a member of Starwood's Luxury Collection.

recent articles

more More

Zurich's Clock and Watch Museum

Wednesday November 19, 2008

Pocket%20Watch%20200.jpgFor nearly 500 years the Swiss have been known for their world famous watches and clocks, which are renowned for both their accuracy and beauty. And while it's great to have a Swiss watch on your wrist or a Swiss clock on your mantle, it's even better to travel to the source of these fabulous timepieces to see where they're made. Visitors to Zurich can do just that with a tour of the Clock and Watch Museum Beyer Zürich. This fascinating museum offers guests a look at more than 3,000 years of timekeeping devices, ranging from prehistoric sundials and shadow sticks to the cutting-edge quartz instruments in use today, such as a Patek Philippe watch that checks the time once every second through a wireless connection to an atomic clock in Neuchâtel and is accurate to within a millionth of a second. With a watch like that, there's no longer any excuse to be late to work. Housed in the Beyer Watch Store in the city's most prestigious shopping district, the museum is considered to have one of the most important horological collections anywhere in the world, with more than 500 pieces from all fields of chronology examined from both technical and artistic points of view. (And yes, I only just now learned that "horological" refers to timekeeping devices.) Guests at the Sheraton Neues Schloss Hotel - Zurich or the Four Points by Sheraton Sihlcity might enjoy a stroll through this temple of timekeeping.

recent articles

more More

Cycling culture is exploding at the moment. From critical mass rallies to tall bike jousting tournaments everyone's talking about bikes. Personally, bicycling is my favorite mode of transport, and though I'm a rather conservative biker - cruising along at a nice slow pace, two hands planted firmly on the handlebars - I still get a thrill when I see someone pop a wheelie. That's why I've got my sights set on Bicycle Film Festival 2008. There, you can watch all the crazy biking action, while keeping your feet firmly on the ground.

Now in its eighth year. the festival celebrates bicycles through film, art, and music, and has been making its way along a 17-city circuit since May. On October 9, the festival kicks off in Vienna with a show of street art and photography inspired by bicycle culture, at Galerie Inoperable. Three days of parties, electronic music concerts, folding bike races, fixed gear showcases, a BMX extravaganza, and of course a good old classic bike joust follow. If you go, book a room at Le Méridien Vienna and get a good night's rest before setting off on the 745k journey through alpine foothills to Zurich, where the action starts up again on October 16. Here, the Sheraton Neues Schloss Hotel will make the perfect home base for a full roster of bike films, art shows and parties that culminates in a "European Hardcourt Bike Polo Showdown" on October 18. So check out this clip from outside last year's festival in Paris. What do you think? Do the French do it best?

recent articles

more More

Sihlcity 200.jpgIn the minds of many travelers, Switzerland is a wintertime destination, with snowy alpine peaks and cozy villages. But Switzerland sizzles in the summertime as well, with gorgeous weather and a lively outdoor arts scene that takes advantage of the long days and wild nights. If you've never seen Switzerland in the summer, now might be the time, because the Four Points by Sheraton Sihlcity - Zurich is one of this week's participating Starpicks properties, with last-minute rates of at least 20% off regular rates for stays during the next two weekends. So pop on over to Zurich and take advantage of its many summertime delights, from charming sidewalk cafes serving up amazing pastries to surprisingly talented street musicians playing classical masterpieces. The hotel is located in central Zurich, a short walk from restaurants, shopping, cinema, and even a discotheque, so you can leave the car at home and get around the old fashioned way: on foot. But when those feet get tired, grab a seat at Urbano Bar and enjoy a well-deserved refreshment. It's a nice way to cool off during the Swiss summer. New Starpicks properties are posted every Tuesday, so check the list often to find the latest deals.

recent articles

more More

Take to the Water in Geneva

Tuesday July 1, 2008

Geneva is gorgeous in the summertime, but it does have a tendency to get hot during the dog days. So if exploring the Gothic and Romanesque Cathedrale Saint-Pierre de Geneve and walking around the historic Place Neuve (town square) has got you feeling a wee bit overheated, do as the locals do and hit the beach. Bains Des Paquis beach, a popular lido on Lac Léman (Lake Geneva), is a perfect place to go swimming, relax in the sunshine, and grab a bite to eat. You'll find everything you need to enjoy a day at the beach, including spacious changing areas and showers and lockers to stash your stuff. There are several different swimming areas, ranging from shallow kid's areas - perfect for splashing around and playing Marco Polo - to open water for serious Olympic-style swimmers. Of course, swimming is an excellent workout and a lot of fun, but if you overdo it just a bit and wind up with sore muscles, relief is just seconds away. A few minutes in the nearby Hammam (Turkish bath) or a massage treatment at the spa will have you feeling loose as a goose as you soak in views of one of the most beautiful freshwater lakes in the world. Top off the evening with a salad, fondue, or meat dish at an alfresco restaurant and raise a toast to the Swiss, because they sure know how to live. Bains Des Paquis is just minutes from the Hotel President Wilson, a member of Starwood's Luxury Collection.

recent articles

more More

Affordable Fare in Geneva

Friday June 13, 2008

pieddecochongeneva.jpgGeneva, Switzerland can be pricey, but there are reasonable meals to be had without resorting to chains and fast food. And you don't have to scrimp on views, either, if you head to Au Pied-de-Cochon. There you'll be in the picturesque Université de Genève Uni Bastions neighborhood, replete with terrace seating for excellent people-watching. The menu is traditional Swiss bistro fare served by tuxedoed waiters.

Vesuvio is a local favorite for its freshly made pastas, wood-fired pizza and rustic Italian dishes. A little closer to the Hotel President Wilson is La Favola, another Italian fave. Its decor is antique-y and cute, and its beef carpaccio is paper thin.

For a historical treat, seek out the Taverne de la Madeleine, one of the oldest restaurants in the city. The very affordable cafe offers everything from fruit tarts to osso bucco, but a word of warning: no alcohol allowed.

recent articles

more More

"Transcriptions of melody lines" is how the French composer Pierre Boulez describes the whimsical, colorful, geometric works of Swiss-German artist Paul Klee. Klee was trained as a musician, but as a teacher at the Bauhaus school of art and architecture, in the 1920s, he pioneered a new form of thought steeped in poetry, freedom, and imagination.

"Paul Klee: Theatre Here, There and Everywhere," an exhibition at the Palais des Beaux-Arts, in Brussels, not only highlights the artist's passion for music, but for dance, theater, and the circus through pieces dealing with masks, puppets, and characters, both comedic and tragic. But it also delves into the era when Klee's art was deemed "degenerate" by the Nazis, forcing him to relocate to the safer haven of Switzerland, at age 54. During this time, Klee ironically experienced a period of great productivity.

Guests at Le Méridien Brussels, located just around the bend from the Palais des Beaux Arts, might enjoy an escapade to the museum, to view this unique exhibition of over 200 watercolors and drawings that hum with music and theater. Partially organised by Boulez, the exhibition features some of the composer's music, and runs through May 11.

recent articles

more More
  • About
  • More
Starwood Preferred Guests can now stay updated on the latest travel trends. A core group of experts – including Starwood employees and SPG members – provide updates on unique and noteworthy travel experiences around the world. Get a behind-the-scenes look at exciting Starwood travel destinations and receive daily articles using TheLobby.com widget for your blog, desktop or web page.
spg member corner
Find out recommendations from our SPG members about what to do and where to go when you're on vacation. View the Articles
q & a with spg Sign up now for Starwood Preferred Guest and discover how rewarding membership can be. sign up now
destination spotlight
Brooklyn.jpg

Brooklyn, New York

Just across from New York City, discover this iconic borough, thriving with art, culture and history. Book your trip now!
q & a with spg Looking for advice about SPG? Ask questions to our SPG insiders and other SPG members or answer the questions submitted by others. submit your question or answer