Welcome back to Beautiful Spaces—a series of posts in which I talk about the places where I stay during my travels. It all started in 2013 when I realized that my contentment on the road is directly connected to how much I love where I’m living…and so made a commitment to find beautiful spaces to call home along the way. This is one such space.
The hotel was kind enough to provide a comped room in exchange for this review, but as always, opinions are my own.
This summer, as August drew to a close and I began my cycling adventure across France, I started in Basel, Switzerland—a city known for excellent festivals and a mesh of cultures and languages.
Since it was the night before my giant cycle trip began and I knew I wanted to start on a high note, I reached out to Swissôtel Le Plaza—a luxurious space that’s listed as one of the top hotels in Basel on Tripadvisor.
After a long terrible travel day from Slovenia, during which I ended up trapped in a majorly delayed and overcrowded train without air conditioning in Germany, I arrived at Le Plaza and was deeply grateful that I’d made the decision to spend my the night before my cycling trip in comfort.
The suite was spacious and comfortable and even included a dog bed and some bowls for Luna. A sweet little welcome package, including a bike seat cover which came in handy on my trip, was waiting for me on the table. And the big desk was the perfect place to lay out all my things and re-pack before taking to the road in the morning.
So, that’s just what I did: fed Luna, re-packed, took a long, hot bath, and fell asleep early.
I woke up early the next morning, with the sun, and indulged in the varied breakfast spread of pastries, eggs, bacon, juices, and coffee. I had a good conversation with the American tourists at the table next to mine who were getting ready for a cruise along the Rhine. And then I packed my things, secured everything to the bike, and started cycling across the border to France.
If you’re looking for a comfortable hotel in Basel with a central location and a great breakfast spread, Swissôtel Le Plaza is a good option. Since it’s a luxury space, room prices start over 200 Swiss francs per night. Dogs cost 20 francs extra per night and get a special welcome treat in the room.
Going to Switzerland? Grab a copy of my brand new unconventional guide: Switzerland: 100 Locals Tell You Where to Go, What to Hike, & How to Fit In.