Must Stay in Maui: Four Seasons Maui

This beach resort is an oasis. It is truly Hawaiian, yet has amazing pools, fabulous rooms, a pristine sandy beach, a spa and incredible restaurants. Beautiful to walk through yet delicious, luxurious, attentive and intimate–Four Seasons Maui knows how to make you feel like you are the only people in this tropical paradise.

Don’t miss Ferraro’s for exquisite outdoor dining, the Spa for their outdoor Hale treatments and a cabana at the Serenity pool. If you are adventurous, I LOVED the Outrigger Canoe experience in the early morning.

24 Hours in Basel, Switzerland

Art. Culture. History. Food. Luxury. The Rhine River. Basel has a lot going on and I had limited time to see it so I took in the highlights as fast as I could. My homebase was the Hotel Nomad, a trendy boutique with easy access to top sites like the Altstadt, or old city, the Marktplatz which has a farmer’s market, Johann Wanner Christmas shop, the Kunstmuseum Basel, Fondation Beyeler and the Rhine River. We took river ferries to cross to Klein Basel, a funky neighborhood with a lot of great shops, cafes and of course, the notable Ueli Brewery.

Check out this travel guide for how to see some of Basel’s hotspots, in just 24 hours!

Luxury Guide to Basel, Switzerland

Basel, Switzerland is a city where old-world charm meets modern elegance. Nestled along the Rhine River and positioned at the intersection of France, Germany, and Switzerland, Basel offers a rich cultural heritage, world-class art institutions, fine dining, and luxurious accommodations. For travelers who appreciate sophistication, Basel delivers an unforgettable experience across every aspect of a luxury escape.

Where to Stay: Top Luxury Hotels in Basel

Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois
One of the oldest city hotels in Europe, Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois is located in the heart of Basel’s Old Town with picturesque views of the Rhine. The hotel exudes classic European elegance, featuring antique-filled suites and attentive service. Its restaurant, Cheval Blanc by Peter Knogl, holds three Michelin stars and is a destination in itself for gourmet travelers.

Mövenpick Hotel Basel
This sleek and modern hotel designed by Matteo Thun offers sophisticated interiors and spacious rooms with panoramic views of the city. Located near Basel’s main train station, it combines convenience with top-tier amenities and hospitality.

Hotel Märthof
Blending heritage architecture with contemporary luxury, Hotel Märthof sits in the center of Old Town. Its boutique style, art-filled spaces, and fine-dining restaurant make it ideal for travelers who want a more personalized experience without compromising comfort.

Fine Dining: Gourmet Cuisine in Basel

Cheval Blanc by Peter Knogl
Housed within the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois, Cheval Blanc is widely recognized for its exquisite French cuisine infused with Mediterranean and Asian flavors. With three Michelin stars, it offers an elegant dining experience that emphasizes precision, creativity, and seasonal ingredients.

Restaurant Stucki – Tanja Grandits
Led by celebrated chef Tanja Grandits, this two-Michelin-starred restaurant is known for its artistic presentation and innovative flavor combinations. Located in the residential Bruderholz area, it offers a peaceful setting for a refined culinary journey.

Im Ackermannshof
Set in a beautifully restored historic building, Im Ackermannshof emphasizes seasonal ingredients and contemporary European cuisine. The ambiance is relaxed yet refined, appealing to those who value a quiet yet elevated dining atmosphere.

Luxury Shopping in Basel

Freie Strasse
This is Basel’s most prominent shopping street, where high-end international brands meet iconic Swiss labels. Luxury watches, designer apparel, and fine accessories line the cobbled street, creating an elegant shopping experience.

Spalenberg
For boutique lovers, Spalenberg in the Old Town is a must-visit. It features independent shops, artisan studios, and one-of-a-kind jewelry stores. The narrow, winding streets add charm to the upscale retail experience.

Interior Design Showrooms
Basel’s luxury lifestyle extends beyond fashion. The city offers several high-end furniture and décor showrooms such as Wohnbedarf AG and Ligne Roset, perfect for design enthusiasts seeking unique pieces.

Arts and Culture: Experiences Worth Exploring

Art Basel
Each June, Basel becomes the epicenter of the contemporary art world with Art Basel. This international fair draws collectors, curators, and artists, turning the city into a dynamic cultural hotspot filled with pop-up exhibitions, gallery events, and private viewings.

Fondation Beyeler and Kunstmuseum Basel
These two institutions offer world-class collections ranging from classical to contemporary. Fondation Beyeler is especially notable for its serene setting, while Kunstmuseum Basel is among the oldest public art collections in the world.

Luxury Rhine Cruises
Enjoy Basel from the water aboard a private or small-group luxury cruise on the Rhine. These cruises offer views of the city’s medieval buildings and modern architecture, accompanied by gourmet meals or wine tastings.

Insider Tips for a High-End Experience

  • BaselCard: Guests who stay overnight in Basel receive the BaselCard, which offers free public transport and discounts on museums, guided tours, and cultural attractions.

  • Best Times to Visit: Visit during June for Art Basel or in December for the renowned Christmas markets. Summer months are perfect for the unique local tradition of swimming in the Rhine with a waterproof Wickelfisch bag.

  • Private Tours: Hire a private guide for exclusive access to hidden gems and behind-the-scenes tours of galleries, historic sites, or even backstage at the city’s famous opera house.

Basel is a city that combines luxury, culture, and refinement with effortless grace. Whether you’re strolling through historic alleyways, indulging in fine cuisine, or admiring masterpieces in renowned museums, Basel invites you to experience the very best of European elegance.

Food Guide: Basel, Switzerland

Fondue, pretzels, flammkuchen, leckerli, beer… there is no shortage of deliciousness in Basel! Along with Swiss specialties like fondue, there’s also great international food in this diverse culinary hotspot. Of course, you’ll taste influences from nearby Germany and France, but the result is a unique type of quality Swiss food that you can only find in Basel.

I ate my way around this city, from breakfast, to lunch to dinner, to many sweets, pretzels, cocktails and beer in between. Trust me–bring your appetite and check out this video for suggestions of Basel’s best, before you go.
Featured: Confiserie Bachmann, Berower Park, Kunsthalle Basel, Walliser Kanne, Ueli Brewery

Food Guide of Valais, Switzerland

The Valais region in the South East of Switzerland is known for its sunshine! All this sun makes for a great growing season—fruits, vegetables, grains, grapes all grow very well here, making the food of the Valais so fresh and delicious. I tasted rosti, a fried potato hash, with pork sausage, at 3000 meters on top of Gornergrat and freshly made chicken with spaetzle on the Matterhorn. I sipped wines with a local vintner, ate handmade chocolates with a chocolatier and dined al fresco at family home on a hillside with a Michelin chef. Food is a way of life in the Valais, and it is savored. Don’t miss the apres ski bars in Zermatt to enjoy some of the local beers and wines too!

Featured: Chef Franck Reynaud, David Chocolates, Hotel Etrier, Hotel Pollux, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, Gornergrat, Adrenatur Nature Park

24 Hours in the Valais, Switzerland

Glaciers, ziplines, mountain peaks and stunning views–Valais is one of Switzerland’s most gorgeous regions. I explore the best things to do in one full day from the Matterhorn to Gornergrat, fat biking in Crans Montana to dining on the best food ever. Oh and don’t forget apres ski. You will love your 24 hours in Valais.

Valais Luxury Switzerland

Luxury Guide of the Valais, Switzerland

travel guide to switzerland

My Travel Guide to Switzerland

This is my ultimate guide to an incredible country: Switzerland! I spend two weeks on a road trip, and I take you with me–showing you where to eat, stay, what to drink and see and how to experience the best of the best!
Starting in the posh Geneva where I visited markets, ate amazing Michelin cuisine, took a steamship cruise and river ferry and saw the UN. Next we cruised along the coast of Lake Geneva, stopping at adorable villages like Saint Saphorin, sampling wines of Lavaux, staying over in fun cities of Vevey and Lausanne and heading into the hills on a vintage train to make cheese and roam the alps in Chateaux D’Oex.

My Coachella Journey with GoPro

2 Friends + 2 GoPros + 1 Jucy Campervan = 1 epic weekend at Coachella Music Festival 2015. Explore more of this magical, musical, camping journey and see why Coachella is best done by camping!

 

Lake Geneva Luxury Guide

 

From the most fabulous hotels to homemade menus at gourmet restaurants, hand crafted wines to Belle Epoque vintage trains, the Lake Geneva region offers so much in the way of luxury.

Featured: The Royal Savoy Hotel, The Grand Hotel Du Lac, L’Auberge de l’Onde, Saint Saphorin, GoldenPass Panoramic Train, GoldenPass Classic train, Chaplin’s World