Although I still haven’t quite recovered from my severe jet lag, I am having an extraordinary time on my family vacation in beautiful Ascona, Switzerland. Located on the edge of Lake Maggiore in the canton of Ticino, Ascona is quite a popular getaway for people from all over the area.

Hotel Garni La Meridiana

My mom and I are staying at a hotel owned by a family friend:[ Hotel Garni La Meridiana|http://www.garni-la-meridiana.ch/]. This beautiful and modern bed and breakfast is located right on the Piazza, the main drag that runs along the edge of the lake. Opened a few years ago, the hotel has the charm of a traditional Swiss inn, while also being very modern and eco-friendly. In fact, much of Switzerland is that way and, frankly, I love it!

Our room is located on the first floor—which would be considered the second floor by those in the United States. Like most European cities, the ground floor is the named the ground floor, and it’s where shops and restaurants are located. Below La Meridiana are an adorable patisserie, a very cool restaurant with ample outdoor seating and a little gift shop, where I plan to do my souvenir shopping.

Location, Location, Location

To get to the lobby of the hotel, you must climb a set of (steep) stairs. Our room opens up onto a gigantic terrace, where there is seating for more than 50 people to soak up the beautiful Ticonese sunlight. We’re also located next to the breakfast area, where each morning the hotel serves up a traditional Swiss breakfast of cheeses, meats, breads, jams and more. There’s also a convenient 24-hour self-serve espresso machine here.

(The room we’re in is actually not the original one we were given upon arrival, which was on the second floor. While it had a beautiful view, my mom couldn’t stand the thought of having to walk up and down stairs in order to fulfill her caffeine fix.)

Eco-friendly Design

Everything at the hotel has been fine-tuned with efficiency and the environment in mind. At night, the hall lights are set to be on motion sensors in order to save energy. When you’re in the room, you must put your key into a sensor thingy (for lack of a better term) that will turn your room lights on for you. When you leave, simply take the key from the holder (which is conveniently located next to the door), and your lights will automatically turn off.

Amenities of the hotel include an indoor pool, wellness spa that includes steam rooms and saunas, a fitness room, free Wi-Fi and more. Also, the hotel has a collection of cruiser bikes that any guest can take out for a ride through the narrow, cobblestone streets of the Old Quarter.

If you ever find yourself in Ascona, I highly recommend Hotel Garni La Meridiana. I may be biased, but this hotel is quite a treat. Check out the hotel’s Webcam, and you may even see me on the terrace, enjoying my little slice of Swiss-Italian heaven.