I would like to recommend my favorite small hotel in Switzerland. The quiet Albergo Panorama** is in the village of Gerra-Gambarogno along the Swiss shore of Lago Maggiore. I have stayed there twice, but if I could, I'd return every June for the rest of my life. Gerra is accessible by boat, train, or bus, as well as car. Virtually undiscovered by American tourists, the location is excellent for exploring the Ticino area of Switzerland, a region with Italian influences. Axel and Hanni Klomann are gracious hosts. The rooms are comfortable and tranquil; and I still dream about Axel's Canneloni al Brocoli Panorama. 

If you crave nightlife, Ascona and Locarno are nearby, but I cannot think of a more delightful way to end a day of sightseeing than to sit on the Albergo's sheltered terrace with a cool glass of wine before supper. After the sun goes down, the sky and the hills turn blue-violet, and the lights of the villages across the lake begin to twinkle. It is the answer to a tired traveller's prayers. Their website is www.Hotel-Panorama.ch. The hotel closes for the winter.