Essentials

Getting there

Sean Thomas travelled as a guest of Swiss Tourism (myswitzerland.com) and flew with SWISS (swiss.com)

Getting around

The SBB Mobile app can be found at sbb.ch/en/ timetable/mobile-apps/sbbmobile.html

The eight-day Swiss Travel Pass costs £330/CHF418 for inclusive second-class travel on all public trains, buses and boats, plus entrance to more than 500 museums nationwide, and discounts on mountain excursions. See sbb.ch/en/ leisure-holidays/travel-inswitzerland/internationalguests/swiss-travel-pass. html

Staying there

Hotel Wilden Mann, Lucerne (00 41 41 210 16 66; wilden-mann.ch/en) has doubles from £197/CHF250 including breakfast

Hotel des Balances, Lucerne (00 41 41 418 28 28; balances.ch/en) has doubles from £185/CHF234 including breakfast

Castello del Sole, Locarno (00 41 91 791 02 02; castellodelsole.com) has doubles from £355/ CHF450 including breakfast Eden Roc, Ascona (00 41 91 785 7171; edenroc.ch/en) has doubles from £462/CHF585 including breakfast and access to the spa