Emily Rose Mawson

Writer and Translator

Switzerland

writer. translator. slow travel. luxury hotels.

​​As a travel writer based in Switzerland, I am published in The Telegraph, The Hotelegraph, The Guardian, The Independent, National Geographic Traveller, easyJet Traveller, Discovery by Cathay Pacific and The Slow Lane by Inntravel.

I also translate travel PR and short business and environment news stories from German to English.

www.emilyrosemawson.com

Portfolio

TRAVEL FEATURES AND HOTEL REVIEWS

The Telegraph
Bürgenstock Resort

The revamped £440m Bürgenstock Resort dazzles with Belle Époque splendour and contemporary structural prowess high above Lake Lucerne, where it was once home to Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren. It has four hotels for all budgets, a 10,000 metre-square spa and a multitude of restaurants with huge views.

The Telegraph
The Chedi Andermatt

The Chedi Andermatt occupies a wildly beautiful seat at 1,447 metres above sea level in Andermatt between the Oberalp, St. Gotthard and Furka passes. Towering overhead is the impressive face of the Gemsstock, and raging nearby, the vertiginous Schöllenenschlucht gorge, which is unfathomably traversed by the quaint Devil's Bridge.

The Telegraph
The Dolder Grand

Burrowed into the Adlisbergwald, where its turrets appear to spear the sky, the Dolder Grand sits amid riotous woodland above Zurich. Lake Zurich can be seen sparkling below, while snow-capped mountains serrate the horizon. The soundtrack is of birdsong, but the tranquillity of the setting belies its proximity to the city.

The Telegraph
The Dolder Grand

Burrowed into the Adlisbergwald, where its turrets appear to spear the sky, the Dolder Grand sits amid riotous woodland above Zurich. Lake Zurich can be seen sparkling below, while snow-capped mountains serrate the horizon. The soundtrack is of birdsong, but the tranquillity of the setting belies its proximity to the city.

The Telegraph
The Cambrian Hotel

Adelboden is one of the Bernese Oberland's prettiest mountain resorts, a tranquil tangle of window-boxed chalets amid Alpine dairy-speckled meadows. The Cambrian occupies an elevated south-facing perch off the main street, where it overlooks an amphitheatre of summits centred by the Wildstrubel and Engstligen Falls.

The Telegraph
Hotel Helvetia

Helvetia overlooks the leafy banks of the River Sihl in Zurich city centre, where it straddles the financial quarter and the lively 'Kreis 4' district of independent shops, restaurants and bars. Although the hotel is cornered by a busy junction and the traffic noise is bothersome, the location is convenient.

The Telegraph
Hotel Helvetia

Helvetia overlooks the leafy banks of the River Sihl in Zurich city centre, where it straddles the financial quarter and the lively 'Kreis 4' district of independent shops, restaurants and bars. Although the hotel is cornered by a busy junction and the traffic noise is bothersome, the location is convenient.

The Telegraph
Hotel Arnica Scuol

Elliptical architecture belies straightforward cosiness at Arnica, on the edge of spa town Scuol in the sunny Engadine region. The pine-and-glass hotel facing the Swiss National Park has feather-soft beds, regionally sourced breakfasts and a light-filled spa with a panoramic sauna.

The Telegraph
Motel One Zürich

Design-led appeal and a central location close to Zurich's ritzy Bahnhofstrasse belie Motel One's excellent rates for travellers looking for a functional stay. Box-spring beds, organic toiletries and lively common areas set with Italian-made furniture are among the highlights.

Inntravel
Zürich: like a box of chocolates

The boat slices through the glassy turquoise depths, its prow pointing towards the jagged, snow-topped horizon in the distance. Behind us, the spires of Zürich decorate the skyline. To our left, wooded hillsides sweep to shores dappled with manorial villas, all shutters and lawns tumbling to boat houses.

Inntravel
Vendicari: The birds' hotel

Travel writer Emily Mawson checks into Sicily's Vendicari Nature Reserve, and discovers why this unique environment is a bird-watching paradise. "We're actually further south than Tunis," announces my boyfriend Tim, as he stares in disbelief at the information panel in front of him.

Inntravel
Cava d'Ispica, Sicily: cave living

Emily Mawson steps off the beaten track to visit a fascinating network of ancient cave dwellings in Sicily's eastern corner. Tangled bamboo, fig and pomegranate trees, interspersed by the odd cactus, obscure the path. My feet tread on discarded carob that look like chocolate-coated autumn leaves.

The Telegraph
Hotel Ambassador à l'Opera

Ambassador à l'Opéra cuts a fine neo-Baroque figure beside Zurich Opera House. A good price to comfort ratio plays out in feather-soft beds, shiny bathrooms with natural toiletries and relative quiet. It also has a roof terrace with 360-degree views and one of Zurich's best fish restaurants.

The Telegraph
Ultima Gstaad

Read the Ultima Gstaad, Switzerland hotel review on Telegraph Travel. See great photos, full ratings, facilities, expert advice and book the best hotel deals.

The Telegraph
Chesa Salis

Chesa Salis cowers beneath the bulk of Crasta Mora in Bever, a sleepy tangle of sgraffito-decorated villas in the sweeping Upper Engadine. The village has a 14th-century church with Gothic wall paintings, a clutch of restaurant-bars and a grocery store, and is well connected to the rest of the valley by public transport.

Countrybycountry
07/09/2017
Galloping beneath Bamburgh Castle

The wind contours around us in salty swooshes as we charge along the golden sheen of sand. I grip Biscuit's mane, my heart pounding and my eyes half-closed against the sea spray as I peer between his pricked ears.

The Telegraph
Domaine du Burignon

Saint-Saphorin, Switzerland This b&b oozes the dolce vita, set amid a Unesco-protected vineyard that plunges into Lake Geneva. It has a Mediterranean-esque prospect, as well as three huge rooms, excellent continental breakfasts, a panoramic terrace and home-produced wine.

The Telegraph
HUUS Gstaad

Read the HUUS Gstaad, Switzerland hotel review on Telegraph Travel. See great photos, full ratings, facilities, expert advice and book the best hotel deals.

The Telegraph
Greulich

Greulich is Zurich's original design hotel. It has a crisp, arty aesthetic, daily yoga classes overlooking a grove of silver birches and a cosy 'living room' that draws in the local community. It is set in the hip Langstrasse district.

The Telegraph
Gaia Hotel

A light and bright family-run hotel opposite Basel main station that puts guests' wellbeing first. It has a cheerful aesthetic, everything in place for a good night's sleep and nutritious breakfasts brimming with berries, chia seeds and Swiss nut cake.

The Telegraph
25hours Hotel Zurich West

25hours Hotel Zurich West, located in a striking black cube in the trendy industrial district, delights with its childlike colour palette and playful design details. It has a Middle Eastern-themed restaurant, a sauna with a view and two Minis for complimentary hire.

The Telegraph
Hotel Krafft

This historic hotel on the Rhine creaks with storybook charm. While its views across the river to Basel old town are among the best in the city, it also delights with a restaurant headed by a forest-foraging chef, a sun terrace with continental flair and inherently friendly service.

The Telegraph
Storchen Zürich

Storchen Zürich, a centuries-old establishment that melds traditional hospitality with polished design-led good looks, occupies an enviable perch on the river in central Zurich. Its pier lends exclusivity, a mood enhanced by the jazz-filled waterside bar.

The Telegraph
25hours Hotel Zurich Langstrasse

A modish hotel offering a new angle on Zurich - 25hours Hotel Langstrasse combines views over the railway with a zany, analogue-inspired aesthetic. It has a Middle Eastern-themed restaurant and a lively bar, as well as a 'train spotting sauna'.

The Telegraph
Ferienart Resort & Spa

Read the Ferienart Resort & Spa, Saas-Fee, Switzerland hotel review on Telegraph Travel. See great photos, full ratings, facilities, expert advice and book the best hotel deals.

The Telegraph
Waldhotel Fletschhorn

Saas-Fee, Valais, Switzerland Offering conscious escapism on a forested slope just outside Saas-Fee, Waldhotel Fletschhorn combines the seclusion of a mountain hut with the ambiance of a good friend's home, the luxury of a Relais & Chateaux property and the mastery of a Gault & Millau 'Chef of the Year'.

The Telegraph
EDEN AU LAC

Read the EDEN AU LAC, Zurich, Switzerland hotel review on Telegraph Travel. See great photos, full ratings, facilities, expert advice and book the best hotel deals.

The Telegraph
Hotel Savoy

Read the Hotel Savoy, Bern, Switzerland hotel review on Telegraph Travel. See great photos, full ratings, facilities, expert advice and book the best hotel deals.

The Telegraph
Posthotel Achenkirch

A palatial five-star wellness resort in a bucolic setting close to an Alpine lake, ski slopes and hiking trails, Posthotel Achenkirch is a self-confessed playground for adults. A first-rate spa, a restaurant fit for an epicure and a stable full of Lipizzaner horses back up the claim.

Countrybycountry
03/28/2017
High and mighty on the Hammetschwand Lift

"Enjoy the ride," says the lift attendant with a glint in his eye, as he closes the door on us. Seconds later, we're off. Chiselled limestone hurtles past, before a small opening reveals the cliff tumbling away beneath us. "Help!"

The Telegraph
Riffelalp Resort 2222 m

Read the Riffelalp Resort 2222 m, Zermatt, Switzerland hotel review on Telegraph Travel. See great photos, full ratings, facilities, expert advice and book the best hotel dea

The Telegraph
The Douglas Hotel

Read The Douglas Hotel, Arran, Scotland hotel review on Telegraph Travel. See great photos, full ratings, facilities, expert advice and book the best hotel deals.

Inntravel
Discovering Fauvism in Collioure

Writer Emily Mawson explores the colourful port of Collioure in French Catalonia and learns a thing or two about Fauvism... The wild brushstrokes capture the juxtaposition of gold on turquoise so brilliantly that I can hardly tell where the painting ends and the real world begins.

The Telegraph
Unique Hotel Post

Read the Unique Hotel Post, Zermatt, Switzerland hotel review on Telegraph Travel. See great photos, full ratings, facilities, expert advice and book the best hotel dea

The Telegraph
Parkhotel Beau Site

Zermatt, Valais, Switzerland This Belle Epoque four-star majestically presides over central Zermatt, where it enjoys some of the resort's best views of the Matterhorn. It also offers traditionally comfortable rooms, outstanding service and a spa area with a large panoramic swimming pool.

Thelocal
04/12/2017
How to save money in Zurich, Europe's most expensive city

Photo: Zürich Tourism/Rubiano Soto Zurich has once again been named Europe's most expensive city, but you don't have to flash the cash - here are our top tips for saving money. While cooking at home is always the cheaper option, there's no need to forego dining out completely.

The Telegraph
Hotel Florhof

Hotel Florhof, an 18th-century silk factory and aristocratic mansion in Zurich's evocative historic quarter, oozes charm and character while capturing a comfortable modern aesthetic. Lusciously quiet yet minutes from the main attractions, it also has an excellent Gault-Millau-rated restaurant.

The Telegraph
Placid Hotel Zurich

A functional four-star business hotel with a serene aesthetic and plenty of open space towers over trendy Zurich-West, where it benefits from soaring views and peace and quiet. It also has a good restaurant, well-appointed gym and a surprising open-ceilinged room.

Thelocal
11/10/2016
Seven things to get you excited for the Swiss winter

Emily Mawson · 10 Nov 2016, 11:33 Published: 10 Nov 2016 11:33 GMT+01:00 Winter is coming, and across Switzerland a roster of intriguing developments - from laser-controlled ski lifts to winter kayaking - will make you want to wrap up and head out, says The Local's Emily Rose Mawson.

The Telegraph
Schweizerhof Hotel

Hotel Schweizerhof Bern is a Juliet-balcony-studded grande dame with welcoming but snazzy interiors. It's steps from the main train station, has views of the Swiss parliament and Alps, lays claim to Bern's only central spa and rooftop bar - and does Switzerland's best wiener schnitzel.

The Telegraph
The Omnia

Zermatt, Valais, Switzerland The Omnia, a serene mountain hideaway, is perched on a wooded ledge high above central Zermatt. It exudes luxury in the shape of spacious, curated-to-perfection rooms, a Michelin-starred restaurant and a hot whirlpool with Matterhorn views.

The Telegraph
Boutique Hotel Backstage

Read the Boutique Hotel Backstage, Zermatt, Switzerland hotel review on Telegraph Travel. See great photos, full ratings, facilities, expert advice and book the best hotel deals.

The Telegraph
Widder Hotel

Widder Hotel is an intriguing concoction of townhouses dating from the 15th century, artfully melded to make space for 49 unique rooms. Located in central Zurich, the five-star also boasts a library decorated with Eames chairs, two restaurants and one of the city's best bars.

The Telegraph
Hotel Bellerive

Read the Hotel Bellerive, Zermatt, Switzerland review on Telegraph Travel. See great photos, full ratings, facilities, expert advice and book the best hotel deals.

The Telegraph
Hotel Bristol

Hotel Bristol is an upmarket base in central Geneva, close to the train station and in view of the lake. As well as comfortable rooms, it offers Gault-Millau dining, a small wellness centre with a hot whirlpool and a sophisticated ladies-only floor.

The Telegraph
Tiffany Hotel

Read the Tiffany Hotel, Geneva, Switzerland hotel review on Telegraph Travel. See great photos, full ratings, facilities, expert advice and book the best hotel deals.

The Telegraph
Hôtel Royal Savoy Lausanne

The Royal Savoy Lausanne, an imposing Art Nouveau structure with turrets that rise between gigantic listed pines, is a sleek affair in shades of grey. Its landscaped parkland, well appointed spa with indoor and outdoor pools, and sky lounge with 360-degree panoramas, inspire relaxation.

The Telegraph
Der Teufelhof Basel

One of the world's first art-themed hotels, this self-proclaimed 'guesthouse and cultural centre' has become a Basel institution, for its impressive artist-designed rooms, Michelin-starred restaurant, theatre and cellar housing parts of the city's historic medieval city walls.

The Telegraph
Hotel Brasserie au Violon

Hotel Brasserie au Violon, Basel, Switzerland hotel review on Telegraph Travel. See great photos, full ratings, facilities, expert advice and book the best hotel deals.

The Telegraph
Storchen Zürich

Storchen Zürich, a centuries-old establishment that has welcomed guests including composer Richard Wagner, occupies a prominent yet quiet riverside location in Zurich city centre. It has its own pier, an excellent Rôtisserie and unrivalled views of the twin-spired Grossmunster.

The Telegraph
Romantik Hotel Europe

The family-run Romantik Hotel Europe, which peeps onto Lake Zurich from a neo-Baroque castle, exudes creaky old-world charm with its striped wallpaper, antique furniture and glass chandeliers. Most rooms have a balcony and there is an excellent French restaurant.

The Telegraph
Motel One Basel

The Motel One brand's first hotel in Switzerland brings cheap and cheerful accommodation to central Basel, with bright, modern interiors, offering travellers a comfortable bed on a budget - without compromising on location or style.

The Telegraph
Park Hyatt Zürich

Park Hyatt Zurich - the American brand's first property in Switzerland - is a spacious five-star hotel with high ceilings and understated yet lavish interiors featuring contemporary art. This comfortable urban base is situated between the financial district and lakefront.

The Telegraph
Hotel Villa Honegg

Art Nouveau-style Villa Honegg is Switzerland's smallest superior five-star, occupying a sun terrace high on the Bürgenstock above Lake Lucerne. It offers secluded opulence across 23 rooms and suites, as well as Gault-Millau-standard dining and a heated outdoor infinity pool with an almighty view.

The Telegraph
Hotel La Tureta

Read the Hotel La Tureta, Giubiasco, Switzerland hotel review on Telegraph Travel. See great photos, full ratings, facilities, expert advice and book the best hotel deals.

The Telegraph
The Passage Hotel

Read The Passage Hotel, Basel, Switzerland hotel review on Telegraph Travel. See great photos, full ratings, facilities, expert advice and book the best hotel deals.

The Telegraph
Nomad

Read the Nomad, Basel, Switzerland hotel review on Telegraph Travel. See great photos, full ratings, facilities, expert advice and book the best hotel deals.

Countrybycountry
04/14/2016
Cooking the Sicilian way

"È tonno?" I ask, thinking the pinkish fillet smells like the Mediterranean. "La spada," comes the matter-of-fact reply, as my teacher, Carla, continues laying out a colourful array of ingredients. Ah, swordfish - of course: it's a local catch.

The Telegraph
Waldhaus Flims Mountain Resort & Spa

Flims, Graubünden, Switzerland Cloaked in voluptuous woodland in Alpine eastern Switzerland, the Waldhaus Flims Mountain Resort & Spa, which stars in Paolo Sorrentino's new film Youth as a holiday retreat for Michael Caine's character, offers top-notch rooms, a cavernous spa, five restaurants and delicious breakfasts.

The Telegraph
Berghotel Schatzalp

Berghotel Schatzalp, star of Thomas Mann's The Magic Mountain, is a sanatorium-turned-hotel above Davos, Switzerland, with startling views, charming Art Nouveau murals, five restaurants, a remarkable botanic garden and its own funicular and ski resort. £ 104 per night Rates provided byBooking.com High above Davos, this balconied, Belle Époque creation stretches along a south-facing sun terrace at an altitude of 1,900 metres.

Coastmagazine
Weekend in... Kirkcudbright

Amid the craggy cliffs and meandering estuaries on the Solway coast in Dumfries and Galloway, the town of Kirkcudbright (pronounced kir-coo-bree) is a bustling hub. Its collection of colourful cottages, Georgian villas and Victorian townhouses are within striking distance of quaint coves on the Scottish Riviera, while the town boasts interesting shops, quality galleries and museums, a castle and an award-winning Arts & Crafts Trail in the summer months.

Coastmagazine
Try It Now... Dog-mushing on the Cumbrian Coast

Picture huskies pulling a sled and you are likely to imagine the scene in the frozen plains of northern Canada or Siberia, where 'mushing' (driving huskies) has been practised for thousands of years. Certainly one of the last places that would come to mind is the Lake District's sandy coastline, a little-known realm between the shores of the Irish Sea and the Cumbrian fells.

Thelocal
12/10/2015
Five affordable places to ski in Switzerland

Emily Mawson · 10 Dec 2015, 14:13 Published: 10 Dec 2015 14:13 GMT+01:00 The Swiss franc has soared in value, making a ski holiday in Switzerland a pricey proposition this winter. But you can still find affordable options, says The Local's Emily Mawson, who rounds up five destinations for the budget-minded.

The Independent
11/02/2015
Winter holidays: From classic ski breaks to Christmas markets

Glistening forests, sparkling lakes and the ground crunching underfoot ... The annual fantasy of a white Christmas has added plausibility this year, with the coldest winter for 50 years forecast. For many of us, however, all too probable will be dreary skies, biting wind and slushy roads.

Inntravel
People watching in Sicily | Slow Lane | Inntravel

Travel writer, Emily Mawson, sits back to enjoy a spot of serious people watching in the wonderful Baroque town of Scicli on a recent trip to Sicily... The old lady leaned over the balcony of her third-floor terrace and winched down a wicker basket. She looked like Rapunzel releasing her hair.

Natgeotraveller
Switzerland: The green fairy

The weather is apt. A cobweb of fog, strung from one side of the wooded valley to the other, is broken in places by the eerie glow of the sun. Shutters are closed throughout the village. I lift my glass from the bar and discretely take a sip of the bitter green spirit.

Country By Country
09/01/2015
Paddling with jellyfish

The wildlife under the waves motivates Emily Rose Mawson to stay upright as she sea kayaks in Scotland I'm sprawled on the wet sand of a Scottish beach with one leg slung into a sea kayak.

Country By Country
06/11/2015
Sweet cuisine in Alsace

Emily Rose Mawson indulges her sweet tooth in Colmar, northeast France I wonder if I've room for just one more? Yet it's hard to choose between the brightly coloured miniature cakes oozing with cream, neat rows of chocolate- and coffee-flavoured eclairs, and gingerbread men smiling so sweetly they seem to be inviting me to eat them.

National Geographic Traveller (UK)
01/27/2015
Montségur: Walking with the Cathars

Now, eyes open, fast-forward 750 years to a warm autumnal day, and it is hard to believe that this was the setting for a massacre. The breeze is a ghostly whisper that caresses the lush meadow before continuing through the riot of woodland around the foot of the hill.

Thelocal
05/25/2015
Severed rope recalls Matterhorn's first ascent - The Local

Published: 25 May 2015 20:31 GMT+02:00 As Zermatt celebrates the 150th anniversary of the first ascent of the Matterhorn, The Local's Emily Rose Mawson delves into the story and finds out more about the iconic Swiss summit that so many people want to climb. It's not the severed end itself, although it makes me shudder.

Country By Country
04/23/2015
Meeting the Kelpies

I look up, and up, and up. Smooth lines shape a muscular neck and elegant muzzle that lead to a wide pair of eyes. Here, beneath this colossal horse's head, it's as if I'm four again and dwarfed by my first riding pony. This is no real horse, though.

Natgeotraveller
05/06/2014
Hull: A pint of culture

It could be 1642, and we could be the plotters who allegedly met here in Hull's Ye Olde White Harte to trigger the start of hostilities leading to the Civil War. "Hull has always had a radical edge, with ideas imported from Europe," says heritage guide Paul Schofield.

Time Out Switzerland
02/13/2015
Why Zurich is my valentine

Zurich, you're simply the best. And I'm not the only one who thinks so. Surveys vote you number one time and again, and they can't be wrong. Not just good looking but also full of substance, you're a dream for everyone who knows you.

Countrybycountry
08/14/2014
Switzerland: Waterfalls and wine

Emily Rose Mawson explores the vineyards of the Swiss Riviera What a pity Lake Geneva is too far off to jump into. The late afternoon sun is scorching on the Swiss Riviera. There are plenty of walls around, but no shade - unless you're one of the tiny lizards scurrying across the path and diving into the stonework.

Natgeotraveller
08/12/2014
Deià: Withstanding paradise

To our left, it plateaus for several metres before sloping steeply up the next step. And so the terrace, like a giant's staircase on this hillside in northwest Majorca, continues until it meets a wooded flank of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Serra de Tramuntana, whose rocky summits are set against a flawless sky.

Spasecretsmagazine
11/04/2013
Switzerland: As nature intended

Published 08 July 2013 Switzerland is a land of Alpine peaks, thermal waters and pure air - little wonder the sick and weary have for centuries been flocking here for cures. From sanatoriums perched on Alpine plateaus to thermal resorts such as Baden and Engadin, where ancient Roman baths can still be found, Switzerland's natural landscape has long attracted those in need of some serious rest and relaxation.

Country By Country
02/05/2015
Ski yoga in St Moritz

I'm not a terribly good skier, and only recently took up yoga, so I'm not sure how I found myself on the world's first ski yoga piste, in Switzerland. It must have been curiosity. When the piste opened in St Moritz two years ago, many of my friends dismissed it as a gimmick.

Theguardian
12/15/2013
Ski on a budget ... in Switzerland? Yes you can, and here's how

Scuol Tucked into a natural basin in the sunniest corner of the Lower Engadine, the spa town of Scuol - a cluster of traditional houses decorated with sgraffito - is skirted by dazzling 3,000m peaks and overlooks the Swiss national park.

Thelocal
03/16/2014
Skiing meshes with yoga on St. Moritz piste

Instructor Sabrina Nussbaum does the splits on the world's first yoga piste. Photo: Suvretta Snowsports Published: 13 Mar 2014 12:42 GMT+01:00Updated: 13 Mar 2014 12:42 GMT+01:00 Ski-yoga is more than a fashionable gimmick, as The Local's Emily Mawson learns when she finds her skiing improving on St.

Theguardian
06/21/2014
Health spa holidays: energy and meditation in Switzerland

"Close your eyes and begin to concentrate on your breathing," said a soft voice from across the circle. It seemed a shame to shut out the view: the sun was setting over Lake Maggiore, the chestnut woodland beneath me, and the resorts of Ascona and Locarno on the opposite bank.

Countrybycountry
04/10/2014
Hull

Emily Rose Mawson explores the next UK City of Culture I pull my duffle coat closer against the chill. There's a stiff wind hurtling in over dockside chimneys and warehouses, crossing the broad sand banks of the River Humber and tinkling sailing boats in the marina.

Natgeotraveller
11/26/2013
Switzerland: The valley that time forgot

A frog leaps from the stone path in front of me, diving - limbs splayed - into the undergrowth. Further on, a salamander tries to find his grip on the fallen autumn leaves, now a golden soup. The roar of the waterfall masks the sound of the driving rain.

Countrybycountry
01/03/2014
Isle of Arran

Emily Rose Mawson visits this Scottish island's unique coastline The landscape hurries past in a haze of dusky blue and gold, though the wind stroking my face is gentle. It's a clear day and the sea is calm, sheltered between the Isle of Arran on the right and the Mull of Kintyre on the left, allowing our boat to make light work of the few waves.

Celebrity interviews

Swiss News
10/2012
Only human

Celebrity interview: Roger Federer

Fashion, Arts and Culture

Thelocal
07/20/2016
Dating in Switzerland: what you need to know

Emily Mawson · 20 Jul 2016, 10:34 Published: 20 Jul 2016 10:34 GMT+02:00 When it comes to dating in Switzerland, online forums are full of expats crying out for tips on meeting the 'reserved', 'conservative' or 'unapproachable' Swiss. Looking for answers, The Local's Emily Rose Mawson uncovers some quirks of the Swiss dating scene.

Time Out Switzerland
02/19/2015
Ten of the wackiest Swiss laws

We love Switzerland and its pristine nature. And there's no doubt about it: the country wouldn't be the same without its idiosyncratic rules. Some of them are sensible, some of them keep things running smoothly and others are just plain kooky. Here are ten of our favourites. 1.

Thelocal
04/28/2014
Expat life inspires Geneva-based writer

Anne Korkeakivi. Photo: Handout Published: 28 Apr 2014 08:00 GMT+02:00Updated: 28 Apr 2014 08:00 GMT+02:00 After living in many places, New York-born writer Anne Korkeakivi is now based in Geneva, where she speaks to The Local about how being an expat inspired her first novel, An Unexpected Guest.

Thelocal
10/15/2014
Anglo writer lauds expat 'brains and brawn'

Published: 15 Oct 2014 15:02 GMT+02:00Updated: 15 Oct 2014 15:02 GMT+02:00 "Outside expert" on Switzerland and English expat Diccon Bewes followed in the footsteps of the Victorians for his latest book Slow Train to Switzerland. As he tells The Local's Emily Mawson, if British tourists transformed the country then, international expats play as important a role now.

Thelocal
02/01/2016
Dada's Zurich roots recalled a century later

Emily Mawson · 1 Feb 2016, 20:00 Published: 01 Feb 2016 20:00 GMT+01:00 As the legendary Dada art movement celebrates the 100th anniversary of its founding in Zurich, The Local's Emily Rose Mawson traces its origins and seeks to find out what it was all about.

Business

Thelocal
03/15/2016
How Switzerland shaped London's youngest hotelier

Emily Mawson · 15 Mar 2016, 08:09 Published: 15 Mar 2016 08:09 GMT+01:00 Hotelier Olivia Byrne was born in Paris, educated in Romandy and is now the youngest hotel owner in London - a success she attributes to her Swiss education. She tells The Local's Emily Rose Mawson why.

Current Affairs

Thelocal
03/12/2015
Top tips for finding an apartment in Switzerland

Published: 12 Mar 2015 14:50 GMT+01:00 Housing in Switzerland is among the most expensive in the world and competition is fierce for affordable properties. It's all very well if money isn't an issue, but what if it is? The Local's Emily Rose Mawson investigates.

Thelocal
No shame for Swiss jobless: an insider's look - The Local

So, after bracing myself for the worst, I was pleasantly surprised by Switzerland's unemployment insurance system. Swiss unemployment is low compared to other European countries - the jobless rate fell for the fourth consecutive month in May to three per cent, according to the latest figures from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco).

Thelocal
03/07/2014
Basel drummers pound out expert carnival beat

Published: 05 Mar 2014 19:24 GMT+01:00Updated: 05 Mar 2014 19:24 GMT+01:00 Drummers play a key role in Basel's three-day annual carnival or Fasnacht. But drumming is more than just a pastime in this German-speaking city on the Rhine River, as The Local's Emily Mawson discovers.

Thelocal
01/26/2015
Anglo expats mine creativity to earn crust

Published: 26 Jan 2015 15:45 CET Switzerland's job market is appealingly lucrative but sometimes anglophones need to be creative to find a job in a country where English is not an official language, as The Local's Emily Mawson finds out.

Thelocal
09/01/2015
Get wise to Swiss duties on stuff bought abroad - The Local

Emily Mawson · 1 Sep 2015, 18:11 Published: 01 Sep 2015 18:11 GMT+02:00 Swiss import duties designed to protect the domestic economy can be a killjoy for 'shopping tourists' in Switzerland seeking bargains across the border or online. But Emily Rose Mawson discovers there are ways to avoid paying through the nose for those purchases from abroad.