les trois rois – Tennis Trips – The Blog for Tennis Travellers

THE TOURNAMENT: ATP 500 SWISS INDOOR BASEL

Date: From 24/10 to 30/10

Money prize: $ 1,701,320

Surface: Hard Indoor

Tournament Location: St.Jakobs Halle – Bruglingerstrasse 21, 4052 Munchenstein, Switzerland

How to get: From Basel SBB (main station) you get Tram No. 8, 10 or 11 till Aeschenplatz, change line on Tram No. 14 till stop St. Jakob. From Basel Badischer Bahnhof you can get Bus No. 36 without changing till stop St. Jakob.

Recent Past Winners: 2015 – 2014 Roger Federer – 2013 – 2012 Juan Martin del Potro – 2011 – 2010 Roger Federer – 2009 Novak Djokovic – 2008 – 2007 – 2006 Roger Federer

Top 10 Players: Stan Wawrinka (Svi) – Rafael Nadal (Esp) -Kei Nishikori (Jpn) – Milos Raonic (Can) – Marin Cilic (Cro) – David Goffin (Bel) – Nick Kyrgios (Aus) – Richard Gasquet (Fra) – Grigor Dimitrov (Bul) – Jack Sock (Usa)

ABOUT BASEL

Basel is Switzerland’s third-most-populous city (behind Zürich and Geneva) with about 195,000 inhabitants. Situated at the Swiss-German-French tripoint, the Basel region culturally extends into German Baden-Württemberg and French Alsace.Basel has been an important cultural centre since the Renaissance and the Age of Enlightenment. It has the oldest university of the Swiss Confederation (1460). Basel had been a commercial hub since the Renaissance, and it emerged as a centre for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry in the 20th century. Lonely Planet defines it as a city for art lovers and writes: “With museums galore, a scenic setting on the Rhine and one of Europe’s best winter carnivals, Basel makes an appealing stopover, especially for lovers of art and contemporary urban design.The city’s year-round attractions, including the engaging Old Town, are mostly concentrated in Grossbasel (Greater Basel) on the south bank of the Rhine. Over the river, Kleinbasel (Little Basel) is a grittier area, long home to this rich city’s working class. The relief bust of Lällekeenig (Tongue King) – near the southern end of Mittlere Brücke – sticking his tongue out at the northern end, just about sums up the old attitude between the two sides of town.Basel is also the closest Switzerland comes to having a seaport; the Rhine is navigable for decent-sized ships from this point until it reaches the North Sea in Holland. It follows a gentle bend through the city, from southeast to north.“

TOP 3 THINGS TO SEE:

Altstadt

Kunstmuseum

Tinguely-Brunnen (Carnival Fountain)

BEST PLACES TO STAY:

Ibis Budget Basel City: In a town where is very difficult to save money I want to put in evidence for you this good *** solution, awarded on Tripadvisor. Located just 800 mt from central station and 1,1 km from Kunstmuseum, this hotel offers little but modern double rooms at 96€ + 10€ for breakfast.
Das Breite Hotel. Very good *** accomodation, rated 8.5 on Booking, this hotel enjoys a convenient location close to the A3 motorway in Basel and offers elegant rooms with free wired internet access.A rich breakfast buffet is available every morning. Parking is available in the garage. Price for a standard room is 139€ in b&b.
Swissotel Le Plaza Basel. Amazing **** hotel at 15 minutes driving by airport and 10 minutes by public transport from train station. This is the official accomodation of tennis players. Rated 8.5 on Booking, it offers classic twin room at 246€ per night with breakfast and wifi included.
Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois. Exsclusive and luxurious *****S and located in the centre of Basel’s Old Town, on the banks of the Rhine, Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois is one of Europe’s oldest city hotels, where such personalities as Napoleon, Elizabeth II, Pablo Picasso, Thomas Mann and others have stayed. Inside you could eat at The Cheval Blanc restaurant which was awarded 3 Michelin stars. The price is for a few people : 703€ per night for a 32 mq2 deluxe double room city side.