First, the
inexpensive ones:
Paris: Hotel Petit Chomel
https://www.lepetitchomel.com/en practically around the corner from Bon Marche. Super cute, friendly, altogether a delightful experience. Alone I stay in a classic room; with my husband, the luxury room.
Florence: Palazzo Guadagni
https://www.palazzoguadagni.com/ On the "other side" of the Arno but a short walk across the bridge to the premium shopping street Via de' Tornabuoni, it's great fun. Esp if you stay in one of their superior rooms. My friends and I do shopping trips in Milan or Florence every year in the autumn and we stay in the Palazzo. Lively Spirito Sancto neighborhood. Fantastic covered balcony for sharing a bottle of wine. Quirky decor, nice staff. Also a short walk from the Jennifer Tattanelli store.
Milan: Milano Relais Brera B&B.
http://www.milanobrerarelais.it/wordpress/?lang=en Cute, friendly B&B in a fabulous neighborhood. We've stayed in the Angelo suite. Freshly baked croissants served each morning. The neighborhood is filled with shops, cafes, restos, etc off the usual tourist radar.
Second,
medium priced:
Paris: Paris Perfect, Saint Amour.
https://www.parisperfect.com/apartments-for-rent-in-paris/saint-amour.php OK, it's a holiday apartment, but we loved it for our four week Paris stay last year. Two bedrooms (the second bedroom is just bunk beds, we used it as a storage area), two baths, washer/dryer, pretty decor, drop-dead view of the Eiffel Tower. And yes, it's registered with the city, so it's a "legal" short-term rental. Bus stop for three, maybe four (I forget) lines right across the street, you can take a bus direct to the Hotel de Ville are, to the St. Germain area, etc. Ecole Militaire metro stop a five minute walk away.
Baden-Baden: Dorint Messmer Hotel.
https://hotel-baden-baden.dorint.com/en/ Although it's a five-star spa hotel, you can get some very good deals. They also "own" a row in the Festspielhaus, one of the top concert halls in Germany, so if you want to attend a performance, they usually have tickets. Their row is arguably the best in the hall: first row center of the first balcony. We stay at the hotel and dine at the Winter Garden restaurant at Brenner's. The Dorint has a wonderful location if you're there for the Christmas markets.
Lugano,
Switzerland. Hotel Lugano Dante.
https://www.hotel-luganodante.com/en/ Considered to have the best service of any Lugano hotel. We go a few times a year and never stay anywhere else. Well-priced for a solid four-star hotel. Visit the beautiful Ticino to enjoy Italian dolce vita combined with Swiss efficiency. Located in the heart of Lugano just steps from the funicular to the train station. Bonus: staying at a Lugano hotel gives you a free transit pass for the entire region, good on buses, trains, trams, and some funiculars. Lugano is a lovely, vibrant city with some great shopping, plus only 20 minutes away from Foxtown by train or taxi.
Expensive:
Milan: Palazzo Parigi.
http://www.palazzoparigi.com/en/ Beautiful, luxurious hotel with full spa services in Milan. This one is a toss-up with the Four Seasons in Milan. Love them both.
Gstaad, Switzerland:
https://bellevue-gstaad.ch/ Five-star spa hotel right along the main street in the village. Rooms done in a modern British club style. Good service, pretty grounds.
Gstaad, Switzerland: Alpina Gstaad.
https://www.thealpinagstaad.ch/en Six-star experience, Gorgeous hotel, up a hill.
Vienna: Park Hyatt.
https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/austria/park-hyatt-vienna/vieph Excellent hotel in former bank. Close to shopping, Meinl am Graben, etc. Nab a sought-after table in late afternoon at their outdoor cafe. Great indoor pool. Our new favorite hotel in Vienna. Over the years, I've stayed at several of the city's five-star hotels: Bristol, Grand, Imperial, Sacher, but we find the Park Hyatt delivers a better overall experience.
How about Amsterdam and Florence?
