Chocolate, precision engineering, pristine banking, enviably clean and not a piece of holy cheese in sight, where are we... .? Mix in some blind-tasting fine dining, century old vegetarianism, wooden toys you just have to play with, hedonistic night clubs (okay that was a bit overstated), all the brand names you can think of, yup it's got to be Zurich.

Taking its name from the lake it perches on which also provides the gateway the perfect break, dashing between those ding ding trams and cafes to day trips out to the Rhine Falls or Lucerne, a heady mix indeed. Not always the cheapest place to stay, but what the heck, it has chocolate and beer. I did say chocolate.

For those lucky enough not to have lost their shirts (plenty of them in the fine shops dotted around the city), you will not be short of a bank or two to store the loose change left after your weekend in some of Zurich's luxury hotels.

Hop on a clockwork train to any part of Switzerland or further afield and enjoy this increasingly diverse choctropolis.

The medieval Old Town with its cobbled ways occupies a big part of the city's heart for which no guide is needed. Stroll, look, nibble, quaff or engage in any other legal leisure time activity that tickles your fancy without queues, traffic chaos or hassle. Of course once you've unwound and are ready to recharge you can embark on the tourist trail of medieval churches, galleries and food emporia before hitting the dance floor in the many clubs before dropping dead (not literally) in your last minute hotel.