We decided to stay here because we new all the Swissotels are clean and of good standard.
This one was no exception. Very warm welcome on reception, relatively quick check-in and help offered with the luggage. The room looked and felt modern and had a nice layout; there was free radio on tv, very comfortable bed, and a beautiful Lavazza machine that we enjoyed upon arrival but unfortunately broke down on the morning we were leaving.
Sadly, we were slightly disappointed by the quality of some food in the restaurant. We ordered an excellent steak, and one not so excellent fish dish. The steak was probably one of the best we have ever eaten but the fish was certainly not of the freshness we expected to find here. On a positive note, the bread, olive oil and balsamico offered before the meal were truly wonderful and, if requested, generously topped up.
The hotel is a short tram ride or a good 10 min walk away from the center, but in good weather that should be no problem. There is really no problem getting round town as on the check-in you are provided with a mobility card.
When in Basil, you should definitely make a trip to the Lindt shop in the train station. Try not only the chocolates but also the beautiful macarons-heaven!

I've stayed here for several business trips during 2010 and 2011. The hotel is very clean, friendly, and modern, but considering the hefty price there is definitely room for improvement. The king beds are often two twins pushed together and the room amenities seem to vary greatly floor to floor (and maybe within a the floor) and I wasn't charged any less for the lesser rooms. The breakfast is fantastic but expensive. The fitness center is excellent. Overall it is a fantastic place for business travel, but I wouldn't pay for it with my own dollar.

We stayed here for a long weekend to visit the Basel Christmas markets. Consistent with the other reviews the hotel staff are very friendly and welcoming. Moreover, the hotel itself is very well kept and relatively modern in style. The bed configuration was not very comfortable as they had pushed two single beds together to make a queen bed. Throughout the course of the night the two beds slowly separated, thus creating a gap in the middle of the bed. So my advice would be to confirm that this is not the case if you intent to stay as a couple. In our room 366 (not sure about other rooms) the bed itself was also rather soft which is not our preference.

Being winter we found the sauna and steam room very enjoyable and made good use of them after having been out in the cold. A great advantage of this hotel is its central location to the town centre, Christmas markets, Museums and transport are literally just outside the hotel entrance. A bonus is the mobility card which the hotel provides when you check-in, giving you free access to all public transportation during your stay.

The Christmas market itself was a great experience. We made use of the local temporary restaurants set up within the market for most of our meals. We tried a variety of dishes including fondue, racklette, potato fritters and veal which were very reasonable priced (approx £15 each).

Having not been to Switzerland for many years I was surprised at how expensive it has become as a travel destination. Even within the Christmas market the price of goods sold was rather high compared to similar products in London or Australia. Just as an example, many stalls were selling mixed wool/cashmere scarves from £120/AUD$180 to £250/AUD$375. While I expect to pay those prices in department stores, this was not my expectation of goods for sale at a Christmas market.

Whilst there were a few museums to visit (the concierge recommended the ‘famous’ Puppet Museum and a Dali exhibition in town) and a botanical garden (not fairing well in the winter months – most plants were dead) we did struggle to fill in our weekend.

Overall, the hotel was great value, clean and central, serviced by friendly staff. Watch out for the huge vases of artificial flowers embedded within the rotating entrance door, a little dated and out of place.

As for visiting Basel, my advice would be to plan your ‘to do list’ carefully prior to booking in your travel dates.

To buy: We bought some incredible hot chocolate available at Coop (one of their local supermarkets) called Caotina. It comes in milk, white and dark chocolate. Being in Switzerland, we also bought a variety of Lindt chocolate varieties I had not come across in London or Australia.

Location is excellent and the staff is top-notch. Rooms are roomy and comfortable. I think the hotel is due for a "refresh" but I still give it an excellent rating.