In the red light district this...

In the red light district this is probably your best option if you're buying.

And...this is what started the whole fiasco. I knew there was a red light district in town, but rumor on the web was that gentrification was in full swing and its best days were behind it. Well, yes...and hell no.

Funny random thing that's also true. If you're looking for cheap hotels in Zurich on Expedia and whatnot one of the hotels that pops up is the Hotel Regina. If you read reviews on it, several disgruntled customers complain it's next to a strip club and there are hookers everywhere. Turns out that the Regina is next to Falstaff, and sure enough you might see a hooker (or several) walking around. Don't stay there. Zurich is the size of a postage stamp and you're better off staying uptown and taking a cab or a hike down to the club zone. By the time I slipped into a cab and said "get me out of here" I'd had my fill. Being caught in the sights of a Russian pimp and nearly getting snagged by African gangsters probably hadn't helped my nerves, either.