Zurich train travel and hotel near train station

Is there a smart Swiss train pass for day trips and local Zurich travel? We will be in Zurich 3 days and will take day trips to Lucerne for example or other trips for 2 hrs or less and return to Zurich each evening. For example is there a three day unlimited travel train pass that makes sense and cost? Also, is there a recommended hotel near the train station for final night in Zurich with destination Bologna?

Why return to Zurich every night? That's double handling and a waste of your vacation time, plus added expense.

Your point be may be cheaper and worth a longer visit.

These places took centuries to develope. With historic changes along the time line.
Why not give them their due?

Check the price for a 3 day Flexipass and compare to point to point tickets.

MAY BE YOU READ THE ANSWERS TO YOUR POST OF AUGUST 13TH INSTEAD OF ASKING THE SAME AGAIN

Hotels? right across from depots are often full of trashy people. Go one street farther back.

shallow

Zürich is not a very big city so most hotel are near the station.

youth hostel
*****

The youth hostel is not really in the city center.
But you can get easy to the airport.
(Bus 33 to Bahnhof Hardbrücke then S16 to the Airport)

Etap Hotel
****
The ETAP is in the middle of Zürich's clubbing area and
very close to the Bahnhof Hardbrücke this 1 stop away
from the main station and 9 min from the Airport (S16).
The Hotel it self has no atmosphere. The hotel version of McDonald.
You are also in walking distance from the crossing Langstrasse Josephstrasse
with it's big choice of restaurants. (Yes there is McDonald too;).)

Biber city backpacker
***********

The Biber is not related to Justin. But in the middle of the medieval city core of Zürich.
You can find many Restaurant and at Spiegelgasse 14 you can find
Lenin's last stay in exile before he went home to start the Revolution.
The main station is in walking distance.

easy hotel
*******

The easy hotel is a hotel from easy jet. So it is very orange and everything
cost extra even the remote control for the TV.
It is in the red light district of Zürich. To be honest it
is the worst part of Zürich. But when you look close you can
see the gentrification hitting. Many former strip clubs are now
hip clubs.

I hope one of them fits you.

Thanks for response(s).
Why return to Zurich each night?
Free nights in luxury hotel in Zurich each night except for the last night we are there. Looking for reasonable hotel the night before travelling to Locarno. I wish we could afford to spend weeks not days in Switzerland to appreciate this wonderful country.
The request for 2 hour trips from Zurich may have duplicated Aug 13 somewhat but certainly appreciate all responses.
The tip about hotel location to train station was helpful too. Thanks to all.