Hi all! My husband and I (40) are going to Saint Tropez in June for his brother’s wedding. We like to make the most of trans-Atlantic flights by covering good territory, and I’m stuck between two potential itineraries for a 16 day trip. We’re flying into Nice, will do a couple of days there with his folks (who are 65-75), about three days in/near Saint Tropez, and then I have my heart set on the Luberon Valley for a couple of days. Here’s where the itinerary splits:
--Head to (car or train) Beune for two nights, check out Burgundy villages, then to Colmar or Strasbourg for two nights, check out Alsatian villages, then drive to Lauterbrunnen area for two nights (pray for clear weather), drive to Como for two nights, fly out of Milan.
--Direct flight from Marseille to Venice, two nights there, drive to Dolomites (Tre Cime for several hours), two nights in Val Gardenia (Ortesiei? I want to see the Seceda ridgeline), drive to Como for three nights, fly out of Milan.
Como is a huge wishlist place for me, and our flights are already booked out of Milan. I’d really appreciate perspectives on:
--Swiss Alps vs. Dolomites; I know Switzerland is way more expensive, but it will just be for two nights, and if we plan and save accordingly, not an issue. Also, renting a car in Italy (Venice) and dropping it off in Italy (Milan) is about $1,000 cheaper than taking a car from France. Not a dealbreaker, but definitely a consideration.
--VENICE IN JUNE. I guess this will ultimately be the deciding factor. If enough people tell me Venice will be thoroughly unenjoyable in June, then we’ll just nix it and save it for another trip in the shoulder season. We’re archaeologists and love history, and Venice is a huge deal! We’ve been to other places (Mykonos, Amalfi) that had heavy influences from Venetian traders, so we’d really love to see it in all of its splendor. I can tolerate crowds to a degree, for an amount of time, but if we’re literally going to be elbowing our way through crowds for two days, and it’s hot, and stinky, and full of mosquitoes, I’d just rather not.
To try to answer some typical follow-up questions/comments: we’re relatively fit and used to active travel; we’re comfortable driving abroad (have experience in Rome and Athens, as well as remote and windy roads in Tuscany and Romania), but definitely open to taking advantage of Europe’s extensive rail system. We love history, but prefer sites over museums.
Oh, and another question that might actually make a big difference: Are beds in France as hard as they are in Italy? Any insights are much appreciated! June is uncomfortably close, and I need to start pinning down accommodation! TIA!