alternatives to the Dolomites itinerary,

Lake Como is about an hour due north of Milan. The Dolomites are north/northwest of Venice--completely different direction.

Switzerland is north and west of Lake Como just a few miles. It'd be a good time to go there as an alternative. Of course this is all depending on the weather.

We have the same itinerary! We arrive at MXP on 9/28, on to Ortisei by train for 5 nights then to Lake Como for 4 nights. We’ll be monitoring your itinerary change just in case. As in many other places in the US, our weather forecasts in Charleston, SC are often inaccurate a day or two out. A good point by knowledgeable people on this forum, is a forecast for rain often means not necessarily raining all day. Have a wonderful trip whatever you decide.

Good Luck to you too. So far we have decided not to change our itinerary. Monitoring the situation weather , possible train strike 0n Oct 5 when we need a regional train from Milan to Lake Como, etc. Are you renting a car?

I wouldn’t change your itinerary. This sounds like the perfect trip. There will be work around and alternatives in case of bad weather or train strikes. It’s all part of the adventure. :-)

It is so difficult to get a sense of the weather more than a day or two in advance in the mountains, both in Switzerland and in Italy. Keep an eye on Il Meteo. Get the app on your phone and take it day by day. I would still go in the timeframe you are planning. We have learned to roll with the weather. I will be sending positive thoughts to the universe for you…and for us because we’ll be just north of you in Switzerland! Hoping all this winters rainy has run itself out and we’ll have true autumn.

Thank you all for your encouraging words. We are going to keep to our plans, continue to monitor the situation with the strike and may rent a car to get us from Milan Central to Varenna, our accommodation there has free parking and we are returning to Milan after Lake Como for two nights before flying home. Getting from Bolzano to Milan won't be a problem (as of now) and would rather use public transport but it's not as if we haven't driven in Europe before. Did it last year in France. And at the same time as this year, weather was pleasantly warm in Rouen, Normandy, Dinan and especially the Loire Valley and Mont St Michel where it was in the 80s.
Safe travels to all. XOXO.

@ kcdav we have a car reservation in Verona which we can cancel until 9/26. Our plan is to monitor the weather, make a final decision about car vs train on to Bolzano & bus to Ortisei. The timing for us misses the 10/5 train strike. We move on to Menaggio on 10/3

Gene, which car rental agency did you book with?

We always book our rental cars AutoEurope, never have had any problems. Recommend highly.
You will be so happy that you didn’t cancel the Dolomites when you see the scenery!

Kcdav, I am hoping for both of us that the weather improves by Sept. 29. We will be at Lago Maggiore with a British hiking club that week, then taking the ferry to Locarno on Oct.5, hoping the strike does not affect the ferries.

If the regional trains are a problem for your plans between Milan and Varenna on Oct. 5, you might consider a Eurocity (EC)train from Milano Centrale to Como San Giovanni, and fast ferry up the lake from there. Schedule here:

https://www.navigazionelaghi.it/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/01E2024_Web_Como.pdf

But of course that assumes that the Oct. 5 will not affect the ferries. Note that high winds may lead to cancellation of the ferries. My niece is there now and face cancellation of their planned ferry from Bellagio to Como yesterday. But a later fast ferry was running so they took that.

kcdav. I use Autoeurope and their best rate for this trip is through Europcar. I can cancel up to 48 hrs before pick up. In Verona their lot is across the street from the train station but their office is a few blocks away - walking distance from the train station.

thank you Lola and Gene