Do you think this itinerary is too aggressive?

Hi, I move locations more often than most on the forum and am fine with 1-night stops. The difference I notice right away is that my 1-night stops are closer so only a 1-hour train ride, so I am enjoying the next location by mid-morning. Think about how many hours of your days are going to be spent traveling between sites vs. enjoying the actual sites or skiing. Be stingy with your “quality time”. That may help you decide what to cut.

When people ask in forums if their itineray is too "ambitious" or "aggressive", it is because they already sense it is.

....ride a Vespa up the Amalfi Coast ...

Unless you are a proficient motorcyclist, the Amalfi Coast road is not where you want to learn.

I sort of "want to do it all" Need to find a balance. I would like some feedback, input or guidance on my itinerary if available

Have you worked out how you are getting from place to place? If not, you should so, so you have a better idea of how much time you are going to spend 'traveling' and what is left over to 'be there'..

If you are content to 'drive by', then your plan is OK. If you want "a smaller authentic experience.", you need to spend more than overnight.

Ever see/hear the expression "less is more"? Staying longer in fewer places gives you a better chance for an "authentic" experience..

Good luck

This would be my dream trip I have wanted to take.
You've just described what I would consider to be a nightmare trip.

Have you been to Europe before? I'm a seasoned traveler to Europe with my first trip in 1966 and my most recent trip a year ago. I would take 17 months to do what you want to do in 17 days.

I understand the desire to check off everything on your bucket list, but by trying to see it all, you'll end up not really seeing anything, I think your plan is very unrealistic and I'm at a loss to even offer ways to fix it.

Looks like a great trip! Too aggressive for me but I’m old now. Back when I was spry, I wouldn’t think twice. (Nowadays I have to think twice on where I put my keys much less on how to ride a scooter.)

Trust your gut. If your gut says “too much” then slow down.

Happy travels!

Forget the Vespa ride on the Amalfi, I wouldn't do that if paid to do it.
Your itinerary is very aggressive, slow down and take in these places. You need 5-6 days in Rome for example.

Also, Cinque Terre is good, but in my opinion not as impressive as the Amalfi Coast. Consider skipping CT.

The one day drive past could be longer than you think, map out our route on the internet and find out just how long it will take.

I agree that you need to fill in the travel times and take another look. On your day to experience Milan you will also be driving 4.5 hours from Switzerland and returning a rental car. I like to go fast on a “short” trip like this but I really try to stay places 2 nights minimum so I have a full day to sightsee, unless it’s a stop on a road trip.

I feel strongly if you are nervous to rent a car, you should not do the Vespa. That feels advanced. :) And as far as setting up navigation, you can just use your phone (that you will have called the phone company about, to see what they have for you when traveling internationally). You can download the maps to your phone before you go if you are worried about signal.

One assumes that this is NOT your first trip to Italy!

You must love driving. Keep in mind that the weather that time of year can present challenging driving. A 2 hour drive can easily turn into 8-10 if a storm blows in.

I would pick three places to stay with easy train connections between all.

Chamonix is gorgeous and I would love a 3-4 day ski trip there. On the way you can spend a couple of days in Courmayer - lovely as well. The benefit of this is that all of these towns are on the same rail line from Milan. Super easy. From Chamonix, you can easily get to the Geneva area.

I was similarly intrigued by Annency and it turned out to be the biggest let down of all my trips to Europe.

From Geneva, you can either back track to Milan by train or plane and then pick a Tuscan or Umbrian area to explore.

A loop from Milan - Bologna- Florence - Lucca - Cinque Terre (weather permitting).- Milan would be easy and give you a great introduction to Tuscany.

I would not go further west than Geneva or south than Siena given you short time allotment.

On the day "experience Milan" there are two possible itineraries from Grindewald to Milan. The longest is a detour to Gotthard tunnel, that at any time may develop a queue. The shortest involves loading the car two times on trains and doing both the Lötschberg and Simplon tunnes on auto shuttle trains. (The Simplon has an alternative itinerary through the old pass road, no alternative for Lötschberg). How long is going to take? Google says 4,5 hours, this is only under the luckiest circumstances. Say you arrive at Brig just five minutes after the shuttle train has left and you have to wait two hours for the next one (reduced frequency for tunnel work at Simplon)...

Thank you for the feedback. I have refined my trip a little. I will try to have home bases to make day trips from so I am not always moving around. The new idea is..

5 nights in Rome

(day trip to Amalfi, maybe just take a ferry, do the a scooter from Positano to Amalfi instead a whole loop, I see you can hire experienced scooter drivers as well. Want to swing back through Naples and eat pizza.) I thought about staying 2 of the days in Naples, but it does seem better to move less and not have to worry about my things.

2 nights in Florence

(I suppose the trip is mainly Rome, Italy and the Alps. Florence gets me a step closer.)

5 nights in Annecy France.

Only an hour drive to Chamonix and close to other places. Thought about staying in Chamonix. Seems like lodging is reasonable in Annecy. I am wondering why someone said Annecy was a major disappointment.

3 nights in Switzerland.
Interlaken/Grindlewald/Lauterbrunnen - whatever I can afford though.

3 nights in Milan - fly home
One day will be driving back to return the car. Someone on here said that drive might be longer than expected. Could do a final day trip from Milan by train, by that point I'll probably be really tired and just want to relax those last few days. Have a few drinks.

Does that itinerary sound a bit more realistic?

(day trip to Amalfi, maybe just take a ferry, do the a scooter from Positano to Amalfi instead a whole loop, I see you can hire experienced scooter drivers as well. Want to swing back through Naples and eat pizza.)

As a day trip from Rome to do this would take the stamina of a Navy Seal.

Otherwise your revised plan is a decided improvement over your original plan.