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Dolomites/Venice with Family

Posted by on

Greetings everyone,
We are a family of 4 (myself, wife, 12yr old, 9yr old) and are traveling to Switzerland & Italy in July. Here is my high-level plan as of now:

July 5th morning - Land in Zurich and directly go to Lucerne
July 6th - July 7th - Stay in Lucerne - do a day trip to Titlis
July 8th - Travel to Wengen
July 9th, 10th, 11th - Stay in Wengen, including visiting Murren
July 12th - Travel from Wengen to Zermatt
July 13th - In Zermatt
July 14th - Travel to Venice, directly to Dolomites (not finalized on how but may be a flight from Geneva/Zurich or train from Zermatt)
July 15th, 16th, 17th - Will stay in Cortina d’Ampezzo in Dolomites region, returning to Venice on 17th
July 18th - July 19th - Venice
July 20th - Afternoon return flight from Venice to USA

Our main purpose is sightseeing (I am a hobbyist photographer) but will do simple hikes of 3 to 5 miles long. I got some awesome feedback from the Switzerland forum for that part of the journey. Had few questions specific to my Italy leg of the trip and thought of checking with this group. Specifically:
a) Does the itinerary look good?
b) I have been told that Cortina d'Ampezzo might not be a good idea given some Winter Olympics construction. Bolzano and Toblach have been offered as alternative choices. Any feedback on this please?
c) For the Dolomites leg, where would you recommend I rent and drop off the car?

Thanks!

Thanks a TON for any help!

Posted by
2471 posts

I would not stay in Bolzano. Look at Ortesei, Santa Cristina or Selva. Bolzano is an hour from the actual mountains peaks you are looking for.

Posted by
10 posts

Thanks!

Will I be able to get car rental from Ortisei that I can then drop at Venice? I am wondering if I should directly go from Zermatt to Ortisei.

Posted by
2377 posts

hey hey deepak
my opinion is you are planning/traveling too much in your short amount of days, especially with young kids. renting a car in switzerland and returning to italy will cost you BIG BUCKS to rent from one country to return to another country. do a "dummie" booking, could be hundreds of dollars, you will also need to get an IDP (AAA.com/IDP) to drive in italy, check about switzerland.
read up about it and do your research (good for a year, $25 fee, 2 passport size photos for each driver)
remember that hotel check in usually 3-4pm and check out 10-11am, if arriving early where to store luggage (most hotels have storage hold, just make sure) pack light, are the kids able to carry, roll & push luggage by themselves, walk on cobblestones/uneven pavement, climb stairs/steps & up and over bridges. good luck and have a great vacation
aloha

Posted by
10 posts

Hi @Princess Pupule,

Thanks for your advice! To clarify one thing, I am only planning to rent the car for Ortisei part of the trip - for rest of it, I have been advised that car is not required.
It is interesting you say that my trip is short - life has been so busy that this will, by far, be the longest vacation I have ever taken :)). We took a 10 day trip to Iceland few years ago and went around the country changing 7 hotels in 10 days! But we had a car throughout.

With the above information, would you still advise we cut something? One minor concern I have is that will all these places be too similar to each other?

Posted by
294 posts

We did not use our car at all once we arrived in Ortisei. There are enough hikes to do by using the regional bus that it was unnecessary.

Like other commenters, I would delete one Swiss destination.

For the kids, Ortisei has a nice pool complex they will love if your hotel does not offer one.

Also, make sure to check out the Otzi museum in Bolzano. The kids will be blown away.

Posted by
294 posts

Also, consider flying out of Milan if you choose the eastern Dolomites.

It seems a shame to spend such little time in Venice. Save it for next time.

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