We are scheduled for the Villages of Italy tour September 28-Oct 11. We will then spend 3 nights in the Lake Como region. We're considering a couple of days in Milan after that. We're giving some thought to going into France after Milan, perhaps for a week to 10 days or so.
We're in our late 70's, good health, just not as fast paced as we once were. We love traveling in the fall!
Suggestions for where to go? Probably most interested in southern France. Connections from Milan? We don't want to be moving hotels every day. Are we being too ambitious? Suggestions for accomodations?
Thanks!!
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
9182 posts
Fly or train to Nice
Posted by
San Diego, California, USA
2004 posts
Hello Mary, you might find more responses about France in the France group - assuming you haven't already asked there - but here are some of my thoughts on Italy.
You are proposing going to Lake Como just about the time the lake shuts down for off season. Early October is when the ferries go into a reduced schedule and many of the businesses start to reduce hours or close for the season. I would double check the ferry schedule and make sure it won't affect your plans. Maybe consider staying in a larger town or city to make sure things are too sleepy wherever you end up. Maybe check the schedule for Lake Maggiore which is very close to Milan and may have a different schedule.
If you want to get to France from Milan you can fly or go by train. Either train option will involve a relatively long day on the train but your big options are the coast route Milan to Nice or over the alps Milan to Lyon.
Nice is on the coast and is the main French town on the western side of the French southern coast. The train is about 6-7 hours and you will probably need to change trains on the Italian border where you cross into France.
Lyon is the major town on the fast train line and is nice on its own but is also the jumping off point for much of Provence. Lyon is about 5-6 hours by train but watch the timing of the change in France because sometimes there are long delays in the off season, so pay attention when booking train tickets.
Check the fall weather in both areas - Provence will be somewhat off season with people (inexplicably) visiting when it is crushingly hot in July and August and October weather is pleasant but can be rainy. Nice will also be somewhat off season but that's a good thing because coastal season is crazy. I have been in Nice at the end of December and is lovely even if the days are short.
Both towns are worth visiting but they are very different in their personalities with coastal Nice versus inland Lyon which more like a rural mini-Paris on the river(s) and a rich culinary tradition. Both towns have a lot of history and deserve at least a couple of days just for themselves but whether you're interested in inland Provence or coastal France will probably dictate your choice.
Hope that helps, it's hard to go wrong in either area - just watch the seasonality of these areas,
=Tod