Any suggestions would be appreciated. I would be grateful for any help in planning the agenda for this semi-surprise (for my wife) trip to Italy. Duration: 14 Days (2 of those travel days from Tennessee) Budget: We cannot stay first class everywhere.... Switzerland and it's cost makes me a bit apprehensive of that part of the itinerary. Travel Dates: First two weeks of September '13 Traveler Profile: Married couple 42 years old. We both love the same things: great food, beautiful scenery and nature but we certainly appreciate all the things an urban city offers, etc. We dont like a lot of structure but we don't want to totally free-wheel it. She does like to put on a party dress go eat have some cocktails and dance a couple of nights. Ten years ago we did 10 days in France and loved Paris, not so much Cannes and loved Aix en Provence. We loved Aix but I couldn't have stayed in Aix much longer than 4 days because we do like a bit of nightlife from time to time. Preliminary Italy Agenda (14 days with 2 of those travel from US): ** Fly into Rome leave on day 5 to Lake Como or Varenna. ** Stay and base out of Lake Como or Varenna and leave on day 8 for Interlaken. ** Stay in Interlaken for 4 days and fly out of Zurich.
Any input would be appreciated.
Posted by
Minneapolis
1277 posts
Hi Christopher. Your itinerary looks great; that will be a great trip! Thoughts... Florence and Milan are on way to Lake Como; you could stop in either for a few hours, an afternoon, or night between trains if they sound interesting to you. Cinque Terre / Italian Riviera is also on way but would require an extra day or two taken from something else. - For Switzerland: -- yes it is very expensive. Worth it for a few days if you like mountain scenery -- research to see if you want to stay in Interlaken or instead in Lauterbruten, Murren ,etc. -- main attraction in Interlaken area is mountains / hiking. stay at least 2 full days, but probably don't need 4.
I'm jealous! Enjoy your trip!
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17595 posts
Sounds lovely. I highly recommend Albergo Milano in Varenna. Get a lakeview room with balcony. It is worth every penny. dinner at the hotel restaurant, out on the terrace, is a real treat, so be sure and do that at least one of your nights there. For Switzerland, with your interests, I would not recommend 4 nights in Interlaken. Instead, that the Gotthard Pass route from Milan to Luzern (you will make one train change at Arth-Goldau). Luzern is a lovely small city on a lake, with some cultural and nightlife opportunities. Spend either one or two nights there before continuing on to the Berner Oberland. Go past Interlaken and stay either in Lauterbrunnen in th evalley, or better yet up in Wengen. Hotel Båren is simple and moderately priced but has wonderful gourmet food-we had lime-ginger risotto with fresh lake fish one night; veal with sides I don't remember the other. The four-course dinner is 20 CHF if you take half-board with your room (menu is fixed, however). Get a room with balcony to sit and enjoy the view in the evening before dinner. It is a little over two hours back to Zurich from here, so if you have an afternoon flight you can go straight form the BO. Or spend a night in Zurich and enjoy the nightlife there. Switzerland is not the staid place some people think it to be.
Posted by
Bergamo, Italy
118 posts
If you are in Varenna, a visit to Bergamo (beautiful) and Milan (not exactly beautiful but important), about forty miles away.