1 - Is it possible to leave major luggage in train stations and travel light if staying in a city for only 1 or 2 days?
2 - We are traveling 21 days in Italy and will pass through Switzerland to see and ride the Bernina Express through the Alps. Considering skipping the 1 1/2 days in Cinque Terre to spend extra time in Bellinzona before heading to Pontresino. Any thoughts?
We will be traveling the beginning of July - 6 weeks.
Thank You
Mark
In regard to left luggage in Italy, many larger stations provide this service. Here's a link to info from the man in Seat 61. It should answer your questions. I've stayed in Bellinzona twice and enjoyed it because it's quaint and not loaded with tourists. There are three castles in the town to visit and, if I remember correctly, a great Saturday market day.
Will help as much as I can. Others may have more details.
1.) Most of the larger train stations have luggage storage, but are really only used "by the hour." I stayed in Milano for 2 days before my flight out from there....and I went on the Bernina Express for a one night trip.
I left most of my luggage at my hotel in Milan and took a day pack. I took the train from Milano Centrale to Torino....then walked 20 yards to board the Bernina Express.
The train trip was beautiful. I went in June 2015 and the glaciers & snow were great! Considering, you can be in 85 degree Italy in the morning and within a couple hours be freezing in Alp Grum on the BE.
Plan your trip, though. Make sure you have activities.
I left at 9am on day one and made it to Pontresina about 1pm. It's a sleepy little town with not many english speakers. In the summer, it's fairly dead. I visited some of the local bars, the ONE market in town and generally just enjoyed the small town.
Hindsight, I would had planned some activities, like the Diavolezza gondola. Seeing some of the glaciers or doing some hikes. I just basically did it a whim at the end of my 2 week italy vacation...so I didn't really research it a lot.
The train ride is really nice. Definitely the highlight. I bought the 1st class ticket, but 2nd class would be equally great.
Also...the next day, I took the regional train back to Tirano. On the regional train, you can hop off at the stops and be OK. The Bernina Express train, you buy a ticket for your stop. You don't hop off at the stop.
Thank you for your responses. THey have been helpful.
Mark
