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Need guidance for paris,swiss,italy travel.

Hi, We (family of 4, 2 teenage boys (22,14)) are planning a trip to Paris, Switzerland and Italy. Here is my itinerary so far, starting on june 7th 2019. I need some help to
a) what can i cut or optimize travel to save a day?
b) guidance on whether i should consider adding a day (not sure if i want to cuz its already hectic, plus not sure if I even can cuz the from and return air tickets are already purchased).
c) does it look realistic to accomplish? any connections that stand out as risky to make?
d) suggestions for passes.. 3 countries or swiss half-fare or swiss travel pass ?
e) any comments for hotel stay locations? For example: should I stay in Zermatt or somewhere closer to efficiently tour the nearby area.
f) anything else you see missing or wrong in my planning?

Thanks much in advance for your guidance and support.

DAY FROM TO ST TIME END TIME MODE HOTEL
1 FLL CDG 11:00 PM 1:40 PM Air
2Roam - Paris Paris
3Roam - Paris Paris
4 Paris-Lyon to Zurich-HB 7:23 AM 11:26 AM Train-TGV Lyria
4Roam - Zurich Main St
4ZRH HB-Lucerne 6:04 PM 6:50 PM Train IR70 Lucerne
5Roam-Titlis 3238m, Pilatus-steepest train (both in a day??) Lucerne
6Lucerne-Interlaken 9:06 AM 10:55 AM ScenicTrain-GoldenPass#2918
6Interlaken-Lauterbrune 12:05 PM 12:25 PM Train-Regional Gimmelwald
7Roam-Jungfraujoch, Schilthorn Gimmelwald
8Lauterbrunnen-Interlaken
8Interlaken-Montruex 9:08 AM 12:13 PM ScenicTrain-GoldenPass
8MontruexZermatt ? ? via Visp Zermatt
9Roam-Gornergrat/Matterhorn/Monte Rosa massif Zermatt
10ZermattSt Moritz 8:52 AM 16:38 PM ScenicTrain-GlacierExpress St Moritz
11St MoritzTirano 9:39 AM 12:15 PM ScenicTrain-BerninaExpress
11TiranoVenice 3:08 PM 8:40 PM Train,last 5:08pm that reaches same night Venice
12Roam-Venice Venice
13VenicePisa 8:20 AM 11:49 AM Train, via Florence
13Roam-Pisa
13PisaManarola 5:36 PM 7:05 PM Train, via LaSpezia Manarola
14Roam-Manarola
14ManarolaRome 5:54 PM 11:05 PM Train, via LaSpezia Rome
15Roam-Rome <NEED 1 day. Return flight is on Day 15!) Rome
-----CANCEL AMALFI
15FCO-Rome - MIA 9:55 AM 5:45 PM Air

Posted by
8164 posts

Cut Paris if you can and just go straight to Switzerland.
Cut Zurich go straight to Luzern
Forget a 3 country pass just get the Swiss half fare card.
Beware not to buy a mountain excursion in advance before checking the weather. Most hotels have TV's showing you the current conditions. It happens that travelers go up there and can't see anything because the clouds roll in. The earlier in the morning the better that was the case when I went to the top of the Schilthorn.

Posted by
768 posts

I agree, cut Zurich.
Also, it's not clear whether you are staying in Interlaken or Gimmelwald or Lauterbrunnen. I would suggest Lauterbrunnen (or Murren). Interlaken is not IN the mountains. Gimmelwald is, but is fairly isolated with not much to do for the kids. There's enough to do in the Murren/Lauterbrunnen area to keep your family busy for 10 days, so think about adding a day there. I brought my teens there often. If you click on my name you will find a link to our favorite dozen trails there, with maps and pics.

Posted by
5 posts

As you can see Zurich is already cut actually. It's just on the way on day4 from Paris to Lucerne. We are just waiting couple of hrs before we catch our train to Lucerne.
Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen is the regional train. From there we plan to go stay in Gimmelwald.

Posted by
8889 posts

As you can see Zurich is already cut actually. It's just on the way on day4 from Paris to Lucerne. We are just waiting couple of hrs before we catch our train to Lucerne.

Except, Zürich is not on the way from Paris to Luzern, it is a detour which adds an extra hour to the trip.
If you look up Paris to Luzern on a rail company website, the quickest routing is Paris - Basel - Luzern. It is the same train from Paris, you just get off at an earlier stop. If you want a few hours stop, do that in Basel.

Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen is the regional train. From there we plan to go stay in Gimmelwald.

When looking up rail trips, just look up the end-to-end trip (e.g. Luzern - Gimmelwald) and let the website work out the quickest route and interchange points, Don't second guess where you have to change.

Posted by
9 posts

I didn't think Pisa was as interesting as Florence. Do you have to spend time roaming around Pisa to get to your train to Manarola? And won't the leaning tower be overwhelmed with tourists in June?