- Your Recommendation is appreciated: Luxury travel to Switzerland and North Italy

Personally, I think a week in Milan is far too much and 1 night in Venice is far too little. I'd suggest subtracting some nights from the one to add to the other. By the time you'd gotten there from whatever city you were traveling from, there would be be very little time left to see much of it at all, it's higher on the 'uniqueness' scale than Milan, and there are other small nearby islands (Burano, Murano, etc.) to explore.

It is extremely late to be planning a luxury vacation in August. For example, I toyed with the Italian lake district, but the real high-end places sell out "in season" months in advance. There are plenty of hotels, but no more rooms at your level. August is vacation month in Europe, and there are plenty of well-off travelers already resident there! You are going to have to take your fourth or fifth choice of hotel in any case. I would suggest that you contact a high end travel agent, who may have special connections, and who can make a living from the relatively high commissions at expensive hotels.

Luxury in Venice might be in Lido or another island nearby. Check them out as they are less crowded.

Agree with the others that it is going to be hard (maybe not impossible) to find rooms at top-rated places this late (if you are talking about this year). If next year, no problem.

What I would suggest is:

1) Check Conde Nast magazine's Gold List of the world's best hotels to see what's on it for Switzerland

2) Google luxury resorts/hotels Switzerland

3) Check the various itineraries for Tauck Tours (to see which hotels they use), as their travel style is definitely luxury

And, AFTER you secure your reservations, please let us all know what your chose and where you were able to find wonderful places for next month. The reason I don't think it is impossible to find SOME great places is because things happen, and people sometimes have to cancel reservations at the last minute. But, it might be impossible to secure reservations at all your first choices, in which case you may have to "settle" for the best of what's left.

Have a wonderful trip!!

Here's an article which you may find of interest. I agree with the recommendation to find a luxury travel agent. They will be able to match your criteria for vibrant and non boring, will have the connections to find availability for your dates of travel. I would also stay longer in Venice and shorten Milan or the lakes.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/neloliviawaga/2015/11/06/the-art-of-relaxing-5-swiss-luxury-hotels-with-outstanding-spas/#6cde71d14a91

I would pick Zermatt and if money was no problem I would stay on the mountain at Riffelhaus 1853. A search on booking.com shows they have two rooms available for dates within your window. I would call them immediately and stay 3 or more nights.

I would try Lausanne for your city on the lake and ride the boat to Chillion Castle.

Also I agree that Venice needs at least 3 nights, but I would not stay on Lido but would pick something near St. Marks Square where I could walk about before breakfast when it is empty and amazing.

You may need to be a bit flexible on dates to get the best places but I bet you can find luxury lodging if you start booking today. The high end places probably can handle phone calls at any time of day and speak English.

What a fun puzzle - I spent a few minutes dreaming of returning to Venice and staying in unbelievably expensive places! If it was me and I just won the lottery, I would book today.

http://www.booking.com/searchresults.en-gb.html?label=gen173nr-1FCAEoggJCAlhYSDNiBW5vcmVmcgV1c19jb4gBA5gBLrgBCcgBD9gBAegBAfgBC6gCAw;sid=9373438db266c38410383c2f1ff62b00;dcid=1;checkin_monthday=28;checkin_year_month=2016-8;checkout_monthday=1;checkout_year_month=2016-9;city=-132007;class_interval=1;dtdisc=0;group_adults=5;group_children=0;highlighted_hotels=85111;hlrd=0;hyb_red=0;inac=0;label_click=undef;nha_red=0;no_rooms=3;postcard=0;redirected_from_city=0;redirected_from_landmark=0;redirected_from_region=0;review_score_group=empty;room1=A;room2=A%2CA;room3=A%2CA;sb_price_type=total;sb_travel_purpose=business;score_min=0;src=hotel;ss=Venice;ss_all=0;ssb=empty;sshis=0;ssne=Venice;ssne_untouched=Venice&;;nflt=class%3D5%3B;filter_used=class-5

Enjoy the trip!

I have to say at least 3 nights in Venice as well. Great shopping there too! For hotels here is a great list:

http://www.fivestaralliance.com/luxury-hotels/565/europe/italy/venice

have a great trip!

As it is late to be reserving hotels best go for a chain like less luxury Sofitel or Ritz.
Good Luck.

Zermatt. Grand Hotel Zermatterhof. Its way out of my price range, but it is the classic Zermatt luxury hotel.

If Terri Lynn doesn't respond to this thread, send her a private message.

I checked for luxury hotels in Montreux and found rooms for your dates at the Fairmont Le Montreux Palace with lake view etc.

http://www.fivestaralliance.com/luxury-hotels/626/europe/switzerland/montreux

For a mountain resort I suggest either Zermatt or St Moritz.

The luxury hotel in Venice would be the Cipriani but I did not check for vacancies. Not familiar with Milan but I agree with others that a week is too long there! even if you do a lot of shopping.

OK, so. Checked the Cipriani in Venice. They do have rooms available in your August timeframe, starting at €1500 a night. But you said budget is not an issue, and this hotel is definitely "the best of the best."

MeloniQ8

are you still out there?

Perhaps she got cold feet when she saw the price of the Cipriani. But there are less expensive luxury hotels in Venice. My brother-in-law loves luxury hotels and can afford them, but was appalled at that price and found a lovely hotel for much less.

Vevey is a small, lovely town on the shore of Lake Geneva near Lausanne and Montreux. One of the nicest hotels on the shores of the lake is in this town...the Grand Hotel du Lac. It's quite luxurious and meets the highest standards. From there you can easily explore everything along the shores of the lake from east to west!
If you want an exclusive mountain resort town I would suggest Verbier, about an hour+ east of Vevey. It's expensive, beautiful, and quite an enclave. The views from the town as well as from the top of the gondola are breathtaking. It's a fairly well-kept secret in Switzerland but many royals and celebs keep residences here in this small town. It's a lovely place in the summertime!
Hope this helps!

Meloni,

I've sent you a PM with a suggestion.

Good luck,I just booked for Arles,Annecy,Chaminoux and Lyon for next April and May and had to take third and fourth choices,only got my first choice in Paris because I go there all the time.
Mike