Switzerland and Italy

I see you posted your question on Fodors as well. It will be interesting to compare the answers you get. I have to give this some thought but here are a few initial comments. We love both Switzerland and northern Italy, and will be in Venice ourselves in October. With ten days you could visit three places without too much travel time between. Weather could be an issue in Switzerland but it could be really nice. I have seen photos of the vineyards above Montreux in autumn and it looks lovely. I have been looking at an apartment in the vineyards above Montreux for our next trip. I'll post the link later. Montreux to Venice is a 6-hour trip with no changes if you catch the 8:36 am train. Otherwise you have a couple of changes on the way and it takes longer. If you want to include a scenic train ride, then Option 2 sounds good, but I would start in Switzerland and work south. Fly into Zurich and spent two nights in Luzern ( lake and mountains). Then head to St. Moritz. The Engadine area is very proud of their good fall weather, so hopefully that will prove true. Then take the Bernina Express route to Tirano and transfer to Varenna. Finish in Venice and fly home from there. I know that is four stops but all are worthwhile!

I'll go with option 1. Venice is pretty romantic for an anniversery trip. For your scenic rail trip, take the Golden Pass line from Montreux to Gstaad, spend an afternoon exploring this resort town (should be right in the dead zone between summer and winter), and return to Montreux. As Lola pointed out, you can get a direct train to Venice from Montreux. You can get prices for the trains (both Golden Pass and the EC to Venice) at www.sbb.ch. You can get to Montreux from Geneva airport by taking a direct train from the airport. They run every half hour.

I'd be more inclined to follow Lola's suggestions. Personally I think you're missing the most spectacular parts of Switzerland: the Berner Oberland and Lake Luzern and its environs. While Lac Leman is nice, it feels more like France than switzerland. Two bases I'd suggest instead would be Brienz or somewhere around Interlaken (but not interlaken itself). Murren or Lauterbrunnen are good starts- just please don't fall into the trap of "I only go where Rick recommends." I swear if I hear one more recommendation of Gimmelwald I'll scream! Gimmelwald, while nice is home to a bunch of people carry blue guide books around! In the Berner Oberland you can easily spend 3-4 days riding incredibly scenic trains to the highest peaks and doing easy hikes among the cows, small towns and farms with mountains all around you. Lake Brienz has steamers on the lake (also surrounded by the alps). Luzern has the Rigi as well as scenic boat rides. If you want a really romantic B&B to stay in in Brienz let me know and I can suggest (its got a view of the lake, the mountains and the small train chuffing up to the Rothorn right behind it) all from the comfort of your bed! I also used to live in the Engadin (the same valley where the Bernina Express starts) so I can offer suggestions there. Just let me know.

I see that someone on Fodors pointed out the likelihood of fog on the lakes in October, especially in the mornings. That is a valid concern. I checked the website for a place up on Rigi that has caught my eye as a romantic place to stay (Hotel Edelweiss at Rigi Staffelhöhe). The photo gallery of Autumn pictures mostly shows the lake completely covered in clouds: http://www.edelweissrigi.ch/index.php/bilder-rigi03/rigi-herbst And above that, where Hotel Edelweiss is located, it is beautiful blue skies. Of course they may have just taken these photos for effect, tbut the warning is there: stay at lake level and you may be socked in with clouds/fog. Stay up on the mountain and it could be above the clouds. We were there in early summer and that is exactly how it was the first day, although we did get peek-a-boo views of the lake now and then. The next morning dawned clear and it was gorgeous up there. Regardless where you choose to go in Switzerland, when you get to Italy, don't miss Venice!

Wow, thanks everyone!! This gives me a ton to think about, but I'm starting to see a trend I'm guessing I should NOT miss out on the beauty of the Bernese Oberland! I'm taking this all into consideration - I'll try to post again once I settle on a new itinerary!!

For option 2, I would head from St. Moritz to Zermatt on the Glacier Express and then on to Zurich for the homeward journey. In St. Moritz, I usually stay at the Laudinella, as it usually offers good rates in October. They will send a free bus to collect you from the station.