Hi travelers! A friend has given us air reservations arriving in Paris and departing Milan 10 days later. What shall we do in between? Thinking about a couple days in Switzerland then maybe 4 or 5 days near Lake Como with a car to do day trips and explore, then on to finish a couple days in Milan. Is that a good plan? Our previous trip to Italy was Rome to Florence to Venice - so this is all new territory for us! Thanks for any suggestions ~
Tami
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33821 posts
What time of year will the trip be, Tami? What sorts of things interest you both?
Posted by
OP
Arcadia, CA, USA
22 posts
Hi Nigel - it looks like she is trying to arrange sometime between August - October for our flights. We are all adults - going for my husband's 60th birthday with our 3 adult children as a last big family trip before they scatter from the nest :)
My husband has some limitations but we mostly like to do very outdoorsy things. I've been looking at apartment rentals on lake Como and it looks pretty reasonable compared to hotels. So we perhaps would spend a few days in Paris, then take a train to Milan and drive to Lake Como to stay and do day trips to Switzerland & Italy from there. That's my initial take on what the trip might look like for us, but I love to hear suggestions from people who have been there! Already saw a comment on another board about a cooking class that looks like fun! Thanks!
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33821 posts
That sounds lovely, Tami. Is it just the 5 of you then? Como at that time will be yummy. quite warm but yummy. This sounds like a chill out and family time vacation rather than a bustle around and see everything vacation and this sounds great. With a car you can get around and see many things - though the traffic around the lake can be slow and frustrating. You will need a big car for 5, especially if you try to fit luggage. Have you thought about a short drive over to Lake Maggiore to see a different place and view? Gardens?
Posted by
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
353 posts
You don't necessarily need a car on Lake Como. We spent a week there once with a car that largely sat in the hotel parking lot (our traveling companions insisted on a car and since the trip was a celebration for them we didn't fight it). We only used it for a trip to Bergamo, which could have been done just as easily by train. Getting around the lake by ferry is easy and you can also take taxis between towns if you want. Trains from Como City and Varenna to Milan take about an hour; you would need to allow just as long for driving. I'd say the less time you spend at Lake Como, the less you will need a car.