Itinerary Help! Fast

Just so you're aware, what constitutes the hospitality industry in Gimmelwald completely shuts down in November, as it nearly also does in nearby Muerren. If you want to stay in the Alps, you may want to consider staying in an area that remains open, such as the Italian, Bavarian or Tyrolian Alps.

Just to emphasize what Tom has already told you in his post: most hotels and restaurants in the Gimmelwald area will be closed in November. Here's a quote from Rick's book on that: "During the between time of late October and all of November, resort towns like Murren and others are completely dead, with most hotels and restaurants closed."

Hello Liz. In Switzerland, I think a hotel at Lauterbrunnen is open in November. And transportation from Lauterbrunnen Valley up the mountains to Gimmelwald and Wengen are available in November. After two nights at Lauterbrunnen, I guess you will want to travel to a city in Switzerland that has an airport, for you to fly to London the next day.

For me, that would be a lot to do in 10 days, especially with traveling to Cinque Terre and Gimmelwald, and then back to London. If you try to split that time among three places, you're pretty much looking at three days in each place, but some of that time will be taken up with traveling. I would think you'd have to fly to each of the additional destinations. I don't think there would be enough time for trains.

I would probably stick to two places at most, but personally, I think I would spend the entire 10 days in the UK. You could easily spend that much time in London with side trips to nearby towns, and even a day trip to Paris.

With only ten days, and stuck with London as a gateway, I'd save the remote rural Contintental destinations for another trip.

If you could fly home from Rome or Milan I might have different advice. With only ten days, though, you should take logistical considerations into account. Fortunately you have a rich range of choices just a few hours away by train from London.

Between Britain, NW France, Belgium, and Amsterdam there is plenty to do, even in November and even in inclement weather.

You might look into using a London Plus Pass, which can save a lot if you are traveling around the southern half of England. There is plenty to do there in ten days. This pass will get you to Bath/Bristol, Brighton, Portsmouth, Stratford-upon-Avon, Bournemouth, Canterbury, Salisbury, etc. You can stay in London and take daytrips, or stay in the towns outside London to use this pass. And, the pass includes coupons for use on the Express trains to/from the major airports near London. Another plan would be to spend some time in England and fly to Pisa to spend some time in the Cinque Terre. I wouldn't try to do much more than that in ten days, considering the amount of time involved in the traveling itself.

I agree with Swan five days in London and four days in Italy with a day for travel back and fourth. Good luck

I agree with Swan five days in London and four days in Italy with a day for travel back and fourth. Good luck

Ten days,, and three countries, after an overseas flight, and with long distances between the three places you want to see, too much. Its just too much.

In a month Gimmelwald will likely ( besides being closed) be cold , rainy, possibly snowy and sleety, no lovely mountain hikes like on the RS shows.
Cinque Terre will also be entering winter, no snow of course, but its not that great in the winter I bet. What would you do for 3 days there in the cold , I mean it could be sunny and dry , just cooler, but what if its cool and cloudy and rainy.. not so fun then.

Stick to a visit to London, with maybe a few days over in Amsterdam or Paris. You could even grab a cheapo flight to Rome for 3 days. Your other choices are GREAT places, but your timing is too short and not the best season, and both Cinque Terre and Gimmelwald are small centers so you will at least a full day of travel inbetween them, so your 10 days, is more like 7 days for 3 places. Too short.. Sorry to be such a bummer, but sometimes people get too excited about their trip planning and get over enthusiastic.

Liz, if you go to the Deutsch Bahn site (see Favorite Links above), skyscanner.net and whichbudget.com, you will be able to determine travel duration...add a half hour or so to get to and from the station or airport (some of the domestic airports are over an hour away).
This will help you figure out what is realistic for you and how much touring time you want to give up to travel time.

I took the train from C.Terre to Gimmelwald this summer, Vernazza-Interlaken; long trip, 7 hours or more altogether. Then took the train from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen, only 20 min. or so, then bus to lift up to Gimmelwald. I recommend Esther's Guesthouse, see Rick; wonderful views, lots of cameraderie, and her homemade yogurt & bread is to die for, tho she's probably not making yogurt now. I stayed a few nights up the mountain in Murren also - had a great apartment, Chalet Helvetia: Edmee' is a delightful host and the balcony of the apartment looks out over the Jungfrau!