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advise for trip to Paris, Nice, Switzerland and Milan

advise for trip to Paris, Nice, Switzerland and Milan

Old Aug 6th, 2015, 11:42 AM
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advise for trip to Paris, Nice, Switzerland and Milan

I am planning a trip in October to see Paris, Nice, Switzerland and Milan, and would appreciate advise:

1. First, a few perimeters: arrive in Paris sometime in Oct. (exact date open) and leaving Milan around Nov. 1 for transportation convenience, so that is my tentative arrival and departure cities;

2. How many days minimum in Paris? I am thinking 5 full days in Paris. What are the "must see"?

3. Is it better if I go to Nice or Switzerland first? I am flexible.

4. How many days in Nice? What are day trips from Nice?

5. How many days in Switzerland? Specific advise would be much appreciated.

6. How many days in Milan? What are the day trips we should consider? We have been to Venice and Rome before.

Many thanks for your time and insights. Cheers.
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Old Aug 6th, 2015, 11:55 AM
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I might be wrong, but I think it's easier to get from Switzerland to Milan than to Nice (by train). SO it would seem to make sense to do Paris-Switzerland-Milan-Nice. However, if you have a good way to fly home from Milan (I think there are sometimes cheaper flights from there, from Nice you'll no doubt have to transfer in Europe), it might be a reason to end up in Milan. I just don't think there is any direct train route between Nice and Switzerland.

I think 5 days in Paris sounds good, maybe 3 in Nice and depending what you do in Switzerland, at least 3-4 given the logistics to get to/from there. YOu don't mention any time parameters whatsoever so hard to say, more time in Switzerland would be good (like at least 5 days) if you can stay at long as you want.

Haven't been to Milan so can't advise on that.
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Old Aug 6th, 2015, 12:09 PM
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Paris 5 days
Switzerland 5 days
Nice 5 days
a day to get between each

if more time add to Switzerland IMO

for train info check www.seat61.com - great advise on discounted tickets that can save you tons - www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com - a Swiss Pass can be great for even a few days - covers not only trains but lake boats, postal buses, city trams and buses and gives free entry to over 470 Swiss museums.

To me the highlight of Switzerland for first-time tourists is the awesome Jungfrau Region south of Interlaken - stay in a cozy mountain village like Grindelwald or Wengen and be eyeball to eyeball with glacier-girdled soaring peaks hovering above lush cow-dotted meadows - toylike mountain trains and thrilling aerial gondolas impossibly going off in all directions - hiking trails for all energies and difficulties:

https://www.google.com/search?q=jung...=1600&bih=1075
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Old Aug 6th, 2015, 02:09 PM
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The last 2 weeks of October is not an ideal time to go to Nice for its beaches or pools. There are many museums and other things to enjoy indoors, but it could be rainy and chilly. If the sun is shining, then no problem (although you might find the water too cold for swimming).

If you are going to Switzlerland to see the beautiful views, then you are taking a risk going in late October that rain and fog will make that impossible.

You could get nice sunny weather almost all the time, but you should be aware of the risks in case you might like to think of visiting some place else and visiting Switzerland and Nice on a different trip.
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Old Aug 6th, 2015, 02:48 PM
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Switzerland is not a city...
Where in CH do you want to go ?
Cities, mountains, lakes ?
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Old Aug 6th, 2015, 03:00 PM
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Avg high Nice October 70 F - avg low about 55 F - yes too cool for swimming but perhaps not beaching but Nice and its area has a surfeit of neat things to do not dependant on hot weather - in fact in summer it can get too hot and tourists have gone largely in fll - to me a neat time for Nice and environs.

I agree with sandra that late October in Swiss Alps can be iffy - failed to note the time frame when I responded.

I'd consider Paris to Nice then direct Thello train to Milan (www.thello.com) - Thello is the only direct trains between the two all others require changing at border and take much longer. Scour the official site for nifty advance discounted tickets.
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Old Aug 6th, 2015, 04:42 PM
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First thanks to all you nice people, you folks are fantastic!

Right now I am brainstorming and will buy ticket very soon. So I still have the flexibility and your feedback is extremely helpful.

My original plan was France (Paris and Nice) and Switzerland. I added Milan simply because there is a conference on Oct 30-31 that is an excuse but I do not really need to go. If I skip Milan then I may leave in late Sept. With France and Switzerland only I will then end the trip in Zurich and fly back to North America. Or maybe Zurich->other parts of Switzerland->Nice->Paris?

I like nature (mountains and lakes) but would like to stay in a limited number of base cities with easy transportation so I can do day trips. checking in and out of hotels are big hassle.

So back to my questions:
1. For Paris, I want to see Versailles and the tourist spots in the City. Any suggestion re. going to Versailles? Any day trips outside Paris?
2. Any day trip outside Nice? What is the best transportation between Nice and Geneva?
3. Sorry for being lazy, I know Switzerland is a country From my preliminary research it appears that Geneva and Lucern should be included. Any suggestions?

Thanks again folks.
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Old Aug 6th, 2015, 06:10 PM
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I think you would benefit enormously from consulting a few good guidebooks. They are, IME, always a worthy investment, but you can also consult them at a library.

AND you can get a lot of great information by consulting the "destinations" tab to the upper left of this board.

For more specific question, use the search feature -- upper right. So, for example, you can enter "Versailles" and learn all sorts of things with just a few clicks.

Good luck!
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Old Aug 6th, 2015, 09:16 PM
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Hi SSB2005,

Instead of heading to Swiss cities (Luzern & Geneva), you should consider staying in a village or small town in the countryside or in the mountains.

Many first-timers enjoy the Jungfrau region, staying in Wengen or Mürren; that's where you'll experience the Alps and be able to walk, hike, or ascend the peaks for that Alpine experience. More information here:

www.myjungfrau.ch

If you also want to see the French section, I recommend either Montreux or Vevey, both on Lake Geneva. Montreux is more resort-y with more hotels and restaurants, while Vevey has a more residential feel. More information here:

www.montreux-vevey.com

Have fun as you plan!

s
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Old Aug 7th, 2015, 12:09 AM
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I fully agree with Swan : I am not a fan of swiss cities, but I love their villages (sky resorts) and suggestion to stay at a lake in the region of Geneva is a good one I think.

Paris : if you stay 'only ' a few days (4-5) and want to go to Versailles (which is a good idea) then I would spend the rest of my days in Paris itself - don't rush there are so many things to do in Paris.

Nice, I'm not a specialist but definitely you can spend several days there. If you have kids or like sealife, Antibes has a park called Marineland which is great.

Mfg
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Old Aug 7th, 2015, 02:29 AM
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Weather in the Alps is ALWAYS unpredictable. October is often (but not always!) sunny and warm (until sunset) above 1500 metres and cold and foogy below. Valais is the driest area of Switzerland. In some years, it snows down up to 2000 metres. The snow smelts often away at sunny places but remain and get ice at shadowy places.
End September/early October is the time of wine festivals in Switzerland:
Fete des Vendanges de Neuchatel: 26/27th Sept
Fete des Vendanges de Lutry: 26/27th Sept
Festa d'Autunno Lugano: 2nd-4th Oct

Things to do at Milan: EXPO 2015

Best way to go from Nice to Geneva: easyjet low cost flight
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Old Aug 7th, 2015, 09:06 AM
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I think the sooner in Sept one gets to Switzlerand the better, so that is the order I would do the trip. Switzerland->Nice->Paris.
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Old Aug 7th, 2015, 09:24 AM
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I was in Murren one mid September and there was ice on the streets - rare perhaps but I'd stick to lower altitudes in September as a base anyway.
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Old Aug 7th, 2015, 11:14 AM
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Best way to go from Nice to Geneva: easyjet low cost flight>

last year maybe but not now as the new Thello trains do Nice to Genoa in just under 3 hours - as quick or quicker as flying and fares range for 29 euros or so for advance purchase - flying would cost more and take more time and hassle.
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Old Aug 7th, 2015, 11:43 AM
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www.thello.com for schedules of Nice-Genoa-Nice Thello trains - forgot to add before.
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Old Aug 7th, 2015, 11:56 AM
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But the suggestion about flying was Nice to GENEVA, not Genoa. This issue is how to get between Nice and Switzerland.
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Old Aug 8th, 2015, 09:08 AM
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"I was in Murren one mid September and there was ice on the streets - rare perhaps but I'd stick to lower altitudes in September as a base anyway"

Murren is rather shadowy in automn; I don't think that such a thing would have happended at places like Crans-Montana or Verbier.

But I remember that we had once snowfall even at Berne in mid September. But this kind of snow usually smelts very rapidly above the fog (above 1500 m or so) and remains only at places in the shade or below the fog.
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Old Aug 8th, 2015, 11:39 AM
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But the suggestion about flying was Nice to GENEVA, not Genoa. This issue is how to get between Nice and Switzerland.>

Oops brain malfunction - I of course read Geneva and put in Genoa which would apply to the Thello trains. My apologies neckervd!

Nice to Geneva is a long train ride but lovely scenery the whole way. Flying makes sense here I agree.
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Old Aug 16th, 2015, 04:21 PM
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Thanks so much my friends, you folks are fantastic. I will carefully consider your suggestions. I may skip Milan and Nice this time and fly to Zurich first, spend a few days in Switzerland, then to Paris for a few more days before heading back. Will continue to consider where to stay and what to do while in Switzerland. Your feedback is most helpful!
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