CaliforniaGal

Hi All,
We have a month-long trip very soon--looking for great suggestions:

We start in Venice, travel to Cortina for skiing then back to Venice only to catch a train connection because we've heard the other alternatives are long and circuitous. We then travel to Milan for several days (side trip to Lake Como) but then we have @8 days before we arrive in Paris--any must-see suggestions where to go before Paris??? BONUS if you can save us going to Venice just for a train connection!!

Also, any tips on mailing ski clothes back to US? I hear it is pricey.

Thanks Fodor Folks!

nytraveler

Can't help wit the routing but am curious about Lake Como. You say the trip is soon and you will be skiing - will it not be too soon in the year for Como? Won't many hotels and restaurants e closed and the weather too cold? Will local transit be available on a regular basis?

We love the lakes but have been only in May and early Sept when weather is pleasant and everything is open.

Dayle

Have you visited most of Italy before, or at least the common highlights? Do you have specific plans for your days in Milan?

neckervd

The fastest itinerary goes via Venice Mestre. I don't see why you should take longer and more complicate routes with more changes.

CaliforniaGal

We leave March 1.
@nytraveler: thanks for the Como tip--all hotels etc., are operational, it depends on weather if we will want to head there.
@Dayle: We drove from Switzerland to Venice, Florence, Cinque Terra before. Have not been to Rome and south. We are keeping options open if weather is good. Milan for 2-3 nights is certain (been only one day before). Do you have travel ideas? We wlll likely stay near Duomo. We are active and somewhat adventurous, welcome spontaneity and quirky things, and like museums too.
@neckervd: yes Venice Mestre is most direct but still a trek.

Dayle

CAgal

My very first trip to Europe was a Week skiing in Cortina. If you are at least a strong intermediate skier, and I'm sure you are or you wouldn't be going to Europe to ski, be sure to do these famous routes: the Sella Ronda, and Passo Falzareggo (SP?). The main reason to do both of these is the absolutely breathtaking scenery!! You can reach both by local bus from Cortina, or even a shared taxi! Don't bother if the weather is not clear, and both are full day routes.

Personally, I liked Milan but wouldn't repeat. For March I would recommend Rome and perhaps a hill town for a nice intro to the Italian countryside,although March might be a little early for the countryside. Also consider if Easter week will impact a trip to Rome. Depending on the exact dates, it could. Rome is my favorite city and a week there is not too long. It has so much of everything! We were there the weekend before Easter following our ski trip. That was long ago so the city was busy but didn't seem crowded to us coated to Florence! We did hit a couple of special events due to Holy Week (ulanned on our part) and got to see Pope John Paul, a highlight for my lapsed Catholic boyfriend at the time.

It was a nice time to visit Italy for the first time!

Ps, Orvieto would be a nice place to spend a night in addition to Rome. It's a very interesting hill town and easily reached by train. One hour by train from Rome. It remains one of my favorites in Italy.

sandralist

Now for something completely different:

From Cortina, instead of going directly to Milan for 3 days, I would consider driving 2 hours to Bressanone (Brixen), dropping off the car and taking the train to Munich airport to catch a 90 minute flight to Naples. Since you have 8 days, you might also enjoy seeing something of Munich (or Bressanone). If you have already bought tickets from Milan to Paris, then you can get back up there by train from the south for your 3 days in Milan with a day trip to Lago di Como, and maybe enjoy an overnight in Bologna en route to Milan just to have dinner and break up the trip from Naples?)

sandralist

just to be clear:

Cortina > Bressanone is 2 hrs
Bressanone > Munich is 3.5 hours
Munich > Naples is 90 minutes

Still a "trek" but a trek with new sights. I would probably spend at least a night in Munich, more like 2. Then 5 nights in Naples.

Naples > Bologna is 5 hours by train, or you could fly to Milan (about an hour -- but then you'd miss dinner in Bologna).

Bologna>Milan is 1 hour

annhig

I tend to take the easiest route possible, so personally I think that I would pick somewhere warm that I could fly from Venice [only 2 hours from Cortina].

Naples, Malta, Sicily - you could enjoy a very nice week in any of those and they would make a complete change from skiing in Cortina - and then fly directly to Paris.

neckervd

There are also direct flights from Bolzano/Bozen to Rome FCO

sandralist

During ski season it might be possible to get a bus shuttle directly from Cortina to Venice airport or Bolzano airport.

neckervd

This year, the Cortina - Venice airport bus is daily from Jan 1st until April 3rd, from June 1st until Oct 2nd. In other periods on weekends only.
Unfortunately, it arrives too late at VCE for most international flights, however

PalenQ

8 days Milan to Paris

How about Milan to Lyon by train - neat larger city - stay 2 nights

then go down to Avignon by train - spend 4-5 days in the heart of tourist Provence - so much to see and do - then head via TGV train to Paris.

Booking well ahead of time on French trains can save a lot of money - check www.voyages-sncf.com and www.capitainetrain.com - same trains same fares - but those I believe are not changeable not refundable so be very sure of your dates but can save a bundle over full price walk-up tickets (which seem to be usually possible too). For lots of great info on French trains check www.seat61.com - great info on discounted tickets; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

TGV trains are often double-decker so when choosing your seat try for the top level as the views are much much better from up there than the lower deck - partly sunken below retaining walls, tree blocks, etc.