Embryonic itinerary for Northern Italy July '07
Aug 17th, 2006, 08:02 AM
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Embryonic itinerary for Northern Italy July '07
It's always exciting to begin the planning for another trip. I think we're still embryonic since we only have a flight over (using FF miles, will have to wait two weeks to finish this part), 3 new books and a still unpaid resrvation at La Calcina in Venice.
That said, this is the tentative plan.
Fly into Zurich, 2 nights, take train to Venice (yes, passing the Lakes and not stopping because we don't want a car until later). 3 nights Venice.
Drive to Piedmont for 4-5 nights, stopping for a visit to Verona (train thru Alps and Verona are on DH's wish list).
After Piedmont, drive to Lakes - right now baby plan is to stay 3 nights in Varenna, then 2 nights in Stresa.
Drive from Stresa to Malpensa for flight home.
So, any thoughts would be appreciated, as well as favorite hotels for Zurich and Lakes. Venice is booked and we have plans for Piedmont.
That said, this is the tentative plan.
Fly into Zurich, 2 nights, take train to Venice (yes, passing the Lakes and not stopping because we don't want a car until later). 3 nights Venice.
Drive to Piedmont for 4-5 nights, stopping for a visit to Verona (train thru Alps and Verona are on DH's wish list).
After Piedmont, drive to Lakes - right now baby plan is to stay 3 nights in Varenna, then 2 nights in Stresa.
Drive from Stresa to Malpensa for flight home.
So, any thoughts would be appreciated, as well as favorite hotels for Zurich and Lakes. Venice is booked and we have plans for Piedmont.
Aug 18th, 2006, 05:18 AM
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Well, it is obvious that the Venice leg is the problem. Since you are tied to Zurich, I would forget Venice and train to Luzern after you land for 2 nites, then train to Lugano and get the car there. Renting the car in CH--and returning there---will save you a bundle. If you must do Venice then fly from Zurich the day you arrive. Just my opinion---Luzern is a very good alternative and the car thing may save you $300.
Aug 20th, 2006, 06:42 PM
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The train ride from Zurich is a bit long, but if you are willing to commit to it and do it as a day trip, most of it will be very pretty, you will go through some great deep valleys in the Lugano area, you will pass Lake Como and then get to see some beautiful Italian countryside as well. It is however 7 hours in a train and will require 1 change (or 8 hours with no changes). The alternative would be a night train, which IMO is not at all fun, and of course you would not see the mountains in the darkness. (There also are not any first class sleepers on that route, only couchettes which are less than comfortable IMO). Flying is the fastest, but again you won't see Alps. I prefer day trains to night trains, and if you take the super-fast Cisalpino and bring lunch or order lunch in the dining car, I think it is a great way to go. I see from the schedule (rail.ch) that there is a 7:30 am Cisalpino train that would get you into Venice at about 3 pm with one change in Milan, that would be a good choice I would think. In July I personally would pay for first class to have more room and be able to reserve seats together (esp if there are more than 2 of you), but that is up to you. (I would reserve seats on the left side of the car for slightly better views and to be able to see Como a bit better.)
I have not mentioned a budget for hotels in Zurich, but if you can do it, I would definitely recco the first two below, they are in one of the most charming parts of the old town
Hotel Zum Storchen
Am Weinplatz
Zurich, Switzerland, 8022
Tel: 41 1 227 2727
Fax: 41 1 227 2700
http://www.summithotels.com
Hotel Kindli
Pfalzgasse 1
8001 Zürich
tel: +41 (0)43 888 76 76
fax: +41 (0)43 888 76 77
http://www.kindli.ch
The Zum Stochen is right on the river and has lovely views of the river, old town and lake (and Alps if it is very clear) and one of the best restaurants in Zurich. The Kindli has good weekend rates if you are arriving on a Saturday. They have an excellent restaurant and are within literally a few feet of several other good restaurants. The Hotel Adler (see below) also gets good reccos on this site, it is somewhat less expensive. It is in another nice part of the old town on the other side of the rive. In July I would ask for a room on a high floor and which does not face Hirschenplatz Square, as this area can be noisy at night, esp on a weekend. I don't believe the Kindli or Adler has air conditioning, which normally should not be a concern, but if there is a heat wave, might be. Air conditioning in hotels is not the norm, so if that is a priority, let me know, I think I have a list. You can find it at the Marriott, Park Hyatt and Sheraton for sure. If you have points, this is a good town to use them in. Of the three chains, the Park Hyatt is the nicest. A toss us between it and the Marriott as to the best location, the Marriott is a shade closer to the old town and is closer to the main train station, the Park Hyatt is closer to the lake.
Hotel Adler
Hirschenplatz
Tel: (01) 266 9696. Fax: (01) 266 9669.
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.hotel-adler.ch
Besides my reccos, please take a look at the following websites for ideas:
karenbrown.com
alpineclassics.ch
relaischateaux.com
romantikhotels.ch
www.swisshotels.ch
summithotels.com
Also look at tripadvisor.com which ranks hotels based on reviews and you can search by price.
I have not mentioned a budget for hotels in Zurich, but if you can do it, I would definitely recco the first two below, they are in one of the most charming parts of the old town
Hotel Zum Storchen
Am Weinplatz
Zurich, Switzerland, 8022
Tel: 41 1 227 2727
Fax: 41 1 227 2700
http://www.summithotels.com
Hotel Kindli
Pfalzgasse 1
8001 Zürich
tel: +41 (0)43 888 76 76
fax: +41 (0)43 888 76 77
http://www.kindli.ch
The Zum Stochen is right on the river and has lovely views of the river, old town and lake (and Alps if it is very clear) and one of the best restaurants in Zurich. The Kindli has good weekend rates if you are arriving on a Saturday. They have an excellent restaurant and are within literally a few feet of several other good restaurants. The Hotel Adler (see below) also gets good reccos on this site, it is somewhat less expensive. It is in another nice part of the old town on the other side of the rive. In July I would ask for a room on a high floor and which does not face Hirschenplatz Square, as this area can be noisy at night, esp on a weekend. I don't believe the Kindli or Adler has air conditioning, which normally should not be a concern, but if there is a heat wave, might be. Air conditioning in hotels is not the norm, so if that is a priority, let me know, I think I have a list. You can find it at the Marriott, Park Hyatt and Sheraton for sure. If you have points, this is a good town to use them in. Of the three chains, the Park Hyatt is the nicest. A toss us between it and the Marriott as to the best location, the Marriott is a shade closer to the old town and is closer to the main train station, the Park Hyatt is closer to the lake.
Hotel Adler
Hirschenplatz
Tel: (01) 266 9696. Fax: (01) 266 9669.
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.hotel-adler.ch
Besides my reccos, please take a look at the following websites for ideas:
karenbrown.com
alpineclassics.ch
relaischateaux.com
romantikhotels.ch
www.swisshotels.ch
summithotels.com
Also look at tripadvisor.com which ranks hotels based on reviews and you can search by price.
Aug 21st, 2006, 06:59 PM
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There are three more hotels in Zurich you could consider, all of these are very close to the train station, which is a slight advantage; but Zurich is quite small so it is relative:
Central Plaza
Central 1
8001 Zürich
Phone: +41 (0)44 256 56 56
Fax: +41 (0)44 256 56 57
Room Reservations: +41 (0)44 256 56 55
www.central.ch
Hotel Schweizerhof
Bahnhofplatz 7
8023 Zurich
Tel 41 1 218 88 88
Fax 41 1 218 81 81
hotelschweizerhof.com
Hotel St Gotthard
Bahnhofstrasse 87
tel: 41 44 1 227 77 0
fax: 41 44 1 227 77 50
http://www.summithotels.com
The Schweizerhof is literally across the street from the train station so you cannot beat the location, it is a very nice hotel but has somewhat unlovely views of the tracks. I believe it has air conditioning. The Central Plaza is across the river from the train station, another good location. It would have nice river views and from high floors would have lake and even Alp views. I am a bit concerned about noise here as it faces a major road and square with cars and trams. However if there is air conditioning (check the website) if it all got to be too much you could just close the windows. Worth a look. The St Gotthard is one block in from the train station (behind the Schwerizerhof) and so is also a good location, it is probably the least expensive of the three, but has very charming public areas and is owned and managed by the same people who own the Zum Storchen so I think would be a good choice as well. They have a nice outdoor cafe/bar on the Banhofstrasse. Rooms would not have any views other than perhaps of the Bahnofstrase, but would be quiet.
If you have a lot of luggage which you don't want or need for your 2 nights in Zurich, you can store it at the main train station, the Hautbahnhof. (Assuming you would take the train from the airport into town and not a taxi, which is quite expensive US$50-70. Some hotels participate in a shuttle which costs like $25 I think and is a good option, check websites. The train is about US$4.) There are luggage lockers in the basement area and a manned luggage room on the main level. I think the charge is something just over a dollar or so a day, but worth it rather than lugging big bags around if you don't need them.
If you decide to stay at the Park Hyatt or the Sheraton let me know, because I would recco that you go to a different train station (there are 4 in Zurich ) which is closer to those hotels.
Bring Swiss chocolates for the train ride!!! IMO the best chocolate is Teuscher, but there are endless debates about this. Teuscher has a few outlets in Zurich, one at 46 Bahnhofstrasse which is quite close to the main train station, the other is at Storchengasse 9, which is just off the Munsterhof near to the Fraumunster church in one of the loveliest parts of the old town. Lindt/Sprungli is also very good, and they have a shop IN the main train station so they are a good last-minute choice. (And they open at 6:45 am every day but Sunday when they open at 8:45, you can see that the Swiss are serious about their chocolate...) For locations and info on both, go to http://www.teuscher.com and http://www.spruengli.ch. Shops close at about 5 pm on Saturdays, and are closed on Sundays, except in train stations, and except for the Teuscher at 46 Banhofstrasse (not sure how they get around the Sunday rule).
Central Plaza
Central 1
8001 Zürich
Phone: +41 (0)44 256 56 56
Fax: +41 (0)44 256 56 57
Room Reservations: +41 (0)44 256 56 55
www.central.ch
Hotel Schweizerhof
Bahnhofplatz 7
8023 Zurich
Tel 41 1 218 88 88
Fax 41 1 218 81 81
hotelschweizerhof.com
Hotel St Gotthard
Bahnhofstrasse 87
tel: 41 44 1 227 77 0
fax: 41 44 1 227 77 50
http://www.summithotels.com
The Schweizerhof is literally across the street from the train station so you cannot beat the location, it is a very nice hotel but has somewhat unlovely views of the tracks. I believe it has air conditioning. The Central Plaza is across the river from the train station, another good location. It would have nice river views and from high floors would have lake and even Alp views. I am a bit concerned about noise here as it faces a major road and square with cars and trams. However if there is air conditioning (check the website) if it all got to be too much you could just close the windows. Worth a look. The St Gotthard is one block in from the train station (behind the Schwerizerhof) and so is also a good location, it is probably the least expensive of the three, but has very charming public areas and is owned and managed by the same people who own the Zum Storchen so I think would be a good choice as well. They have a nice outdoor cafe/bar on the Banhofstrasse. Rooms would not have any views other than perhaps of the Bahnofstrase, but would be quiet.
If you have a lot of luggage which you don't want or need for your 2 nights in Zurich, you can store it at the main train station, the Hautbahnhof. (Assuming you would take the train from the airport into town and not a taxi, which is quite expensive US$50-70. Some hotels participate in a shuttle which costs like $25 I think and is a good option, check websites. The train is about US$4.) There are luggage lockers in the basement area and a manned luggage room on the main level. I think the charge is something just over a dollar or so a day, but worth it rather than lugging big bags around if you don't need them.
If you decide to stay at the Park Hyatt or the Sheraton let me know, because I would recco that you go to a different train station (there are 4 in Zurich ) which is closer to those hotels.
Bring Swiss chocolates for the train ride!!! IMO the best chocolate is Teuscher, but there are endless debates about this. Teuscher has a few outlets in Zurich, one at 46 Bahnhofstrasse which is quite close to the main train station, the other is at Storchengasse 9, which is just off the Munsterhof near to the Fraumunster church in one of the loveliest parts of the old town. Lindt/Sprungli is also very good, and they have a shop IN the main train station so they are a good last-minute choice. (And they open at 6:45 am every day but Sunday when they open at 8:45, you can see that the Swiss are serious about their chocolate...) For locations and info on both, go to http://www.teuscher.com and http://www.spruengli.ch. Shops close at about 5 pm on Saturdays, and are closed on Sundays, except in train stations, and except for the Teuscher at 46 Banhofstrasse (not sure how they get around the Sunday rule).
