Galani

Dear members, greetings to all..!!

To start just want to let you know two thing that - I have just joined Fodors - have never been to Europe. I stay in India and I am planning a honeymoon to Europe by around November this year for around 10 days. I want to go to Switzerland and Italy for the same. Kindly advice me on how should I plan my honeymoon, places to visit, itinerary, mode of travel, etc.

Thanks in advance for taking out time for me and helping me out..

PalenQ

The mode of travel IMO should be the train - in Switzerland many of the famous Alpine areas like the fantastic Jungfrau Region, to me and many both the literal and figurative highlight of Switzerland, an Alpine Wonderland of the Switzerland pictured in your minds' eyes perhaps - do not even let cars in - and in any case renting a car in Switzerland and returning it in Italy would involve a steep dropoff charge often.

In Italy cities like Venice, Florence and Rome will not let cars drive in their centers either so taking the train, if going to the famous cities you've been dreaming about going to for years then take the train. If you want to eschew cities and drive around the Tuscan countryside then get a car.

For lots of great info on trains in both countries I always spotlight these IMO fantastic sites - www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. For get any Eurailpass but a Swiss Pass, valid not only on trains but also lake boats, postal buses, city trams and buses and giving 50% off aerial cableways to mountain tops, can be very cost-effective and useful even for a short stay.

pizzocchieri

Hi Galani.

What days are you planning to go to Switzerland and what do you want to see? At October and November, the changing weather can make some itineraries better than others.

What do you want to see in Italy? Wine country? Old cities? Italy looks small on a map, but there is a lot of variety. It would be like an Italian posting on a message board for India asking "Where should I go for in India for 6 days?" Lots of different choices, so the more you can describe about what kind of honeymoon you would enjoy, the more people can advise you.

When you come from India, is it better for you to fly to Switzerland or Italy first, or do the flights cost about the same? Is it easier for you to use airports in Rome or in Milan, or Zurich or Geneva?

Ingo

November is the worst timing for Switzerland. Expect a mix of snow and rain, dull, grey, short days, hotels and restaurants as well as many cable cars/gondolas in the mountains closed.

No green pastures, no grazing cows.

PalenQ

Well yes neglected to see the November part - but you still can savor the incredible beauty of Switzerland by taking the train between France and Italy via Switzerland and stopping off for a day in say Interlaken and taking the train up to say Grindelwald - you will at least see the magnificent Alps but yes to trek around the area the weather may be grim.

But just to see this area in any weather IMO is great and breaks up the long journey between Paris and Italy.

nytraveler

Agree that Nov is not the time for Switz - it's after fall hiking season and before skiing season - so many hotel,s restaurants are closed for annual holiday and many cable cars are not running due to annual repairs. Also - to see mountaintops you need good weather. If it ;s cloudyor rainy there is no point is ascending -since they're in the clouds and you can only see 4 or 5 feet in front of you.

We were in Interlaken (in June) for 3 days before we got one that was clear at the top (although it was clear in the valleys and we enjoyed visiting many of the nearby villages, towns and lakes (but we had a car and could go wherever whenever.)

For Italy you need to pick no more than 2 place - since in a 10 days trip you should hve no more than 3 hotels (or you will spend most of your time in transit rather than sightseeing or just relaxing like the locals).

goldenautumn

Hi again Galani,

I lot of people plan their trip by numbers -- 2 of this, no more then 3 of that , 10 divided by 4 -- but a lot of people don't and they enjoy the trips they take. Before you start thinking in terms of number symbols and no content, I suggest you think about what you would like to do and when you would like to do it.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/201...ecture-zermatt

I agree with the cautions about weather in November. I can't tell from your post if you are going just before November or during November.

Galani

Thank you all for your prompt and kind replies.. Its pretty clear from your unanimous advice that I shouldn't be going to Swiss during Nov-Dec.. So if I skip Swiss or may be just take a train via Swiss (as PalenQ suggested), what is the other country I should visit to apart from Italy..?? Pls suggest..

@PalenQ - In Italy, as you mentioned I am planning to go to Rome (Vatican basically), Venice and Florence (I have heard thats a gud place to visit).

@pizzocchieri - Thanks for the bringing the point out about visit to Swiss during Nov-Dec.. I am ok with seaside beaches and countryside that would be fun for honeymoon.. Will check the availability, ease and flight cost as where to go first, if at at going to Swiss..

@Ingo - Thanks Ingo. Would actually love to see vast expanse of green pastures and fat grazing cows, a rarity in India..

@nytraveler - You have echoed my thoughts. Dont want to spend most of the time travelling.. Dont want to make the trip a hectic one.. Just want to spend some quality time relaxing, admirimg the beauty around (and of course koochi-kooing..!!).

@goldenautumn - I agree with you.. But theres other side to it as well.. Have never been there and if I dont plan and go I might get stuck or confused or may be miss a good place.. Moreover its pretty economic as in if its planned I can negotiate with the hotels, that saves a lot of money which is a bonus..

Generally asking guys.. I am now considering 3 options :-
1. Sticking to the original plan of Swiss & Italy.
2. For 10 days I be in Italy and give Swiss a skip.
3. Go to some other country apart from Italy as 10 days in italy might be a bit too much.. (you guys only will have to help me with the other country.. )

Jean

"... as 10 days in Italy might be a bit too much..." Really??

Ingo

10 days are definitely NOT too much for Italy.

msteacher

Ten days all in Italy would be perfect.

nytraveler

There is no place in europe with each weather in Nov or Dec - it's just too cold. If you want to see Switz in dec most things will be opening again - but you need to be prepared for snow and cold temps (below freezing).

italy will be somewhat warmer - but you can get snow as far south of Naples - although a high of 50 and chilly rain is more likely.

agree you need to decide what sights YOU want to see the most. And 10 days in Italy is NOT a lot - one can spend months and stil not see alot of major sights.

rinkubaruah

I am Indian living in Milan, Italy for some years now... Italy down south could be some best after marriage trip Capri, Sicily, Venice and ofcourse Rome..weather is not that bad in Nov. as most presume.

For Swiss, every year I make trip during winter...and though summer has got green pastures, winter has got its own charm...must visit is mount Zermatt (remember Toblerone chocolate) it got its shape and inspiration for Zermatt and lots more to see....

Ideal would be a direct Jetairlines flight to Milan and a train to Rome from Milan than a boat to Capri and Sicily and fly back to Milan from Sicily next if you want to visit another country than from Milan take a train and go to Swiss and from fly back to India.

if you need any more info. while planing your trip ..let me know

happy planning your trip!!

LucyLemonade

Most of the cows in Switzerland the cows will likely be inside and not out in the countryside by November. However, if you really want to see part of Switzerland, you could go to Lugano and/or Locarno. Both lovely places and the weather is better on that side of the mountains.

Between Lugano or Locarno and Venice, Florence, Rome, Siena, Capri, you'll have plenty to do and see!

Congratulations on your wedding!

PalenQ

10 days are definitely NOT too much for Italy>

Yes indeedy - 3 days in Venice, 3 in Florence and 4 in Rome would be just dandy - maybe throw in a day trip from Florence to one of those proverbial Tuscan hill towns, like Siena just about an hour's dirt-cheap bus ride away from Florence.