Switzerland/Italian Lakes Itinerary Help

Old May 4th, 2016, 05:49 AM
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Switzerland/Italian Lakes Itinerary Help

We're finalizing our plans for a trip to Switzerland and the Italian Lakes in June. A romantic anniversary trip for a young couple. Any and all comments and recommendations are greatly appreciated.

Fly into Geneva, train to Lausanne (or should we at least have lunch and explore Geneva a little bit?). Use Lausanne as our base for 3 nights at Hotel Angleterre and Residence. HAs anyone stayed here and liked/disliked it? Take a couple day trips from Lausanne. Would love some recommendations on this part as well as good restaurant tips...we love to eat!

Montreaux and Chateau Chillion for sure are on our list as well as Vevey and Lutry. Also looking at visiting Gstaad, Lake Arnen?, and Gruyeres/Cailler. What is worth is and what isn't? Help with trains etc for these day trips please!

Then we train to Zermatt and spend 2 nights. We're looking at some hikes. We're both in great shape so any ideas for these 2 days would be great. We're looking to stay at Riffelhaus 1853. Good choice? A couple hikes we're looking into would be the Gornergrat, Rotenboden, Sunnegga, Tuftern, Blauherd, Furi, Z'mutt?

Last part of our trip we're spending a couple nights in Stresa at Grand Hotel Des Iles Borromees. Then probably exploring the Islands and maybe a day trip to lake orta if that's possible?

FInally we train the morning of our flight back to Malpensa and then home.

We really want this trip to be special as we will be away from our one year old THank you so much for any and all comments/recommendations etc.
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Old May 4th, 2016, 06:13 AM
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If you are into wtches at all, the Patek Philippe museum in Geneva is awesoje, especially the floor with the antiques!
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Old May 4th, 2016, 06:20 AM
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Many folks like staying in smaller dreamier Vevey or Montreux or a fairly modern largish city like Lausanne but Lausanne is nice too - especially if you stay on the lake - anyway with as much train travel as previewed research the Swiss Pass for sure - covers trains, lake boats, postal buses, city trams and buses and free entry to hundreds of Swiss museums and gives 50% off on lifts to mountain tops like in Zermatt - for lots of info on Swiss trains and passes: www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.
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Old May 4th, 2016, 11:18 AM
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Thank you both for these great suggestions. Any recommendations for a hotel in Zermatt? We'll be there for 2 nights.
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Old May 4th, 2016, 12:17 PM
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FInally we train the morning of our flight back to Malpensa and then home.>

the airport as the crow flies is rather close to Stresa - trains go first to Milan Centrale then out to the airport - a round-about routing - check into airport transfers from Stresa vs the long train ride and change of trains in hectic Milano Centrale station, one of the busiest and largest in Europe.

Direct buses would be my choice Stresa to Malpensa:

http://www.icrs.co/images/Alibus.for.ICRS2014.pdf
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Old May 5th, 2016, 08:39 AM
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PalenQ, thanks so much that's very helpful. Assuming you've traveled to this area would you recommend a day trip to Lake ORta from Stresa?
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Old May 5th, 2016, 06:00 PM
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I enjoyed Geneva and was glad I made time for it; others disagree. Your call!

I was put off by Gstaad, which was WAY too up-scale for me, but which is (of course) adored by many. And – even though a chocoholic – I was not all that impressed with the Callier chocolate experience. It was nice enough, but I think I would have preferred using my time elsewhere.

For train (and other public transportion) info in Switzerland, please see http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html
Seriously, it has everything you could possibly need to know.

You might find some useful information in my long, but searchable, trip report -- just click on my screen name to find it.

Hope that helps!
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Old May 6th, 2016, 10:56 AM
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PalenQ, thanks so much that's very helpful. Assuming you've traveled to this area would you recommend a day trip to Lake ORta from Stresa?>

Can't say as I never made it to Lake Orta but always wanted to - researched it for an article I wrote once on Lake Stresa (well not on it but about it!) and the main town sounds so nice.

but since I do not have firsthand knowledge I can't say.
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