Hi,

My husband and I are considering a 2 week trip to Switzerland, Northern Italy, and Monaco. We both have never been to Europe. What would you recommend for an itinerary? Our only priorities are skiing for 1-2 days in the Swiss Alps and seeing Venice/Milan/Verona. We are flying out of Chicago. Where should we fly to and leave from for the best prices?


Thanks,
Sheena

I would not plan on more than a day, or perhaps a half day, in Monaco. It's pretty there and the views are nice, but I would not go that far out of my way to visit it on the trip you have in mind. Look at skiing in the mountains north of The Veneto, then going south to Venice, and across to Verona and Milan, and fly out of Milan.

There is a wonderful mountain region, Bolzano and environs, close to where you want to be, saving you the time-consuming trip into Switzerland if all you want to do there is ski.

Check out

www.j2ski.com/ski_resorts/Airports/Bolzano.html

www.skiare.com.au/bolzano.htm

Book a multi-city ticket (not two singles, not round-trip). See www.kayak.com and such sites.

Fly into Venice and home from Milano. (You could do it in reverse, but flights out of Venice can be awkwardly early and a pain to get to the airport from Venice).

After you see Venice (the greatest city to walk off your jetlag - walking is about all you can do there!), take the train to Verona. When you’re ready, go skiing.

It is from Verona that you go up to Bolzano - there are buses of course, or by train it is less than two hours. On www.ferroviedellostato.it input Verona and, for destination, Bolzano Bozen.

If your trip is after Dec. 11 you may not get accurate timetable info just yet, because timetables will be adjusted (all over Europe) on Dec. 10/11, but what you see now will be close to what will be in place later. If anything, they’ll add more trains when the ski season gets underway.

Finally, direct trains take you to Milano.

I forgot about your Monaco angle. Is that a necessity? It will not help, it's out of the way, and what is there to attract you, especially in winter I wonder? It would mean an extra flight, not cheap, at the beginning or end of your trip, costing you at least a day of your vacation time. Can you drop it?

Forget Monaco. it isn't worth it. If you were nearby,I would suggest Nice. however, stay in N. Italy. Much more to offer.