I’m honestly so discouraged by feeling that I’m clearly inept at planning trips (I’ve planned 100 before that have been good)

but this trip takes the cake for being the most difficult.

I’m about ready to cancel altogether.

Im a highly educated, world travlleded person and yet I have failed so miserably at planning my husbands 50th bday dream trip — because I DONT SKI, I DONT UNDERSTAND SKIING - AND I dont understand how these various places are connected.

i saw an SUV and roads and GOOGLEMAPS and I ASSUMED that 1st world countries would have car and road standards similar to OR BETTER than the USA.

im not sure I will be able to pull off my trip and now my husband is angry that im letting people “on the internet” determine what we do, or let us spend an extra $1000 on a car

" snow chains are included and free of charge"
So, don't worry, you are on the safe side!
Everybody (me too) wrote you, that the roads will pobably be dry, but that exceptions with black ice or snowfall cannot be completely excluded.
And in the case the weather would get really bad and you would get into problems to put your chains, any gaz station (every few miles along your itinerary) would do that for you.
For more serious problems, you could call the assistance of a patrol of the Swiss Touring Club
Once at Arosa, you don't need your car as there is a free shuttle bus to all lifts.
So, forget your anxiety and look forward to your certainly beautiful holydays!

SO, after more tireless research, I FOUND A COMPANY THAT CAN GAURENTEE WINTER TIRES!

A UK company called CLARIFY CARE HIRE: https://www.clarifycarhire.co.uk

We booked a
Peugeot 3008 1.5 Winter Tyres Automatic (or similar)

I HOPE its NOT A SCAM, and I hope we don't arrive to find we DON'T have winter tires (not that we'd know the difference anyway!!!)

HERTZ was outrageously priced ($1500 for a car!). None of the other standard US vendors offer winter tires as an option (only snow chains)

AS A BACK UP PLAN --- Can someone kindly provide me with the link to the BUS that goes from MXP to CHUR?

I found FLIXBUS (but only 3 departures a day)

I will try again to convince my husband that maybe public transport is safer? Though, I would then need to get a train from Arosa - PONTRESINA. And the following day, PONTRESINA - COMO (area).

On BUSSES in Italy / Switzerland are children required to be in car seats?!?! (Children are 4 and 7)

My husband and I did some googling ... it seems many tyres in the US are all-seasons tyres, which you can use in mud and snow, and are marked with an M+S. Europe still has summer and winter tyres and summer tyres will seize up with the cold, causing them to skid in wet conditions. Just an automotive cultural difference. I understand Quebec has mandatory winter tyres also.

It sounds like you have resolved the winter tyre problem with the UK rental. Trust that it will be OK, and it will be so, but good to have a plan B and scope out what you have to do if for some reason you can't drive (which won't happen now, you have a solution).

Lavandula

1) snow tires are not required in Switzerland
2) If you get into an accident caused by summer tires on wintery roads, the insurance agency may not pay for the damages due to inappropriate tires.
3) Stop yelling by using block capitals.... we are only volunteers and you might come off to some as demanding
4) Our road management is far better in Switzerland than in the US but you are not taking into consideration the quick weather changes that happens in the alps. March is still winter but our winters have become warmer so the chances of mild weather has increased.
5) some passes are closed in the winter so make sure the roads you are using are open. This is a good website showing pass info: Alpenpässe (alpen-paesse.ch)
6) Stay in Pontresina or any of the villages around St. Moritz. They are all wonderful. Use booking.com to help you find something that meets your needs.
7) Think of your small children first and your husband second. Buses do not have car seats for children.
8) Any Swiss roads that start with "A" require an Autobahn sticker. A is for Autobahn. An Autobahn is a freeway/motorway. That reminds me, I still have to buy mine for 2024.

My advice: get a car because the public transport is too complicated for your needs. Many Swiss drive those roads in March but know that weather conditions may affect their plans. The worst scenerio is that there is a blizzard or the roads are extremely icy. Fog can also be an issue. Often on the weekends, we get traffic jams as skiers drive to or back from the mountains.

Get your car and plan your trip. We cannot guarantee you friendly weather conditions but the chances are good. Have fun.

ONCE AGAIN:
You wrote in your post 19:
" SNOW CHAINS ARE INCLUDED AND FREE OF CHARGE"
So, you are on the safe side!
i JUST CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHERE IS THE PROBLEM!

Everybody (me too) wrote you, that the roads will pobably be dry, but that exceptions with black ice or snowfall cannot be completely excluded.
And in the case the weather would get really bad and you would get into problems to put your chains, any gaz station (every few miles along your itinerary) would do that for you.
For more serious problems, you could call the assistance of a patrol of the Swiss Touring Club
Once at Arosa, you don't need your car as there is a free shuttle bus to all lifts.
So, forget your anxiety and look forward to your certainly beautiful holydays!

neckervd is online now Report Post

ANSWER TO POST 24 (FLIXBUS):

There doesn't exist any direct bus between Milan Malpensa airport and Chur, neither Flixbus nor another company.

Arosa - Pontresina by train tiakes 3 hrs. change at Chur and Samedan

Pontresina - Como all by tain lasts 5 1/4 hrs. Change at Tirano and Monza
Pontresina - Como by train and bus via Switzerland lasts 4 3/4 hrs. Change at Samedan, Thusis and Bellinzona
Pontresina - Como by train and bus via Italiy lasts 5 3/4 hrs. Change at Tirano and Colico
On weekends, there is furthermore a direct bus St. Moritz - Menaggio (3 hrs journey).
Pontresina - Varenna by train takes 3 1/2 hrs