Because of schedules, the best time for us to travel next year is August. We were thinking of going to Switzerland - hoping the weather would be mild - and then taking a trip to Versailles, France and Venice. I'm afraid of hot, muggy weather. What is the weather generally like in these cities in August? What about European travel in August in general?
Thanks!

Hi B,

You can look up historical weather datea for various cities at www.weather.com.

>We were thinking of going to Switzerland.... and then taking a trip to Versailles, France and Venice.<

In that order, you are starting in the middle.
See www.viamichelin.com

Venice will be hot and crowded, especially if cruise ships are in port. France could be pretty hot and crowded at Versailles but Switzerland may be okay.

Hi bargem,

Yes, the weather in Switzerland, particularly in the Alps, is likely to be cooler than elsewhere (Italy for example).

But you should be prepared for all the tour busses -- you'll be fighting with the off-loaded hordes almost everywhere you go (unless you stick to the car-free villages!).

You should know that the fast French train TGV connects from Paris to three spots in Switzerland: Basel/Zürich, Bern, and Geneva/Lausanne. Of these, Bern is the closest to the high Alps such as the Berner Oberland. You can get fares as low as 25E or 35 chf if you buy your tickets 89/90 days in advance.

Let us know if you have other questions!

s

August is when a lot/most Europeans and British take their main holiday for the year so be prepared for crowds and higher prices. Things will also be booked up early so don't leave it too late to find accommodation etc.

I know Americans have a thing for airconditioning which is not that usual in hotels and restaurants in Europe. If you are from America, bear this in mind.

Kay

Venice in August-ungodly heat and humidity.Paris-depends.

OK - what about this itinerary in late March? I think the crowds would be less - but what about weather? Is it spring yet?

Weather in late March is very unpredictable. We've seen an early spring in Switzerland and Germany, for example, where the flowers were in bloom the last week of March; another time we had snow in Italy, around Orvieto at about that same time. The question is, do you want it to be most certainly pretty hot (August) or have weather that can change at the drop of a hat (March)? Up to you... I, personally, don't let weather stop me from travelling to Switzerland/Germany twice a year.

Personally, I would choose March instead of August but it depends on what sort of weather you are looking for. Check the Trip Planner on www.wunderground.com for historical weather averages.

We were in Venice in late March one year and it was quite cold but very atmospheric and no crowds.

Kay

Hi again,

Folks will still be skiing in the high Alps in March. There are always some hiking paths kept clear of snow, though, so if you're bundled up, you can still enjoy an outdoor holiday.

s