Dear Fodorites , Due to some work related reasons , my trip to Europe in March was scuttled and I picked September as the next best month to travel. However now it looks like I can travel only in October. Appreciate any feedback on the pros on cons to a travel to Europe in October spanning 5- 6 weeks. This would be my first trip and looking to cover - Parts of Italy , Austria , Swiss and France.

If you are thinking of including scenic destionations rather than cities, then without posting a more specific itinerary and when in October you would begin traveling, no one can give you any reliable advice. The weather in many parts of Europe can be severely rainy in autumn, making some scenic destinations rather pointless to visit (including the fact that many things there will be closing down for winter).

October weather should still be good in most places (yes, there will be rain, just like at home - but not an issue if you're or camping or hiking) but getting into Nov can be chillier and even shorter days - so I would start in the north and head south.

Also you need to allow yourself enough time in each place so that you can reverse days for outdoor versus indoor activities - since you won;t know which days weather will be bright or rainy until you're on the spot.

Going by train - you should IMO if going to main tourist cities where cars are rather useless - trains blow around at nearly 200 mph and take you city centre to city centre - anyway here are some fab sites for planning a European rail journey - www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com. If traveling on more than a handful of trains check out some kind of railpass - like the Eurail Select Pass.

October is a good time to go, in fact, it is far preferable in the warmer areas (like Spain or Italy or southern France). IN Paris, it is fine but the nights will be cooler and of course, it gets dark earlier, just the expected. It depends for Switzerland, it's just cooler there, of course.

I think October is actually better than September in some ways, depends what you are looking for, as a lot of performing arts venues and concerts/dance aren't really in full swing until October. That may not matter to you, of course, it's just something I do a lot so am aware. And October can be a bit busier in some big cities than, say, early September (not clear when you were going in Sept), for various business reasons so you just have to make sure you have reservations in advance. October in Paris is a lot busier than the first week in September, for example. But more interesting.

The only major factor which impressed me for October travel is the earlier end to daylight/sightseeing.

A lot of people here who are advising you that there are no issues with rain in October in Italy simply are ignorant of terrible flooding in Italian cities and roadways in October in recent years, due to torrential rain, that have resulted in widespread transportation disruption and deaths in some places. For Italy, it matters where you are going in Italy in October. Some places are much better than others.

I agree with sandra's take on rain - one late September - early October trip to northern Italy I had rain for two weeks straight - from Florence to Venice to Milan to the lakes - everywhere in northern Italy.

Southern Italy and Rome can get rain too but I think not the prolonged wet spells spilling down from a generally wet autmned northern Europe.

Venice I beleive is more prone to flooding in fall - especially at times of high tides? but also because of tons of rain brought here from all over northern Italy.

After a few trips during October (early to late Oct.) to the Austrian and Bavarian alpine area's plus the Italian Dolomites, there's no better time to visit in my opinion. What we experienced (your experience may vary was cool to warm days, chilly to cold nights and early mornings and hardly any rain at all.

Paul