Help! Switzerland/Verona/Venice/Bergamo: I mucked up Venice reservations
 

Hi everyone

My two sons (nearly 15, nearly 13) and I will be travelling late September.

Coming from Switzerland by train to Italy. On a previous forum I was persuaded by many experts to stay IN Venice rather than day-trip in. So I decided we'd stop in Verona for 2 nights, Venice for 2 nights, Bergamo for 1 night before flying out of Milan and home to Oz. Have booked accommodation in Venice.

In Verona the plan was to see the colosseum in the afternoon of first day, and relax after the journey, and on the second day do a day-trip to Sirmione to see the castle, and have a swim. The castle is fairly important, since I've said we'll see one on our trip.

BUT I mucked up the dates for Venice! And it only allows us 1 night in Verona.

Do you think we should go back to Verona and stay another night after Venice? I guess I'm asking how awkward/easy this would be... Not a fan of staying only 1 night, packing, moving on, etc., but I'm trying to find the best solution.

Or would it be better to have 2 nights in Bergamo?

Or is there another fantastic idea to solve this dilemma?

Thanks for any advice.

What do you mean you mucked up the dates? Are you talking about you've booked the wrong hotel dates or are you talking about train tickets?

I booked the wrong dates for the hotel in Venice. One day early...

Sorry, may not have made this clear.

What's the cancellation policy on the hotel reservation? This far out, maybe you can change the dates or cancel one day.

I tried to change the dates, but they were already booked. I'm really reluctant to cancel the booking, since the place sounds so lovely, has had great reviews, and the owner was so kind and helpful. I think we were lucky to get it! Residenza de l'Osmarin.

If you are going to Verona mainly for a day trip to Sirmione, why don't you stay a day in Sirmione?

Hmm, that's a lateral thought!

So Verona 1 night, Venice 2 nights, Sirmione 1 night? Would a transfer be fairly seamless from Venice?

I wrote you a few days ago:

Castles? You will find some of them every few miles!
The most popular castles (which can be visited) along your itinerary are:
Thun, Wimmis, Spiez, Oberhofen (all around Lake Thun), Brig, Vocogna, Isola Bella, Angera, Somma Lombardo, Castello Sforzesco a Milano.....

But if it must absoluely be Sirmione, don't worry: there are tons of trains and buses between Verona and Desenzano/Sirmione. In late September (no longer beach season, first automn rains)1 night at Verona/Lake Garda area is enough.

Yes, thanks, neckervd – I kind of thought you might pop up on this topic! I guess I have been thinking of heading Switz. to Verona/Venice without stopping.

But, on the other hand, it may be possible to stop en route, stay 1 night, stay 1 night Verona, 2 nights Venice and forget Sirmione! That's another good idea, thank you.

What would be the best pick, or is that a tough ask? We were probably going Simplon Tunnel, although I haven't yet looked into timetables/connections. Trying to tackle one thing at a time.

Open to more suggestions!

Have just discovered castle in Verona - Museo di Castelvecchio!

I actually meant 1 night en route, 2 nights Venice, 1 night Verona, 1 night Bergamo.

But having discovered castle in Verona maybe 1 night Verona 2 nights Venice, 2 nights Bergamo.

personally I'd stay the extra night in Venice - 2 nights gives you only 2 days, which is still not time to see very much at all.

what are you planning to do in Bergamo?

I'll be in Verona later this summer for 3 nights but those will be filled with opera performances. Frankly, I think one night in Verona given what YOU want to do is plenty. You can see the arena in way less than one hour if that's your main reason for going.

Thanks, annhig – yes, that would probably be ideal, but I've already pretty much blown the budget on 2 nights! The idea to stay in Verona (apart from colosseum/balcony/castle) before Venice was that we would have an earlier arrival in Venice to make the most of the time. An earlier thought was to stay in Padua and day-trip in, but I've been persuaded away from this!

Bergamo? I really don't know, but the old city sounds lovely. I guess if we have 2 nights there, we could have a day trip to...is it Iseo? Can't remember. One of the islands. Might be a nice way to finish our travels. Otherwise just chill out before long flight home.

Thanks, Dukey1, enjoy your opera! Sounds amazing. And thanks for the tip re time. Would you say the castle fits the bill? From what I've read you can wander along the ramparts, etc. Something that would appeal to my boys, not so much the art.