OK, so I'll lay it out. I'm the honeymooner (well, one of them - grin)flying into and out of Milan. 4 days lake Garda, 2 Venice, 2 Florence, 3 Rome, 3 CT...<BR><BR>We leave JFK the day after our wedding. Our flight from Heathrow to Linate moved up 2 hours and now leaves the same time we arrive from JFK! The next flight we can catch from Heathrow to Linate is 3.5 hours later. (yes I know the airline has to refund us, but we found no better schedule/price combination - we even looked out of Boston too!)<BR><BR>Problem is that by the time we reach Linate it will be 3:30 PM, we have a car rented to drive to Lake Garda. We are figuring we won't get out of the airport and pick up the car now until 5ish. We have never been overseas before, will have been traveling for 20+ hours and are afraid of finding our way to Lake Garda after our overnight flight, and as it approaches dark. <BR><BR>So should we cancel our first night in Garda and stay in Milan? Or do I need not worry and it will be an effortless trip to Garda??? ViaMichelin says its just under 100 miles, so am I worrying needlessly? <BR><BR>Thanks in advance, and I'm sure it's not such a big deal in the grand scheme of things...

If you are concerned about driving on unfamiliar roads at night (especially when the speedlimit in Italy is a laughable suggestion) then the option to stay overnight in Milan sounds like a plan.<BR><BR>Alternatively, you could overnight in London (see some sights) and take the first flight out the next morning.

Maybe you can fly out of Newark if the schedule is better, they have several options to Heathrow and maybe one will work for you. Just a suggestion and maybe you've already checked this out.

Where you´re heading to, in Lake Garda? Anyway, if you´re heading somewhere in the south shore, under normal conditions (no stall and/or fog) you should be able to reach it in no more than 1:45 hours. 90% of the route is on a divided toll way ... a piece of cake. I wouldn´t worry!

I guess I should have mentioned the price factor... as I said, the airline changed the flight, so they have to rebook us or refund our money. I went with the rebook option because we only paid $490 for our flights. (we got them in January on Orbitz)This means that we couldn't get a refund and still find flights in that price range. <BR><BR>I checked all NYC area (JFK, LGA, Newark) and Boston for schedules, but nothing worked well. The 'best' flight to change was the London/Milan leg. <BR><BR>PS anyone else having trouble using their REAL email when posting? It won't accept my yahoo address this time, and wouldn't yesterday either...

www.mappy.fr will give you driving directions, with names of the towns where you turn or exit and hotels/restaurants, so if you really can't make it any further, you have an idea of where to stay.<BR><BR>DON'T go all the way into Milan - stay somewhere en route if you don't want to make the drive that day.

I wouldn't worry about the dark. In Europe, in June & July, its pretty bright out there until about 10:00 P.M. Plus, as you are a first time traveler, you'll be able to appreciate how good the international road signs are, all over Europe. It is very, very difficult to get lost, even at night and even if you don't speak the language.<BR>Finally, if you don't want to start your marriage with a major fight, let me give you a piece of advice (we've been married 28 years):<BR>When traveling by car with my wife, I usually let her do all the driving, while I concentrate on the map and the road signs. Men are much better reading maps and have a better sense of orientation than women. No question about it. It's not a sexist thing; it's just a genetic. (In the old days men would go hunting in the woods, while women would keep to eyes on the ground in the nearby fields to gather berries.)<BR><BR>Best wishes!

Personally, I'd be too tired to drive all the way to Lake Garda after such a long flight (with change of planes). Instead, consider spending the first night in Stresa, on Lake Maggiore (perhaps at the Regina Palace Hotel or the des Iles Borromees for extra pampering), or at ultra-romantic Orta San Giulio on Lake Orta. Both places are within 45 minutes of Malpensa Airport (maybe you can fly into Malpensa from London).

Louis has got it right when he says that it works well to have one person drive and one person navigate when in unfamiliar territory, but he's got it wrong when assuming that there's much in the way of sex bias for who does what. We've been doing it the wrong way all these years (17 of them) and are still happily married. <BR><BR>The freeways in Italy are easy. The narrow roads around the lakes can be a bit dicier (but still easier than big city driving in Italy, which will make you want to throw up). My husband and I have done this sort of thing (arrive late-ish, drive several hours to our destination) and always done fine.

Thanks so much for the responses! (keep them coming too) In case I confused anyone, we are going to Garda, on Lake Garda, that was hard to get out of my original post. <BR><BR>As I think you can tell, we would like to make it to Lake Garda that first day, and I'm getting the sense that it is do-able. Especially if we will have light until at least 8. It is also helpful to know the signs are well posted. <BR><BR>And Louis, so humorous! We signed HIM up to be the driver because he isn't one for details, hence I do the navigating and planning! I have to go with Therese on this one, that there is no sex basis, just a couple playing off each others strengths!

Kam,<BR>Why don't you route through Dulles? (Washington DC). United flys direct to Milan. You didn't mention what airline you are flying. You can easily get a puddle jumper from any NYC airport on the hour.

Dawn, <BR><BR>I am flying United! (Then Lufthansa from London to Milan.)<BR><BR>I got all excited for a minute, but the last United flight leaves at 5:50 PM, I can't get from Mass to NYC to DC (or MA to DC) early enough <BR><BR>Thanks though, it almost worked!

Men are much better at directions? I think not, Louis. I do plenty of driving in Europe, but if we actually have to FIND our way somewhere, as opposed to tooling around gazing at scenery, I'm in the passenger seat with the map, and have been for 25 years. My spouse's idea of navigation is for me to drive really fast until he locates the perfect person to ask directions from: a) a three-year old, b)a recent immigrant from another continent who speaks neither the native language nor English, or c) a deaf or blind person.

First, Kam, take note of the comment that it stays light quite late in Italy in the summer. <BR><BR>Second, there's nothing about the Y chromosome that guarantees having any sense of direction or map-interpreting talent, just that any problems will be denied! My husband drives, I navigate. He can't find his way out of a parking lot but I can't drive and read a map at the same time. Works fine, even better since he brought himself to say, "you're better at directions, I'll drive."

louis<BR><BR>i've never heard such a rubbish like this with the genetic stuff. i am since then and ever very good in knowing where i am and where i have to turnaround and where directions are. and some years ago a woman who is in a high position in the military told me that i know exactly how to read maps. till now i always got lost when one of my ex-men gave directions where to drive or to go. <BR><BR>or you are just a troll mixing up the forum. frog in a blender?<BR><BR>christina

KAM, If it's summer you will find it is light quite late enough for your drive. Also, Linate is on the east side of Milan so just head away from the center, and that will help. Also, there is a good chance you will clear customs in London, pretty sure you will have to change terminals and likely claim and re-check bags. Will also speed things along, just get your bags and walk at Milan. All that said, also keep in mind that my last 3 flights JFK to LHR have arrived 1 to 3 hours early--if so be sure to check that earlier flight! Good luck.

Hey! I did not mean to steer up all that crap! You want to know the secret of staying happily married for 28 years? <BR><BR>We have traveled at lot together.<BR><BR>It's like my wife always says: "It's only when we travel together that I find the true meaning of the expression my "better half"!" Hey? what can I say, except that the same goes for me!<BR><BR>Louis<BR><BR><BR><BR>

Your drive, Kam, is really very easy. By exiting Linate you take Viale Forlanini to the Tangenziale. Then south to the A1. Take the Peschiera exit and just follow SS249 through Bardolino country, to Garda. If you indeed are ready to leave Linate by 5pm, you should get to Garda not later than 6:30pm.

Thanks so much to all! Especially ppp, as we have decided it will be easy enough to manage. I'll be sure to post when we get back in July! <BR><BR>- Kristy

I didn't read all the posts above - some looked really silly - I'm sure whatever you decide - you will be fine and have a wonderful time. But you are on you honeymoon. . . . Personnaly, I would spend the night in the city where you get off your final airplane. Recover a bit (if you know what I mean) and take the drive in the morning. It just sounds a bit less stressful.