It's been difficult to try to schedule a trip with 3 teenaged boys (15, 17 and 19) and their activities, but we found a window and I found some tickets! We'll fly from Seattle to Venice June 17/18, and return out of Nice on July 6th. I am looking for some help with an itinerary- ideas below.

Some background- 5 years ago we spend 5 weeks visiting Rome, Tuscany (incl Pisa and Florence), Salzburg/Bad Reichenhall, London, Normandy and Paris. We loved the museums and sights in the big cities, but not all the noise and congestion of the cities themselves. Our favorite places were an agriturisimo near Montespertoli in Tuscany, and inns/villas in Normandy and Bad Reichenhall. These places were quiet, with wonderful hosts, room to spread out and just soak in the atmosphere.

We don't want to jump between too many places- ideally 3-5 days per spot if possible. Our possible interests this time:

Venice
Glacier express in Switzerland
Oldest son wants to go to Germany ( but no specific place!)
Italian riviera
French Riviera

Looking for any and all suggestions! Thx!

One suggestion:

Venice, then a car rental for a lazy loop through the Dolomiti (Cortina d"Ampezzo to Bolzano), take a fast train from Bolzano to Munich, a 45-minute Lufthansa flight from Munich to Genoa (but stay in Santa Margherita Ligure or Rapallo), train ride to Nice.

The classical train itinerary all through the Alps goes from Trieste to Divazza - Gorica - Bled - Jesenice - Villach - Lienz - Toblach - Bolzano/Bozen - Meran - Mals - Zernez - Samedan - Albula Pass - Schyn Gorge - Chur - Ruinaulta Gorge - Oberalp Pass - Furka Pass (tunnel) - Brig - Goppenstein/Loetschental - Spiez/Jungfrau area - Gstaad - Montreux - St. Gingolph - Martigny - Chamonix - Courmayeur - Aosta - Ivrea - Turin - Cuneo - Limone - Tenda Pass - Ventimiglia (Italian Riviera) - Nice (French Riviera).

From Venice, you might go by train and connecting bus to Belluno - Calalzo - Cortina d'Ampezzo - Toblach and continue a bit along the above mentioned itinerary.
Another shortcut goes from Venice via Verona to Bolzano/Bozen.

From Spiez you could reach Freiburg (Germany) by train in about 2 hrs. Book then a easyjet low cost flight from Basel/Mulhouse/Freiburg airport to Nice.

Ok- Here's a tentative itinerary. Looking for feedback on whether this seems ok:

June 19 arrive in London
June 19-21 London
June 21 fly to Zurich, drive to Lucerne
June 21-25 Lucerne
June 25 travel to Venice (train?)
June 26-28 Venice
June 28 Travel to Lake Garda (still deciding which Lake to visit)-Drive
June 28-July 2 Lake Garda
July 2 Travel to Nice -Drive
July 2-6 Nice
July 6 Fly home

Thanks!

Sounds good. We liked lake Como very much, but I don't know Garda.

Just one thing. In you post you say that you like places that are quiet with room to spread out. Though early July is not the height of the summer season, the Cote d'Azur is definitely not quiet. Are you going to base in Nice?

My kids liked Juan les Pins a lot when they were that age. It's a beach resort - not the prettiest place, but for kids that age a lot of fun. You can explore the coast by train, come back for beach later in the day.

Are you driving from Italy to Nice? Watch out for drop-off fees. Better drop the car in Italy (Ventimiglia) and continue by train.

Think you will need to choose lodgings carefully if you want to avoid large tourist crowds in your chosen destinations. If your sons are active and lover water sports & cycling, then the northern end of Lago di Garda is the most scenic & has the most to offer. Lago Maggiore is good for hikers, as is Lago di Como. Neither of those lakes needs a car, but it is helfpul to have one if want to escape staying in a town with loads of tourists.

As suggested, you might as well drop off the car in Italy and take the train into France.

As you obviously want to drive (all on motorways, I guess) all the way, you should fly from London to Basel instead of Zurich. Rent then a car in the French sector of Basel airport and give it back at Nice airport, in France too. Drop of fees would be lower then.

Am I misreading or did you have tickets from Seattle to Venice? Has that changed?

Thanks so much for inputs- and yes, we are starting in London now- the times worked out better, and our youngest son wants to go to the globe theater.

No need to drive from Zurich to Lucerne. There's a train station at the airport and direct trains to Lucerne.

Cars are not useful in Switzerland. The public transportation is superb, and trains, buses and boats link seamlessly. Whereas cars are forbidden in some of the most picturesque villages. And the driver has to keep his eye on the road, not the scenery.

You don't really need a car for this trip. But if you really want to drive, some good suggestions about saving the charge for drop-off in a different country.