We are travelling Europe in September / October.
Our basic itinerary is train to Nice. Followed by hire car to tour Italy – Riviera, Amalifi Coast, Pompeii, Tuscany, Lake Como area and Switzerland.
The next step I can’t decide on. PLAN A -End the car somewhere like Milano after 25 days and then catch the train to Venice, St Moritz, Zermat, Interlarken, Lucern and finally train to Paris. (We are more than happy to cycle 20km to get to a attraction)

Or PLAN B- keep the car for 36 Days which gives flexibility to go earlier up to Switzerland and then come back to Lake Como? We probably wouldn’t get the Glacier Express in with this itinerary.
PLAN A seems a logical progression but given that many of the Swiss mountains we are hoping to train up and hike or cycle down need good weather we could watch the weather and if necessary duck up to Switzerland and then come back to Northern Italy. BUT The Glacier express sounds great and it might be nice to hop on a train and get there quicker.
What do other travellers think? Is there an alternative I haven’t thought of yet?

Consider keeping the car and using the French leaseback system, especially as you are picking up and leaving in France.

I just checked the Renault site; there are also Peugeot and Citroen versions: https://www.renaulteurodrive.com.au/default.aspx

A Diesel 1.5 Clio III Luxury GPS would cost just under AU$2000 for 36 days Nice to paris. That's less than 42 euros a day with full no-excess insurance. If you use the car for 25 days and leave it in Milan you only save $50 (38 euros) because the primary cost is over the first 31 days and it costs more to drop outside France.

I have used the system twice and love it. And no, I don't represent them or get a bonus for mentioning it. I wish

I travelled on the Glacier and Bernina Expresses last May. If I was doing it again I would travel on the ordinary trains on that line. They are much cheaper, don't need reservations and allow more flexibility. And you can open the windows for pictures; that was a major annoyance on the other two with reflections off the windows on many photos. They may not be quite as luxurious, but I would still take them. And you aren't missing much by not having the "gourmet" lunch, believe me.

Cheers, Alan, Australia
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/

Oops; I wish Fodors had an edit button

This part should read : because the primary cost is over the first 21 days

Not 31.

Alan

If you rent for only 25 days, I believe that you can rent at the basic rate offered by Kemwel and Autoeurope. Your credit card would cover the CDW. At any rate, you would have to return the car in France to avoid a hefty cross-border drop-off fee. The French side of the Geneva airport might be a logical place for you.

I rented a Peugeot 308 this year for 31 days (the maximum for a single rental period with the Visa card covering the CDW), and it was <b>much</b> cheaper than leasing the car (US$885 when the RR station pickup fee and the road tax are included--but rental prices vary like the price of airline tickets).

Thank you very much for all your replies. I'll jump back onto the car hire sites and see what options I have for the longer hire even leaving the car inn Zurich, Geneva or Lyon.

Thanks