Boston25

Hi Everyone,
I've been nominated to be the trip planner for our Italy trip. Reading the posting on this site was very interesting and fun, but also I am feeling a little overwhelmed. I hope you can help me with my trip since I would like to finalize all hotel arrangements by the next 2 days. My husband and I are flying from NYC to Florence in mid Sept. for 14 days. This is what I have so far:
Sept. 19-22: Florence
Sept. 23-25: Rome (Friend is joining us)
Sept. 26-27: Venice (Friend is with us but he goes back to Florence, while we take an overnight train to Switzerland)
Sept. 28-30: Switzerland (Lucerne and Interlaken)
Oct.1: Pisa
Oct. 2: Fly back to NYC
Do you think this will be too much for us?? Does anyone know the train system from Venice to Switzerland? And the cost? Or should we stay in Italy and explore the surrounding towns? Please help- thank you!!

kleeblatt

Alternative 1: Skip Pisa. Add another day to Switzerland.

Alternative 2: Skip Switzerland. Skip Pisa. Rent a car and drive leisurely to Siena and then back to Florence.

Alternative 3: Skip Switzerland. Take the train from Venice to Pisa. Rent a car and take a leisurely drive back to Siena and then Florence.

I seriously think you are pushing it with your Switzerland and Pisa planning.

Otherwise, enjoy!

nytraveler

The Switzerland/Pisa section makes no sense, If you want to go to Switzerland (still not leaving much time in each place) drop Pisa and fly back from Zurich.

If you really want to do Pisa just do it as a day trip from Florence - and return to the US from Venice (spend an extra day or two there - perhaps a day trip or two).

Boston25

I'm sorry I should have been more clear. We have to go to Pisa because that's where we fly out. We booked the flights last month not knowing much about the itinerary. Thank you for your fast replies!

Michael

Skip Switzerland and stop by Bologna on your way back to Pisa.

suze

You're flying into Florence and out of Pisa, is that right?

I have done the trip on the overnight train between Geneva and Venice a couple times. It's great fun but I don't really see how it fits very well into the rest of your trip. To go out of your way for only 3 days and 2 towns in Switzerland... well I wouldn't do it. Better to save it for another time IMO.

suze

As to the cost of the train from Venice to Switzerland question... It depends. 1st or 2nd class? Where to in Switzerland? Traveling in a seat? In a couchette? Or in a private double sleeper cabin (wagon-lit)?

bobthenavigator

Sorry, this does not make good sense to me. Why are you missing Tuscany, the Lakes, and the Ligurian coast just to spend hours on a train. You have a good start and are arriving and departing from Tuscany. Why not stay in Italy and save yourself a full day of train travel? You seem to have 12 nites in Italy. I would pick 4 destinations and keep each one within 4 hours of the last. You already have a 5 hour train trip Rome to Venice. I would toss in Lake Como for 3 nites before your last nite in Pisa.

Boston25

At the beginning of our planning phase, we both thought that Switzerland would be a great side trip. But after reading almost all the posting ref: Italy, I realized that wouldn’t be a great idea. But my husband is very stubborn and thinks that 14 days in Italy would be too much. I understand his point since I live with him- he gets impatience and bored easily. I spoke to him regarding Switzerland, and still he would like to go to another country…so what do you think? What other country is close enough and worth going to? Thank you all who answered back! (I get so excited, this is really addictive)

bobthenavigator

Lugano is a short hop from Lake Como and very lovely--it is in Switz.[CH]

Tell your hubby that it takes at least 6 weeks to see Italy and you will be missing much of the best part--and it so close.

Edward2005

Bah. One word for you: VEGAS.

Jean

After you've flown so many hours to get to Europe, the inclination is to see as much as possible in a defined geographic area. Everything looks so close together on a map, but the map is deceiving.

First of all, tell your husband you only have 13 days (and perhaps really only 12+ if you arrive in Florence on Sept. 19th). Also tell him that you lose at least a half day every time you move between cities. (Pack, check out, get to the train station, wait for the train, travel to the next town, get to the hotel, check in. Tick-tock-tick-tock.) If you choose destinations that are 3-4-5 hours away by train, you lose the better part of an entire day. And a tightly planned schedule is blown to bits if trains are late or strikes are called.

Either skip Rome or skip Switzerland.

Bobthenavigator points out that Lugano is very close to Lake Como. True, but I'm not sure it feels so Swiss that you'd think you were in Switzerland. If your husband is thinking 12-13-14 days of Italy or Italian people or Italian food is too much, he won't find much relief in Lugano.

Boston25

hi, i have some thoughts on the upcoming italy trip. first, i think your husband is probably a great guy. i bet that his wife can be so indecisive that it drives him crazy. maybe you should see a travel agent?

suze

To state the obvious this would be easier if you hadn't already purchased plane tickets!

I have done two weeks split between the Geneva area of Switzerland along Lac Leman and then Venice which was a lovely trip.

Boston25

Sorry that last posting from Boston25 is from my husband... isn't he funny!

suze

yes, we figured that out ;-)

svicious22

Skip Pisa. It was a big disappointment-a true tourist trap in the worst sense of the term. Assisi or Siena would be more interesting by far.

Switzerland is definitely worth a trip, but personally I'd do it some other time because you'll be missing so much in Italy that's closer. If you do end up sticking to Italy for the duration, you should consider the beautiful Amalfi Coast/Capri or Cinque Terre areas; it's still early enough in the year getting to the seaside should be part of your plans, I'd think.

svicious22

Sorry, I didn't read the update about flying out of Pisa before posting. Personally I'd spend a few days along the coast in Cinque Terre or Portofino just before Pisa rather than head up to Switzerland. Or, as others have said, Lugano and the Lakes area gives you a (just a) taste of different topography/a different country without as much travel.

Italy is such a diverse place for its size you can EASILY spend 14 days there and not get bored, unless you really just don't take to the culture at all (which I'm sure is definitely the exception).

Boston25

Hi Everyone
Thank you for your help. We decided to stay in Italy for the whole trip!!!