Hello - we are joining our daughter in Florence. We will spend 4 days in the city and then will have a car, ending up in in Geneva 8 days later. Would love info on recommended itinerary & inns - we love small towns, small inns, local food and wine, no fancy stuff needed. We live in Colorado, mountain driving not a problem. Not big city people.

What time of year? Have you been to Italy or Switzerland (or SE France) before? If you're renting the car, have you looked at the cost of picking up in Italy and dropping off in Switzerland?

Time frame is early August through the 17th of this year.
Yes, we have the car arranged, the drop off fee is quite reasonable considering the flexibility that it gives us.

Our daughter has been studying in Florence since mid-May, we will be joining her at the end of her semester and then travelling for the last 10 days.

Its our first trip to the area.
Thanks!

I think the first decisions you have to make are how you want to divide your time between Italy, Switzerland and/or possibly France. Do you only want to concentrate on Italy and arrive in Switzerland just for your departing flight? Or do you want to see a little of Switzerland? Or France?

Do you want to spend several days in one or two places and concentrate your exploring, or do you want to continue moving along every day or so?

Although you don't have a lot of time for pondering your options, you should research a few areas: Italian lakes; the Piemonte area of Italy; the Berner Oberland, Valais and Ticino areas of Switzerland; the Rhone-Alps area of eastern France; the Lake Geneva area of Switzerland.

You might look at Karen Brown's suggested itineraries and pick out segments you can string together:

http://www.karenbrown.com/Select_Des...n/Europe/6.php

Once you've made your basic decisions, come back and tell us your lodging budget.

Train to Lugano, get the car there---much less $$ than in IT.
Plan at least 3 days in the lake region--I suggest Lago Como, only an hour from Lugano. Then drive to Lauterbrummen in the Berner Oberland for 4 nites in the best of the Alps. Then, last nite near Geneva. Have fun !

Hello,
I'm planning a trip from geneva to florence 15-22 OCT.
Wonder if traveling with a car will be agood solution.
Pls advice what is the traveling time and which way will be the shortest one. If you have reccomendation I would like to know.
Thanks,
Raz