We will have spent several days in the mid-lake Como area before departing via the Bernina pass on the way to Munich.

Rather than spend the long day going all the way to Munich we thought aboutstopping off enreoute for a day or so.

We've been to Appenzell and St. Gallen and along the Swiss shore of Lake Constance and have only passed through Lindau on the train.

This time we thought we might stop off and stay a couple of days.

Does this sound worthwhile? In a way, I'm not sure another couple of days along side another lake is the best plan but in the absence of other suggestions.

We will be returning to Switzerland later in this same trip (post-Munich and Oberammergau)and concentrating on the Berner Oberland area.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

I think one could say that it would be another big lake.

One unique sight of the Bodensee is the garden island Mainau. So if you are big fans of parks and gardens, it will be well worth the detour.
Unless you want to drive via Bernina, it would make more sense to drive via Splügen pass since Bernina would be quite a detour.

If you want to add another flavor to your mix of Ticino, Bavaria, Berner Oberland, you could check the following route via South Tyrol:

Go East from lake Como to Sondrio, then
either via Bernina pass/ St. Moritz/ Ofenpass to Meran,
or via Bormio/ Stilfserjoch to Meran.

Overnight Meran.
http://www.meran.eu/index.php?lang=en

Next day: Meran, Timmelsjoch/ Sölden, Garmisch, Munich.
Or base in Meran for some nights and explore South Tyrol/ Dolomites.

Thanks for that rec..let's talk further. I was THINKING of doing this whole thing by rail and not adverse to using a car but don't want to start with a car in Italy and end up dropping it off in Switzerland.

the main object was to definitely take the Bernina Express..and thought of stopping off somewhere in Switzerland (not St. Moritz..been there, done that) but will definitely check out the meran idea right now.

Sorry.. did not get the concept of taking the train, and especially the Bernina Express. In that case, going via Bernina makes a lot of sense
But whatever you plan, it will probably not worth international drop-off fees.

If you want to mix train and car, you could check if you can pick up a car in St. Moritz (and do nothing more since you know it well), and eventually drop it off at probably Zurich airport. So it would be a swiss/swiss rental.

It might be a bit more complicated to find a nice new place for a stopover since you have traveled the Eastern part of Switzerland already well.

Hi Dukey,

There's so much more to the Engadin than merely St. Moritz. Did you get out & about while there?

How about a stopover in Guarda? Or Soglio? Really really different from StM! They are sweet little villages perched atop dramatic peaks overlooking lush green valleys.

Oh, please please please stick with the trains all the way! Let's break our dependance on cars (and petroleum!).

s

Hi D,

Last year we spent a night in Lindau at www.hotel-schreier.de.

We liked it so much that this year we are going back for 4 nights.

I'm with Swandav on this one. Explore the Engadine more intensely. You won't see villages like that in other areas.

OK, don't get all hot and bothered..I know there is more to the Engadine than St. Moritz and I don't plan on returning to THAT particular location...but we've only got so many days/nights...

Lake Garda sounds like a great idea and I'm almost tempted to forego Como in place of that but I am DETERMINED to take (finally!!!) the Bernina Express on this trip even if it kills me and at this rate it might just do that.

Ira, thanks for your rec about Lindau...I've looked at one hotel there already (the Schachen) but will also look at yours.

Please, everyone..all of your thoughts are appreciated..not trying to be difficult but as usual, so many possibilities and so LITTLE time..sigh.

You could rent some bikes and bike to Constance. Easy bike paths available along the lake. Take the ferry back. Definitely bike clockwise around the lake.

Bike from Lindau to Constance.

We loved Lindau and Lake Constance...we drove there from Stein am Rein and there was a bad traffic snarl which held us up an hour...but all the stress evaporated upon our arrival.

We loved Meersburg, which is on the Bodensee. We wandered around the little town and found it quite charming. We also took the boat ride to Mainau. When I've been there in the past, I've walked along the bicycle/pedestrian path that leads to Lindau.

I wasn't wild about Constance, for some reason, and Lindau looked pretty traffick-y, so we didn't go far into the town.

However, Meersburg is lovely. We stayed in a nice little hotel with an oriel window--Hotel zum Bären, as I recall. It wasn't very expensive, and we enjoyed the oriel window.

Dukey, we've been to both Lindau and Meersburg. There is more traffic getting into Lindau but it is a beautiful little town with a nice lake promenade.

However, I really loved Meersburg and there aren't enough superlatives to describe Mainau. We also stayed at the Zum Baeren. Wonderful, historic hotel with a great restaurant.

I'm a big lake lover so there's no such thing as too many lakes for me. But I think you'd enjoy Meersburg and Mainau.

If it will help you make up your mind:

http://travel.webshots.com/album/561...xDcvw?start=36