Making first trip to Europe early May.

Home base will be a Marriott in Monaco for the first 8 nights. The next 8 nights are open. But, it is a given the flight home is out of MXP, Milan.

We are not sure whether to stay right in the city of Milan, or outside the city at a location having easy rail access to Milan and/or other desirable locations.

Any comments to help us decide would be greatly appreciated.

8 nights in Monaco? Tell me you're stuck there on business....

Hi twosix,

I'm stumped by your choice of cities for a first Europe trip. I have not been to Monaco myself, but all my friends who have visited, even just for a day, didn't care for it at all. There are much more interesting and charming small towns and villages nearby all along the Cote d 'Azure - Eze, St. Paul du Vence, San Remo, Antibes, even Nice (larger).

There are many wonderful places to visit near enough to Milan - the Italian lakes, the Ligurian Coast, Piedmonte, and Venice is only 3hrs by train.....a couple of days in Milan would very likely be enough to see the highlights if you really want.

Grab a map and a guidebook and get some ideas!

StCirq and Dayle.....appreciate your comments......fyi....i am using marriott points for the first 8 nights.....i requested nice....and closest available was monaco......which isnt far for a homebase scenario ..i do plan to day trip the surrounding areas as much as possible.....

twosix -- Tell us what you like --

Is it about wine and food for you? Or history and architecture?

I can tell you that Piedmont, the southern/central part of the region, is where we live and is considered to be the wine and food capital of the country. You would want to specifically look at the Langhe and Monferrato regions if gastronomy and wine interest you. The scenery is spectacular, and the area is for the discerning traveler. Torino, the capital of Piedmont, was at one time the capital of the Italian Kingdom, and is a very underrated city. Also, this area of Piedmont is an hour or so from the coastal city of Genoa.

MXP is approx 1.5 hours from this area.

hello bellacqui....

setting up homebase for the second eight nights in turin would work....the entire piedmont region has lots to offer in the way of food/drink....as well as history/architecture......

for easy transportation access..plus various other city opportunities....we are looking at these spots for lodging...

# genova e stazione...

# grand hotel sitea....

# turin palace...

..not decided yet and would appreciate your comments.....whatever spot....this would be homebase for 8 nights (although we are not opposed to an additional cost to lodge should we choose to stay overnight at a place of interest during any of our day trips from the homebase.....)

fyi....we are of the mindset to explore/enjoy the homebase region we choose....this as opposed to running to fast a pace where one is caught up trying to see/do too much with one trip.....learning about the piedmont region with day trips from turin leave the door wide open in our view to easily fill eight nights....

thanks for your earlier reply.....and....let us know your thoughts re the above.....

in the cleveland ohio area.....
'twosix'

Well, twosix, I think it entirely depends what kind of experience you want to have. If you want to have a predominantly city experience, or if you wish to recline back into the countryside during the explosion of nature in May. Remember, if you make your base the country, you can always do a day trip into Torino or into Genoa. Since you like the idea of settling into one base and slowing down (which is in my estimation the only way to travel), then I would think you could easily choose a location in the Langhe or in the MOnferrato.

While it is possible to use public transportation in the countryside, you would probably enjoy yourself more, have more freedom of movement, and be able to absorb more of what is off the beaten path with a rental car.

I know you sent me a private mail, and I did receive the second one now, so I will respond there as well.