loveners

Hi Fodorites

We're coming to the end of what has been a magnificent trip in Italy. The last 6 weeks have raced by.

I feel the trip won't be complete without a last minute trip to my favorite handbag store, Coccinelle.

Can you please guide me towards the best transport options.

Here are the constraints:

- We have a car and will leave from Ortisei (Dolomites). Can leave anytime in the morning.
- We need to be at Milan Malpensa by 5pm on Wednesday 13th June (8.45pm international flight, need to return car, get tax refunds etc before checking in).
- We need to fill up the car with petrol before returning.

So my questions:

1. how bad would it be to drive in Milan central?
2. would we be better to park the car on the outskirts and then train into the shop? (address is Via Manzoni ang. Via Bigli)
3. would we be better returning the car early and then taking public transport from Milan Malpensa into the city?
4. if parking in the centre, where would be a good place to park?
5. approx times would be helpful (e.g. expect the normal 1 hr drive from Milan CBD to airport to take 2 hrs not the 1 hr it might normally)

We are confident drivers but I confess I found finding a park on our day trip to Bolzano a bit stressful.

I'd be grateful for your advice and recommendations.

Many thanks

Loveners

Jean

Did you know there are Coccinelle stores in Bolzano, Brescia and Bergamo which are all along the route to Malpensa?

http://www.coccinelle.com/experience...tskay=84DF456A

loveners

Thanks Jean. I've been to the Bolzano one and it was wonderful. I'm told that the Milan one has the largest range outside of headquarters.... getting excited just thinking about it!

loveners

bump ttp

Jean

If shopping in Milan is a must, I'd head there the afternoon/night before your flight, turn in the car and check into a hotel near Malpensa. The next morning, take the Malpensa Express train into the city, then Metro line 3 to the Montenapoleone stop and walk to Coccinelle. Or taxi from the train station.

If you haven't been to Milan before, after your shopping venture, walk about 10 minutes to the Duomo and take a peek at one of Italy's great churches. Take the elevator to the roof if views and Gothic architecture interest you. Your walking path from Coccinelle (Via Manzoni) will take you past La Scala and through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. In Piazza del Duomo, you can hop on the Metro (or catch a cab) back to the Central train station. There are many restaurants in the Duomo area where you could have a nice lunch before leaving the city.

The Express train is 45-50 minutes each direction, and Coccinelle is about 15 minutes by taxi from the train station.

Jean

I meant to add that no one can predict exact driving times you would experience from Ortisei to Milan or Milan to Malpensa. Google says the Ortisei-Milan drive is about four hours and the drive Milan-Malpensa about one hour.

loveners

Thanks Jean, good advice. I have seen sense and will try one of the smaller shops on the way down. As luck would have to, we have awoken to a clear sky day in the Dolomites so there will be a mad dash up the gondolas first.

Thanks again, much appreciated