nayarana

Dear All,

Need comments and advices on our itinerary of first time family (2 adults, 2 preteens) trip to Europe :

07-Jun-09 Arrive Rome, Drive to Sorrento, Sleep in Sorrento
08-Jun-09 Amalfi Coast, Capri, Sleep in Sorrento
09-Jun-09 Pompeii, Sleep in Sorrento
10-Jun-09 Drive to Rome, Sleep in Rome
11-Jun-09 Rome Sightseeing, Sleep in Rome
12-Jun-09 Rome Sightseeing, Sleep in Rome
13-Jun-09 To Venice by Train, Sleep in Mestre/Venice
14-Jun-09 Venice Sightseeing, Sleep in Mestre/Venice
15-Jun-09 To Brig by Train, Drive to Grindelwald, Sleep in Grindelwald
16-Jun-09 Activities in Bernese Oberland, Sleep in Grindelwald
17-Jun-09 Activities in Bernese Oberland, Sleep in Grindelwald
18-Jun-09 Activities in Bernese Oberland, Sleep in Grindelwald
19-Jun-09 To Paris by TGV via Basel, Sleep in Paris
20-Jun-09 Paris Sightseeing, Sleep in Paris
21-Jun-09 Paris Sightseeing, Sleep in Paris
22-Jun-09 Paris Sightseeing, Sleep in Paris
23-Jun-09 To Barcelona by Air, Sleep in Barcelona
24-Jun-09 Barcelona Sightseeing, Sleep in Barcelona
25-Jun-09 Barcelona Sightseeing, Sleep in Barcelona
26-Jun-09 Flight to Jakarta, Indonesia

We also need specific advices on several things, i.e :
- To choose between staying in Mestre or Venice
- If it is possible to take a direct train (without change) from Venice to Brig
- If we do need aircon while staying in Sorrento, Rome and Paris
- If a daytrip to Montserrat, Spain is still a must after spending 5 days in the Swiss
Alps.

Many thanks for your expertise.
Warm Regards,

Michael

Unless cost is an issue, I would stay in Venice proper rather than in Mestre. The quiet of Venice at night is something that has to be experienced.

bobthenavigator

Not too bad for a whirlwind trip--I have seen much worse. You lost me on the Barcelona diversion. I would subsitute Lake Como as your respite for 3 days between Venice and the BO and drop BCN from the end---end in Paris. Yes, do stay in Venice--much better.

dreamon

I would absolutely stay in Venice itself. Where you have four nights, I would consider renting an apartment rather than a hotel as it gives you an opportunity to prepare some meals yourself and also gives you more space with four people. These are easily found by searching the internet. We travelled from the Bernese Oberland to Venice last year and found that we had to change trains more than once. You'll almost certainly have to change in Milan. Check sbb.ch/en or trenitalia for timetables. Also children travel for free in Switzerland if you purchase the family card for them (20chf each). Also worth checking whether the adult monthly half-fare card is worthwhile, depending upon what you plan to do (99chf each).

dreamon

..oops. Just noticed you're driving in Switzerland, 'though not sure why.

swandav2000

Hi Nayarana,

It seems odd to me that you are driving in the Berner Oberland, which has truly wonderful and convenient transportation services.

In fact, so many of the things you'll want to see (some of the villages and all of the mountaintops) do not allow cars, and many people find their cars only sit idle in a parking lot during their vacation.

It's more fun to take one mode of transport in one direction and another mode back, like train and ferry, or cable car and foot, etc. So, truly, a car is unnecessary in the Oberland.

s