My husband and I are professional photographers and will be renting a car in Venice the first week in January and driving to the mountains north of Venice, then west to Bolzano, then south around Lake Garda then back to Venice to catch a plane 5 days later. Here's the questions: We will have extra luggage to stash from a cruise. Where do they allow 2 pullmans to be stashed in Venice for one week (safely, of course)? The train station? Are there places to stay around Lake Gards at this time of year? I've checked many websites and most are closed. Any tips about security for our stuff since we'll be living out of a rental car for a week? Also, given the time of year and not knowing how far we'll travel each day, will it be impossible to find lodging in small towns - should we always try to make it to larger cities each night? Any tips anyone can offer about our planned photo expedition would be most helpful

several years ago i drove in spring from bolzano to cortina...i can't imagine doing it in the winter...maybe things have improved but the roads were windy narrow roads completly open to the wind and snow....i should think many might be closed in winter?? have you checked this out...??

for photography it would be beautiful..

why don't you see if the hotel you stay in at venice can be the hotel you return to after the 5 days and ask them in advance if they would hold the luggage...

topping...
would love to hear from people that have actually driven this area in winter - yikes!

Thanks for the advice. Most people we talk to say this is a treacherous area to drive in winter. Michelin says they post road closings. We're bound and determined to follow through. Will let you know how it goes. Photographers are thrill seakers, you know! Anything to get "the shot".

There was still a good bit of snow when we drove through this route in May. In fact only one of two routes was open. But get as far up as you can...I'm sure you can get to Cortina just see how far into the Dolomites you can get from there. It is stunning. I've always said the day we drove through (we'd started in Verona) the Dolomites and ended up in Venice at sunset was the most visually overloaded I've ever been. It was really amazing.

For Lake of Garda I could suggest you stay in Rovereto, it is a lovely town 40 minutes away from Riva (north side of the lake). I go to Italy almost every winter and it is ok ok drive in winter, you rarely find snow in the valley. Hope this helps let me know if you need additional info

Be aware that you might need snow chains in the Dolomites in January.

Steve