@sandralist

Sastri Levante sounds great. Do you have any additional recommendation or activity in that area?
We are planning on driving very slowly across Toscana, any recommendation on where to say there for three nights?

@PalenQ

I see there is a regional pass for Bernese Oberland too. As I'm planning on going just to that region, don't you think it's best for us to purchase that pass instead of half fare?
Regarding our train to Italy, you suggest we go to Domodossola and then take a different train to Milan or somewhere we can rent a car?

Once again, thank you so much for your comments.

Actually, since you are coming with a car, consider staying in Lerici, which is an easy drive from Milan. Lerici also has nice beaches, plus a dinosaur museum. You can take a boat ride to Portovenere or the islands off La Spezia. You can use your car to visit le Cinque Terre, but go very early in the morning to be sure of parking, and don't go on a weekend.

Visit the town of Sarzana for a day trop, and from Lerici you could also visit the marble quarries in Carrara.

The main activity of the Italian Riviera is swimming, and in September it will still be very warm. The sun is too strong to be out in it all day, so a nice thing to do is to do day trips in the morning, and swim in the afternoon or early evening.

From Lerici, you have a shorter trip to Toscana. Remember that when you go to Toscana that if you want to visit historic towns, you need to get off the main roads and it takes time to drive up the winding roads to the hilltowns. Leaving Lerici, you could visit Pisa and San Gimignano, and then find a farm with a swimming pool near Siena to stay for a couple of nights. I would suggest dropping off your car in Chiusi to take the train to Rome unless you are driving to an airport hotel for your last night, in which case I would go to the airport by way of Pitigliano.

I see there is a regional pass for Bernese Oberland too. As I'm planning on going just to that region, don't you think it's best for us to purchase that pass instead of half fare? >

If not going to Zermatt/Saas Fe (which is not anywhere close to the Berner Oberland yes it could be but it is pricey so for just two days either no pass or card or if doing expensive trips like the Jungfraujoch train then yes to the Half-Fare Card which would also get you half-off trains to Domodossola, which is in Italy and may well have car rentals available at or near the station.

Cesarnob, I'm spending a full week in the Bernese Oberland this summer, so in my opinion, there's nothing wrong with your choice to stay there 4 days.

With regard to your question about the BO regional pass, that's what I'm buying. If you're staying 4 days it might be worth it. It covers all the trains, buses, boats, cable cars, gondolas, 100%, with the only exception being half price for the Schilthorn and reduced price for the Jungfraujoch.

Yes BOPass is great for those being in the Lucerne and Interlaken areas but if traveling elsewhere by train to another area the Swiss Pass and Half Fare Card may be best.

@palenQ and what about BOPass + transfer ticket?

@brubenow what activities do you recommend to do in BO (remember we have 6 year old twin girls :)

The Bernese Oberland Pass is valid between Berne or Lucerne and Brig, close to the Italian border (but between Spiez and Brig only along the scenic paanoramic line, not the direct one).
Add the fares of all the trips you plan to do with http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html and compare with the prices for the passes (and the amounts you will still have to pay for certain legs

Transfer Ticket would be no good for you because you are going to two different places in Switzerland - Transfer Ticket is for those going to one place and then leaving to an airport or border station- since you would use your first train ticket to go from Basel to your Jungfrau location - the next trip would have to be from there to any border or train station - Zermatt messes that up or it would be a great deal - especially with the 1/2 off Half-Fare Card you could buy with it.

Hi @palenQ
We are not going to Zermatt in our new itinerary. We added one more day to BO so it's four days in BO and nothing in Zermatt (the other remaining days are for Italy)

Well then take a good look at the Swiss Transfer Ticket + half-off Half-Fare Card - perfect it seems for your plans.