fun4all4

Hello all,

After almost a year of planning, our family had to cancel our scheduled trip to Switzerland and Italy four days before our July 26 departure (unfortunately, my mother has fallen gravely ill). However, we would like to go ahead and reschedule for next summer as our hearts were set on this trip. Since I now have the opportunity to take advantage of "expert" input, I would love the chance to tweak our plans. I have already made a few adjustments.

We are a family of four. My husband and I will be traveling with our 2 sons who will be 12 and 15 at the time of the trip.
We have 11 nights, not counting the 12th night in flight.

Here is what I am thinking:
Fly into Zurich and train to Wengen.
3 Nights Wengen
2 nights Milan
3 nights Lake Garda
3 nights Venice.
Fly out of Venice.

We had been scheduled to stay at the Hotel Alpenrose in Wengen, the Hotel dei Cavalieri in Milan and Locanda Orseolo in Venice. As all were great to deal with, I will try to reschedule with them. Our time in Garda/Verona has changed so I am looking for accommodation suggestions there. I will also check Trip Advisor and slowtrav.

Any thoughts?

ira

Hi fun,

Any particular reason for 2 nights in Milan?

bookchick

Ira, I was just about to ask that. You'd do better, I think, to add time on perhaps to the Lake District.

Buon Viaggio,
BC

teacherlady

I also was going to ask why so long in Milan. Otherwise your itinerary sounds perfect and I'm so jealous. I hope you can stay in the Hotel Alpenrose in Wengen...it's lovely and the people are so nice...they even send a Christmas card. While in Wengen be sure to ride the Mannlichen tram and hike down to Kleine Scheidegg in front of the Eiger. It's an experience of a lifetime. So sorry to hear about your mother, hope everything worked out okay.

fun4all4

Hi,
Thanks for the replies. I guess I was planning 2 nights in Milan to keep the pace reasonable. We thought we would see the Duomo, Galleria, Castle Sforzesco, and the Last Supper. I figured we wouldn't arrive in Milan until mid-afternoon from Wengen, stay a full day, and leave early the following morning after sleeping there 2 nights.However, as usually people on this site say "slow down and stay longer," perhaps I should reconsider if folks are recommending "move on."
Should we add at Lake Garda? Overall, does this sound like a reasonable/desireable itinerary? I have some ideas in my mind, but I am open to suggestions.
Thanks again.

bobthenavigator

I would drop Milan totally and sub either Lago Como or Maggiore for Garda.
Since you are doing train travel, that will limit your location options at Garda. The train ride from Interlaken[Wengen] to Stresa is spectacular via Kandestag and the Simplon Pass. Give yourself enough time at Wengen---you really only have 2 days now. I would do 3 destinations and 4-3-4.

fun4all4

Thanks Bob - I was hoping you would chime in. My original plan (for this summer) was to rent a car out of Milan and drive to Garda. I then planned to return car before Venice. I haven't decided yet about car for next summer. Why Como or Maggiore over Garda? I chose Garda because it seemed more "kid friendly" in terms of sights and activities. It is also an easy day trip to Verona. There is even Gardaland amusement park to try.
I would consider giving up Milan. I will have to look at the rail stuff again. Our route from Wengen this year had us going through Spiez to Milano Centrale. I'm not sure about Kandestag and where/how that would work.
The idea of 3 stops instead of 4 sounds good - it is definitely always a balance between wanting to savor/enjoy a place and wanting to visit/experience so many places.

mnapoli

I would totally skip Milan. There is very little there to interest your boys, and it is expensive. I would stay those 2 nights in Lugano, Switzerland, which is one my favorite places in the whole world! The food is Italian and it is organized by the Swiss--perfection!

There are water sports available on the lake, and there are great train trips into the mountains around Lugano. My husband and I went over to nearby Locarno and took the Centovalli train to Zermatt to see the Matterhorn. It was fantastic!

Jean

I understand the comments about adding time elsewhere, but I wouldn't be so quick to drop Milan from your itinerary (although it's probably going to be really hot by August 1st). The Duomo is amazing, especially if you take the elevator to the roof. Obviously, the Last Supper is reason enough to make a stop in Milan, but there are also several wonderful works in the museum within the Castello. If you do drop Milan, I would just add the time to another stop already on your itinerary and not add another destination. With only 11 nights, you're already covering a lot of ground.

Jean

Sorry, forgot to add that I (and I'm sure all) hope that your mother's health improves.

bobthenavigator

Hmmm ! Of course, Gardaland. The very thing that makes the south end of Garda less attractive to me may be fine for you. That area attracts a ton of German families as well. I just find the other lakes more pristine and enjoyable. And, it breaks up the train travel. I should mention that that train trip to Kandestag and Brig does pass thru a LONG tunnel in total blackness, if that is a problem.

fun4all4

Thanks for the useful input - some real food for thought.

mnapoli- I have heard that Lugano is fabulous and hope to visit someday.

Jean, I agree, I certainly won't add a different destination if I drop Milan. I'll just have to decide which way to go on that. The rescheduled trip will be in June instead of the end of July as it would have been this year. Thank you for your kind thoughts and words about my mother - it has been hard as things don't look good, however, we are focusing on enjoying lots of time spent together now.

Bob, believe me, Gardaland is not an attraction for me. I simply thought we might go as an interesting diversion for the boys. I hadn't fully considered that the area might be too mobbed with hordes of others doing the same thing. I will look into Como and Maggiore before making a final choice. Is Garda less crowded further up (like around Malcesine)? And, I appreciate the heads up on the train - luckily, it is not a problem.

OK, thanks again for all the comments as I get to work.