Are you planning on staying in Como town on Lake Como or elsewhere on Lake Como? The train PQ refers to leaves from Como town. But most of us prefer staying mid lake on Lake Como: Varenna, Bellagio, or Menaggio. These locations are not so convenient to Malpensa. I believe there are buses to Malpensa from Menaggio and from Stresa on Lago Maggiore. But I think it's better to stay in Milan or close to the airport the night before you fly home. You are taking a big chance the farther you are from the airport and the more reliant you are on one form of transportation. Things can go wrong in Italy, strikes, breakdowns, traffic accidents. What if you miss your flight? Will you have to wait for another flight with enough empty seats? Pay last-minute full fare? It's just not worth squeezing an extra night on Lake Como.

Hey hey to sage advice on staying at least in Milan or near the airport - things can go awry in Italy where strikes pop up all too often - at least in Milan the airport train seems to always run.

Another question....getting a Swisspass and I know the kids are free. Do I get 1st class or 2nd? What's the biggest difference besides the $$$? I thought I read kids can't travel free in first class but now I don't see that anywhere. Any advice??

Kids always travel free in the class of which their parents passes or tickets are.

always free even if on things adults get only 50% off on - like gondolas to mountain tops.

though there is a significant difference between the two classes as always - that's why folks pay more for it and train cars have first class cars that folks pay more to sit in - but I note your travels are mainly in the Lucerne/Grindelwald area (BTW Grindelwald not Grindenwald if searching train schedules) then these will be trips on trains where there is just a tiny place called first class (trains to Grindelwald) so very little difference - on mainline trains elsewhere there is a big difference - lots more empty seats in first class - bigger seats but mainly always lots of empty seats whereas 2nd class can often by rather full or even at rush hours SRO IME.

That said most folks find 2nd class in Switzerland just dandy - you are rarely on trains that long and if you are in a stuffed 2nd class train you can then move to first class and then pay the conductor the difference between the regular first and second class fares - an upgrade on board.

I'd say for your plans 2nd class would be just fine and you can always move into first class and pay an upgrade IF conditions dictate - still coming out much cheaper than buying a first-class pass that you will not really appreciate the benefits from just in the Berner Oberland and Lucerne areas.

Swiss passes bought and already delivery - they are fast!!! The Family Pass was included in the delivery - ( I was told I may have to pick it up once in Switzerland)

MMM - did you buy from Switzerland if so was there a mailing fee or from an agent in your own country - curious about a mailing fee. Thanks in advance.

I went through the bets link....to The RailEurope site
http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/
I did speak to Byron a few times on the phone and he was very helpful.
If you spent 399 or more there was no shipping fee.
They were shipped from Chicago (I think, or somewhere near there) 2-3 day UPS.

We are here and loving the freedom of having our rental car. We are thinking of keeping it and driving from Salzburg to a Swiss/German border town with a Hertz drop off location. Anyone know where I should target?

Are you thinking of a quick drive and dumping the car before taking the train to Lucerne and Grindelwald, or changing plans and keeping the car in Switzerland before dropping it in Germany and heading to Como/Milan?

Presuming the first, I would suggest Lindau. It is a quick 3 hours to Lindau from Salzburg on the highway skirting south of Munich, or 4:15 hours driving through the Alps through Bad Tolz, Garmisch, and Fussen, or just under 4 hours through Innsbruck. I would recommend the middle Alps route. Lindau is a great little city on the Bodensee all by itself that you would not regret visiting

Lucerne is only 2:55 hours from Lindau by train, with one connection in Zurich

Presuming the second plan (keeping the car all the way) Basel is probably the best choice for a "German" drop off (3 country airport) from Grindelwald in that you could get to Milan more easily from there than Lindau ( under 5 hours 1 connection, vs 7 or 8 hours and multiple connections from Lindau)

Glad you are enjoying the car and driving. It drives many rail aficionados nuts. They can't believe that someone might enjoy doing something they are unwilling to do.

Keep rollin Momma!

In Lucerne for the day tomorrow...not really into going up Pilatus after spending 4 days in Grindelwald. What shouldn't we miss??? Was thinking about doing the walking tour - any feedback in that??? Thanks!!!

I would take a boat rip on Lake Lucerne- say to Fluelen and train back - stop off in a lakeside town for lunch - or just a short cruise to Weggis, etc - can also go up Mt Rigi - not the high Alps but the great viewpoint.

but guess your day is over now - what did you do?

We've been on the road for 11 nights in 5 cities so far so our pace is slowing down and wake up time is creeping later and later. We had a late breakfast, visited the Lion of Lucerne, did a little shopping, took a one hour scenic narrated boat cruise, and now we are resting a bit (enjoying beer we bought in Salzburg) before heading back to walk on the city wall.

Tomorrow we head to Bellagio and there is an issue with the Swiss- Italian train lines, so I really don't know what to expect!

Not sure if we should try to go straight to Como via train and then ferry to Bellagio or someone mentioned going to menaggio and then taking the ferry, but I can't seem to get any info on that route on the sbb website.

Hope this isn't too late. You can train to Lugano (still in Switzerland), take a bus to Menaggio, then a ferry to Bellagio.

MBMama - how did you go there? Or did you go there?

We are here! It's gorgeous and very warm! So thankful for the A/C in the hotel!!
We took the 9:18 train from Lucerne to como s. Giovanni with one charge in Arth. We arrived a little late and jumped into a taxi to go to the ferry, we were going to have to wait an hour for the ferry. So we decided to just take the cab the entire way to the hotel. It was 80 euros, the driver told us the ferry for the 4 of us would have been 60 plus the cab to the ferry. Don't know if this is true, but we were happy in the cab rather than dragging our luggage around.

Home and working diligently on my trip report!!! Thanks to all for your input!!!