For various reasons I won't get into, the order of the trip needs to be Switzerland or French Alps, Paris, Rome. I can't switch the order (though I haven't bought the tickets).

For obvious reasons, I prefer at least two desinations in two countries.

Driving is not an option because I rarely drive in the US (I live in NYC). It's been a limitation in terms of my European travel. I'll be similarly constrained again this time.

Of course it's possible to do Rome-Florence-Venice without a car. But I think that I'll drop Venice for various reasons. First my mom and I went to Venice last year (though it was a short trip). Second I think that Paris is a better choice than Venice. I haven't decided about Florence. If we go to Rome, a day trip is a possibility. But I'll be mindful of squeezing too much into one trip, plus I think that there are other destinations new to me that could be interesting -- like Hadrian's Villa, Ostia, etc.

I'm checking Fodor's competitor on Chamonix:

http://www.frommers.com/destinations...610010029.html

I've to ask a few silly questions.

Chamonix is in France, right?

Helbronner is in Italy -- but no passport necessary? Is this right?

Will I be crossing into Switzerland again at any point of the ride?

I assume Chamonix should be the most convenient starting point for cable car rides?

Thanks.

Yes, Helbronner is in Italy.

The cable car from Aiguille du Midi to Helbronner takes about 35 or so minutes, one way. The end station is Italy, but you are on top of a mountain, not the actual town of Courmayeur down below.

The ride is spectacular. You just won't believe how big the glaciers are until you take this ride, esp. when you see the skiers down below so tiny.

When you get to the terrace at Helbronner, you will actually be looking at the backside of Mont Blanc. How cool is that! And even the mighty Matterhorn in Zermatt, Switzerland stands proudly before you (on a clear day, you can actually see the Matterhorn from the Aiguille du Midi as well).

And yes, you start the trek up the mountain on the big tram. It is right in town. Quite a spectacular ride in itself, even if you don't do the cable car.

Here is a link to the mountain transportation at Chamonix.

http://www.compagniedumontblanc.fr/p...illedumidi.php

Thanks. That's a great map!

I'm thinking this through and looking at how I can connect with Paris from here. It looks like a pain, as people say. It's at least 6 hours.

Does the cable car run every day? Or are there weather circumstances that shut this down?

Train from Paris to Chamonix does take quite awhile. BUT there is only one change (since you'd have your luggage), so that's a good thing! The route takes you Paris to St. Gervais les Bains, where you then change to a mountain train the rest of the way to Chamonix.

And yes, when you are going up into the high Alps, weather can play a factor. Trams and cable cars can be shut down with too much wind.

Same thing can be said for fog, clouds, or rainy days. It wouldn't necessarily shut down the trams, but it wouldn't be worthwhile taking the trip if you can't see anything.

That's the trouble with having only a day or two.

It sounds exciting though. I didn't realize that it's the highest cable car in the world.

Well, that's something.

I'll think more about it.

Aiguille du Midi? It isn't the highest cable car in the world. Who told you it is?

I think you're right. I'm pretty sure that I read about this in one of my random web searches, though I'm hard pressed to remember which website right now. I just Googled. Here's a commercial one, which I was looking at:

http://www.chamonix.net/english/sigh...le_du_midi.htm

If you click on "History of cable car," it says *then* highest cable car of the world, which I guess means it's no longer.

Which one is the highest then?

Maybe I got this confused with Mont Blanc? I think Mont Blanc is the highest point in the Alps? Or is that wrong also?

Ok, this is what Wikipedia says:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aiguille_du_Midi

The cable car to the summit, the Téléphérique de l'Aiguille du Midi, was built in 1955 and held the title of the world's highest cable car for about two decades. It still holds the record as the highest vertical ascent cable car in the world, from 1035m to 3842m.

According to Google it looks like the highest one is in Venezuela, but I don't really know.

Some of those statistics drive me nuts. And "highest" could mean at the highest altitude in the world as opposed to highest incline from bottom to top.

Do Europeans take leisurely vacations?

From Lyon to Nice via Chamonix, Annecy, Grenoble! 3 days, 2 nights.

http://asta.files.cms-plus.com/MainS...LyontoNice.pdf

Maybe I need to throw in a few more locations?

<b>Do Europeans take leisurely vacations?</b>

I don't but probably I should. My office job gives me 10 weeks vacation a year.

Wow. What do you do with the ten weeks?!

There's always this constant admonishment about not rushing things on Fodor's. I just couldn't help laughing when I found that Lyon to Nice itinerary in 3 days (organized by a travel agency in Lyon!). But then I guess I'm taking a transatlantic flight, and it's not an apples-to-apples comparison.

Good question. At the moment, I am only about 4 weeks into my 2007 vacation and haven't at all started my 2008 vacation yet. Luckily, my office allows me to carry my vacation time over up to about 3 years. Unluckily, nobody does my job when I am away, so the longer the vacation, the more I am punished by the workload that has piled up during my absence.

No offence intended, but if work has piled up in 10 weeks and no one else does it, most likely it's not that high priority in the first place.

It's like the boxes in my apartment that are moved with every move. They should be thrown out with no regrets.

By your last sentence, the carrying up to 3 years -- does this mean that you can hang on to 30 weeks of vacation max in any year? Wow. That's more than half a year off.

I think I need to find a job like that.

I work for a weird company. Normally the rule is that everything from the previous year must be used by the end of February or March.

After talking to my mom, I've decided on Lucerne. Personally I'd have gone for the French Alps, but I think that for my parents, Lucerne will better since everything will be easier.

But for my own information, how do the French Alps compare with the Swiss Alps? I've been to Bernese Oberland and the Engadine Valley, as I mentioned. The cable car rides at Aiguille du Midi do sound extremely spectacular. As I said, my ascents to Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn were disappointing. But I guess that's a reason to go again!

Hi 111op,

I think you've made the right choice, if not for the better scenery, at least for the easier trip. With the train station right in the basement of the Z&uuml;rich airport, it's SO easy to travel there. As you probably know, Luzern is about an hour by direct (0 changes) train from the airport, so it's a good choice for parents who might tire easily.

You might also want to know about a service the Swiss train provides -- of moving your luggage from the Z&uuml;rich airport without your having to claim it. Raileurope sells the stuff -- a green plastic tag and the customs documents. You fill out the documents, put them in the tag, attach the tag to your case, and check it from your home airport as normal. At the Z&uuml;rich airport, the workers see the green tag and send it right to the train station, where they send it on to your destination.

I've used the service twice. I used it one time when travelling with my militantly-independent mom. I knew she would never let me help her with her bag, so I &quot;helped&quot; her by using this service.

Anyway, have fun!

s

Thanks s. Unfortunately as it turns out, I can't go to Switzerland on this trip either. It's a long story. So I have to rethink the trip.

The tips here will be useful for another trip, I'm sure.

Hello 111op

I know it can be difficult when plans change, but as you say, there's hopefully another time.

Wherever you decide to go, have a wonderful time!

And if any of us can add a tidbit of help in your planning, well, we're happy to oblige!

Happy travels!