September Honeymoon advice (Paris, Switzerland and Italy)
 

HI

I am planning a honeymoon with my wife and landing on 4 September in Paris. I want to stay in Paris for 3 nights (as flying from south asia from the wedding so will be tired) and then go to Switzerland for 5 nights and then maybe Italy for 3 nights.

Could you suggest where i go in Switzerland and Italy (places as well as actual hotels). Don't want to have a super luxury trip but maybe good 4*s ($200 a night max for hotels).Flexible on budget for activities and day trips as long as they are good.

We like nature scenic beauty and a bit of adventure as well. (not water sports fans)/

I have heard interlaken and Lucerne are good places in Switzerland and maybe venice in italy (but some people really hate venice in summer so I am open to going somewhere else in italy which is romantic / maybe has a nice beach as we won't have a beach in Paris or Switzerland?

Will need to fly back to london (where we are based) on 15 September.

If three countries is too much maybe I can just do Paris for 2/3 nights and rest in Switzerland. Otherwise maybe fly back from Italy (venice or a nice Italian beach place) and spend c. 2 days there (if it is a good place to go mid-September)?

Any help is appreciated.

Once you decide where you are going in Switzlerand it becomes easier to see where in Italy it might be easy to go for a beautiful short stay. One of the lakes might be convenient, and there are plenty of airports offering flights to London you could use (Milan, Bergamo, Verona, even Lugano), The Ligurian coast would mean a whole day of train travel, but if the two of you really want the seaside, you can fly from Genoya to London (but stay in a scenic town like Camogli or Santa Margherita Ligure). The beaches nearest to Venice are not scenic, but you might find something with a bit of luxury and a pool if you'd just like to relax and have nice seafood meals!

I don't know Switzerland well enough to suggest a honeymoon destination, but once you pick that, if you still want to go to Italy, look at where the trains go from your Swiss spot to Italy.

Thank you.

Will be great if someone who knows Switzerland helps me plan and also recommends if I should skip Italy altogether? Ideally want a route which works so that I come from Paris and take a flight back to London or train/flight to Venice. I think if I go to Italy, it will just be Venice for 2 days and I will do a proper Italy trip next year. However, it seems I will be doing just Paris and Switzerland.

The Jungfrau Region IMO is the best easiest place for folks to experience the awesome majestic Alps - and right on a Paris-Switzerland-Italy train route.

3-4 days there in a mountain village like Wengen or Grindelwald would put you eyeball to eyeball with glacir-girdled soaring peaks from your hotel balcony-toylike trains and thrilling aerial gondolas going off in all directions:

https://www.google.com/search?q=jung...w=1920&bih=950

Trains are great from Paris (www.voyages-sncf.com to book online discounted fare) and then to Venice -about 6 hrs - end in Venice and fly back to London or Paris.

For lots of details on trains -www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com; for Switzerland-www.swisstravelsystem.com; www.sbb.ch.

Venice has plenty of places not crowded as day tripping mobs stick like glue to a few main spots.

There are several people who post on this board who live in or near Switzerland, and others who have frequently been within the last 5 years, so these people will probably eventually show up to help. If you need to know quickly, try asking on the TripAdvisor message board for Switzerland, which I think has lots of Swiss natives answering questions.

Thank you so much for replies..

So based on people's advice.. below is what I am thinking currently. Any advice will be really appreciated. Especially in terms of what to do in the days, where to stay, how to travel, what's good, what to watch out for

So the trip so far is land in Paris at 8am from a flight from south Asia on 4 September...
4 - rest day but go out in evening
5, 6 and 7 Sep in Paris (one day in Disney land)
8 - morning train (around 10am) to Murren Wengen or Grindelwald arriving around 4.30 (have to change 4 times apparently)
9, 10 and 11 in Murren/ Wengen or Grindelwald
12 train to Lucerne
13/14 stay in Lucerne
15 somehow get to London from Lucerne?

Any tips on above.. do i need to leave Lucerne on 14 to be able to get to London by evening of 15?

Any tips on above.. do i need to leave Lucerne on 14 to be able to get to London by evening of 15?>

Besides flying?

No you can take TGV trains from Zurich or other Swiss towns to Paris and transfer to Eurostar trains to London -probably about 9-10 hours of total travel time - but I'd look at cheap flights first - from Zurich.

quiet happy to fly.. so to Zurich from Lucerne.. okay will research that thank you

<<<<try asking on the TripAdvisor message board for Switzerland, which I think has lots of Swiss natives answering questions.>>>>


Trip advisor forums are dead, especially the European forums. Fodors is much more active.

www.whichbudget.com and www.skycanner.com two to try.

Check Easy Jet - Ryan Air

Paris to Lac Leman (Lausanne, Vevey, Montreux) which is an hour outside Geneva and right on the lake. Then to Venice.

I have done this trip but I took 21 days, not 11.

With that short of a honeymoon, maybe just pick one or two places only?

Thank you. So I have skipped Italy for now..

Flying in to Paris at 8am on 4 September and flying back from Zurich on 15 September at 9.30pm so just need to book hotels and trains now. Any tips in this regard will be appreciated and also any things that we should do / day trips etc when we are there.. heard the paragliding is a good option in switzerland as an eg.

Paris to Switzerland trains - www.voyages-sncf.com or www.thetrainline.eu. In Switzerland get a Swiss Pass if traveling around to more than one place - no need to pre-book anything except official scenic tourist trains like Glacier Express.

Hi taffer87,

So you have 10 days on the ground, not counting travel days.

I would recommend that you outline an itinerary to see a bit of 2 of the 3 cultures in Switzerland, and do a mix of countryside and city.

From the airport, I'd go immediately to Montreux or Vevey on Lake Geneva, and stay there for 3 nights. You can spend that time exploring Vevey & Morges, walking the Lavaux vineyards, walking along the lake between Montreux & Villeneuve, and lot of other things.

Then head to the Jungfrau region to see some of the big Alps. Stay in a car-free town like Wengen or Mürren, and stay there for 5 nights. You can spend your time going up to the peaks, taking walks or hikes, taking cruises on the lake, paragliding, or just simply soaking up the views.

Finally, go to Luzern for 2-3 nights. Luzern has a pretty old town, and it's a good base to use to explore the villages dotted on the lake (Weggis, Vitznau, Brunnen). You can reach the Zürich airport in about 1h by direct train from Luzern, so it's also a good spot as you depart the country. If you want to explore the city of Zürich, you can do that without changing hotels -- just go when enroute to the airport, put your bags in luggage lockers, and head out to see the city for the day.

This is a pretty standard first-timers' itinerary for Switzerland; it's not geared to your own interests or what you've heard or seen or want to do. Please let us know your own interests so that we can help you design a trip you'll love.

Have fun as you plan!

s

Oh shoot. I didn't pay attention very well!

Your 10 days on the ground must include Paris!

In that case, I would spend 5 nights in Paris, then take the high-speed train to Bern or Basel and transfer to the Jungfrau region, Wengen or Mürren, for 4 nights. Then spend your last night in Luzern for the flight out.

Sorry for the error -- but have fun as you plan!

s

As I count - you have 11 days on the ground not counting the 15th. Seriously consider JUST Paris and a couple of places in Switzerland. No Italy and no dashing around. 4 or 5 days in Paris (which would require 5 or 6 nights) --- ESPECIALLY if you want to spend a day at Disneyland. Finish up with 6 or 7 days in Switzerland.

swandav2000 has a splendid itinerary for your limited time

Or skip Switzerland and go to Italy - but Italy for 3 days - not enough.

I'm so stealing swandav's itinerary for future visits.

Thanks for all the replies. Really do appreciate it.
Currently, my plan is as follows and some questions with thanks in advance! Interests are going to beautiful places and mixing up some adventure days with some quiet ones.
4 September 8am Paris - Hôtel Le Relais Montmartre, 6, rue Constance 75018 Paris or Hotel de la Bretonnerie 22 Rue Sainte-Croix De La Bretonnerie, Paris. Any recommendations of which of the two.
8 September Wengen - Hotel Edelweiss (is this fine for all 4 nights or should I try to find someplace in Murren or Lauterbrunnen instead?)
12/13 September Lucerne - Hotel des Alpes Luzern lake view room.... unfortunately we will need to switch to a city facing room on 14 if we stay there an extra day.... I was thinking of potentially staying on 14 in Zurich or going to stay near Rhine Falls near Zurich.. is that a good idea?
Any recommendations on whether it's worth staying in Lucerne for 3 nights or 2 is enough and we should spend the 3rd somewhere else which close to Zurich (as we are flying around 930pm on 15 September)

A great many streets in Montmartre are steep hills. That contributes to its charm but you are going in summer, when it is still possible to get hot days in early September, and you might not find it so charming to be hill and stair climbing so much if the temps are high. The 4th is also charming, but it's flat. If the 2 hotels are equal in amenities, I'd go for the flatter neighbourhood. The 4th probably offers you more quick public transportation options.

I stayed in Murren when I visited the BO and felt I would have preferred staying further down the hill. I loved Lauterbrunnen but many others say that being at the bottom of the deep valley, walled in by high mountains, is not their favourite. I've never been to Wengen so can't offer an opinion. But all the area is beautiful and you will certainly be in a good position to mix adventure with tranquility.

Wengen is like Murren - car-less but even more finer views IMO - and well situated for day trips whereas Murren is rather isolated- having to go down to the valley and Lauterbrunnen to get to most Jungfrau places of interest.

I like Grindelwald - similar views and great base but for many Grindelwald is too busy -tour buses can drive into the main street so many more tourists than totally car-less Wengen.

<I'd go immediately to Montreux or Vevey on Lake Geneva, and stay there for 3 nights>

Well it sounds like you've decided on something else, but I was coming to *strongly* agree with the suggestion above from swandav!

Thanks. I would have to make it 2 nights in lake Geneva area and 2 in Wengen . The advice from most people seems to be that the top two places are the Wengen and related area and Lucerne. What do you think?

Yes though factor in a day to get to Inerlaken or Lucerne with relocation - take the Golden Pass scenic train to Interlaken - about an hour longer than main line via Lausanne and Bern but so so much more scenic.

Some kind of Swiss Pass or Half-Fare Card could be a great deal.

I have stayed at the Hotel de la Bretonnerie and thought it was fine. We had a "larger" room, and I recall that it included a small table and two chairs. Our view was on to a courtyard, and wasn't special at all.

A favorite hotel and room was at the Hotel de Varenne in the 7th. They have a with a partial view of the Eiffel Tower. Across the same street, the Hotel Palais Bourbon had what they called a "honeymoon room" on their top floor, with really romantic views of typical Parisian rooftops. I liked this street in the 7th, toward the eastern edge of the 7th, so much that we stayed there twice.

I don't have that much Switzerland experience but we stayed in the valley outside of Grindelwald in a rental home. I really would not have wanted to be in the heart of the town. I thought Lauterbrunnen was lovely and Wengen's views were fantastic.

HI, I just got back from 3 weeks in Holland, France, Germany, Luxembourg and a week down in Switzerland. First of all, I am not sure what you and wife like to do, as I did not read all of the above. If you like beauty, natural outdoors, mountains, cool weather, and gorgeous scenery....think the Lauterbrunnen Valley (check sp), I just spent time in Wengen and loved it. It is surrounded by the Jungfrau, Munch, and Eiger Mountains, small village. There is a lift up the mountain, where you can hike on several various short or long hikes. We stayed at the Schonnegg Hotel, again check spelling, that you can include dinner, BF comes with room, room looked out on the Jungfrau, and just gorgeous scenery. peaceful, not great night life if you are into that. Well worth whatever they charged, and meals were great. Switz is very very expensive, so be prepared. Also been to Murren years ago, also gorgeous, smaller place, same area, lots of waterfalls in Spring. Swiss Rail pass made travel in Switz easier and less costly. Sue

Hi again,

For Paris, you should be aware that if you choose a hotel in Montmartre, you'll be a ways from the center. Lots of folks love it up there because of the tangled streets and neighborhood feel -- it's less gentrified than central Paris. However, you will have to take a metro or bus for 15 or 20 minutes each morning and evening to see the sights in the center of town. For that reason, I'd choose a hotel more in the center; most folks agree that a hotel in the arrondissements 1-7 are well located.

As for Switzerland, yes, I'm one who doesn't like the look or feel of Lauterbrunnen. Every time I go through it on the train, the overhanging cliffs just un-thrill me (couldn't think of the right word ...). I agree that Wengen would be a good compromise ... it's a car-free village in the mountains, but it's not so remote as Mürren. I've spent 2 holidays there, at the 3-star Hotel Alpenrose. It's a charming hotel that's been in one family for a few generations -- currently the mom is the manager and the pop is the chef. The daughters, last I heard, were attending hotel school. They have a wonderful photo album documenting the hotel over the last 100 years.

Anyway, hope you're having fun as you plan!

s

Just a note to say I am a naysayer on Hotel de Varenne in the 7th, although I did not stay in the honeymoon suite. I disliked nearly everything about the hotel and thought the location inconvenient to everything I wanted to do (mainly, get out of the 7th arr.) So vive la difference but I think it is not a corner of Paris that much interests me.

massimop: the "honeymoon room" was across rue de Bourgogne at the Hotel Palais Bourbon. The room we had at the Hotel de Varenne was one with a partial Tour view (a good view, actually).

I'm not one to champion the the 7th, but the area I'm speaking of, nearer to the border with the 6th, is a favorite of mine. Nice churches, nice shops, and more.

There are direct trains from Lucerne to Zurich airport, takes about an hour. So you could stay in Lucerne that extra day. 2 nights in one place is only one full day plus pieces of the day before and the day after.

With your short time I would stay in one place in Switzerland and do excursions from there. My preference is Wengen, a nice town, with lovely views and easier transportation. Alternatively stay in Lucerne.

As for hotel locations in Paris, assuming this is your first visit I would pick a hotel in arrondissements 1-7. This area is centered around the Seine and Ile de la Cite, where Paris was founded. Walking and public transportation to sites is easy around here.

Yup :10 after each hour direct trains to airport - no hassle changing in Zurich main station. Just buy tickets day of travel (or before but once there - no need to pre-book)

8 - morning train (around 10am) to Murren Wengen or Grindelwald arriving around 4.30 (have to change 4 times apparently)>

Grindelwald is the easiest to get to - direct trains from Interlaken-Ost in 20 minutes - Wengen or Murren have to change in Lauterbrunnen - no big deal from one platform to another-no thru trains because of track width size differences.

Murren is too remote IMO as most of the popular excursions are much more convenient from Grindelwald or Wengen -from Murren always have to go back down to Lauterbrunnen -about 30 minutes then to Wengen or Grindelwald.

Wengen for quiet sojourn -Grindelwald much more lively and busy.

One more question please. I am travelling from Paris to Wengen on 8 September and have booked the Paris to Basel SBB fast Train ticket already (leaving a Paris at 720 or so AM). I would like advice on what to do for the Swiss tickets for this journey and until I leave on 15 September 2017 in the evening. Should I get the 8 day full pass? I understand the half card gives more discounts on the trains to mountain peaks.

I am staying in Wengen from 8 to 12 and then 12 to 15 in Lucerne. Flight back is 950pm from Zurich to London On 15 September

I understand the half card gives more discounts on the trains to mountain peaks.>

Only one TMK - Kleine Scheidegg/Grindelwald to Jungfraujoch. Others are pretty much all 50% with pass and in Lucerne area passes now cover trains to Pilatus in full whereas 50% card is 50%. I think Engelberg to Titlis is no longer covered by pass at all but no sure about 1/2 Fare Card.

Mt Rigi is 100% covered by pass - 1/2 Off is always 50% off.

Museums like Ballenberg and sights like Trummelbach Falls are free with pass not 1/2 Fare.

So basically they both give 50% off with some exceptions for the pass which may cover 50% or sometimes 100%

Interlaken-Wengen 100% with pass for example.

For 1/2 Fare Card you need to know pretty much what you will be doing and do the maths- I usually end up with a pass doing more than I previsioned - like rainy day in Wengen taken train without cost to Interlaken or Bern or even Lucerne, etc. Plus 1/2 off still means waiting in ticket lines rather thann just heading for and hopping on waiting trains.

did you check www.voyages-sncf.com for discounted fares Paris to Wengen?