Switzerland & paris or Switzerland & Italy.
 

Hi there.!!

I am deciding on my honeymoon trip this december and planning to celebrate Xmas n new yr also. Decided for 18 to 20 days trip.

me n my fiance decided on switzerland for sure. But not able to finalize on another place.
We were thinking of France or Italy to go with switzerland.

Can anyone please suggest me which one to choose....or any other place ....

Thanks.. :)

Switzerland & Italy for sure.

Italy offers a lot more to see. Let say you spend 4-5 days in Switzerland, the rest of the time 14-15 days are just perfect for Milan, Venice, Florence, and Rome.

Plus the weather will be a lot milder in Italy which allows you to spend more time outdoor

thanks for replying foodor

Are 4-5 days sufficient in switzerland...?? can you also please tell me the major places to visit in switzerland. We thought of 10 days for each place.

Wt abt france, paris-it is said as love city.
And, we were looking out for some beach place also....are there any of them in switzerland or italy or france.....

Wat about Switzerland and spain,,,>????
will there be any language problem in italy.....

Beach in December? you have to go Australia or South America for beach in December.

Switzerland is a country good for outdoor activity. Unless you plan to do a lot of skiing in Switzerland, I can't think of anything worth spending 10 days in Switzerland in December. Maybe others can help, I haven't spent much time in Switzerland, only in Zurich, Bern and Geneva. Switzerland wouldn't be my first choice of European country to visit. Why insist on Switzerland?

Why not Paris and Italy? That's the best combination for your first European trip

In europe there is no beach weather in December. You need to go to the Carib or SE Asia.

Switz is gorgeous - but unless you are going for winter sports - many of the things you would want to see/do are not available. Yes - you can see the mountains and head up them - but can;t really do the lakes or hiking (except in snow) and the towns will be very cold - and the days short.

If you don't want winter sports I would do Paris and Rome. Both will have winter weather (Rome slightly warmer - but can easily get snow in Dec). but since they are major cities there are tons of things to see/do indoors - for the days it's too cold for outside. (And in Rome you may get get temps of 50 or so if you're lucky. Further north in Italy will likely be colder.)

I second the vote for Paris and Rome. I have always felt winter would be the time to visit all the museums, galleries churches and shops in Paris, doing the indoor stuff you might not want to do when its warmer outside.

@foodor.
thanks for replying.
I think you are right about the beach thing.
The only reason y i wanted Switzerland is its beauty n nature.

So Switzerland fr 5 days, Italy-10days, ....Turkey- 5days ??

We don't know Italian language....will there be any problem or anything.....

I agree that Switzerland isn't the best place to visit in December unless you plan to ski. However, you seem eager to see Switzerland so why not Switzerland or 5 days and Italy for 15. Two weeks is not too long for Italy - you could spend weeks there and not cover all of its wonders. Forget about Turkey this time and enjoy Italy - Venice, Florence and Rome. Cities are best in winter as you can always find things to do indoors if the weather isn't nice.

And beaches? Not in Europe - go to the Caribbean, Hawaii, Australia or Thailand.

If you plan to be in Switzerland for Christmas you must plan well in advance. Most resorts close for October up to Christmastime and the Swiss and the rest of Europe like to head for the mountains during Christmas. Yes, Switzerland is great for nature, but be sure you are interested in snowy nature... unless you are sticking to the Swiss cities when you are more likely to see the typical Swiss gray clouds at that time of year.

There are no beachy places in any of your three countries at the time of year you describe... also "beach" in Italy is different from "beach" in the US if that is where you are from. Switzerland is landlocked and lakes are the thing - but not in December.

My favorite Europe trip so far was a 3-week one and we did Vevey/Montreux (i have friends there), Venice, and Paris. It was perfection.

for New Year's Eve fun you may want to head south to Italy where the weather will be warmer - maybe quite warm in say Rome and also a city they celebrate New Year's Eve with more gusto than buttoned-down roll up the sidewalks Switzerland IME (except perhaps in a place like Zurich).

In Switzerland if there a week or so strongly investigate the Swiss Pass, which covers all trains, city trams and buses, postal buses and gives 50% off expensive aerial cable ways to summits of various Alps - an 8-day consecutive-pass can cover virtually all your transportation if not driving and also the pass gets you into over 400 museums and sights free - for lots of great info on Swiss trains, passes (and alternatives to them like the Half-Fare Card, Swiss Card and Swiss Transfer ticket I always spotlight these IMO superb sites - www.swisstraelsystem.com; http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id3.html and www.ricksteves.com.

In Italy if just going to a few cities like Venice, Florence or Rome check www.trenitalia.com - Italian Railways web site for discounted online tickets that though can be in practice hard to change or refund so be sure of your time of travel or just wait until there to buy regular tickets - never a problem getting on trains IME in either country.

thanks a lot PalenQ.

What About christmas and new year.....where would it be nice....if i select swiss n italy....

and do i need to learn italian language...?? or few words would do it...

English is very widely spoken in all tourist areas of Italy - although of course you should learn the basic greetings and polite phrases at least (just like going to any country).

And do realize that Italy being warmer is relative - it's still not going to be very warm - chilly and rainy is more likely. Also, since it is off season, some sights will be open shorter hours - perhaps from 9 am to 1 or 2 pm - rather than until 6 pm or so.

I did read the word Turkey and feel that I have to respond.

here are some interesting alternatives for those five days you may have for Turkey :

- Two days in Istanbul. Fabulous metropolis, former capital of at least three large empires with historic remnants of all and a life style that is also fast and exotic. very romantic hotels on the most beautiful sea route in the world separating two continents, with rooms having terrific reviews, bebek hotel, Four Seasons Bosphorus, Ciragan Kempinsky, Radisson Blue, Sumahan. Great night life, good food, bars and clubs.

Additional two or three days at Cappadocia. The alien landscape of fairy chimneys, 2000 year old underground cities, hikes and balloon rides, staying at boutique cave hotels.

- 2-3 days Istanbul, and

2-3 days Antalya/Alanya. Beach for sunbathing if not swimming. antique cities on the Lycian way. Pine forests reaching the sea from high mountains with their tops covered in snow. Possible jeep safaris into wild mountains to spot wild mountain goats. 3-7 star hotels, simple to grand luxury.

Perhaps you didn't read that the OP is traveling in December. Antalya weather highs are listed at 60 degrees - awfully chilly for sunbathing - never mind swimming.

Granted probably warmer than Rome - but not summer weather.

Hi Arvind,
If you are looking for a a swiss honeymoon in a cozy chalet in the snow and Christmas markets in the Alps, you may find these websites helpful to give you ideas on where to go and what to do in Switzerland in the winter.

https://www.alpenwild.com/trip?trips_id=19
http://www.smarttravels.tv/SmartTrav...witzerland.htm

In case you miss Indian cuisine during your travel, these websites will help you find Indian restaurants which may be harder to find in Switzerland than in France or Italy:

http://www.indianfoodsguide.com/indi...e/switzerland/

http://indianrestaurantitaly.com/

http://www.eat-out.net/restaurant/paris/indian

Switzerland and Italy hands down. A few words of Italian will take you far. Many/most Italians speak some English.

In Switzerland, we stayed in the Lauterbrunnen Valley outside Innsbruck, but it was in September. Beautiful weather then.

Italy is our second favorite country. We've done Rome, Venice and Sicily.

A word of caution: Lauterbrunnen Valley is not outside Innsbruck (that is in Austria). Probably jill_h wanted to write "Interlaken".

Thanks to all.

I was also wondering should I go through some travel agent who will arrange complete trip for me or plan it on my own.....as i am not completely aware about all the places.
I do not want to miss out on any thing due to lack of my information.

Can anyone please give me a brief itinerary of how it would be...

We r planning from 15th december to 5th january and finalized with Switzerland and Italy......

nytraveler, we have swum in Alanya in december in the past, in the upper 60s, although cold. have also sunbathed because it was warmer under the sun. If you are lucky, it is possible, especially when you are very young and adventurous.

Russians and Swedes and some Germans come to alanya, side and Antalya to swim till january. I do not any more, but my wife would if someone urged or dared her.

Yes, we have a polar bear club whose members jump into the north atlantic in January. But they are, IMHO, nuts.

And I'm sure there may be some days that are warm. But for most people both the air and water would usually be too cold at that time of year.

<go through some travel agent who will arrange complete trip for me or plan it on my own.....as i am not completely aware about all the places.
I do not want to miss out on any thing due to lack of my information.>


I think you can plan it yourself if you're willing to research on travel forums, internet, read some guidebooks.

If that seems too overwhelming to you of course you could use a travel agent. But I always self-plan, I figure no one cares as much about my trip/vacation as I do!

Personally if I were to arrange a honeymoon in a country I have never been and I don't understand the local language, I would use a travel agent. The travel agents may also be able to offer you some hotel vouchers at a much reduced price.

TAs are likely to offer yuo deal onlyon upscale hotels. They don;t handle the modest places - which don;t pay them commissions.

IMHO TA is useful only if you want someplace that is really difficult to arrange - or you want the best/most expensive of everything and are willing to pay someone to arrange it for you.

Thanks for replying.

I have decided upon...

Italy- 10 days,------- Rome - 3 days,
Venice - 3 days
Florence - 3 days.

Are the above places fine..??? Or Any other thing that can be changed, any other place that can be included or number of days that can be increased or decreased for a place....should I add Naples , Siena, Milan.....

Swiss- 5 days,-------- Interlaken - 2 days.
Montreux - 2 days.
Zurich - 1 day.

Is it fine fr swiss....? Or any changes can be made for a better experience......

what about
France- 5 days..
Will it be a good idea about france....What are the major places to see in france....I can only see paris ...

Swiss- 5 days,-------- Interlaken - 2 days.
Montreux - 2 days.
Zurich - 1 day

Well that would comport very well with a 4-consecutive-day Swiss Pass - the cheapest per day of all passes and would cover travel from the Italian border to Montreux and from Montreux to Interlaken/Grindelwald/Murren/wengen, etc. and to Zurich on the 4th day - next day take the TGV train to Paris - for such wide-ranging travels in a 4-day period strongly consider the 4-consecutive-day Swiss (Saver if two or more folks traveling together) Pass.

Thanks.
I think u r right.

What is the time for travel between the places in ITALY, SWISS,FRANCE.

is the order correct as mentioned above.....??

travel times?

go to the home page of www.budgeteuropetravel.com and click on the link "Best online European train schedule" (or some such wording) and a click brings you to the fabulous IMO German Railways web site - www.bahn.de - brings you to its English schedule page where you simply fill in the From and To boxes and a date and you get all the timings and schedules - since schedules rarely change much throughout the year simply put a dummy date in if the date you are traveling is not yet in the system - I refernce this home page link because they also give you several valuable tips on fully using the bahn.de site - things you may not notice at first glance.

That said travel between say Venice and Montreux would probably be about 6-7 hours or so - no high-speed trains on that route and you probably have to change in both Milan and Brig - easy enough changes.

To France you can leave from Zurich direct to Paris in about 4 hours or so i believe - but check the exact schedules to be sure.

Yes I would land in Rome, go to Florence and onto Venice - go to Switzerland from there, end up in Zurich for direct trains to Paris (but you could also get direct TGVs from Lausanne or Geneva to Paris as well. Book those tickets at www.voyages-sncf.com and again some sweet discounts but limited in number so book as soon as you know which train you want to take (and these cannot be changed nor refunded I believe so be sure of your date and time).

In Switzerland itself I believe the 4-consecutive-day Swiss Pass would be a great deal - covering all you travels in Switzerland, ending in Zurich and then using the www.voyages-sncf.com site for that ticket to Paris.

In December if I had to chose between France and Italy I would chose Italy - simply because of the much better weather if for no other reason. Florence, Rome, Venice, etc will not be really cool or perhaps rainy as much of northern France, including the Paris area can be IME - Paris is OK in the cool dank rain with days really short but Rome is much more OK in the warmer weather and, being farther south, longer days in winter.

Maybe land in Paris, have a few days there then go to Switzerland and Italy for the bulk of your time.