I am leaving on August 24th for 7 days n switerland (staying in luzern and taking day trips)and 10 days in northern italy. Shuld I take an umbrella--I see it is raining off and on the next 10 days in SZ...........thanks. Any other words of wisdom other than the obvious posted here on a regular basis?? Thanks for the advice.

Taking a sturdy folding umbrella is always a good idea.

Well if you have a small umbrella it couldn't hurt. I say this as i am looking all over for my travel umbrella to pack for N. Italy tomorrow. That being said, I always considered umbrellas a souvenir (under $5).

About 10 yrs ago in Rome, I was so blissed out or whatever from seeing the (old) Pope & then the Rome synagogue. Well, maybe it was jetlag. It was pouring and I had left my umbrella on the bus from the Vatican. Outside the synagogue was a
street vendor selling umbrellas for 5 Euro (or at the time it was Lire I guess). I only had the equivalent of 3E, which he said ok he would would accept . But noooo, I insisted on walking him to the ATM machine while I got more money to give him the extra euros (or lire or whatever)

I always laugh when I think of this; the umbrella is long gone!

I always take an umbrella when I travel -- virtually everywhere (I think I didn't take it to N. Africa, but that's about it). It has rained at least once everywhere I have ever been, and that includes Switzerland in August (where it rained more than once).

You can go to your local Walmart or somewhere and buy an umbrella to take, or just take one you alread have. Boring!

OR:

you can buy an umbrella in Luzern, and bring it home with you. I assure you every time it rains back home and you use that umbrella, opening it will bring a smile to your face.

Lee finally lost the one he bought a rainy day in Stresa years ago on this trip. We replaced it with a bright blue and green plaid one from Venice. Can't wait to open it in the Florida rain.

Thanks for all the advice. I think I will buy one if needed in Europe and consider it one of my souveniers....and I don't have to carry it over.

Every time I don't take an umbrella, I regret it. When I do take one, it doesn't rain. I've just brought a very compact umbrella that I plan never to leave at home.

Never, ever go anywhere in europe (except possibly southern Spain in summer) without a sturdy folding umbrella.

I have been to europe (many parts and all times of year) about 70 times and have never had a trip lasting more than 4 days during which we didn't get at least some rain.

Take an inexpensive umbrella along and when you get to Switzerland, buy a good Knirps brand umbrella to take home. Knirps, a German company, invented the folding "pocket" umbrella and some of their models are windproof up to 80 mph. My Knirps have withstood everything except being left behind in taxis.
http://www.knirps.de/

I lived in Switzerland and the amount of rain we get is our dirty little secret....along with the numbered Swiss bank accounts.

My other advice would be NOT to stay in Lucerne...stay in the countryside and take a day trip into Lucerne if you want. The countryside is what it is all about. I think you will get tired of the trains and esp the drive if you are driving out each day (and looking for parking)....

The hotel I stayed at in Lucerne this summer had loaner umbrellas but as others have said, umbrellas are fairly cheap, though I didn't see any street vendors in Lucerne selling them.

I never travel with an umbrella. It it's really pouring I'll pick one up when I find I need it. Especially a summer trip in Switzerland, I wouldn't bother.

I too never travel without an umbrella. I have a small compact one that fits perfectly in my travel purse. The few times I didn't have it I paid for it when it started to pour and I ended up soaking wet before I found one. Just happened last month in Montreal!

Tracy