Have planned a month long trip to Italy and Switzerland for myself, Husband and 8 yr old daughter ... and for the second time am doing it all myself

so Itinerary looks like this :-

Fly to Zurich, train to Montreux
3 nights Montreux (arrive late afternoon on Day 1 so only 2 full days)
4 nights Wengen
3 nights Lucerne
3 nights Bellagio
6 nights Sondrio (with family - this is the purpose of the trip)
5 nights Florence
3 nights Perugia
4 nights Rome

Accomodation
Montreux - Grand Hotel Excelsior Du Lac
Wengen - Hitel Victoria Lauberhorn (got a great deal)
Lucerne - Hotel Des Balances
Bellagio - Hotel Du Lac
Sondrio - with family
Florence - apartment - Sleep in Italy
Perugia - Brufani Palance Hotel
Rome - Apartment- Sleep in Italy

Trains -
pass in Switzerland
Bellagio - Sondrio = regional
Sondrio - Milan = regional
Milan - Florence = booked
Florence - Perugia = regional
Perugia - Rome = regional
so have only actually booked 1 train ticket

I have booked tickets for the last supper in Milan ... and a transfer from Como train station to Bellagio as the ferry times do not work out.

But pretty much - thats it.

What else do I need to book before I go?
- Uffizi and Acadamia?
- Vatican?

Any other suggestions or tips?

Packing - we are going in September - how cold will it be in the Swiss Alps? can I hire a warm jacket etc to save me having to cart it all around for the next 4 weeks?

Weather and temperatures should be checked a few days in advance, not now. For example, this very weekend was snowing over some Alpine passes, but in late June snow is not typical.

"What else do I need to book before I go?" -- The Borghese Gallery in Rome.

Hi Newbie00,

For your trip from Montreux to Wengen, I hope you're planning to take the Golden Pass route. If you want to make it extra special, you could book one of the 8 VIP seats with the best views:

http://www.goldenpass.ch/default.asp?OrgID=6

They're very popular and sell out quickly.

If you don't care about getting those VIP seats, then I would recommend that you stop in Gstaad to see the pretty town and maybe have lunch at one of the stellar restaurants.

Have fun as you plan!

s

Perugia: have dinner at La Taverna. Good hotel choice.

Buy your Italy train tickets here up to 120 days in advance:

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...005817f90aRCRD

For the Vatican/St Peter's, book an early AM small group tour.

hire jacket, unlikly

If you click on your own screen name you will get access to all your own past posts, including advice about what to pack. You will not be able to rent a jacket.

September can be cool or stormy in the Alps and it might be much cooler than you are imagining in Italy, especially at night around the lakes and in Sondrio. Perugia evenings might get breezy (or chilly rain might blow through), and at the end of September, even Rome is often experiencing autumnal breezes. Consider investing in some very lightweight long underwear and a fleece vest, plus you will need a waterproof outer layer. If you are presently in the US, these items can be ordered online fairly cheaply on sale in the summertime from places like Winter Silks and Land's End, LL Bean or REI.

ah thank you sandralist - I couldnt work out how to search past threads and I knew that I had ask that a while back ... but couldnt find it.

Thanks all.

You will not need a warm jacket for Switz. If you get a chilly day or two layers (tee, long sleeve shirt plus sweater) should be fine. Yes, there may be snow in the Alpine passes - but only that high - not in the lowlands or even the foothills where you will be.

And the layers about were fine for us on the Jungfrau - 12K feet for about 5 hours. Just make sure everyone has comfy waterproofed shoes with a non-skid sole.

Call your bank and credit cards and let them know you will be traveling out of the country.

Make a copy of your passport and put it in your luggage, along with a copy of your itinerary.

You will be traveling to civilized countries. Buy anything you need but didn't think to bring.