Venice to Paris
 

We have three nights between Venice and Paris, where should we go? We are a flexible family of 5 and would like to use trains. My kids are 13, 13 and 9. Prior to Venice we will be in Rome, Perugia and Florence. Thank you.

Switzerland; easily reached from Venice by rail; and Paris is VERY easily reached from Switzerland by rail, too

I was thinking one night in Tirano, take the Bernina Express to Pontresina, spend the night, and the last night in Lausanne. What do you think? Thank you so much for your response.

What time of year?

What are your interests?

How is your budget? (Switz is VERY expensive - think $18 for a big mac meal - not that you should eat at Mickey D's - but for cost perspective)

Mid July. We have a healthy budget but don't want crazy expensive. We love museums, people watching, eating, but thought the kids might like some nature. That's where Pontresina comes in, if only for a day. We are spending at least 3 nights in all our other spots but we have three days to fill and don't mind traveling for each night. I'm now thinking Zurich instead of Geneva or Lausanne.

Thanks for the cost perspective. Won't be eating at Mickey D's but it does give me an idea. May just have to pile up on the breakfast at the hotel.

You do not want Zurich---really a business city.
I like your Pontresina idea but it involves too much train hassle to my liking. I would train via Milan/Lugano to Luzern and spend your time there. That gives you some wonderful alpine excursions and a lake experience.

Obvious question. Why not spend the extra days in either Paris or Venice?
It's hard to beat those great venues.

Lucerne...that's an idea I didn't think about. Thank you, I'll check into it. I also thought maybe the south of France and then on to Paris, maybe Marseilles. Not a huge fan of the summer crowds in the south of France but what do you think? We are really trying to use this trip as an introduction to Europe for the kids. It is a little like "if this is Tuesday it must be Belgium" but it may be our only trip with the 5 of us and I want to get as much in as possible. Thanks again, I really appreciate the help.

I would agree with the Lucerne suggestion. You can book a train to Arth-Goldau with one change in Milan, then take a Swiss train to Lucerne. (roughly 6 hrs 20 mins to Arth-Goldau)

You do not want to go to Marseilles with three kids when you have so many better choices.

Marseilles had its grand days, but they are all behind in the city's past. It has decaying splendor and quite a bit of petty crime.

If Switzerland sounds expensive, it's also very safe.

Otherwise, you can detour through Austria - Vienna, Salzburg - you could go and see Mad King Ludwig's castles. Or detour through southern Germany. Austria and Germany are also quite safe.

Thank you everyone. I think we have it set. From Venice we go to Tirano, Pontresina, Lucerne, then off to Paris.

I would strongly consider hitting the absolute highlight of Switzerland - the Berner Oberland around the Interlaken area - an area that will fulfill the Alpine Wonderland of Switzerland etched in your minds eyes - glacier-girdled Alpine peaks - tiny toylike mountain-climbing trains, dazlling aerial cableways, rides on boats on either lake bookending Interlaken, etc.

And Interlaken is a short 20-minute detour off a main rail route between Venice and Milan and Paris - changing at Spiez for Interlaken - probably about 6 hour or so journey from Venice and a tad less to Paris.

Great sites for info on European trains - www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. If traveling by rail much around Italy then look at the 3-country Eurail Select Saverpass, a first class pass and if I were traveling with three kids I would definitely go first class where seats are larger and there are often empty seats so you all can sit together easier. Some trains may have special family seats or compartments.

Yes the Bernina Express or Bernina Pass rail route is IMO Europe's most awesomely scenic rail route and kids will love the toy-like train chugging up and over the awesomely scenic Bernina Pass - at the summit is a world of glaciers tumbling into pristine Alpine lakes, ice-girdled Alps - a Top of the World scene not duplicated by any train in Europe I have been on.

World Heritage Pass, Rhätische Bahn, RhB
www.rhb.ch/index.php?id=1069?&L=4World Heritage Pass. The century-old line across Albula and Bernina is regarded as a true masterpiece of the railway engineer's art. Designed from the start to ...

Bernina Express, Berninaexpress, Il Bernina, Piz Bernina ...
www.rhb.ch/Bernina-Express.33.0.html - Translate this page
Ein besonderer Hochgenuss ist die Panoramafahrt im Bernina Express – vorbei ...

Thank you PalenQ. We're looking forward to the adventure. Now if I could just figure out the eurail vs swissrail pass system we'd be set.

eurail would be OK to get to Interlaken area and then give you a 25% reduction of trains into the hills - without using a day on a flexipass as reductions do not need to use a day just that the pass overall period be valid.

I will return to try to explain all this when I have more time.

cheers.

Does a eurail pass cover things like the ascent to Mt Pilatus and the Bernina Express?

A Eurailpass valid in Switzerland covers the Bernina Pass rail route 100% - just like it does most trains in Switzerland but it does not cover the train or gondola up Mt Pilatus by Lucerne as that is not a regular train route but a train to a mountain top - not even covered by a Swiss Pass, which does however give 50% off conveyances to mountain tops (100% for any conveyances linking two actual places - towns, villages or cities).

Thus if you go the Bernina Pass rail route with a Eurailpass and on to Zurich and Paris all that travel would be covered 100% by your Eurailpass except the required seat reservation on a train to Paris - about $4.

Thank you so much. You answered all my questions. Will let you know how the traveling five survive our whirlwind tip.

thank you! I should add that on the Bernina Pass rail route there are two types of trains - the official Bernina Express, a tourist-oriented train with special commentary, services of hostesses for questions and fewer stops - plusher seats, have domed observation cars, etc - you can use this train with a railpass but do have to pay about $10 or so I think for a seat reservation.

You can just hop on the regular trains that trundle about hourly over the same tracks and pass by the same scenery. Some prefer the official Bernina Express for its commentary, etc.