We are arriving by ferry in Ancona early on Oct 14 and are flying out of Frankfurt on the 18th. Would like a recommendation for one last hurrah in Italy. Perhaps Bologna? I want a 3-4 star hotel with a good location, near good restaurants. Any recommendations in north-eastern Italy?

If I were driving from Ancona to Frankfurt I would drive through Switzerland rather than Austria with a stop at Lake Como or Lake Lugano. You would also be passing Luzern, Strasbourg, and Heidelberg on that route.

Hi RC - Other options include Verona, Lake Garda, the Dolomites ...

Steve

Dugi - You must have a copy of my itinerary! We are staying in Heidelberg on the outward leg, and probably Luzern or maybe Lugano, then two days in Bellagio at Lake Como! Which is why we want to come back to Frankfurt by another route.

Thanks RC, we'll look at Lake Garda.

I agree with Steve. I would add Salzburg to the mix.

I would drive to Bolzano/Bozen for a night, then up and over the Brenner Pass. Stay in Hall-in-Tyrol for a night, just east of Innsbruck. Then head west through Liechtenstein and Switzerland and steer north when you've had your fill of mountains.

Thanks all. We booked one night in Salo on Lake Gardia. Spaarne: Is Hall-in-Tyrol the city with the Disneyland castle?

Would love to go to Salzburg. Where to stay, BtN?

With a car, I would look for a B&B just outside of Salzburg. Others would have specific experience. I love St. Gilgen on the Wolfgangsee, but that is out of your way.

Salo is OK for Garda but the best scenery is at the north end at Riva. The west shore has a ton of tunnels and is harder to drive. I would access Garda near Roverto via Mori and stay at the north end. Then take the ferry around the lake.

I don't recall seeing a Dizzyland castle in Hall. Hall is a very old village.

The "Disneyland" castle is Neuschwanstein which is in Hohenschwangau near Fussen, Germany

You could go to either Hohenschwangau or Salzburg on the 15th, then from either to Rothenburg ob der Tauber on the 16th, then to Frankfurt n the 17th.

The route from Salo to Frankfurt via Salzburg is longer than than the route via Hohenswangau.

Salo to Salzburg 4h59 min-436km
Salzburg to Rothenburg ob der Tauber 3h33min- 395km
Rothenburg ob der Tauber to Frankfurt 1h48 min- 183km

Salo to Hohenschwangau 4h36min- 363km
Hohenschwangau to Rothenburg ob der Tauber 2h13min-240km
Rothenburg ob der Tauber to Frankfurt 1h48 min- 183km

If you go to Neuschwanstein consider a reservation over the internet.

I prefer staying in the old town in Salzburg. Recommended on-line are the Weiss Taube, Hotel Elefant, and the Zur Goldenen Ente. I stayed at the Goldenen Ente this July not because I chose it over the others but because the others did not respond to my email.I would stay there again.