My husband and I are using Skymiles in July, flying into Zurich on the 3rd of July and out of Rome on the 12th. Any suggestions as to itinerary? I would love to spend as much time as possible in Italy but want to see everything in between!!

<<I would love to spend as much time as possible in Italy but want to see everything in between!!>>

There is a paradox inherent in your wish here. Do you want to leave Switzerland in 2 hours, 24 hours, or only after several days?

Personally, if it is Italy you want to see, then I would get right off one plane and on to another - - see www.whichbudget.com for your myriad options to fly onward cheaply to Italy.

And I see that you are new here - - how did I know that? click on your own name (this is one of the numerous useful tips that Fodors fails to tell you when they send you that first e-mail confirming your registration).

Welcome to the forum.

Best wishes,

Rex

With the gbreatest of respect for Rex, and with whose advice I would agree...assuming you are flying into Zurich because that's the destination you could get with your miles...get out of the country as soon as you can.

Unfortunately, there are not as many budget choices out of Zurich to Italy as one might think (you can also try using www.skyscanner.net) so your first decision would be WHERE in Italy to go first.

I say this because depending on the answer, the most hassle-free way to get ot that place may not involve FLYING at all.

Good luck.

Hi mwarren,

As Rex notes, your desires are a bit of a paradox. I've been to Switzerland 13 times in the past ten years, and I haven't come close to seeing "everything"!

I will say that many folks think that the villages of the Berner Oberland (Muerren, Wengen, & Grindelwald) offer what we most expect to see in Switzerland: magnificent mountain views, sweet villages of wooden chalets, and nests of trails to lead you into the mountains and pastures. If you decide to go to one of these villages, it'll take 3h30 to get there by train from the Zurich airport. The onward journey to Italy (say, to Milan) will take 5-6 hours by train.

But a good alternative would be to visit Luzern, just an hour from the Zurich airport by train. Luzern sits at the base of a large four-lake configuration, with beautiful mountains that seem to spill right into the lakes. Luzern also has a wonderful old town with medieval buildings & fountains. But do remember that it's a real city, and not a mountain village. It's a stunning area, though the town of Luzern will be full of tourists like yourself. There's a direct train (0 changes) from Luzern to Milan that takes 4h14.

Good luck!

s

Lucerne is a good tip. Here's another option:

Get off the plane and take the train directly to Interlaken and stay there a few days. See Schilthorn/Jungfraujoch, etc.

On the last of your Swiss tour, go to Lucerne for the afternoon and then get on train that takes you overnight to Florence. Reserve a sleeping cabin.

Stay a few days in Florence.

Go to Rome and make sure you stay at least 3 nights there.

Use SBB.CH for all Swiss train schedules. Press "en" on top for English. You should be able to find a train that takes you from Lucerne or Arth-Goldau directly to Florence.

Check out the Swiss Pass or Swiss Flexi Pass. See MySwitzerland website for more info.

Hmmm... so how many is a myriad, anyway? Nine destinations listed on whichbudget - - and some people might exclude those that are actually Sicily or Sardegna (but hey, they ARE Italy, too!)

If making optimum use of day one (is that July 3? or 4?) is important, then I would still fly onward - - using Helvetic's 11:15 departure to Naples, arriving 13:00 - - getting a driver to take you to somewhere on the Sorrento peninsula or Amalfi coast. Not the cheapest option by any means but makes best use of your travel time.

Yet, here we are doing a lot of speculating on hopw to cerate this itinerary, and we have no idea what mwarren and husband hope to do/see in Italy nor where.

I am not qualified to comment on the prudent-or-not-prudent aspects of including Naples or points further south (including Sicily) in July. Seems like the Lakes or Alto Adige/Dolomites would be more appealing - - but then, that's me. Heck, in July, I might even indulge in Switzerland for a few days (please - - no hate mail, Switzerland lovers!)

Well, Rex, as I said earlier, that "myriad" all depends on WHERE in Italy they want to go first wouldn't you agree?

My opening to the last post was intended to (at least partially) agree with you - - nine (with several perhaps not relevant) is hardly a myriad.

But we totally agree on this: it's all moot without more info from mwarren.

I appreciate your responses. I like the idea of maybe a night in Zurich and a night in Lucerne or Interlaken and then getting on to Italy. It seems to me like 9 days is not very long but it sounds like we can do a lot in the time we have. The Florence and Tuscany area is number 1 on my list to see in all of Europe but I do want to see some of Switzerland since we are flying in. We are adventurous and will rent a car if that is advisable. That whichbudget site is great! I think I would rather do train or drive so I can see the land in between though. Keep the ideas coming and I will keep researching....

Renting a car in Switzerland with the plan to return it in Italy will cost you a fortune - - see http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34636445

And I don't see anyone recommending that you spend a night in Zurich. I wouldn't. Go on and get to Luzern right after arrival in Zurich. Only you can decide whether to stay there two nights - - (maybe rent a car just for 48-72 hrs in Switzerland?) or just one.

There is a possibility you could turn in the Swiss car at Lugano, and then turn right around and rent an Italian one at the same counter. That would solve the problem of a high "drop charge" for eventually returning it in Italy (Florence, presumably).

If you were to just enjoy the Luzern area without a car, the night train option might work - - again, only you can decide how much will you ruin the following day in Florence, arriving at 07:11 in the morning (you will not be able to check into any hotel at that hour, but you should be able to leave your bags with the front desk) - - after a less-than-perfect night sleep on the train. It departs Luzern 22:49 and you have to change at Zug, 44 minutes later. Then you can "tuck in" for the night at 23:33 but the train will make five more stops before Florence - - at 1:35, 1;37, 2:04, 2:45, and 5:55. It's conceivable that you can sleep through all that - - perhaps with (a) sleeping pill(s) - - or maybe not.

Or alternatively, you could enjoy Lugano itself for 24 hours or so, by getting there from Luzern by train. Whether in Lugano, or Como or Milan, I think you are going to want a car for exploring Tuscany. Or alternatively, if you train on to Florence, you could enjoy your <i>in</i> city stay there for a few days with<u>out</u> a car, then just get a 2 or 3 day rental to explore Tuscany before going on to rome. I recommend allowing no less than three nights in Rome (i.e., July 9, 10 and 11).

Hi Again,

I won't add any more to my recommendations for destinations --

But regarding the train/car thing. Did you know there's a train station in the basement of the Zurich airport? Really, you can collect your bags, buy a picnic, and be enjoying your lunch on the train while others are still signing rental documents or looping around the airport roads. You can reach Luzern, as I said, in an hour on a direct (0 changes) train from the airport. Research train schedules at www.rail.ch.

Have fun!

s