Which Airport for Alipne Tour & onto the Italian Lakes

[porkanut]

Hi
considering taking in some Alpine passes on route to the Italian Lakes for summer hols
early in Sept next year.

The Mrs has suggested we fly to Switzerland & hire a car rather than slogging across Europe from the chunnel, I'm favouring this also.
So can anyone recommend which Airport offers the best location for passes & route to the lakes I'm guessing either Zurich or Geneva??

The plan is to spen a day or two enjoying teh passes before going to the lakes for a 5 days or so then heading back again. May take in Supercar valley also.

All recommedations on routes, where to stay, must see & do's appreciated
Thanks PN

[Whitean3]

I'd say Zurich if you want to do the passes in Switzerland. Whilst you are surrounded by the alps in Geneva, going towards Italy, you'll find yourself driving along the valleys eastwards.
From Zurich, you have various options- head towards the Gotthard pass (and have a lovely circuit of Susten, Grimsel, Furka and Nufenen passes) or towards Graubunden, for the likes of Fluela, Ofen, Mustair etc. etc. and on to the Stelvio.

Out of interest, what hire car are you thinking of renting? You'll want something with a bit of poke to get up all those mountains!
Secondly, you might want to come in early September at latest- many of the passes (above 2000 m) had snow and were closed this September.

Whatever you decide to do, you will love the scenery and the roads!

[WelshBoyo]

Also which Airport in the UK are you thinking of flying from, as that will make a difference. We find Heathrow to Zurich the best route using SwissAir (although not today as we are having great fun trying to get home with all this snow at Heathrow). From March/April there are now flights from Cardiff to Zurich.

Not sure which hire company you are going to use in Switzerland but I alway use Avis in the UK and can specify the car I get. Usualy I go for Golfs or BWM 1 series which are always kitted out.

[Bruce Fielding]

WelshBoyo said:

We find Heathrow to Zurich the best route using SwissAir (although not today as we are having great fun trying to get home with all this snow at Heathrow).

London City-Zurich is best for me (and no probs with snow...)

Edited by Bruce Fielding on Monday 20th December 08:13

[porkanut]

Thanks guys
from uk ideally east mids or stansted, if it's not possible from those two
then Brum. Would prefer not to use h- row or gatwick, manchester as they are quite schelp
for me.

Re rental was think of using Sixt, I spent some time in Germany & they used to offer some sporty-ish stuff,
not looked at their site yet, hoping they offer something like a Cooper S, GTI or an MX5, even a 123 derv would be ok

Looked at the map last night, wondered if it was poss to do Grimsel, Furka, Susten & Oberal all in 1 day if base at Interlaken or Sarnen?
Intention is to do day or two on the passes then Como for 5 nights & stop at St Moritz for a nigth to do Davos & Stelvio, on the way back to Zurich

May take in GP at Monza too.
Thanks again
PN
ps sorry about the typos

[Bruce Fielding]

Remember when renting that the BMW 1 series is rear wheel drive and therefore lots more fun than a Golf etc... Some have pretty pokey engines too.

[Whitean3]

porkanut said:

Thanks guys
from uk ideally east mids or stansted, if it's not possible from those two
then Brum. Would prefer not to use h- row or gatwick, manchester as they are quite schelp
for me.

Re rental was think of using Sixt, I spent some time in Germany & they used to offer some sporty-ish stuff,
not looked at their site yet, hoping they offer something like a Cooper S, GTI or an MX5, even a 123 derv would be ok

Looked at the map last night, wondered if it was poss to do Grimsel, Furka, Susten & Oberal all in 1 day if base at Interlaken or Sarnen?
Intention is to do day or two on the passes then Como for 5 nights & stop at St Moritz for a nigth to do Davos & Stelvio, on the way back to Zurich

Easyjet fly Birmingham to Geneva- possibly Zurich too? If not, then maybe BMI fly Birmingham to Zurich- the flights keep changing all the time. Regarding the passes- you can easily do the passes you mention in a day- we had a Swiss hoon back in June; met up in Altdorf and managed a Susten-Grimsel-Furka-Gotthard-Nufenen-Grimsel-Susten circuit, even in foul weather. Still had time to get there and back from Basel (in my case)- so this would easily be manageable with an early start from Zurich, especially if you can choose where you are staying (i.e. somewhere more local) that night.