Hello! I am so excited to be writing to you from the charming lakeside town of Stresa, Italy today. Our Italy & Switzerland trip with Adventures by Disney kicks off tomorrow night, but we flew in a day early for some exploring and r&r on our own.
Adventures by Disney Italy & Switzerland
Day 1: Stresa, Italy
Day 2: Stresa, Italy
Day 3: Stresa, Italy
Day 4: Como, Italy
Day 5: Zermatt, Switzerland
Day 6: Zermatt, Switzerland
Day 7: Lake Lucerne, Switzerland
Day 8: Lake Lucerne, Switzerland
Day 9: Auf Wiederseh
Adventure Guide Pictures
Pin Collection
Souvenirs
Pasta Making at Home
We are beyond thrilled to experience the majesty of Northern Italy and Switzerland as we travel through Alpine passes, cruise across Lake Como and stand in awe of the Matterhorn. We will be zip lining, cooking pasta and riding a train up a mountain slope, completely immersed in the unsurpassed beauty of the region’s people, culture and scenery.
Arrive in Stresa, Italy
After a smooth flight from Atlanta to Milan, we flawlessly retrieved our luggage and made our way through customs. What a relief!! Working in the travel industry, I have heard countless horror stories this summer. We were promptly greeted by an Adventures by Disney representative and only had to sit back and relax as our driver handled our bags and transported us to Stresa.
Grand Hotel Des Iles Borromees
We arrived at the Grand Hotel Des Iles Borromees around 11AM. Our rooms were not ready, so we changed into swim suits, stored our bags and began exploring this grand hotel. At every turn you are wowed by elegance, tradition and traditional Italian charm.
Located on the shores of Lake Maggiore, the Grand Hotel Des Iles Borromees offers breathtaking grounds, a lovely pool, a full-service, world-renowned spa and fitness center, plus stunning views of the lush surrounding landscape. To say we are excited to spend the next four nights here would be an understatement!
We were all exhausted and jet-lagged, but the Pools in the Park resort area was such a haven! Attendants set us up with loungers and umbrellas and we couldn’t have been happier.
We enjoyed a lovely alfresco lunch right at Le Bistrot in the pool area. The gardens are just jaw-dropping. I keep thinking how much Mother would love them.
Our two rooms are both charming and spacious, with sweeping views of Lake Maggiore from our juliette balconies. Once settled in, we allowed ourselves a two hour nap before heading out to explore Stresa.
Mamma Mia & Gelato
We walked the short .4 miles to the city center and had our first pizza dinner in Italy!! As the church bells rang and wine glasses chinked and people walked by on the streets, it all just felt exactly what you imagine a small town in Italy would be.
We had about 5 gelato options within 300 feet of dinner and let Whit pick. Our first scoops of gelato were just as divine as the pizza!
Lake Maggiore Walk
We took a leisurely sunset walk back to the hotel along the shores of Lake Maggiore. It was simply stunning and a picture perfect end to day 1.
Buona notte!
All About Adventures by Disney
Adventures by Disney are expertly planned and guided group tours visiting over 40 destinations across 7 continents. You can visit the world’s most iconic locations with Disney as your guide and your storyteller, and enjoy experiences, activities, dining and adventures in a way that only Disney can do. This is not a theme park tour with Mickey Mouse and popcorn buckets. These are trips around the world where you experience the service and VIP treatment that Disney is known for.
Now Booking through 2024! Here are just a few of the destinations you can visit with Disney:
- AFRICA – Egypt & South Africa
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- NORTH AMERICA – Alaska, Canadian Rockies, Disneyland® Resort and Southern California, Wyoming, Montana, Arizona / Utah, New England
There are so many ways to follow along on our trip and see why I am so passionate about Adventures by Disney!
- What Makes AbD SO Special – blog post here
- Private AbD Facebook Group – join me here
- Dixie Travels Business Page on Facebook – like it here
- Dixie Travels Instagram – follow here
- My Germany AbD Trip Report – read on here
- My Montana & Wyoming AbD Trip Report – read on here
- My New England AbD Trip Report – read on here
If you’re ready to learn more, I’d LOVE to talk your ear off about YOUR adventure! :-) My job is to handle all of the details so you can enjoy the anticipation of your trip without the stress and time commitment of “figuring everything out”. I am one of very few travel advisors that personally travels with Adventures by Disney – having taken FOUR different trips in just 6 years – and can guide you every step of the way. On top of that, family vacations are expensive and my experience and attention to detail make it possible to get the most out of your vacation dollars. Best of all, booking through me does not cost one cent more than doing it on your own.
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