Many of our guests fly into Zurich or Paris before they travel to Italy. Some have business there, some find better flights, and some simply want to see the Alps or Burgundy on the way. A chauffeured tour does not have to begin in Milan. The car and driver can meet you in another city, at its airport or at your hotel, and take you across the border into Italy at whatever pace you choose. This guide explains how such a one-way journey works.
Where a tour can start
Our tours start from Milan, Zurich, Paris or any city in Europe that suits you. In practice, Zurich and Paris are the most frequent alternatives to Milan, because both have large international airports and both are within a comfortable number of driving days from the Italian lakes. Geneva, Nice and Munich are also good starting points.
Every itinerary we design includes Italy, because that is where we are based and what we know best: the lakes, the Dolomites, Tuscany, the Riviera and Venice.
From Zurich: the Swiss Alps on the way to the lakes
Zurich is close to the heart of the Swiss Alps. Lucerne is under an hour from Zurich airport, and from there the classic resorts follow: Gstaad about two and a half hours away, then Zermatt, where the drive ends at Täsch and a shuttle train climbs to the car-free village. From Täsch to Stresa on Lake Maggiore, over the Simplon Pass, is a little over two hours.
Our sample nine-day tour from Zurich continues to Lake Como and returns to Zurich through St. Moritz. It can also end at Malpensa if you prefer to fly home from Milan.
From Paris: Burgundy and Mont Blanc
From Paris, the most beautiful way into Italy runs through Burgundy and the Alps. Beaune is about three and a quarter hours from central Paris, and from Beaune to Chamonix is a little over three hours. The Mont Blanc Tunnel then takes you from Chamonix to Courmayeur in about half an hour, and the Aosta Valley leads down to the Italian lakes.
Our sample seven-day tour from Paris ends in Milan, or in Venice for guests who want to continue east.
Combining a city stay with the tour
Many guests spend a few days in Zurich or Paris before the tour begins. The car does not need to be with you during that time: the driver can arrive on the morning of departure and meet you at your hotel. If you would like a car in the city as well, for meetings, shopping or an airport transfer, we can arrange it as part of the same booking. The same applies at the end of the tour. If you spend a few nights in Milan or Venice before flying home, the tour can finish at your hotel there, and a separate transfer can take you to the airport on the day of your flight.
One-way routes and the driver's return
On a one-way tour, the car and driver finish in a different country from where they started, and they need to return. This is part of how we plan and quote the journey, and it is one reason why every tour is priced on request: the quote depends on where you start and finish, as well as on the number of days and the vehicle.
Meeting your chauffeur
On the first morning your chauffeur meets you at the address we agree: the arrivals hall of the airport with a name sign, your hotel lobby or a private address. From that moment the luggage goes into the car and stays there until the end of the tour.
Choosing the vehicle
Couples usually travel in the Mercedes S-Class or V-Class. Families and groups of friends choose the Sprinter Luxury VIP, with up to eight seats and plenty of room for luggage, which matters on a journey that crosses several countries.
How to plan a tour that starts outside Italy
Send us the city where you want to start, the dates, the number of travellers and suitcases and the places you want to see. We propose a route through Italy with real driving times and send a written quote. Price on request.