I’m a firm believer that if you're going to travel you
might as well make the most of it! Most places we go, I try to see if we can
do a day trip to another city or country close by, just as we did at the Christmas markets. Oh how I envy those mainland Europeans with their ridiculously close neighbours and their affordable public transport.
Duomo
– Milan Cathedral
I was cooped up in hospital for 4 weeks while pregnant,
the consultant eventually told me I could do with a change of scenery for a few
days, he may have meant for me to go home, but I took him quite literally and jumped straight onto AerLingus.com.
I booked return flights to Milan
Linate airport for a 5 day relaxing break. The price was surprisingly good that
close to travel time, only €110pp. From
Linate Airport we got the Urban Line bus 73 to Milan city centre, journey time
is 10 minutes & costs €1.50pp.
Milan
City Centre
The Best Western Astoria Hotel had a great deal on at
the time. We paid a total of €440 for 5 nights B&B for a double room. It’s
a lovely hotel with really friendly staff located 15 minutes on tram 16 from
Milan City Centre & a couple of stops further out is San Siro stadium. The
rooms were fairly small but the huge array of fresh foods at breakfast more than made up
for that.
There are fabulous affordable restaurants surrounding
the hotel & one in particular right across the road. When they saw I was
pregnant they couldn’t have been nicer. Everything that was cooked in the
kitchen they brought me a little side plate to taste! We paid €24 for our meal
including a carafe of house wine for my Husband. We returned most nights as the
food, hospitality and prices were unbeatable.
Galleria
Vittorio Emanuele II – Shopping Centre
We got a hop on hop off bus the first day we were in
Milan so we could familiarise ourselves with the city. We spent €24pp for a 24
hour ticket with a further 24 hours free. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is one
of the world’s oldest shopping centres, construction started in 1865. Today it
houses some of the most expensive designer shops in Milan, so great for window
shopping!
Here you’ll also find Duomo Cathedral, a stunning building that took
579 years to complete. We simply had to pay a visit as you can walk around the
rooftop terraces & take in the amazing views over Milan. €12pp to gain
access via lift & €7pp to use the stairs, you know we got the lift!
Just around the corner is the museum of Natural History
and entry is free so we took a stroll around for a look & we weren't disappointed. They have every animal you can think of on display. It was a
lovely way to spend an afternoon.
While on a ramble back to the main square we
stopped off for loo break & a cold drink. BIG mistake, the loo was a hole
in the ground, it was impossible for me to go as I couldn’t bend that much
without toppling over! Also they charged €6 yes €6 for a can of coke!
Terraces
on Duomo
I regularly use Viator.com to see what’s to see &
do in a city before I travel & it gives me great info on that can be done
or where you can visit in the surrounding area on a day trip. Then I google the
details to see if I can get it cheaper using public transport.
As this
particular day trip was to a different country I just went ahead & booked
it through Viator, we paid €120pp for a 12 hour day trip to St. Moritz in
Switzerland through the Swiss Alps on the Bernina Express train.
“Little
Red Train” Bernina Rail Tour
Pick up is from central Milan - Sforza Castle at 7am,
we just jumped on the tram outside our hotel & got to the Castle in less
than 15 minutes. (You do need to bring your passport with you & if you are
not a citizen of the E.U. a visa.)
From here you are transported to the train
station at the foothills of the Alps in a coach with an English speaking guide
who points out places of interest along the way.
We
couldn’t believe the colour of this glacial lake.
Due to traffic on the day, our coach missed the express
train. We later found out that this was very lucky for us as the express has a
glass roof which means the windows can’t be lowered. imagine the swelterings!? Just 10 minutes later we
were boarded on an older train & on our merry way.
The 2.5 hour journey
took us through some stunning scenery the likes of which I’ve never seen before
or since. We passed through the UNESCO World Heritage listed route of the
Bernina Pass.
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Stunning
Alpine Valleys and Lakes - (Yodeling Optional)
After the 7,330ft climb onboard the Little Red Train
you have an hour and a half to explore the gorgeous village of St. Moritz. It’s
the highest peak of the eastern Alps & described as one of the world’s most
famous, elegant & exclusive holiday resorts.
St.
Moritz - Switzerland
After a leisurely ramble around the village we bought
gifts (for me!) in one of the artisan chocolate shops. We took advantage of the
“Champagne Climate” as the sun shines on average 322 days a year & stopped
for lunch alfresco.
I was pleasantly surprised when the bill came as it wasn’t
as expensive as I would have thought for such a chic & stylish restaurant. We
paid €50 for our lunch which is on par with a decent restaurant in Dublin.
Unfortunately we didn’t get the train back down as the day trip includes a 3.5
hour, sometimes heart stopping, coach ride back to Milan on the twists &
turns of the Alps.
Glacial
Lake in Engadin
It was straight back to hospital for me after we landed
for a further 2 week stay, with only my Alpine dreams to comfort me. Hell, it was better than spending my weeks reprieve watching daytime TV, eating a Toblerone, right?
Have you been to Milan or St. Moritz? Please share any
hints or tips you have, we'll definitely be going back.
Or, have you ever been on holliers in one place and skirted off somewhere else while there?
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