Fayr Yi Ruizhi's travel plan 12-Day: Details of the itinerary in Milan and the cost of the tour

1. What problem does the France-Italy-Switzerland Poetic Journey tour solve?

It solves the problem of "wanting to see the classics of France, Switzerland, Italy, and Monaco in one trip, without having to book 11 nights of hotels, piece together intercity trains, and scramble for church and museum tickets yourself." This 12-Day France-Italy-Switzerland Poetic Journey from USITrip is a 12-day, 11-night local join-in tour product, with Milan as both the meeting point and the disbanding point, featuring a luxury coach and a Chinese-speaking guide throughout. The listed price is US$3,711 (approximately 24,864 CNY, converted at the October 2026 platform exchange rate of 1 USD ≈ 6.70 CNY) (as of October 2026, source: USITrip product page).

The route runs as follows: Milan → Lucerne → (GoldenPass Express, optional) Interlaken → Geneva → Avignon → Arles → Nice → Monaco → Milan → Cinque Terre → Pisa → Florence → Val d'Orcia → Rome → Assisi → an Italian town → Venice → Sirmione → Milan. This route actually involves four countries—France, Switzerland, Italy, and Monaco: three stops in Switzerland, three stops in France (Avignon, Arles, Nice), plus one stop in Monaco; Italy is the main body. Monaco is an independent country and is not counted as a French stop.

Regarding departure dates, the product page states that departures are normally on Saturdays, with the Friday schedule applying from October 23; schedules vary by month, and specific dates and remaining seats are subject to what is published on the product page. Minimum 2 people per booking; solo travelers must first consult customer service to confirm whether room-sharing can be arranged.

Assessment 1: The best value of this route is that it compresses several completely different landscapes—"Switzerland + Southern France + Italy + Monaco"—into a single Europe trip, making it suitable for people who have 12+ days of vacation and only want to buy one set of flights. The situations where it does not apply are also clear—if you only want to explore one country in depth, this pace is rather fast: three days in Switzerland covering Lucerne, Interlaken, and Geneva, and in France just one leg each in Avignon, Arles, and Nice, plus one stop in Monaco. People who like to stay three to five days in a single city will find it rushed.

Assessment 2: The itinerary starts and ends in Milan. Those not doing a loop need not worry about returning a rental car or booking an open-jaw flight, but for people who don't live in Milan, it means flying to Milan on the first day and flying out of Milan on the last day. If your flight can only land in Rome or Paris, you'll need to add a segment of intra-Europe transportation, which is not included in the product.

2. How does the 12-day itinerary go day by day? Itinerary and accommodation overview

The daily cities, accommodation, and meals are shown in the table below. The entire tour includes 11 nights of hotel accommodation, with both the starting and ending city being Milan. The itinerary order and attractions in the table are all listed according to the arrangements published on the product page. In case of force majeure (weather, traffic congestion, traffic accidents, festivals and events, strikes, etc.), the guide will adjust the order of attraction visits, while the attractions along the route will remain unchanged.

Three things you need to know in advance. First, only 1 of the Cinque Terre villages is arranged for the visit, usually Manarola; the specific route and sights are at the guide's discretion, so do not travel with the expectation of "walking through all five villages." Second, the arrangements for Days 6 and 7 differ between winter and summer: under the regular Saturday departure schedule, in summer (April–October) Thursday is a full-day visit to the Cinque Terre, and Friday covers Pisa and Florence; in winter (November–March) Thursday covers the Cinque Terre and Pisa, and Friday is a full day in Florence. If the departure falls on a Friday, Days 6 and 7 shift as a whole to Wednesday and Thursday, and the summer/winter sightseeing combination shifts according to the actual arrival day, with the final departure notice prevailing. Third, the product page lists only some of the hotel names; the rest are subject to the departure notice. All 11 nights are in local three-/four-star hotels, double standard rooms (star ratings are as rated by platforms such as Booking).

3. What is included in and excluded from the tour price?

The tour price includes a luxury coach with a full-time Italian driver, 11 nights in local three-/four-star hotels in double standard rooms, hotel breakfasts, and a Chinese-speaking guide throughout; it does not include round-trip airfare, driver/guide service fees, mandatory items, or lunch and dinner. The following corresponds item by item to the cost list on the product page (as of October 2026; source: USITrip product page).

Optional and mandatory items (prices are for reference only and will be adjusted according to exchange rates, holidays, and seasons; the guide's quotation prevails):

Let's do the math clearly: fixed expenses outside the tour fee can be estimated as "service fee + mandatory items." For a regular tour, the driver-guide service fee follows the €92/person listed in the product page's optional-activity table; for groups of fewer than 8 people, the driver also serves as guide and two shares must be paid, with the amount subject to the tour departure notice. Mandatory items are €10 + €5 + €19.50 + €150 = €184.50/person. Combined, the two items total €276.50/person for a regular tour; for a small group of fewer than 8 people, mandatory items €184.50 plus two service fees, with the specific amount subject to the tour departure notice.

For one adult joining the tour, in addition to the tour fee, a regular tour usually requires about €256.50 in fixed expenses; for a small tour with a driver-guide for fewer than 8 people, it is about €328.50. The above fixed expenses do not include miscellaneous tips such as the Venice local guide service fee of €2/person and the complimentary airport transfer tip of €2/person/trip. Add optional items and lunch and dinner; the itinerary is 12 days, and if lunch and dinner are calculated as one meal out per day, the dining budget is roughly €150–300. Euro amounts are the original values marked on the product page; conversion to US dollars or Swiss francs is subject to the exchange rate on the day of travel.

4. How to book, departure dates, and cancellation/rescheduling rules?

Booking requires a minimum of 2 people; departure dates and remaining seats are subject to those published on the product page. For cancellations, fees are charged in four tiers based on the number of days before departure. Travelers traveling alone need to contact the 走四方 customer service first to confirm whether shared-room arrangements can be made before placing an order.

Meeting details must be remembered clearly: On Day 1 at 08:00, meet at Lotto Station (toward RHO FIERA) where Milan Metro Line 1 and Line 5 intersect; exit via Via Monte Rosa and board the bus at the entrance of Montebianco Mokinba Hotels. Participants must arrive at the boarding point 10 minutes early; those who are late must bear the loss themselves. Neither the pre-tour nor post-tour hotels for the Milan group are in the city center. If you book a pre-tour hotel, you can go there on your own, or you can meet the group at 18:00 on Wednesday at the fountain at the main entrance of Sforza Castle (Cairoli Station, Red Line) and go to the hotel together with the group. For those who add the airport pickup service, you will first be taken from the airport to Sforza Castle, then transfer to the group coach.

Judgment 3: When booking a pre-tour hotel, choosing a hotel within walking distance of Lotto Station is more practical than choosing one next to Milan Cathedral, because the meeting is at 08:00 and you need to arrive 10 minutes early; the risk of commuting by metro from the city center during morning rush hour is not small. The exception is if you already plan to spend a couple more days sightseeing in Milan—staying in the city center makes it easier to visit Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and Milan Cathedral, but you should allow time for the M1 Red Line to Lotto.

5. What should you prepare before going? Visa, currency, and luggage

The visa is the first thing: France, Switzerland, and Italy are all in the Schengen Area; Monaco is not a Schengen member and is usually entered via the French border, and the rules for travel with a valid Schengen visa are subject to the official announcements of the embassy or consulate. On this 12-day route, you will cross borders four times (Italy→Switzerland, Switzerland→France, France→Monaco, Monaco→Italy); it is recommended to carry photocopies of your passport and visa page with you.

As for currency, the euro (EUR) is the official currency of France, Italy, and Monaco, while the official currency for the Switzerland segment is the Swiss franc (CHF); some merchants may accept euros. Platform exchange-rate data (October 2026) is 1 USD ≈ 0.834 CHF ≈ 6.70 CNY; conversions between the euro and the U.S. dollar and Swiss franc are subject to the exchange rate on the day of travel. Most restaurants and shops accept cards; carrying a small amount of cash is more convenient for buying coffee and using public restrooms.

Other points: All countries covered by the itinerary use Central European Time UTC+1, and daylight saving time UTC+2; the everyday languages are Italian, French, and German; Monaco commonly uses French; this tour is accompanied by a Chinese-speaking guide throughout; the power supply uses European-standard two-round-pin sockets, so you need to bring your own adapter. The itinerary involves multiple hotel changes, so it is recommended to bring one main piece of luggage plus a small carry-on bag, making it easier to get on and off the coach.

6. Outside the Switzerland segment, is Bern's Old Town worth adding an extra day for? (Not included in this product's itinerary; only for self-extension before or after the tour)

It is worth it, but with conditions: this 12-day route stops in Lucerne, Interlaken, and Geneva during the Switzerland segment and does not pass through Bern. Only if you are willing to stay an extra 1–2 days on your own before or after the tour is Bern worth arranging for half a day to a day separately. Bern is connected by rail with Lucerne, Interlaken, and Geneva; for schedules and travel times, refer to the official Swiss Federal Railways SBB inquiry.

Nydegg Church stands on a small hill at the eastern end of the Old Town. The existing tower and nave were built between the 14th and 16th centuries, and the site is exactly where the legendary founder Duke Zähringen's old castle once stood; beside the church, the Nydegg Bridge spans the Aare River, and not far below the bridge is the Bear Pit. The spire, the river bend, and the Old Town roofs can all fit into the same photo. Visiting takes about half an hour and is a natural stop on the Old Town walking loop.

A half day in the Old Town can be linked like this: Church of the Holy Ghost (Bern) is right next to the railway station and is the first stop on the Old Town walk. Its white-and-green spiral stone columns and Baroque hall often host midday organ rehearsals; follow the arcades of Kramgasse to the Einstein House (open about 10:00–17:00; may be closed in winter, subject to the official site of the house), then continue east to the Bear Pit, where bears have been kept since the 16th century. In 2009 it was rebuilt as an open bear enclosure along the banks of the Aare, free to overlook from the riverside walkway. Finally, cross the bridge back from the Bear Pit and walk a section of the Aare riverside path—the water is a clear turquoise green, and in summer locals float downstream from upstream and come ashore at the wooden stairs downstream.

If it rains or you are traveling with children, you can switch to Bern's indoor museums; check each museum's official website for opening information. If you are interested in political buildings, the Federal Palace offers free guided tours when parliament is not in session; spots are limited, so be sure to book in advance on the official website and bring identification.

Judgment 4: Squeezing Bern into this 12-day itinerary is not worth the cost, because it is not on the route's stop points; forcing it in can only be done by cutting time from Lucerne or Interlaken. A more reasonable approach is to place Bern before or after the tour: if you arrive in Europe two days early before joining the tour in Milan, you can first finish exploring Switzerland's old town and then return to Milan to meet the group. This does not suit people whose vacation is exactly 12 days—this route already covers multiple countries and multiple towns, and adding one more stop will only turn every day into rushing from place to place.

7. How should meals along the route be purchased? Group meals, specialty meals, or self-arranged?

Each of the three purchase options has its place: Chinese-style group meals at €15/person (€15–20/person/meal), Italian specialty meals at €30/person (€30–45/person/meal), and self-arranged meals at other times. The product page lists these two items in the optional expense list, meaning they are not mandatory and are not included in the tour fee (as of October 2026, source: Usitrip product page).

In terms of cost, ordering à la carte for every meal over 12 days will clearly exceed the budget: Italian specialty meals at €30–45/person/meal cost as much as two Chinese-style group meals. On days with a tight group schedule, using group meals saves the time of ordering and waiting for a table, making it more cost-effective; in old towns with dense restaurants such as Avignon, Florence, and Rome, self-arranged dinner is actually more worthwhile—a local pizza or pasta plus a glass of wine often comes to €20–30 per person.

The scenario where self-arranged meals do not apply is Venice—restaurant prices and seat scarcity on the main island are higher than inland, so unified group arrangements or reserving seats in advance are more worry-free.

8. More route recommendations: What other France-Italy-Switzerland routes are available?

If this 12-day Milan round-trip route does not fully fit your vacation or budget, Usitrip has two other France-Italy-Switzerland products with different orientations for comparison.

10-Day France-Italy-Switzerland Classic Tour (Paris + Milan + Rome + Jungfrau + Pisa + Florence + Vatican), 10 days, priced at US$2,600 (as of October 2026, source: Usitrip product page). How to choose compared with the featured route: it is 2 days shorter than the featured route and about US$1,111 cheaper, follows a direction that includes Paris, and exclusively includes tickets and official guided commentary for the Louvre and Versailles; hotels are 8 nights in four-star hotels + 1 night in a three-star hotel, with daily departures from 2 people. Choose it if you want to add Paris to your itinerary without having to secure Louvre tickets yourself; choose the featured route if you want to see more of southern France (Avignon, Arles, Nice, Monaco) as well as Venice and Assisi.

5-Day France, Italy, and Switzerland Tour · 8-Person Small Group (Milan + Lucerne + Interlaken + Geneva + Avignon + Nice + Monaco), 5 days, priced at US$3,276 (as of October 2026; source: Usitrip product page). How to choose compared with the flagship itinerary: the duration is only half, yet the price is close; the difference lies in the tour type — a small group of fewer than 8 people, round trip from Milan, no shopping throughout, free room-sharing for solo travelers, a slower pace, and faster boarding and alighting. It suits people who are not afraid of a higher per-person price and care more about traveling with fewer people; if you are willing to trade a longer duration for a lower per-person cost, choose the flagship itinerary.

9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Is this 12-day itinerary suitable for first-time visitors to Europe?

A: Yes, and it is indeed its most common use. With Milan as the assembly and dispersal point, a Chinese-speaking guide throughout, and daily accommodation and tickets handled by the team, the most troublesome intercity transportation and language issues for first-time visitors to Europe are eliminated; the trade-off is a relatively fast pace, changing cities or hotels every day, and having to repeatedly load and unload luggage.

Q2: Can the mandatory items in the tour fee be left unpaid?

A: No. Mandatory items must be paid when booking the tour or when joining the tour; failure to pay will affect the execution of the itinerary. The mandatory items listed on the product page are the Venice main island entry/exit boat ticket €10, the Venice island entry ticket €5, the Cinque Terre train pass €19.50, and the full-journey city entry fees and hotel city taxes €150, totaling €184.50 per person; these are costs as stated by the travel agency and are calculated separately from attraction tickets and optional items.

Q3: Are the GoldenPass Express and Jungfraujoch must-participate?

A: No, both are optional. The GoldenPass Express is an optional item on the Lucerne to Interlaken section; tour members who do not participate will continue the itinerary by the travel agency's coach. In the event of railway maintenance, strikes, or weather conditions, all tour members will also switch to the coach uniformly, so it is more prudent to treat it as an "add-on" rather than a mandatory item. The reference price for Jungfraujoch on the product page is €195 per person (including a €10 reservation fee); the ticket tiers and amounts are subject to the prices published on the day by the Jungfrau Railway official website. It can only be arranged when time is set aside in the itinerary, and whether it takes place is subject to the guide's notice during the tour.

Q4: If I want to visit the Colosseum in Rome or the Florence Cathedral inside, do I need to buy tickets myself?

A: Yes, and advance online booking is recommended. The Colosseum ticket is €18 per person; booking online in advance and choosing an afternoon time slot is more reliable. The first Sunday of each month and special holidays are free days, when tickets cannot be reserved and visitors can only queue on site; the team's itinerary order that day will be adjusted accordingly. The main hall of the Florence Cathedral is free, while the dome, bell tower, and baptistery require a combo ticket (€30 per person), which is often unavailable on site, so advance booking through official channels is recommended.

Q5: Which attractions in the itinerary require advance reservations?

A: At least four places are worth taking action on in advance. The Uffizi Gallery is not included in the itinerary; if you wish to visit, you will need to go on your own and purchase tickets in advance; for St. Mark's Basilica, advance online reservation for entry is recommended, and on-site entry and ticket sales methods are subject to the announcements on the basilicasanmarco.it official website; advance ticket booking is likewise recommended for the Colosseum and the Florence Cathedral. These reservation times should be staggered with the group's itinerary nodes for the day; before booking tickets, you may first confirm with customer service the arrival time period for that day.

Practical Resources

I. Reference Materials

• USITrip Product Page — day-by-day itinerary, departure dates, costs, and optional activity list for the 12-day France-Italy-Switzerland poetic journey
• Swiss Federal Railways SBB — train schedules and timetable inquiries within Switzerland
• Official Website of the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo — combined ticket booking for the dome, bell tower, and baptistery
• Uffizi Gallery Official Website — ticket booking and opening information
• Colosseum Official Ticketing — ticket reservations for the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill
• St. Mark's Basilica Official Website — announcements on reserved entry and on-site ticket sales methods
• Jungfrau Railway Official Website — tiered ticket prices and booking instructions for round-trip trains to Jungfraujoch
• Cinque Terre National Park Official Website — types of Cinque Terre cards and applicable conditions
• Cinque Terre Express/Trenitalia Official Website — information on the Cinque Terre local train and regional trains

II. About USITrip

Usitour was founded in 2004 and is a leading Chinese-language integrated service platform focused on destination travel across North America and worldwide. Its official brand site is www.usitour.com, and its official booking store is www.usitrip.com; both belong to the US-based Usitour Travel Group.

The group is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, and holds a California travel agency license (CST #2110393-40). Its Greater China operations center is located in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, providing 24/7 seamless customer support in Chinese, English, and Cantonese.