40th Birthday European Extravaganza

Flights arriving Geneva (GVA):

• Geistweidts arrive 10:35am (AA via LHR, confirmation KUTSA5 / BA BCBW9Q)
• Northcutts arrive 1:35pm (United via FRA, confirmation EGW19Z)

G’s have ~3 hours to kill at the airport or can take the train into Geneva and explore until N’s land. Options: grab lunch at the airport, take the ~10min train into Gare Cornavin and walk the lakefront/old town, or head straight to Veytaux and get settled.

If you want to go into Geneva:

• Go down to the SBB train station level in the airport
• Look for SBB ticket counter, luggage counter is next to it
• Then take train to Geneva-Cornavin station, explore, then come back and meet us :)

Transport to Veytaux:

SBB train from Geneva Airport to Veytaux-Chillon station, ~1h40m. No reservation needed. Remember we have half fare pass. Walk from station to Airbnb (200m).

• Trains depart at :14, :25, :55 every hour
• Train toward Brig (:14, :55) or St. Gallen (:25)

Accommodation: Airbnb in Veytaux (BOOKED) — Avenue de Chillon 34, Veytaux. Near Montreux/Château de Chillon, not Lausanne city center. Check-in 3:00 PM. Airbnb link

Evening: Walk the Montreux lakefront promenade or check out Château de Chillon (right next door to the Airbnb).

Dinner: 6:30 PM reservation at La Brasserie J5 in Montreux — ~10 min bus ride from the Airbnb.

Morning: Sleep in as much as jet lag allows. Grab coffee and breakfast. Target leaving the Veytaux Airbnb around 11:30 AM — ~5 min taxi to Montreux station plus boarding buffer for the 12:32 departure.

Transport to Wengen: Taxi to Montreux station (5 minutes). Use the SBB app or Uber for a taxi.

• GoldenPass Express #4074 Montreux → Interlaken Ost (BOOKED)
  • 12:32 depart Montreux
  • 15:48 arrive Interlaken Ost
  • Class: Prestige — 4 Prestige Single seats, Carriage 20, seats 21, 22, 23, 28
  • Includes 2 aperitif plates + drinks (mineral water or wine)
  • Reservation confirmation 1189553-1 (booked April 6, 2026)
  • Point-to-point ticket: SBB ticket-ID 081326010128, CHF 48 (half-fare)
  • Tickets saved in Travis’ iCloud Drive
• Interlaken Ost → Lauterbrunnen → Wengen via cogwheel train. Departs Interlaken Ost at :04 and :34 every hour; 37 min total. Walk to airbnb, very close.

Total transit time: ~4 hours including connections. Arriving Wengen mid-afternoon (check-in 3:00 PM).

Accommodation: Airbnb in Wengen (BOOKED) — Wengiboden 1348F, 5Level, Top. Check-in 3:00 PM, check-out Mon June 1 at 10:00 AM. Airbnb link

Key pickup (Interhome office): In the Wengen train station building, directly behind the station opposite the Eiger restaurant — look for the big Interhome sign in front of the restaurant. Office hours Mon–Tue and Thu–Sat, 08:00–11:00 and 14:00–18:00 (closed Wed/Sun). Our ~15:48 arrival via Interlaken Ost lands well within hours. They also hold luggage during office hours.

• If arriving after 6pm: message them in advance for a lockbox number and code (keys + check-in info inside).
• After-hours luggage: train station lockers, or ask station staff about luggage deposit.

Evening: Settle in. Walk the village. See the Wengen dining guide below for dinner options.

First full day in the Alps. Weather-dependent — check forecast morning of and pick accordingly.

Active options:

• E-mountain biking in Lauterbrunnen Valley
  • Confirmed reservation via email, subject “E-bike reservation for 30 May 2026” with imboden-bike.ch
  • Train from Wengen down to Lauterbrunnen (~15 min)
  • Rent e-bikes at Imboden Bike on the main street — 10 AM pickup (full day, CHF 65/bike)
  • Ride south on the valley floor bike path toward Stechelberg (6.8 km, flat). Stop at Staubbach Falls on the way out of town and Trümmelbachfalls mid-valley (~CHF 11 entry)
  • At Stechelberg, load bikes onto the cable car up to Gimmelwald (bikes need a separate ticket)
  • Ride from Gimmelwald up to Mürren (1.5 km, paved, ~10 min — this is the one real uphill section but short)
  • Explore Mürren, grab lunch or a snack
  • Ride the paved path along the rail line from Mürren → Winteregg → Grütschalp (4.5 km, gentle, massive Eiger/Mönch/Jungfrau views the whole way). Stop at Winteregg for ice cream
  • At Grütschalp, load bikes onto the cable car down to Lauterbrunnen
  • Ride back to Imboden Bike, return bikes
  • Train back up to Wengen

Relaxed options:

• Walk Lauterbrunnen village (car-free, waterfall-framed valley — short train from Wengen)
• Lake Brienz boat ride — paddle steamer from Interlaken Ost to Giessbach Falls.

Dining: Mountain hut lunch during activities.

Dinner: 7:00 PM reservation at Restaurant Caprice (Maya Caprice Hotel) — 350m walk from the Airbnb.

Active options:

• Männlichen gondola + Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg hike — gondola departs directly from Wengen. Classic moderate hike (~1.5h) with continuous Eiger/Mönch/Jungfrau views. Can continue from Kleine Scheidegg back down by train.
• First Flyer zipline + First Cliff Walk (Grindelwald) — take train to Grindelwald, gondola to First. 800m zipline, cliff walk, First Glider. Can combine with hiking.
• Schynige Platte to Faulhorn hike — one of the Bernese Oberland’s best. Panoramic views, 6–7h, challenging. Cogwheel railway from Wilderswil to start.
• North Face Trail — moderate hike from Männlichen/Kleine Scheidegg, views of the Eiger North Face, 2–3h.

Other:

• Mürren — cable car from the valley to this car-free cliff village opposite Wengen. Allmendhubel funicular for flower trail walks and views.
• Via Ferrata at Mürren — gear rental available locally. Adrenaline option.

Wengen is small and rural, but plenty of the food the region does best is naturally gluten-free — rösti, raclette, fondue (skip the bread, dip potatoes and vegetables), grilled meats and fish, air-dried beef, local cheeses, salads.

Top picks

• Alpenkräuter Restaurant Bären — Wengen’s highest-rated traditional Swiss spot (~4.7, 500+ reviews). Classic alpine cooking: grilled meats, rösti, raclette, salads. Chef readily swaps cornstarch for flour in sauces. Not GF-marketed, but mostly inherently safe and the kitchen is competent. Probably the best traditional Swiss dinner in the village.
• Lecker Asia (Im Gruebi 1401, main street) — Punches well above the rest of Wengen on quality. Ramen, katsu chicken, fried rice, tofu dishes. Rice-based by default, the owner is gluten-free, and the menu is marked. Reviewers consistently call it the best food in town and a welcome break from the cheese/meat rotation. Small spot, opened late 2023. Reserve.
• Restaurant Caprice (Maya Caprice Hotel) — Italian-leaning, panoramic terrace facing the Jungfrau, white-tablecloth service. Strong food reviews independent of GF; recent celiac reviewer described “some of the best Italian food I’ve ever had, including when I traveled in Italy.” Chef coordinates modifications directly. Closes ~9pm, books up. Email mayacaprice.ch ahead.

The experience play

• Fondue Gondola (Braunbär Hotel garden — converted ski gondola, 1 seating per night) — Worth doing for the novelty. Naturally good GF setup: cheese fondue with potatoes, pear, pickles, baby corn, cauliflower, carrots for dipping (skip the bread). Call 2+ days ahead to flag the dietary need. Romantic 2-person setup but families have made it work. Confirm operating status for late May.

Solid backups

• Restaurant Taverne Bernerhof — Central, traditional Swiss, big portions. Rösti, raclette, grilled meats. Most of the menu is naturally safe; reliable casual dinner.
• Da Sina (Italian/pizza, central) — Same ownership as Lecker Asia. Works for casual Italian, but Caprice and Lecker Asia are both better.

Mountain / lunch while active

For the e-bike day and hikes, naturally safe options at huts and valley spots: charcuterie/cheese plates, rösti (confirm no flour binder), grilled bratwurst (skip the bun), salads, soups (confirm no flour roux). The German celiac card from celiactravel.com is useful — hand it to the chef, get a clear answer, move on.

Morning: Final morning in the Jungfrau region. Pack up, check out by 10:00 AM.

Transport:

• Walk to Wengen train station (220m)
• Train from Wengen → Lauterbrunnen → Interlaken Ost. Departs Wengen at :11 and :41 every hour; ~43 min total.
• Then the Luzern-Interlaken Express to Lucerne. Departs Interlaken Ost at :04 every hour; 1h51m total. One of Switzerland’s top scenic train routes — passes five lakes, waterfalls, Brünig Pass. No reservation needed.
• Walk to airbnb (500m)

Accommodation: Airbnb in Lucerne city (BOOKED) — Sempacherstrasse 1, Luzern. Check-in 5:00 PM, check-out Thu June 4 at 11:00 AM. Airbnb link

Evening: Settle in, walk the old town. See the Lucerne dining collapsible below for gluten-free options.

Big excursion day — pick one of the mountain round trips:

• Classic Rigi Round Trip: Boat from Lucerne to Vitznau or Weggis, then cogwheel railway (Europe’s first!) to the summit. 360° panorama of lakes and Alps. Can hike between stations on the way down. Half day.
• Pilatus Golden Round Trip: Boat to Alpnachstad, world’s steepest cogwheel railway to summit, cable car/gondola down to Kriens, bus back to Lucerne. Full day loop. Spectacular.

Relaxed:

• Motorboat rental on the lake — available in Lucerne. No advance booking needed.
• Walk/explore Lucerne old town — Chapel Bridge, Lion Monument, the waterfront.

Dinner: 6:45 PM reservation at Old Swiss House in Lucerne.

• Full chill day — lake, motorboat, reading, slow lunch, wander the old town.
• Swiss Transport Museum — surprisingly good, right on the lake.
• Take the boat to Flüelen for the long scenic route (~3h one way through fjord-like southern arms of the lake). Have lunch onboard.
• Boat to Weggis or Vitznau for a half-day lakeside village visit — quieter pace, different vibe from the city.

Easier than Wengen — bigger city, several places with explicit GF menus.

Top picks

• Mill’Feuille (Mühlenplatz 6, on the Reuss) — Strongest GF reputation in town. GF items marked on the menu, Schär bread served warm, all soups GF. Riverside, casual, all-day kitchen including brunch. Good arrival-night option.
• Wirtshaus Galliker — Old-school local tavern, family-run since 1856. Classic Swiss (rösti, sausages, kalbskopf) — naturally GF-heavy. Where locals send visitors. Confirm GF when reserving.
• Old Swiss House (Löwenplatz 4) — Travelers’ Choice, Michelin-recognized, 1858 building. Staff knows what’s safe; GF bread available. The famous tableside Wiener Schnitzel is breaded, so GF orders shift to veal in cream sauce, fillet, or fish. Tourist-leaning and pricey but legitimately good.

Solid backups

• Restaurant La Cucina (Hotel Schweizerhof) — Italian, GF pasta available.
• Restaurant Balances (Hotel des Balances) — Riverside modern Swiss. Confirm GF when booking.

Self-catering

Coop carries Schär GF bread and the “free from!” GF line — useful for breakfasts and day-trip snacks.

The big travel day. Check out by 11:00 AM. Two legs:

Leg 1: Lucerne → Milan

• Walk 220m to Luzern train station
• EuroCity train Lucerne → Milan Centrale (booked)
  • 11:18am depart Luzern station
  • 14:17 arrive Milan Centrale

Leg 2: Milan → Florence

• Frecciarossa 9547 Milano Centrale → Firenze S. M. Novella (booked)
  • 15:10 depart Milano Centrale
  • 17:04 arrive Firenze S. M. Novella
  • 1° Business class. Tickets in Travis’ iCloud Drive (one PDF per passenger; each has its own PNR and seat assignment)
• ~53 min layover at Milano Centrale between legs (14:17 arrive → 15:10 depart)
• Walk to airbnb (600m) from Firenze SMN station

Total transit: 6 hours. Depart Lucerne 11:18am, arrive Florence 17:04

Accommodation: Airbnb in Florence (BOOKED) — Piazza di San Lorenzo 1, second floor. Central location near the Duomo and San Lorenzo market. Check-in 3:00 PM, check-out Sun June 7 at 10:00 AM. Airbnb link

Evening: Walk the neighborhood, get your bearings. First Italian meal — somewhere easy and GF-friendly. Trattoria Cammillo (Oltrarno, AIC-accredited, great traditional Florentine), or Il Latini (classic, loud, fun, can handle GF). Download the AIC app before arriving in Italy.

Morning/Early Afternoon: Free to explore on your own. Wander the Duomo area, grab lunch in the centro.

2:30 PM: Private Walking Tour — City Highlights with David & Duomo (BOOKED, 4 adults). Afternoon orientation tour hitting the major landmarks. Tickets in the LivTours app on Travis’ phone.

Evening: Rooftop aperitivo. Dinner — options from GF guide: Quinoa (100% GF restaurant near Piazza della Signoria), Brac (vegetarian/GF-friendly bookshop café in Santa Croce), Il Latini, or Trattoria Cammillo if you didn’t go last night.

All AIC-accredited or 100% gluten-free, all walkable from the Piazza San Lorenzo Airbnb. Always tell the staff “sono celiaco/a” when you sit down — even at AIC spots, it triggers the protocol.

Trattoria Cammillo

Borgo San Jacopo 57/r, Oltrarno · ~15 min walk

True Tuscan cooking — ribollita, bistecca, fried things done right. AIC-accredited and can do nearly the whole menu GF on request. Books out; phone reservation only. Already on the short list for the birthday dinner.

Quinoa

Vicolo di Santa Maria Maggiore 1, near Piazza della Repubblica · ~5 min walk

100% gluten-free, so zero cross-contact risk. Modern Italian, lighter than a trattoria — good lunch spot or low-key dinner. Easiest “I just want to eat without thinking about it” option in the center.

Ristorante Lorenzo de’ Medici

Via del Giglio 49/51r · ~3 min walk (basically next door)

AIC-accredited, more upscale. Strong bistecca alla fiorentina plus full GF pizza and pasta lineup. Good if you want a proper sit-down Tuscan dinner without the Cammillo trek across the river.

Ciro & Sons

Via del Giglio 28r · ~3 min walk

AIC-accredited Neapolitan pizzeria with separate GF prep. The pizza is the draw — consistently rated among the best GF pizzas in Italy. Casual, fun, easy walk-in for an early dinner.

Mister Pizza

Piazza del Duomo, just left of the cathedral · ~5 min walk

AIC-accredited with two fully separate kitchens. Multiple GF doughs, lactose-free and vegan cheese options. Outdoor tables with a Duomo view. Touristy location but the safety setup is legit — good casual lunch.

Backup tools: AIC app (download before landing, ~$3 for two weeks) and FindMeGlutenFree. Print or save an Italian celiac restaurant card for spots that aren’t on this list.

Morning: Oltrarno neighborhood — artisan workshops, San Frediano market, Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens.

Afternoon: Piazzale Michelangelo for the panoramic view. San Miniato al Monte church above it. Or: cooking class (book ahead for summer).

Evening: Birthday dinner night? Trattoria Cammillo (legit great + AIC-accredited) or a private chef dinner.

Morning: Check out Florence by 10:00 AM.

Pick up rental car: Hertz Autonoleggio – Firenze, Via Alamanni 35/E. Confirmation L5422430999. 11am pick up.

Drive to Chianti: 40 minutes. Driving directions link

Accommodation: Airbnb in Tignano (BOOKED) — Piazzetta del Castello 2, Tignano. Check-in 3:00 PM, check-out Wed June 10 at 10:00 AM. Airbnb link

Afternoon/Evening: Get settled. First Chianti exploration — wander the nearest town, find dinner. Dario Cecchini in Panzano is a must-do (all about grilled meat, naturally great for GF). Also: Antinori nel Chianti Classico estate (winery tour + tasting).

Options:

• Olive oil tasting
• Visit Greve in Chianti (the big market is Saturday — today is Monday, so it’s the quieter weekday version, but the piazza and shops are still worth a wander)
• Drive scenic backroads between hilltop towns (Radda, Castellina, Volpaia)

Dinner: Private chef at the villa (BOOKED).

Private wine tour with Marco (BOOKED). 11:00 AM start — Marco picks up from the Airbnb. Itinerary: winery visit #1 with lunch, then visit San Gimignano, then a second winery.

Full day out — no need to drive, everyone can drink freely.

Evening: Dinner at the villa or in town. If the birthday dinner hasn’t happened yet, do it tonight or Day 14 (private chef at the villa).

Osteria La Gramola — Tavarnelle (~12 min)

Via delle Fonti 1, Tavarnelle Val di Pesa · +39 055 805 0321 · gramola.it

AIC-partnered since 2000. Full GF menu, homemade GF pasta. Closed Tuesdays.

Le Vecchie Mura — San Gimignano (~45 min)

Via Piandornella 15, San Gimignano

AIC-accredited, separate GF menu and kitchen area. Terrace views. Reservations essential.

Antica Macelleria Cecchini — Panzano (~30 min)

Via XX Luglio 11, Panzano · dariocecchini.com · +39 055 852020

Officina della Bistecca and Solociccia (reservations, book ahead) or Dario DOC (walk-in lunch, Mon–Sat 12:00).

Ristorante Cortefreda — Barberino Tavarnelle (~10 min)

Via Roma 191, Barberino Tavarnelle · borgodicortefreda.com

Inside Hotel Borgo di Cortefreda.

Albergaccio di Castellina — Castellina in Chianti (~30 min)

Already flagged in the itinerary.

Morning: Pack up. Check out by 10:00 AM. Drive to car drop-off. Two options:

• Drop car in Florence (Google Maps directions to Hertz Florence train station)
• Train from Florence to Venice
  • Depart 2:20pm
  • Tickets retrieval code 1777393524, in Travis’ email and Apple Wallet
  • Arrive 4:23pm
  • Note: Travis made an oopsie, and booked tickets to the mainland Venice train station (Mestre), not the island station (Santa Lucia). We will plan to just stay on the train until the next stop, and if anyone wants our seats (very unlikely) or a conductor asks, just beg ignorance, get off the train, and get on a cheap local train to the island.

Afternoon/Evening arrival in Venice. Three options from Santa Lucia station to the Airbnb in Cannaregio:

• Vaporetto + short walk (recommended). Board at Ferrovia D — line 4.2 or 5.2 toward Lido S.M.E. “A”. Ride 4 stops (~13 min) to S. Alvise, then walk ~300 m to the apartment.
• Private water taxi from the station dock directly to the apartment — fastest but most expensive.
• Walk ~1.1 km from Santa Lucia to the apartment (with luggage; involves bridges/steps).

Accommodation: Airbnb in Cannaregio (BOOKED) — Fondamenta de la Sensa 3274, Apt 2, Venice. Check-in 5:00 PM, check-out Fri June 12 at 11:00 AM. Airbnb link

Exemption vouchers for entry fee: In Travis’ iCloud drive, also in an email to Amanda subject “Voucher CDA”

Evening: Golden hour walk. Aperitivo on the water. Gondola ride at sunset? Light dinner — cicchetti at Bacarando Corte dell’Orso (near Rialto), or La Zucca (Dorsoduro, great for GF — polenta-based dishes, grilled veg).

Reservation pending: La Zucca for Day 14 dinner — they don’t book more than 30 days out, so will lock in once the window opens (May 11).

Note: Amanda to meet up with Bruno in Venice!

The one full Venice day.

• Morning: Early exploration — Rialto Bridge/market, get lost in the back streets of Dorsoduro and Cannaregio, grab a coffee in a quiet campo.
• 11:00 AM: Private Venice Walking Tour & St. Mark’s Basilica with Terrace Access (BOOKED, 4 adults). Piazza San Marco, the Basilica interior, and the terrace overlooking the piazza. Tickets in the LivTours app on Travis’ phone.
• Lunch: Trattoria Anzolo Raffaele (Dorsoduro, quiet piazza, GF pasta available), or OKE Zattere (AIC-accredited GF pizza on the waterfront).
• Afternoon: Grand Canal — ride the #1 vaporetto end to end for a slow float past the palazzos. Browse bookshops, find a spritz.
• Late afternoon/Evening: Gondola ride (if not done last night). Sunset aperitivo. 7:30 PM dinner at L’Osteria di Santa Marina (refined Venetian, AIC-listed, palazzo setting) — BOOKED.

A&T’s flight: VCE departing 11:20am (AZ 1466 VCE→FCO, then UA 178 FCO→DEN, arriving 5:55pm). Need to be at VCE Airport by ~9:00am. Alilaguna water bus from Venice to VCE airport, or water taxi. Buy Alilaguna tickets day-of.

M&A’s flight: VCE departing 12:15pm (AA 131 VCE→DFW, arriving 4:50pm, 11h35m, premium economy; then AA 499 DFW→SAT 6:30pm–7:40pm, economy). Confirmation GJJXYK. Amex Travel trip 7429-7757.

• Walk 1.2km from airbnb to FTE A water bus station
• Water bus from FTE A to Venice airport

Florence

• Trattoria Cammillo — AIC-accredited, Oltrarno. Books up. Pick a night (likely Day 9 Fri Jun 5 or Day 10 Sat Jun 6 if it’s the birthday dinner). Phone reservation only.
• Quinoa — 100% GF, near Piazza della Signoria. Good backup/alt night.
• Il Latini — classic, no-reservation walk-in vibe but they do take bookings; worth calling for 4.
• Cooking class — if doing one on Day 10 afternoon, book ahead (summer fills up).

Tuscany

• Dario Cecchini (Panzano) — Officina della Bistecca or Solociccia set menus; reservations essential, books weeks out.
• Private chef at the villa — pick a night (Day 12 Mon Jun 8 or Day 13 Tue Jun 9 post-wine-tour). Need to source a chef — ask the Airbnb host first, they often have a go-to. Otherwise try Cesarine, TakeATaste, or local agriturismo referrals.
• Antinori nel Chianti Classico — estate tour + tasting, book via their site.
• Second Chianti restaurant — Oltre il Giardino (Panzano) or Ristorante Albergaccio (Castellina) for a non-chef night.
• Osteria La Gramola (Tavarnelle) — AIC-partnered. Closed Tuesdays. Book ahead.
• Le Vecchie Mura (San Gimignano) — AIC-accredited, terrace views. Reservations essential. Pairs with the Day 13 wine tour (San Gimignano stop).

Venice

• La Zucca — Day 14 arrival dinner, GF-friendly. Working on a reservation — they don’t book more than 30 days out, so will lock in once the window opens (May 11).
• Gondola ride — decide sunset Day 14 or Day 15; can book day-of but sunset slots go fast.

Switzerland

• Message Wengen Airbnb host re: GF/DF needs + dinner recommendations in the village (limited options there).
• Message Lucerne Airbnb host re: GF/DF needs.
• Old Swiss House (Lucerne) — BOOKED, Day 6 (June 2), 6:45 PM.

Decisions that gate reservations

• Birthday dinner: which night, which place. Options: Day 10 Cammillo in Florence, or Day 12/13 private chef in Tuscany. Locking this unblocks 2–3 bookings above.

Dietary / prep

• Download AIC app before landing in Italy.
• Print or save GF restaurant card in Italian to show at restaurants (senza glutine / celiachia).
• Confirm GF needs with Marco for the wine tour lunch (Day 13).
• Confirm GF needs with both Florence and Venice private tour guides.

• Communicate GF/DF needs to Wengen and Lucerne Airbnb hosts in advance.

Cost-sharing spreadsheet: Google Sheet