Hi Zhi
Where in Piedmont are you planning? Torino, Langhe or elsewhere?
Cinque Terre: It’s been a while and I didn’t pre-prep any restaurant info, so followed our instincts. It is touristy here but not so bad that there are obvious rip-off joints. I posted this on another forum earlier this week, so please excuse the cut & paste:
Loved the fish / seafood in Cinque Terre, but also the local flatbread (piadina) which was great for taking back to the apartment with some tasty salad / cheese / cured meat etc. It does take a while to get used to the sound of the trains coming through, with their noise really carrying up the steep slopes. However after a couple of days it’s even possible to have a lunchtime nap and not be disturbed by it. Also mightily impressed by the effort they are making in recycling / conservation, with ~ 8-10 different recycling bins from memory, and that was maybe a decade ago. My amusing memory of the paths, is the amount of US/English people walking along, trying with varying degrees of success, to say buongiorno and grazie to each other, with barely an Italian in sight. I loved the irony/absurdity, but at least salute them in making the effort.
I’d definitely recommend taking one of the walks up into the hills if you find the coastal paths over-touristed. Yes the uphill makes for solid exercise, but you’ll see maybe 1/100th of the amount of people you see on the lower paths.
Milano
I think there have been recent threads on this, which should still be very much up to date. Just seen another good review of Ai Binari, so that is worth a look.
London
Might be useful to know what appeals to you, as there is some much there, that you can really focus on your interests. In terms of general advice, I’d still say grab a pocket A2Z map, even in this internet age. Too many people mindlessly take the tube, unaware that in many situations they’ll walk further in doing so, than if they simply walked there in the fresh air. Some journeys demand the tube, but cute planning can ensure you only take the tube when necessary.
Do try to take in one of the parks when there, as these are a great antidote to the bustle of Central London. Especially pleasing for a Sunday morning stroll.
Logistics
Do you have flights booked. Heathrow to Milano Malpensa (BA) is probably the easiest, and if booked soon, might still have some good prices. Gatwick is also an option, plus some of the no frills airlines flying out of London City, Stansted or Southend (I’m told a pleasant airport to fly out of).
Car. Useless on Milano & Cinque Terre. Can be of use, but can be avoided depending on location on Lake Como. Almost essential if going to Langhe wine region. This may affect the flow of the holiday, e.g. you might want to break the normal rule of avoiding backtracking, to start without the car, then hire it halfway through.
Regards
Ian