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Single woman 40's 1st time traveling to Italy

Single woman 40's 1st time traveling to Italy

Old Jul 25th, 2015, 08:46 AM
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Single woman 40's 1st time traveling to Italy

I'm wanting to travel to Italy alone. I'm a 40 something year old female.
And have never been to Europe. What's the best time of year to go? I'm starting to do my research now. But I don't want to get too OCD about it. I'd like to go within the next 6 months maybe even Fall and it's July right now.
I'm currently living in Florida so I love warm weather. I want to be able to do this on the cheap, perhaps even 3 months or so. I want to take my time, taking in the culture, sights, fashion, maybe if I enjoy it enough to take up permanent residence. I really don't know any Italian, however I'm street smart and not naive when it comes to pick-pockets, scammers, etc, so I'd like to stay in more of where all the action is.
How difficult/easy is it to get a work visa? Where do I start? Any direction would be helpful.
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Old Jul 25th, 2015, 09:27 AM
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Geting a work via is quite difficult since there is a lot of unemployment - a process that will take months and there is no guarantee you would ever be approved depending on your profession. This would have to be done from the US before you head for Italy. And you wold have to do so through the Italian embassy here in the US. If you go to the web site it will give you info on the many requirements you will to fulfill before applying for a visa beyond the standard 90 day tourist visa.

And I think this is a really bad idea. Since you have never been to Italy - never mind europe at all - I would go for an extended trip before you even contemplate trying to move there. (And for almost any job there you would need fluent Italian, unless you are an employee of a US-based multinational that transfers you there.)

PLEASE do some research on the country and the costs of visiting (more expensive than the US) and go for a couple of months before trying to plan any sort of move there.
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Old Jul 25th, 2015, 09:28 AM
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It is very hard to get a work visa for anywhere in Europe unless you have really specialist skills, I am afraid.
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Old Jul 25th, 2015, 11:20 AM
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Don't know about work over there but Italy is fabulous. You don't need to know any Italian as many speak English. I'd get Rick Steve's Italy or his Europe Through The Back Door book as he gives lots of ways to go cheap if you wish.
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Old Jul 25th, 2015, 11:40 AM
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Thank you Don, Nytraveler and nonconformist! Very helpful, great ideas and input!
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Old Jul 25th, 2015, 11:44 AM
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The trouble is, you won't be given a work visa for unskilled work when there are so many unemployed Italians and other EU citizens who can do the job without needing a visa.
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Old Jul 25th, 2015, 11:49 AM
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Have you looked at being able to stay longer than 90 days? We are limited to 90 days in a EU country. After that we must leave for 90 days. I think that you should visit for a few months and see if you like it. If you do, come home and apply for a visa to stay for longer. If you haven't been to Europe, it is different. I am not sure you would be able to get a work permit though. The EU has strict rules about that.

I commend you for wanting to do something different. We talk about it all of the time and will definitely be spending some extended amount of time there when we retire in a few years. Good luck!
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Old Jul 25th, 2015, 12:07 PM
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How about a) starting to learn a bit of Italian now from home and then b ) doing a four-week intensive class (or longer, but not less than four weeks) at a language school in Italy? The language is the key to a culture, and without it you'll never be involved in daily life, lifestyle and culture, know the locals, shop where they shop - not to mention bureaucracy and the paperwork that you'll need to do if you seriously consider to move.
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Old Jul 25th, 2015, 12:16 PM
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Honest question: Are you calling Americans fat assed & lazy? Did I understand that correctly?

(See above quote "...lazy fat ass-typical American")
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Old Jul 25th, 2015, 12:32 PM
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I've never tried to get a work visa, so can't help you there. (I doubt anyone here as any personal experience of it, so you might as well start with the Italian consulate nearest you).

If you like warm weather, most of southern Italy has rather mild weather throughout the winter, although you need to expect drizzly chill and downpours in true winter months, and maybe a snowfall (which will get all the locals snapping pictures). From your brief post, it sounds as if staying in a city would suit your needs. Rome, Naples or Palermo would be my first choices, but also consider Genova for mild weather.

Rome might be the very best if you are not conversant in Italian.

I moved to Italy several years ago and have not encountered any excessive paperwork or bureaucracy beyond what I experienced in the US. I moved to Italy without being fluent in Italian (and still am not) and am very happy here. I live in a rather remote village, and have encountered no difficuties shopping, getting dental and medical care, dealing with rental contracts -etc, despite less than stellar Italian skills.

Had I followed the alarmist advice of people who have never lived in Italy before moving here, I suspect I would not have moved here. Fortunately, I learned somewhere along the line in grammar school that most people don't know what they are talking about and live in fear of many things that are not fearsome at all, so I just went my merry way.

Tonight, I made myself a delicious dinner to eat outdoors with a beautiful view, and have to say I regret not an instant of having moved here. I have made mistakes along the way that cost me money, but on the whole I have come out financially even or perhaps ahead of the game. I suspect were I still living in the US I would make different mistakes. But I am glad to be in Italy.
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Old Jul 25th, 2015, 12:38 PM
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Welcome to Fodors, gigi2. Insulting the regulars is certainly an interesting idea for your first thread.

BTW, Christina is well known here for traveling alone, and does so internationally and regularly. Her advice is often blunt, but good.
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Old Jul 25th, 2015, 01:00 PM
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If you have transferable skills you may find a US company who want a short term expat in their Italian business. It would require you to be able to speak Italian though. Mrs Bilbo speaks spanish, and while she can understand italian, she cannot speak it, so you need to get some serious conversion going. I'd suggest a skype time exchange website where you can talk Italian and they can talk English to get some brain cells going.

Given the situation in Italy, you need some special skills or special contacts to get that work visa, but it may be doable.

You'll find it cooler than Florida. On your own should not be tough, but have you thought of trying Spain, since you speak Spanish.
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Old Jul 25th, 2015, 01:12 PM
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I tend to find the "regulars" around here pretty insulting to anybody who wants to stay In Europe for an extended perior or move there, and don't think the OP should be criticized for stating the obvious. Christina's posts are usually relentlessly negative and putdowns and narrow minded.

My first reaction to this thread was to advise the OP to re-register with a different screen name, or try another message board. The overwhelming response to inquiries about makding dreams come true from the regular posters on the Fodor's Europe Forum is bitterness and egregious ignorance about doing it since they haven't done it themselves.

Anyway, I reiterate my advice to not listen much to other people when making a plan to move to another country. Most people will disapprove.
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Old Jul 25th, 2015, 02:00 PM
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It sounds like OP will need to work to be able to stay for a longer than usual amount of time that most tourists stay in Europe. I could be wrong...

Perhaps others on this thread have the means to reside in Europe without having to work. I could be wrong...

I don't know what is entailed in getting a work visa or emigrating to European countries. I think you have to have prove certain things like medical insurance, certain amount of assets, perhaps income from US like retirement/SS. I could be wrong.

I think the rules for Italy could be different than France; I could be wrong..

People here all need to take a breath. Anyone can come and ask; anyone can answer.

Nastiness and snark come from all directions; people who live in glass houses...
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Old Jul 25th, 2015, 02:34 PM
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sandralist: your story is fascinating. I had no idea that you moved to Italy on your own. Living in a remote village, no hassles with paperwork or bureaucracy, not being fluent in the language: I find this amazing. You certainly do prove that the conventional Fodorite wisdom is off by a mile.

I wish you would share more of your story with us.
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Old Jul 25th, 2015, 02:52 PM
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Each European country has its own rules for immigration. Some allow people with significant independent means to move there permanently (I believe Italy is one of these - ISTR a series of posts here a while back from someone who was ex-military early-retired who got a long stay visa), but usually this will not include the right to work.

However, almost all are pretty restrictive with work visas, and will usually insist that jobs cannot be filled by the citizen of an EU country before being allowed to sponsor someone from elsewhere. I don't think Spain would be any easier for the OP from that POV.
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Old Jul 25th, 2015, 03:22 PM
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Christina is queen of the nasties
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Old Jul 25th, 2015, 04:03 PM
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I often find Christina about as blunt as a 2x4 upside the head, but I agree with her here and actually think that she didn't say anything rude.

You've never been to Europe but want to spend 3+ months in Italy and maybe move there. Okay... that's possibly a great idea, but why not spend a couple weeks getting a feel for it first and then making decisions for your return. I thought I would love some places and disliked them and some places I thought would be iffy are among my favorites. You said in your OP that you don't know Italian but later mentioned that you're fluent in Spanish. Great, brush up on the differences and learn Italian. Your OP comes across like a stream of thought (I want to go to Italy, when is the best time to go, I might want to go for around 3 months, maybe I'll want to work there, etc) rather than a thought out plan.



>>

Christina's advice seems extremely reasonable to me. Take the time you can (up to 90 days) to just go and be a tourist to find out where you like, where you don't like, what you want to do, etc. A short time of planning and 'researching' (ie visiting) can do a whole lot of good for making plans for a return. Even with a work visa, it takes time to find a job and who wants to take the time to find a job only to find out that they hate the city they're in? Figure out where you like and then come home to work on the work visa, a job, etc before returning for a longer period.
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Old Jul 26th, 2015, 06:04 AM
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I'm not a regular so maybe I that's why I don't get it. How on earth is it that christina gets pummeled for giving sincere advice while the OP gets coddled after making remarks like "lazy fat ass typical american"????

How am I the only one that finds the OP inflammatory and not christina?
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Old Jul 26th, 2015, 06:22 AM
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You are not the only one. I wish the OP lots of luck and hope she loves Italy. Rather than just two weeks, I suggest she spend 4 or 5 weeks and include a week-long intensive course in Italian. I am sure she will love Italy and a long stay will give her an idea of whether or not living there is what she wants to do.
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