enzian

But there are so many other companies that do this---I'm sure you can find something similar. Here's a walking tour in Tuscany led by REI, not all-women, but it looks like the October dates are open:
http://www.rei.com/adventures/index.html

And someone above mentioned a tour company that leads trips just for women. There's got to be something for you---we just have to find it.

Tere

I just turned 50 and , being divorced with grown up kids I made my first trip alone to the USA last March to meet a friend in LA. I went with her and her sister to Las Vegas and then drove the coast from S. Francisco back to LA. After that I went to New york alone and stayed there for 3 days. I must say I loved the experience!

Now I have booked a tour to the Austrian Lakes next September and am going alone and before leaving to Austria, I will be in London for a couple of days on my own.

Just go and enjoy! I've done it and now I feel that I can go anywhere on my own and have a good time! Good luck!

bat

Pam:
I am convinced something is going to work out for you. When (not if) you are in Rome, consider a tour with Context Rome. Read aobut them on the web site--it will keep you motivated.
www.contextrome.com

sallyjane3

I am proud to know you, girl! You are already landing on your feet!

suze

What about staying in Rome and finding some day tours, or classes, or something along those lines? Being an urban person myself, and single, that seems so much easier than anything in the countryside (yes I realize it is a totally personal opinion). Being solo in a vibrant, noisy, lively city is invigorating. Being solo in the countryside feels lonely to me.

nancy

Pam, you might consider just spending all your time in Rome - so much to see and so easy to do on your own. You can pick up day tours or just train to an area (ostia antica - St Paul's outside the Walls - my new favorite church on your own.


Or, you might consider Paris on your own. To me, that was the most interesting city on my own. Extremely easy to get around and sitting/dining in cafes alone was very comfortable. I stayed for a month, 2 of the weeks on my own and loved it. Personally for a woman alone I thought Paris was the best.

I'd be glad to send you my trip report on my stay if you e-mail me at [email protected]

pambrown2

Oh dear, decisions, decisions. I know a lot of you are suggesting that I go by myself for the whole trip, but I'm not sure I'm ready to do that yet. If I'm traveling that distance from Calif. I want to go for at least 10 days. I'm afraid after a few days by myself, I might get lonely and depressed given my circumstances although I know everyone says otherwise. That's why I like the idea of a few days in Rome alone followed by a group activity.

There are definitely other group walking tours out there like Backroads and REI, as well as others through Country Walkers, but they're not only for women. Some are open to everyone, in which case I worry that there will be mostly couples, and some are for singles, but I don't know if I'm ready to deal with the whole dynamic of having single men there. I thought that being with just women alone would be good for me as far as support and bonding. There are other women's only walking trips to other destinations besides Italy, but they're more active mountain hiking type things. So anyway I'm dithering.

I am on the waiting list for the Country Walkers women's Umbria trip, but there are already five others ahead of me, so it doesn't look good. I kind of like the idea of going to Rome and then doing a few day type group tours or classes as some of you suggested. Then again, I could go to Paris followed by a French language school somewhere in France, since I've been studying French for the past five years. Anyway, I'm going to do some more research and thinking about all the options. Meanwhile, I'm still open to more ideas. Thanks. Pam

SeaUrchin

How about a cooking school? That would be fun I suspect.

Truthfully you may get lonely, I did a few times on this last trip I took solo to Rome. It seemed like everyone was with friends laughing and talking and taking in the sights and I wasn't most of the time. It can be daunting.

If you are in Paris late September come and have dinner with me and my friends.

KathrynT

Oh Pam, I don't really have any suggestions but am looking forward to hearing what you finally do decide(and later that the trip was just what you needed!)

Good luck to you. You have a great attitude!

enzian

Pam,

I found this link to a list of all-women tours. Not all offer something in Tuscany, but it's worth a look:
http://www.chiff.com/travel/women.htm

And here's one with a Tuscany tour in late October, for women:
http://www.wellarrangedtravel.com/Upcoming.htm

Finally, another link to a company, Transitions Abroad, with a much longer list. Click on "women travel" on the left side:
http://www.wellarrangedtravel.com/Upcoming.htm

enzian

Sorry, that last one should be:
http://www.transitionsabroad.com/

annabelle2

hi Pam
More ideas!

I just met a nice woman a few weeks ago who leads women's trips to France, if that sounds good to you:
www.pmstours.com
I don't know much about her or the tours, but they sound fun!

If you are from CA you may know about Wilderness Travel which has some short walking trips in Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast etc. Not women only, but perhaps an option.

Here is the name of a cooking school I read a great article about; it is in Sorrento and you can take a course for a day or up to two weeks:
www.mamicamilla.com

I don't blame you for wanting to combine some solo time w/ some group time for this trip. I needed to do it that way, too, after so many years of traveling with my spouse. But now I know I can do a solo trip and I am actually looking forward to doing so, thanks to all the solo fodorites who have written reports here over the years.

julia_t

Pam, you say you don't think you are ready to travel alone. When are we ever sure we are REALLY ready to do any of the big things in life? Marriage, childbirth, parenting, new job, solo travel - they are all new challenges and we all get a bit scared and doubt ourselves from time to time as to whether we can cope or are ready for a particular situation... (Right now I am definitely unprepared and NOT ready to deal with a wilful 17yo daughter!) However, life goes on and we do somehow manage to cope with all the %&*" that gets thrown at us.

Anyway, if you are in Rome mid-October, so am I, and I will gladly meet you for a coffee, lunch, dinner, some sightseeing, whatever. Post back with dates in due course and maybe we can fix something up.

Have faith, you will find you are a stronger woman than you think you are now, and you can do whatever you choose. Remember...

...Life begins at 50!

luckyluke

I think your new plan sounds great! Do Orvieto! It is tiny, and lovely and you can sit in a cafe across the duomo and drink Orvieto wine. The food is lovely, the area is lovely, the town is lovely! Really nice ceramics etc. And the new plan allows for time in Rome. Stay somewhere with a nice terrace on top so you can sit and enjoy the view sipping something delicious...at the end of a long day before going out again.
I know you will enjoy yourself. I met a woman who's husband had died at a very young age - she had a home in Tuscany, and left NYC with her son to live there for a few years, because she felt Italy and the Italaians help to heal wounds. What better way to contemplate a new life.

Barb

Pam: I will be in Rome 10/10 - 10/19, and would love to get together for coffee, wine, dinner. This will be my 4th solo trip. The first time was a little scary - all the typical what ifs, but it was so wonderful when I did it and loved it and knew I could do it -I tell you, it's quite the feeling. This trip I will be in three countries, Paris, Croatia and Rome, three languages and one foreign currency! I usually like to go to one destination where I have been before, preferably the first stop,just to get my solo travel legs, and then it's just fun to venture forth to something new. The first step is the hardest and then you will wonder why you were ever worried. Day tours are a great way to alleviate possible loneliness and a good way to meet people too, but going solo I guarantee you will meet lots of people, or not, it's your choice - it's your trip and no one can tell you what to do!!

Eloise

Do consider a mixed Country Walkers tour.

I met a group in Sicily; they had lunch at the agriturismo (farm that takes paying guests) where I was staying. I joined them for lunch out on the terrace.

There were four people at the table where I was sitting: one of the guides (Italian man), myself, two unaccompanied women (at a guess, mid-fifties).

The joking and chit-chat going on between the tables certainly gave me the impression that it was a friendly and congenial group.

letour

Pam,
I just heard from the director, Magali, of Parlons en Provence, this afternoon. It's a French language school in Noves, France that is small, relaxed and friendly. One learns with about 4-5 other students. She is opening up a couple of French cooking sessions at her school, and one is happening in September. They are very nice people, so I would recommend it on that basis, as well as its affording a chance to learn French informally and formally in the classroom. Another program in Provence that offers language and cooking is Millefeuille (check the web). Haven't been there but it sounds interesting.
Whatever you choose, good luck! I travel alone sometimes to Europe and I generally really like it, but it's good to listen to your heart, to tell you what you are really up for.
Bon chance!
letour

pambrown2

Hi everyone,
Well it's been awhile, so I wanted to update you on my trip plans. I was in Costa Rica with my daughter's school trip, so I hadn't had a chance to deal with my fall Italy trip until now. I just found another brand new women's only walking tour to Umbria in Sept. through a group called www.thewayfarers.com. I just booked it. It's 6 days and starts in Spoleto and goes through Trevi, Montefalco, Bevagna, Monte Subasio, Assisi, Spello and ends in Perugia. I'm definitely going to tack on 3-4 days in Rome at one end, probably the start.

Some questions - after I end the tour after a morning in Perugia, I might want to spend another night or so in Umbria before heading back to Rome for my flight home. Any recommendations of other towns to visit that are easy to get to on my own from Perugia and easy to return to Rome from? Is Perugia itself worth staying the rest of the day and night in? We only have a brief tour of it one morning.

Also, if I go to Rome before the Umbria tour, I would be there around Sept. 14 vs. Sept. 23 if I do it at the end. Is there a significant difference it weather, crowds, etc. between those two dates?

Thanks for your advice. Now I have to get serious with finding a hotel, etc. in Rome. Pam

mikeyb

Hi P,

Congratulations on your plans to europe. I don't think you're going to see/notice any difference in crowds, weather in only a 9 day difference of time.

5kingfishers

You may like to check out the company www.enjoyrome.com who do walking tours in Rome. They're generally for just 2-3 hours, with a native english speaker, and are a nice orientation to Rome. I've tried out them out on a couple of occasions when travelling on my own and enjoyed having a little company when sightseeing. Oh and quite good value for money I think. Their office is a few block north of Termini (the central) train station.

As far as accommodation goes try the website www.tripadvisor.com for reviews by past travellers. It's not sponsored by any hotels, and sometimes includes photos. It may help to narrow down the search somewhat.

Lastly, have a great time. I usually travel on my own as it's tricky to find someone else with the same interests/time off/spare money and while it's not always easy, it is rewarding to realise that you can do it. Sometimes it's the unplanned things that make it all worthwhile - on my first trip to Rome I was walking around a little lost, and on turning a corner, found myself in front of the stunningly gorgeous Trevi Fountain ! That's when you feel like you're exactly where you're meant to be (in life and in Rome).