I think it depends alot on what you are used to at home. Because I'm single for me to travel alone or eat dinner solo is expected. I am not particularly assertive. I guess it might be much harder for a woman with a husband and/or kids to travel by herself because it is so different from her normal life.

As for restaurants~ I love to have dinner out. I do carry a paperback or pick up local news to read, it helps you get comfortable to have a prop. In better restaurants make a reservation or arrive early in the dinner hour, as mentioned already. I don't go to really high-end places because I'm not interested and am more comfortable in good local neighborhood spots. Maybe because I was a waitress for years and know how to 'act' in a restaurant, I never feel intimidated. I always have wine and am aware about ordering a nice meal (as in the States when I am a table of 1 that could be a table of 2 for the waiter, I order well and tip extra). I believe some of the 'attitude' single women get in restaurants comes from the: order just a small salad, drink tap water, and cheap stereotype.

Back to Nadiafrance~ it wouldn't solve the dinner issue but the hop on hop off bus tours of the city looked interesting to me. Sometimes I'm so bushed by the end of a day I like to pick up fancy food-to-go and take it back to my hotel room for a peaceful dinner alone.

from one Suze to another...

You wrote beautifully, exactly what I would say. I was married and then I wasn't. hehehe... and its only NOW that I can live a little. Making my first trip to Paris was a test of myself. Passed it too! WILL do it again. "Its just a funny ol' life"

Thanks SuzieC for your nice reply. Kindred spirits. Oops, I meant "tip cheap" in that one sentence. The various kinds of 'solo' travel and situations that bring people to do it had never crossed my mind until I became active reading and posting travel BB's. But it is interesting to hear about different personalities and experiences. I often eat out alone at home too. Was a bit tricky at first, but practice makes perfect. Truly as encouragement for people new to dining in restaurants alone, try it a few times, it gets easier and more fun.