Hello,<BR>I'll be going to Florence and Venice, for the first time and alone, in mid-April. Everything I read about Italy sounds fantastic, though the accounts of theivery have left me very paranoid. I have images of myself standing at the train station in Venice stripped of all my belongings, except socks and boxers. Will there be hordes of criminals waiting for me as I exit the plane or is this all exaggerated. Thanks!

You know, my french host family told me the same when I was on my way to Rome 3 weeks ago .. but not even true. There were 4 of us girls (all univ students) and we never felt remotely threatened. <BR>Of course we weren't gallivanting around at 3am, but the metro and such wasn't a problem.

<BR>Such an amazing picture in my mind of you standing there in your shorts and socksOL~<BR>At least it will be warm <BR>I think it could be considered a wee bit of exaggeration. Keep your eye on your belongings and your money hidden away out of pickpockets reach. Don't be clueless, that is what gets people in to trouble..be aware but don't be afraid!<BR>and if just in case, this does happen to you.....will you please send photos of yourself in front of St Marks in your undies?<BR>LOL~Scarlett

Hi,<BR> I have walked unarmed and alone through Venice late at night and early in the morning without fear of being accosted.<BR><BR> You are not likely to be mugged. You are more likely to have your pocket picked in a crowd during the day.

You have more chance to have your wallet stolen in the Paris metro that in Italy.....believe me , my son was the target twice in a day..

Any travel store will sell you a pouch meant to be worn around the neck under your shirt they are big enough for a passport and some cash and a credit card RR

We always use a moneybelt. No one will be able to get your goods if you use one.<BR>Also, there are a lot of travel clothing sites on the web that offer pants with special zipper front pockets that work quite well.

JL-- AAA sells the money belt that you wear around your neck--<BR><BR>they also sell one that my husband wears strapped to his calf--<BR><BR>And there is a 3rd money belt that you can wear around your waist underneath your shirt and slax....<BR><BR>PICKPOCKETING is the worst you will encounter in Italy- and this normall happens with Gypsy Children surrounding you and distracting you....<BR><BR>If you run into this, just swat the little boogers with your hand and cross over to the other side of the street--and yell out &quot;PICKPOCKET&quot;--even tho they do not speak english, they know the word &quot;pickpocket&quot; and will scatter like flies!<BR><BR>ENJOY Florence and Venice- my two most favorite cities---<BR>Venice's worst problem is trying to find your way around--lots of confusing turns.....

We visited both Rome and Florence in June 2001 and were prepared for alot of pickpockets based on what we've read, therefore, we had our money belts and were aware of our bags and surroundings. However, nothing occurred. We were visiting during the peak season-and when Rome was playing a soccer match as well-and there were many crowds, yet we felt safe. We were approached a few times in Paris, however, in the metro. In my opinion Paris is more overrun with pickpockets than Italy.