Am going to Italy for one short week in Sept and have some questions:<BR>1. Is it safe to travel alone<BR>2. How can I make the most of Italy in the time I have<BR>3. What are the must see/do?<BR><BR>Ciao!<BR>

I smell bacon!

Italy is as safe as you want it to be. You just have to watch yourself.<BR><BR>As far as must sees and must dos, what made you decide on Italy? Surely you must have an idea of what you want to see. Otherwise, why would you go. Let us know and we'll let you know if it's a good idea.<BR><BR>I'm not trying to be rude, I just think that if you put some work into your trip you will get more out of it. For me to do an itinerary when I don't have the slightest ideas about your tastes, likes, dislikes, budget would be a waste of my time and yours.

1. I have been living as a single woman in Italy and travelling as a simgle woman in Italy for a good deal of years, and yes, Italy is safe, at least as safe as one should expect any modern and industrialized country to be.<BR>2-3. I suggest you to chose one area to explore throughly. Since you have one week only. If you plan a long itinerary with lots of things to see, you will end up doing more travelling than sighseeing. According to your interests you may chose a city (Rome, Florence, Naples, Venice) and use your time exploring the city itself amd having a few daytrips in the surrounds (for instance, you may spend three days exploring Florence, and daytrip di Pisa and Lucca, to Arezzo and to Bologna). Or you might chose one country area, establish a base and rent a car for exploring the area (for instance, you may find a room in Alba and explore the Langhe and Roero area of Piedmont, daytripping to Turin on the day of your departure). Also, you may consider a costal or a mountanious area. This way you may see some of the "must sees", although you will miss many, but at the same time you will be able to capture the feeling of Italy, instead of just glimpsing a few monuments in between one train and the next.

1) If you go in big cities maybe yes.<BR>2) I reccomend to you: Venice, Florence,Siena, here you can find a lot of history and...wonderful food!

In the deepest south maybe smaller places (villages and small towns) could be as dangerous as the big cities, but in northern and Central italy it is actually even safer to be in small places if you are a single woman. Even safer means that there are some areas of Milano where I wouldn't venture alone, on foot, after midnight (few areas!), while for instance I have walked alone along many villages and small towns well past midnight na d never felt any hint of danger.

I'm a single female traveling alone to Italy in September also. I have no qualms about it whatsoever. Just use your common sense like you would anywhere else. My biggest concern is having something go wrong with atm cards, credit cards, etc. and not having access to cash. So I'm taking two credit cards from two different banks and an extra ATM card from my bank (Cards can demagnatize - I've had it happen too many times). I'm exchanging a little bit of money before hand so I can get to the airport/train station/hotel without worrying immediately about cash. Obviously, keep the extra atm/credit card separate. Beyond that, just use your common sense and have fun. I certainly intend to!

It's sounds like you are following the proper path. As stated before it tends to be much safer from Rome & to the north. I'm not sure where you are flying into but I would stick to 2 cities @ most. Venice/Florence or Rome/Florence or Florence/Siena. I would not consider Milan unless I was flying into Milan. Of course, if you don't want to go solo I'm sure I would volunteer...I would be an excellent tour guide..

My first trip to Europe (Italy) was 2yrs ago. As a single, 32yr old woman travelling solo in Rome, Florence and Pisa I was approached by men on the streets every day. I even saw two that I'd met a few days earlier; I'd say for the most part they were harmless, though persistent in "chatting" it up.<BR><BR>I did feel safe; however I didn't stay out very late (past 11pm).<BR><BR>Some must sees/dos for me were the Colosseum, the Pope's mass at St. Peter's, Trevi Fountain, Sistine Chapel/Vatican, Michaelangelo's David...too many to note.<BR><BR>I found the Italians to be very warm & friendly people.<BR><BR>Have a great time (and yes, the food is delicious).<BR>

As already advised, you'll be safe if you use your head. No wandering around dark streets late at night in places where there are no people. No responding to random offers from strangers who will proposition you with free or discounted tours, free guide service, or trips to "unknown" places.<BR><BR>Part of getting along as a single person is to look as if you belong. Walk with a confident air; pretend you are an Italian on the way to work, or to dinner, or whatever. Standing on a street corner, unfolding a city map and looking lost, will invite lots of unwanted (but usually innocent) solicitations.<BR><BR>How do you make the most of your time? Plan, plan, plan. And don't try to do too much. You can put a few more things in your plan than you might be able to accomplish, but be ready to give them up when you run out of time or space.<BR><BR>As for the "must see and must do" things, there are so many that a week won't even begin to brush the surface. Pick one or two cities, read up a bit, plan your itinerary, and have at it. You will love it, and you will be safe.

That old wives tale about Italians pinching your bum is actually true. It happened to me on a bus from Sorrento to Amalfi. However, I think you're in more danger from the lunatic drivers than anything else. Use common sense and don't go into any area that you would avoid if you were at home, dark alleys and parks are the same the world over.

I have traveled several times in Italy as a solo female. <BR>In response to the first question concerning safety: I have had both very positive and extremely negative experiences which have led me to the conclusion (in hindsight, it it SO obvious)- as a single female, you will definitely be approached, and you are responsible for your own safety. Italian men are some of the best flirts in the world, but it's only a dangerous game if YOU allow it to be. The same precautions apply no matter where you travel. As far as pickpockets and scams, they go after everyone, not just single females. There is already a wealth of written information available to single female travelers regarding safety measures. Just do your homework- it's almost a no-brainer.<BR><BR> If you are really serious about wanting to make the most of your time, I high recommend making an effort to learn some of the language before you go. This will open up new levels of experience to you! In spite of some recent bad experiences, I think Italians are generally warm-hearted and delightful, and I plan to return there for Christmas in Naples! <BR>Buon viaggio!<BR>Laurel<BR><BR>

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