I am planning to spend over a week in Florence (where I've been before) and would like to take day trips to places such as Orvieto, Lucca etc. I know these places are reachable by train, but would consider renting a car. Are the main roads safe for a single woman (of a certain age) driving alone, assuming one uses caution and does not drive in isolated areas late at night? (I drive in NYC, so traffic does not particularly terrify me.)<BR><BR>M

I haven't had occasion to travel solo yet but am looking forward to testing my wings at some point in my life. I think I would much rather take the train for convenience as well as for the opportunity of talking with interesting fellow travelers. For me, driving would be too isolating, especially on a solo trip. Just my two cents.

If you dont have global mobile phone then buy or rent one in italy to keep while driving just to be on safe side.

I'm female, not yet &quot;of a certain age.&quot; I've been to Florence solo three times, and have never personally rented a car. (I prefer to have a navigator when I'm driving in unfamiliar territory.) So I've done the trips you're talking about by train or bus, and have enjoyed the people-watching and occasional interaction with the locals which that has provided. <BR><BR>That said, I've met up with friends for parts of a couple of trips where we did some driving, and I think you'd be just fine if you are comfortable with the idea. Renting a car does give you more flexibility, and you can see more of the countryside, should you wish.<BR><BR>Things to consider: cost of the rental itself, plus fuel, tolls and parking versus not having to deal with train/bus schedules and more limited destinations.

When I travel with my husband we usually rent a car at some point. We usually share the driving time 50/50%. I have noticed this: When he drives I really enjoy watching the scenery, the buildings and people we pass by. But when it is my turn to drive and let him enjoy, my enjoyment stops right there. Local people drive in a style I am not used to. Usually too recklessly to my tastes. I have to concentrate to driving in a different way I do at home. Also the roads are usually more winding and narrow.<BR><BR>I suppose it is a question of taste, but if I were alone I would use public transportation where it is available.

Thanks for opinions on driving alone. I think I shall &quot;play it by ear&quot; and perhaps rent a car for a day if I want to get out into the countryside.<BR><BR>Mallory

Tuscany is a safe place to drive alone for a single woman of any age, also provided that she drives with little caution, in isolated areas and late at night. From the traffic point of view, your main trouble will be not getting upset at the excessive slowness of the drivers (and their tendency to drive right in the middle of the road). From the personal security point of view Tuscany, in particular rural Tuscany, is a very safe area in an already very safe country. As someone else stated, buy (better than renting it) a cellphone and get yourself a perpaid card with either Tim or Omnitel (yet it looks to me like in Tuscany Tim has better coverage of the whole area: I am often left with no connection to the network on my Omnitel phone, while my fianc&egrave; usually has connection to the Tim network almost everywhere). Take note of some emergency numbers: 113 is for ceneral emergencies, 112 to call the police (carabinieri), 115 is fore fires and, last but not least, 118 is for health emergencies.<BR>IMHO a car is the best way to tour some areas of Tuscany, while some other destinations are really far better if done by train. For instance, driving to Lucca is not particularly scenic and the road to lucca (an autostrada called Firenze-mare) is often very crowded and not very pleasurable to drive. Lucca, Pisa, Arezzo, Pistoia are all best seen by train. Some other areas are far better if visited by car: the whole Chianti, the Casentino and the other rural areas are hard to cheach by train or bus and driving in these areas can be really an interesting experience.<BR>One suggestion: if you have time enough, make sure you spend a couple of days off Florence, sleeping in some place in southern Tuscany (near Groseto, for instance) and daytrip to the Amiata area and to the parco Nazionale della Maremma Toscana. Also Pitigliano and the nearby villages are a great plae for a daytrip.

I can't provide a point of view because I've not done what you're considering but 2 thoughts 1) get an international drivers license before you go. Recently read here it's required by law in Italy if you get stopped (do a text search on International drivers license) 2) it may be much cheaper to reserve a rental car from here (and if you want an automatic I'd definitely reserve here) than once you're there. You can always cancel once you get there if you change your mind.

THanks, Alice, for the great feedback. I've been through much of Tuscany and Umbria on walking tours. I was,in fact, due to go on a walking tour starting from Grosseto and going to Pitigliano, the Maremma Park and coast. However, the tour hadtoo many cancellations so I am on my own. I shall probably arrange for a two-day car rental and then decide whether to use it or cancel it when the time comes.<BR>M

For day trips to a single location (e.g., Siena, Orvieto), I would suggest the train or bus. It will be faster and more convenient (no parking hassles, etc.).<BR><BR>But for exploring the countryside or visiting several places in one day, a car will be more convenient because you will not be tied to train or bus schedules.

Hi Mallory!<BR>As always, Alice provides good practical advice. I traveled solo to Italy last May, renting a car for a 12 day stay in Tuscany. This was the first time I had driven in Italy (or Europe for that matter). Trust me, if you can manage the Brooklyn/Queens Expressway, the autostrada will be a piece of cake. Country roads are narrow and winding - the difficult part was keeping my eyes on the road, not on the view! I never, ever, felt unsafe. One piece of advice: if you rent a standard, make sure you know how to shift into reverse before you leave the rental agency!<BR><BR>

Hi Bert ---<BR><BR>Yes, the &quot;reverse&quot; problem. Many years ago, on my honeymoon, my husband caused a traffic jam in a small street in a very small Italian towm bcz he could not find reverse. This was before Americans were driving European cars at home. A very nice man came and showed him how to find reverse and everyone involved kept their good humor.<BR><BR>Marian