Tips for traveling alone and (safely) meeting others?
 

Hello all,

I leave Tuesday for 13 glorious days in Italy! I am traveling on my own and quite looking forward to being able to roam as I please without consulting anyone else. That being said, I am a bit of an extrovert and wouldn't mind meeting locals and other tourists along the way (though I don't speak a lot of Italian--ok, pretty much none). Any other independent travelers have good advice?

Thanks in advance!

Many cities in Europe have English language conversation clubs. They typically meet in a cafe or pub. Often a mix of locals, expats, tourists. Google to see.

I've found that biking and walking tours are a fun way to meet other people.

joon7th - Many restaurants in Italy serve "family style" meals where you will be seated at a communal table with other diners. These are a great way to meet locals and other tourists. :) Ask your hotel staff to suggest some of these establishments.

Have a wonderful time! Just take the same precautions you would at home. If you feel something isn't right, listen to your instincts. You'll be fine!

Buon viaggio!

PS (Hint: always have a business card from your hotel in your possession. If you need to taxi home from anywhere, you can just hand the card to your cabdriver. When I stay at an apt, I do the same thing. I print off a few copies of the address before I leave US, and keep them in my possession.)

You don't say where you're going in Italy, but the big tourist spots are flooded with Americans, also plenty of Aussies and New Zealanders. I traveled alone for a few days there last week (Pisa, Lucca, and the Cinque Terre) and met numerous tourists on the trains and buses, and I'm hardly an extrovert. I didn't find any dinner companions on this trip but I have done that before, shouldn't be too hard. Start chatting with some tourists you meet and hint somehow that you are alone for dinner, and I would expect an invitation pretty easily. Many people seemed impressed that I was traveling alone.

This is all great advice. Thanks everyone!

I often take a few extradays before or after business trips tomajor tourist cities andhave found several methods that work/rules:

I often sign up for shortwalking tour with a specific interest and may fall into conversation with others and decide to have a meal together

The same is true of sitting in the hotel lobby (I always do large full-service hotels) and reading an English language book or magazine

I sometimesmeet other single travelers in hotel breakfast rooms

The rules- no men alone,either another single woman or a couple of 2 women trveling together (I have found some men just do not get "acquaintance")

I try to judge the level of travel expereince of the other people - since some newbies just want a tour guide and tend to get very clingy - as well as overly anxious

you must be alert and caution when meeting a stranger.