I have done three or four trips by myself and always had a great time. I like to move around a bit more so I would probably choose three different cities. If you like big cities you could do Rome, Florence and Venice or if you would like to see Tuscany you could take a bus to Siena and do some bus trips to get around. I spent two days in Siena and one of those days was a day trip to San Gimignano which was wonderful.

I did chat with people along the way and sometimes met someone to share dinner with but was usually alone. The train is a great way to meet other solo travelers to at least have a good conversation with.

Don't wait too long to make your hotel reservations because it can be tough to find places on short notice.

Have fun.

Thank you for all of your insights and advice. I can see that you all are a very caring bunch.
As far as the luggage tag goes, I probably won't use it on my first solo trip, but it will be fun to look for others that have them. I'm not a seasoned traveler, but I have been to Italy once. Venice, Florence, Sienna, Lucca, Cittadella and Monticatini Terme. I think Venice would be a good choice.
I'm not going to look for a travel buddy. I don't want to end up silently putting up with a strangers peculiarities. Thanks again!

For Elizabet, Glad you decided to try it solo rather than seek out a travel companion. Even when I travel with a good friend sometimes it works out great and sometimes it gets a bit stressful. While I've never had a bad time on my own!

Elizabet, just skimmed this thread and I'd suggest a few things:

>the search function here is good. Lots of previous posts on solo travel

>if you have any concern about travelling alone, Venice is a much smaller place and has more of a small town feel despite being a city.

>get a copy of the book "Without Reservations" a travelogue about a woman travelling alone.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...00749?v=glance

Another website that might help

http://www.initaly.com/toc.htm

One idea is to use any particular interest you have (wine, antiques etc.) and check to see if there are any tours or excursions involving those. initaly has a list of weekend markets if that interests you.

Good idea above! If you're a reader this is a great way to prep in general for traveling solo. Two short story collections I really enjoyed are:
"The UnsavvyTraveler" (Women's Comic Tales of Catastrophe) and "A Woman Alone" (Travel Tales from Around the Globe) both published by Seal Press.

Elizabet, have a wonderful solo trip.

iffy, it surprises me to read those word as a description of Scarlett. I haven't followed mermaid's posts enough to comment, but Scarlett? I think not.

Interesting idea about the luggage tag. IF someone did stumble upon that orange tag = solo traveler, they would indeed recognize that the owner of the luggage is a solo traveler. But, I agree with the poster that said that anyone (everyone!) watching a traveler retrieve a bag and depart the airport solo would know the traveler is traveling solo.

Kind of reminds me of rainbow luggage tags or suitcase straps. I often wondered if those were a "sign" for identification purposes, and just realized that there were mass-marketed travel items.

As are, especially this year, bright neon luggage tags including orange and lime green.

I think we may be overanalyzing this.

Safe travels to all.

Elizabet,
I once traveled around Europe for 4 months on my own and it was wonderful. I frequently take shorter trips (have a real job now) on my own because my husband does not get as much vacation time as I do. I agree with the other posters that it is better to go alone than to go with someone who turns out to be a bad fit as a travel companion. My opinion: go alone. If you take the normal precautions, you are unlikely to have any serious problems. Stay in good neighborhoods, watch out for pickpockets, and be sensible about what you do at night. The one other thing I would suggest is to be prepared to say "leave me alone!" (sorry I can't remember the Italian version) if some creepy fellow starts bothering you and ignoring him does not seem to work. Really, that is the same thing you would do at home. The "unwanted attention" I encountered on occasion was annoying but I never felt threatened.
Ana-Belen

Elizabet -- I had a fantastic week in Rome a few years ago by myself. The only part I found hard was eating dinner alone, though it didn't stop me from going to nice restaurants. In retrospect I wish I had taken some walking tours. In addition to learning about the area (and particularly the Forum is hard to appreciate without someone putting it in context), it would give you a chance to meet people, with the possibility, but no obligation, of teaming up with them for dinner or the like if you happen to hit it off. I seem to recall there was one wine tasting/dining tour or some such -- that would be a great way to have one night you're not on your own for dinner. Also, I can recommend a terrific little restaurant, Fiaschetteria Beltramme, near the Spanish Steps at Via della Croce 39, where they sat me at a communal table in the back, making it easy to strike up conversations with others. A couple of advantages of going alone are that you will find you're more likely to meet people, you'll soak up the environment more because you won't be talking with your husband/sister/friends about everyday things all the time, and if you speak any Italian you'll have more of a chance to practice because, for example, waiters won't need to speak English for the benefit of your travel companions.

Expanding on the thought above about language, even if you don't speak Italian... traveling solo I find I soak up more and 'fit in' better because I'm not gabbing away in English with my traveling companion.

Just want to note that I don't think you can necessarily identify solo women travelers without stalking them for some period of time.

There have been several trips when you might have seen me pick up my luggage and get into a car service or a taxi alone, but I was simply arriving on a different flight and meeting my travel companion at the hotel. I can also be observed sometimes doing tourist activities alone, while Phil Flash is off photographing.

Nevertheless, I would not advertise my solo status. It's easy enough, in my experience, to strike up conversations with other travelers, whether they are other women, couples, whatever.

Elizabet, why don't you post a thread here suggesting a Fodors get-together in whatever city/town you end up in. It might be a way to meet some folks while you're traveling, perhaps for dinner or something.

Re the uneasiness of dining alone:

Just develop a new attitude about it! Don't think of yourself as a poor lonely woman without any friends and get yourself depressed, go in with a flair, sweep past the other diners, turn some heads, make them wonder 'who is this elegant woman dining alone'.

It works, helps your self esteem, gets better and attentive service and maybe a free lemoncello or more!

Your elan when traveling solo all in the attitude and your own fashion style.

I think this is a woman thing.

I called ahead to the restaurant next to my hotel to order something to-go and to bring it back to the room.

Pick-up was at the bar and there were 3 men eating alone at the bar, watching the tube and having casual conversation with one another. I had a drink while I was waiting for my food and wondered if they had any qualms about going to a restaurant to eat alone. I don't think so. If not, why do we?

Hi SeaUrchin, an elegant lady of a certain age came into the restaurant where we were dining on Easter Sunday appearing exactly as you just described. She turned everyones head. Beautiful classic black dress, multijeweled scarf, wonderful hat (a hat in Vacaville?). Not thin, but in great shape. And confident. Even my 14 year old grandson whispered to me "WOW, I wonder who she IS" Too precious.

SeaUrchin and Starrsville, both of your post just got me thinking ( I do that about once a week ;;) ).

When we travel and we are alone most of us don't look forward to going to a restaurant by ourself for dinner.

Well, let us take a whole different attitude!! We are the women who have the courage, the knowledge, the moxie to travel alone. We do not have to have a male, or a group of friends with us to make us feel safe and secure. We are confident and intelligent! As Nike said "just do it!". I think we all need to think about how possibly women that will never go into a restaurant alone no doubt envy's the women that not only can but will. Just food for thought.

I would like all of you to know that my original message was the first time I have ever posted a message, not just here, but anywhere!
Yes, it's true.
You all are pretty entertaining.
Also, there is a slim chance that I may be meeting a friend in Sardinia. I need to get this worked out fast.