Hello, I think I am going to get laid off soon and was thinking about spending a month in Italy, I am not sure what I should do. I have never been and was thinking of renting an apartment for a month in Florence? Do you think I should to that or travel around to different cities the whole time. Since I will be short on cash it has to be something fairly cheap. Please give me some advice. Thank you, Felissa

I realize that this is a personal decision. However, if I knew I'd be getting laid off, I'm not sure if I'd go traveling-even if I were to receive a good amount of severance pay. If it were a trip that was planned already then I may go through with it but still I would be a bit unsure. <BR>You have already made your decision to travel. Therefore, I'd suggest you travel to various cities instead of spending the whole month in Florence.

Felissa <BR>Florence is very expensive, but European travel needs either a home base for several weeks or real good planning for hotels and a deal on air fare and train tickets.<BR>Do you want to do it alone or are you open to a package tour? The latter requires a lot of patience with buses, etc. and the same faces daily, which can or cannot be amusing.<BR>On your own is expensive. Talk to friends and review carefully the views on this web site..and others!!!

Hi Felissa<BR>I can certainly understand you thinking of a holiday at this time, it can give you a real boost before starting another job. I have just done the same and spent time in Florence and travelled round from there and really covered a large amount of Tuscany. However as one poster said Florence is quite expensive if you have no self catering facilities. If you are able to find an apartment it would be your best option if you intend staying the whole month. The cheapest hotel in the low season is 25 euros per night single and they are very basic. Sounds like you are gong in the high season so they will be more than that. I would be inclined to split the time, what about along the Riviera coast and base in Menton, you can then travel along the coast by train on day trips and see a large area of southern France. Menton is less expensive than Cannes, Nice and Monaco.

Hi Felissa,<BR> You can probably see al you want of Florence in 10 days.<BR> However, if you found an apartment in Florence, you could do day trips to <BR>Lucca, Pisa, Siena and many small towns in Tuscany, Bologna, Venice, and the Amalfi Coast.<BR> Or you could use Bologna or Siena as a base.<BR> Good hunting.<BR>

A month in Italy is a great way to make<BR>limoncello out of a lemon. Sorry about<BR>your possible lay-off but this could<BR>be a life affirming or even life altering trip for you. I would not<BR>stay one month in any spot but definitely see as much of Italy as possible. I don't know your age. You<BR>might consider hostels (if young and<BR>adventuresome) or even convent/monastery<BR>stays to stretch your lodging budget.<BR>

Or possibly she may have worked damn hard for several years and saved up her own money - as well as her severance pay out!<BR><BR>I can't say my first reaction would be to travel - however much it might bouy my spirit - I wouldn't know how long the severance pay and savings might have to last...<BR><BR>But. It's not big or clever to cast such aspersions.

I'm not sure whether this is a serious question, but since you ask for opinions, here's my reaction. Unless I were independently quite wealthy (in which case I would not be worrying about being &quot;short on cash&quot; until many years after being laid off, if ever!), I would not go on any big trip to Italy if I were about to be laid off. If I absolutely HAD to go to Italy or else be miserable, maybe (but not probably) I'd go if I could find a RT airfare under $400 and could spend a week somewhere in a very inexpensive but clean and decent little hotel or B&amp;B or agriturismo in a part of the country that is not very expensive. But most likely I'd put off taking trips until I had a promise of an adequate job or until after I earned some vacation time at my next job. I don't like to spend money when I'm not making money.

On your own is not necessarily expensive. Nor is Florence an expensive city. It always depends on where you go. Personally I think DIY is much more rewarding than a tour, and can be cheaper.

You could always give yourself a budget and time limit, stay in a budget place or hostel and get a train ticket so you can explore. <BR>This way you can spend the time off doing something wonderful and adventurous, not blow all your money, know that when it is over you will go back home and back to life as usual without being completely broke. <BR>I know of one person who has done this and she has told me that it is the best thing she has ever done. <BR>If you are young and single, why not have this adventure now?

Hi Felissa. I was laid off just a little over a year ago (after 14 years), got 14 weeks of severance pay, and, with my girlfriend, did what you're considering, took an almost-month long trip to Italy (and Nice.)<BR><BR>One of the nice things about working is that you have a steady income. One of the not-so-nice things about working -- for most people, anyway -- is that you rarely have the opportunity to take a full month to travel somewhere. <BR><BR>What I'd say is that if that being able to be in Italy for a month is important to you, and you're not sure when you'll have that opportunity again, then seize the opportunity you may soon have and go for it. While I'd certainly love to have the money I spent on that Italy/France trip in my back account right now, I also have absolutely no regrets about taking that trip.<BR><BR>As for what you should do if you decide to go, that depends on what *you* value. Would you prefer to stay in one city, like Florence, for a month? You could still take side trips to other places but then, of course, would be paying for hotels on top of your apartment rental and you said you would want to do this trip fairly cheaply.

I guess I should have given some more information, I work for the airlines and will be able to fly almost free for a while after I get laid off, so airfare isn't really a problem. Also I have a place to stay here at home for free when I get laid off, once I give up my apartment. I think this is a once in a lifetime chance for me and it is something that I really want to do. I realize that it is not something that a lot of people would do but it is something that I have thought about and am going to do. Thank you to those of you who have given me some advice. I will be looking into all of your suggestions.

GO FOR IT!! I was laid off last December and the job market here is really pitiful. I find so much competition, even for the temporary/&quot;until I find something else&quot; jobs such as retail, waitressing, etc... Since the job market is so bad, I have been struggling with the blues - especially bad in the winter when it is so cold - so you are stuck in the house. I recently read a quote saying that there are 8 million unemployed people and only 3 million available jobs. Not very optimistic for those of looking for work.<BR><BR>Use the time to explore Italy - rarely does someone get one month to be free. You will also have time for introspection - deciding what comes next. Think of this as a journey. It is now taking most people six months to find a new job - usually with a big paycut. This trip will also allow you focus on finding a job when you are ready.<BR><BR>I probably would do the same thing. We are going on a 3-week trip to Italy/France and a lot of people think we are crazy. But, this trip was planned before I was laid off. <BR><BR>As far as finding a place to stay, I would look into apartment rentals or even check with the University. There may be students looking to share a room. <BR><BR>This is a once in a lifetime opportunity - take it! Good luck with whatever you decide to do.