Solo travel in Italy

Just starting to plan a short side trip to Italy over spring (june) - thinking about Rome, Bologna and Lucca- and probably just going to freelance it (although i havent travelled solo before - i figure its not for a long time so i should be fine!!) My other option is to do a trip with Intrepid travel - Venice , Cinque Terre, Florence and Rome... over 8 days

so - if anyone has any feedback on Intrepids trips.. in terms of value, quality etc.. that would be great :)
thanks

If this is your first time to the country, and you have the Lira, then my suggestion is to go with the Intrepids trip. Should be more interesting and exciting. Of course, I have not been to Lucca nor Bologna. What's the interest there?

Hi - thanks for quick reply!!
I have been to Italy - for a month backpacking about .. well many years ago!! Bologna is a Uni city - apparently very beautiful and a foodie heaven! Lucca known for being a cute walled city. Intrepid are pretty expensive (NZ$1800) for just 8 days and no meals and they travel ubber fast.. possibly not a lot of time to smell or drink the coffee ;)

Hi,
We travelled with Intrepid to Indo-China for two months a couple of years back and were very happy with the service that we got. The four of us fit into the "older traveller" classification and the rest of the 12 participants were under the age of 25. We had a great time, guides were for the most part very accomodating and we saw a lot of country. We did what they call a Basix trip so were free to do independent options on the way. Hope this helps. I have heard a lot of negative comments re Intrepid over the last year and unless service has taken a huge drop, I would recommend them.

solo is absolutely best.

Even Rick Steves had to upgrade his selection of hotel/hostel, for his tours. Too many types of newbies. to keep happy.

Tours make you move on too quick. And you don't get to eat where locals pay no tourist prices.

i.e. little mom and pop caf´s, in paved alleyways.
And kabob shops. They have other good platos too.
Our rule of threes; Stay in each lodging at least three nights Gives you two complete days. We learn more while there.
:)

And pack only three complete changes of clothes. We don't change everything every day. And hostels have washing machines.

And like minds. Age friendly now. I'm 70. Kids my age to play with.

FORWARD!
Street sense and serendipity rule.

Lucca is indeed very pretty. I spent a night there in the youth hostel over 40 years ago.
Easy enough to do on your own, I'm sure.
[http://www.lifeinitaly.com/travel/trains.asp] has good info on train passes which might save you money - either the Argento (for senior citizens) or the Trenitalia, plus info on train travel in general and many other useful-looking headings too.

[http://www.lifeinitaly.com/travel/trains.asp] gives timetables, journeys times and normal prices: e.g. Rome to Lucca approx 3.25hr and U$73 , Lucca to Bologna 1-2 hr and U$14.

[http://www.seat61.com/Italy.htm] also has useful advice about Italian trains, too.

Italy is easy enough to do on your own. I spent several weeks there a couple of years ago and got around no problem on local trains and buses. there are lots of trains that are cheaper than the fancy tourist express ones. I had never heard of Lucca until a girl in my hostel room in Rome was talking about it........she was taking a bike to bike around the area. So when I was in Florence for a week, I saw that there was a bus from there to Lucca and I went and had a look at the place for an outing. Yes, lovely place and I did see a HI hostel in the middle of the town. It would be a nice small town to base in. I am not so sure that Bologna is so interesting but I just traveled through there. Rome is fabulous.

Another vote for going solo, for all the reasons given above. Both Lucca and Bologna are small cities easily explored at leisure. I stayed at Hotel Centrale
It was very Central and adequate for me as a single traveller.

I'm torn with my advice as this trip I have spent far more time alone than usual - and to be blunt have been a bit lonely - no one to giggle with at the funny things, no one to share a good or a bad meal with. Part of it is my physical condition (knees that have worn out) which have limited my walking daily and part has been that as I live alone my holidays have always been a time for talking/walking and new friendship. There are so many pros and cons about both. The biggest for me this trip has been managing my luggage and my 10kg small case has in my mind become an awkward burden. It has changed my attitude completely. Italian trains are brilliant however they have huge steep steps into them unlike our step in on the level ones and a major factor in your decision has to be your ability to manage them and your luggage.
Whatever you decide - enjoy

I vote for the Intrepid tour too.....solo you get to see what you like and can go back to your ideal place and stay there for the last week or 2 of your time.
I did that in Australia, Spain and Bali and try to do it everywhere.

Sorry I've not replied earlier but I've not looked at the Older Traveller pages for a while and this post didn't appear on the Italy page. Italy is quite an easy place to get around particularly on local trains to the cities youmention and my vote would be to go it alone unless you feel you need company. Despite other outward appearances, in most of the smaller cities especially (i.e. not Rome and Florence), ITalians are quite reserved, but if you approach them and try some conversation, they will do their best to join in - and if they can't speak English they'll try and find someone who can - and you'll flatter them if you try a few words of Italian and then they'll feel obliged to be even nicer to you and have an even longer conversation.
I don't know Bologna well but its a beautiful city and quite compact and of course the foody capital - its also big on stidents with a large university. Lucca is delightful and a good base for visiting eg. Pisa, the seaside at Viareggio which some consider Italy's premier resort, and going north into the mountains around Bagna di Lucca. Its a couple of years since I was last there but there was quite a big English community in Lucca - big enough to produce a monthly magazine on sale in some of the local newsagents.

thanks for that Mike.. i'm pretty much sorted itinerary wise now.. but i have another question which i am going to post.. but you may also have an answer for.. how long does it take to process and get through customs in Milan? do you know
thanks - for a morning arrival

Yes yes!

We get better luck in talking with locals, if we stumble in their language first.

They might say, "Actually I do speak a little English." They just don't want to offend.

thanks so much everyone for your replies - i think i pretty much sorted now.. just have to rely on nice efficent rail travel from Milano to Venezia mestre and i'll be sweet!

If you get off at the wrong town....so what?

So efficient you need to be on the train a good few minutes before the allotted departure time. I thought I could catch a train at the last minute as in the UK, but not at Milano, it was already on it's way!

MsMitty give my best to Walter!