Hi, would like to find out
1) Is it safe for 2 girls to tour Italy (F&E) and to stay in places
like YMCA?
2) What are the must see and must shop (if any) places?
3) Which mth is best to go?
4) Where can i chk out the places to stay, the price, etc and
travel routes to reach the destinations?
5) Is it cheaper to join land tours such as contiki or to plan F&E?
thanks

Hi,

1) Is it safe for 2 girls to tour Italy (F&E) and to stay in places like YMCA?
Absolutely stay in Hostels and you'll meet loads of friends!

2) What are the must see and must shop (if any) places?

Must See...

• Florence
  
• Sienna
  
• Bologna
  
• Rome - Rome Revealed - excellant tours of St Peters Basilica and the Vatican Museums
  
• Cinque Terra
  
• Sorrento & The Almafi Coast
  
• Venice
  
• Verona
  
• Sicily (?)
  

I don't know how much time you'll have, but I also always recommend the ferry from Italy accross the Adriatic from maybe Venice or Ancona to the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia, Split, Dubrovnik, all within easy reach!

Must shop: perhaps Milan?

3) Which mth is best to go?
September - end of the tourist madness, but still warm enough to get a tan and enjoy evenings sitting out in a tee shirt!

4) Where can i chk out the places to stay, the price, etc and travel routes to reach the destinations?
Where to Stay: see Hostels.Com - Italy to search for Hostels, check prices, and book online.
How to get there:

• Buses: see Busstation.Net - Buses in Italy
  
• Trains: TrenItalia - Italian Trains
  

also have a look at BusAbout!

5) Is it cheaper to join land tours such as contiki or to plan F&E?
Definitely cheaper and much more fun to go it independantly - plus you'll have more flexibility for changing your mind!

You may, if you're lucky be able to coincide your trip with one of the great festivals...see Whats On When

also, make sure you buy Rough Guide to Italy and Lonely Planet - Italy - that'll be one good guide book each...!

you should also ask on the LP Thorntree - Western Europe Branch as you may get more information and advice there!

Happy Trails

Philip

'Just land the damn thing'

Buzz Aldrin to Neil Armstrong, July 1969

Photos of the 'Las Fallas' Festival from Valencia, Spain in March, 2004

Well, as a member of the Italian male population
let me guarantee that Italy is safe for girls from abroad, and even very friendly with them.

Well, if I had to choose one town, it would be Venice, and it would be in winter. Venice in the fog or in the snow is simply marvellous. But I guess you are not coming in winter, and I hope you do not have to choose just one town.

In that case, come in summer, it's much more lively. Visit Venice, Rome and Florence, that is obvious.
But if you want to go for shopping, Milan is the top.
If you love nature, good food and beautiful medieval small towns, visit Tuscany, around Florence. That is the most beautiful part of Italy.

If you love the sea, and you want cheap places, go to Puglia or Sicily. The food is very good there, too, and people are particularly kind. In Sicily you will find a small beautiful Greece, and much more.
I live near Venice and I work in Milan, so if you need more details about them, feel free to contact me. But I come from Sicily, so...

bye :)

Hi Drhols,

Myself and my good friend will be backpacking Italy for 2 weeks during August. When will you be going? It would be lovely to meet up with other backpackers whilst we're there!

xxx