Day one in Italy!

Hi all! This is my first international solo travel ever! I brought one backpack and will be staying in hostels as I explore Venice, Florence, and Pisa. Today my flight landed at 11 and I took a bus to Venice. I wandered around the city for hours just looking at all the beautiful buildings and squares. I have so far only eaten pizza, despite pizza Not being from this area (apparently risotto and seafood are more tradition Venetian dishes). I checked into my female dorm at the hostel and met three other wonderful solo travelers, one from Australia, one from China, and one from Mexico. It’s really been a wonderful trip so far and I’m excited to do some more “touristy“ things tomorrow!

Tips on traveling alone as a woman: if staying in a hostel, check and see if they have female only dorms (mine only cost €1 more to reserve all female than it would to reserve a co-Ed), bring a lock with you (some cities have storage lockers that you can rent to keep your backpack in and some hostels have locket access and storage cages under the beds), download The google maps layout of the city, if you get lost and need to ask for directions try to find a public employee such as a police officer or a museum employee instead of a stranger (by letting someone potentially dangerous know you are lost they are more Likely to try to take advantage of a vulnerable situation by potentially leading you somewhere dangerous, guiding you and knowing where you stay, or following you). Stay safe out there ladies!