Stay Central

The first thing to do is make sure that you have a place to stay that is central to where you want to visit. Being in the city center will allow you to just pop out and walk around, grab something to eat or just sit and have coffee while the world walks by. Also, public transportation is at your fingertips which will allow you to get up and go if you feel like exploring a bit further afield. Make it your home for the time you’re there. I moved here but it could’ve been temporary. If you like your temporary home, it’ll always be a comfort to you. A home base is very stabilizing.

I often book a hotel or Air B&B right in the heart of the city. This allows you to come and go throughout the day. Once, when I went to Rome I was close to the Trevi Fountain. This was nice because I would walk by it every day and it felt like my neighborhood after a few days. I booked a tour in the mornings. This gave me a good reason to get up and go, first thing. After the tour, I’d find a place fore lunch and then head back to the hotel for a couple of hours to get out of the heat. This is a huge advantage if you’re in the city.

As the evening approached, I would wander back into another part of the city. The weather was comfortable and after a nice rest at the hotel, I was ready to get back out and visit more of the city. The day felt full and stress free. As I’d done a lot in the the morning, the rest of the day was relaxed and full of surprises. Visiting a la carte.

Last summer, shortly after I arrived, in Aix-en-Provence, my daughter went off with her Dad for the months of July and August. I had no car and I didn’t know much about the area. Having an apartment in the city center helped me to get out and discover. There is also walkable access to buses and trains that can take you further afield. I could’ve been on a solo travel trip. My apartment is actually an Air B&B that they leased to us long term due to COVID.