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Travel To Italy 2005...
 If
you're an American or Canadian with second thoughts about a trip to Italy, don't
make any rash decisions. Canceling a flight or tour is likely to be expensive--and
you may come to regret it.
Here
are some facts to consider before saying no to an Italian vacation: Flying
is still the safest form of travel. It's often said that you're more
likely to get into an accident driving to the airport than you are on an airplane.
An old saying of course--but there is truth to it. Foreign
tourists very rarely encounter problems in Italy or all of Europe for that matter.
Pickpockets and purse-snatching are a problem in some cities, but you're very
unlikely to be mugged (let alone physically harmed) on an Italian vacation. European
airport security is tighter than in the U.S. or Canada. Don't be surprised
to see paramilitary guards with submachine guns patrolling. Rome and Milan airports
also have several levels of security for transatlantic flights--meaning that you
might put your luggage through one X-ray machine to enter the passenger terminal,
then through another before entering a secure gate area. Boarding systems that
match passengers with their checked luggage at the gate are also common. Summary
If you look at the facts objectively, it's hard to turn down
an Italian vacation for safety reasons--which is why thousands of travelers are
still planning trips to Italy this summer.
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