Advice please! Dubrovnic to Rome? to Aix-en-Provence to London 8/3-8/8/14

madness....

but if you must do those big distances, fly. You'll never get there otherwise.

Why go to places, other than Aix, if you won't have the time to see anything?

Hi Nigel,
Thank you so much. I have this unexpected trip due to an unexpected opportunity, but because it is last-minute, there wasn't a flight for part of my trip (Dubrovnic to London) that was affordable. I decided to use it as an opportunity to have a few discrete choice experiences instead of just taking a train that can get me from Rome to London in 24 hours. I think breaking up the travel so it will only need to be 6-8 hours per day instead of 24 hours straight, while also giving me the opportunity to see Aix, is worth it, given I'll be there anyway! I hope that helps you understand why it is a tiny trip with so little time! I don't want to see much, just have a few little experiences that are lovely to make the trip as pleasant as possible during a time constraint. It's kind of like when I do yoga at the airport or take time to smell, look at or water and talk to my flowers during a busy day. I appreciate your suggestion to fly and if you have any others, please feel free to share them! Take good care and thank you.

abricot,

It would help to have a bit more information about your trip. Does this originate in London, or is this just a stop over point? What kind of budget are you working with?

Unfortunately I can't help with organic vegan diet suggestions, but you shouldn't have any trouble finding suitable foods at small street markets or whatever. You should be able to find vegetarian items at many restaurants, but not sure if they will be "organic".

Travel on night trains is not usually the most "peaceful" endeavour, and you'll have to pay extra for reservations and a couchette.

In terms of what I'd like to do, whatever is most important to see in Rome and London that would have peace and beauty, given I'd only have one day in each place.

That's certainly not much time, especially for such magnificent cities. Your best bet would be to start checking Guidebooks to get ideas on sightseeing that might appeal to your criteria.

because it is last-minute, there wasn't a flight for part of my trip (Dubrovnic to London) that was affordable.

It's unfortunate you didn't have more time to plan this trip, as at this late date you won't get good prices on the budget airlines. The most problematic part of what you're proposing is Dubrovnik. You might consider skipping Dubrovnik and focusing only on London and Aix. It's extremely important to allow for adequate travel times between destinations, which will be at least a half day in each case and possibly longer.

One other point of concern is that your departure is only a short time in the future. August is PEAK travel time in Europe so you may have trouble finding lodgings on short notice.

More information would be really helpful.

Good luck!

12 to 19 hours on the train for the Rome to Aix segment. That's a long day.

3 to 4 hours Aix to Paris gare de Lyon, if you can get an affordable ticket.

If you think getting an affordable flight from Dubrovnik (how are you planning to get to Rome, by the way?) is expensive, have you priced late notice Eurostar tickets from Paris gare du Nord to London St Pancras International? If not, you should be sitting down when you check.

When you do check in at the Eurostar gate in Paris make sure you are there in plenty of time - you must be all checked in a minimum of 30 minutes prior to departure are you are most likely not going to travel. The minimum is strictly enforced.

So, if you are not stopping at all in Paris the day of travel from Aix to London by train is likely to be 3:05 + 1 hour to 90 minutes between stations in Paris + 1 hour check in + 2:17 Eurostar journey = about 7 and 3/4 hours, less the hour time difference. That's a long day.

That's a lot of distance to cover. With five days and long distances, I would suggest picking two places where you want to spend time; maybe London and one other place. You're going to lose one-half to a full day in transit each time you change locations.

To give yourself some touring time, I'd suggest checking the low-cost European airlines. Skyscanner.com is a good website. Since you want to minimize cost, it might make sense to plan your destinations around low-cost flights.

One other thing: act quickly. Discount air fares, train fares, and hotels get more and more expensive the longer you wait. You are traveling at the height of tourist season, and it's already very late to be booking for early August.

Hello Everyone and thank you so much, Nigel, Ken & Sherry!
I feel so privileged to have your time and advice and help! Thank you for being so caring!
Before even checking email today and therefore before knowing that you'd replied to me, I called my travel agent to ask about flights to fill in the gaps I have to fill. (I have a frequent flier ticket from the US to Rome and then from London back to the US, but I have to go to Dubrovnic for a potential business opportunity that only recently became possible, which is why all of this is occurring last-minute, and the only reason I am trying to see these other places is because I have to get from Dubrovnic to London anyway to use the rest of my ff ticket). So, going on Nigel's advice that I'd better fly, I decided to ask my travel agent to look into Rome-Dubrovnic roundtrip (because I have to land in Rome and get to Dubrovnic anyway) and then have one day in Rome on the way home, 2 days in Aix (flying into Marseille) and 1 day in London (because I've been to Paris before, but not London, and I'd started to comprehend from Nigel's original email that I'd better fly because these distances were larger than I realized and otherwise all time would just be spent in travel). So, it seems that it is getting close to working out! When I emailed her, she was about to leave, but what she's found so far is a round-trip Rome-Dubrovnic (this one is kind of expensive $353 including her fee on Iberia operated by Vueling) and then Rome to Marseille on Ryan air for "cheap" she said (I'll have to see what that means, but it is not on my ideal day, so I'll either have 1/2 a day in Rome or 1.5 days there), and then an evening flight from Marseille to London after that on the 6th (giving me nearly 2 full days in Aix, even if I have to stay in Rome 1.5 days so I'm not just there for 1/2 a day). The Marseille-London flight would be 85 Euros, which I calculate to be $115.65 plus she said there are both carry-on and luggage fees. So, this all seems remarkable and do-able! (And, then reading what Nigel wrote about the trains and I think the underwater tube from Paris to the UK, it seems all the better that I do what my travel agent found! I had no idea she would be able to help me this much, and the combination of your and her help is perfect.) So, I will check skyscanner myself to see if I can find anything better and I know I need to check guidebooks (are any online that you know of?), and I'm relieved to be reminded by Ken that I can get vegetables and stuff at outdoor markets! So, all that's left is if you have any recommendations on a specific hotel or B&B or hostel for someone past 30 that will be beautiful and tranquil in Rome, Aix and London. (Or is AirB&B in Europe and if so, can you trust it?) And, also if you have a recommendation for something special to experience in Rome, given I may only have 1/2 a day there, and any recommendations on any special restaurant in any of those places that emphasizes fresh vegetables. If you can think of anything else, now that this is more narrowed down, I would appreciate it! I appreciate the warning that I'd better get the hotels squared away ASAP too! (And any recommendation of which hotel to stay in the night before I fly home from London? My flight is 7 a.m., so it's got to have a shuttle to the airport or not require hours to get to the airport.) Thank you, all, so much!! I really appreciate your help and patience with me and with all these crazy constraints (time, budget, lack of experience, etc. etc.)! You are so kind and I hope I can be helpful to you somehow in the future!

In your situation, here's what I would do. Only you can decide what works best for you.

I would stay at the airport when I arrived in Rome and immediately fly to Dubrovnik. I would then fly from Dubrovnik to Aix, skipping Rome. I really like Rome and have been many; times however, 1/2 to 1.5 days isn't much time; It will take you probably 3-4 hours from flight arrival to your hotel, and I I'd allow 2.5 to 3 hours to return from the center to the airport.

Also, you mentioned the importance of a gentle, peaceful experience. Rome will be very crowded and hot, and it can be confusing and idiosyncratic, particularly if you're jet lagged. So I'd use the time in Dubrovnik, Aix, and London. Just a suggestion…

Nigel, Ken & Sherry,
I just wanted to say thank you for all your efforts one more time. You each contributed in important ways and I am very grateful. You have saved me a lot of time and you have given me a lot of peace of mind (including by showing me what wouldn't work and what would be difficult, which made doing the flights and the expense of them a lot easier to feel good about!) and things to keep in mind and to be aware of as I move forward with planning this trip! Thank you so much! Please don't feel obligated to help any more with this unless you really want to! :)

I also recommend flying and getting fare quotes from www.skyscanner.com. US travel agents usually can't work with all the cheaper airlines in Europe; especially I wouldn't expect a travel agent to be able to book Ryan Air. There really are not any attractive night trains on the path you're considering.

abricot,

While the travel agent has arranged some of the transportation links, you'll still have to do some quick study on the details. Some additional information would help. For example....

• Are you arriving in Rome on August 3 or leaving home that day?
• Where are you flying from?
• Are you going directly from Rome to Dubrovnik or staying in Rome for a night? I read your reply but that wasn't clear.

A few more points to mention and questions......

• When you arrive in Rome, you'll likely want to take the Leonardo Express from the airport to Roma Termini. The trip is 35M from FCO to Rome. You can buy tickets at the airport station (€14 PP) either from a ticket agent or a Kiosk, but you MUST validate prior to boarding the train or you'll face hefty fines which will be collected on the spot! Tickets must also be validated for Bus or Metro in Rome and elsewhere, or again hefty fines. That's the reality in Italy.
• Your Rome-Dubrovnik flights will likely be departing from FCO, but you'll need to check.
• Your Rome-Marseille flight will likely be departing from Ciampino / CIA so you'll have to use a Shuttle or whatever (I'd have to check).
• Have you researched airport transfers in Dubrovnik?
• As you're flying with RyanAir, you'll need to be VERY careful with luggage weights and other details such as pre-printing boarding passes, or you may be nicked with hefty additional fees.
• When arriving in Marseille note that there's a shuttle bus between the airport and the Gare Saint Charles train station every 20 minutes.
• How are you getting from Marseilles to Aix?
• Which airline are you using for the Marseille-London trip?
• Which airport are you using when you arrive in London from Marseille?
• Which airport are you using when you depart from London?

I'm not sure how easy it will be to find "spring water" but especially in Italy you'll find that bottled water is readily available, either normal (acqua naturale) or carbonated (acqua gassata). The water at some of the street fountains in Rome is excellent (but be sure you look for the words "acqua potabile", which means it's safe for drinking).

At this late date, you may have to spend some money to arrange lodgings. I'm over 60 and stay in Hostels, so if you're comfortable with "communal living" that's certainly an option. Here's a few thoughts on lodgings in the three cities you mentioned.....

• ROME - you could try The Beehive (usually fully booked) or Alessandro Hostels, either the Palace or Downtown. They're an easy walk from Termini and the price is right. I usually pay €35 per night in a four bed dorm with ensuite. I often stay at Alessandro Palace when not staying at hotels, and the rooms are very comfortable but the breakfast is nothing to write home about. They only accept CASH. For hostel stays, be sure to take a towel, soap and a small padlock for the lockers.
• AIX - I'm not too familiar with this area, so will have to leave that question to one of the others.
• LONDON - I'd suggest choosing somewhere that has good access to transportation to the airport you'll be departing from. I normally stay in small hotels there, but they'll be somewhat pricey at this time of year. You could check the HI Hostels website as they have about seven properties in the London area. It might be beneficial to take out an HI membership before departure, as that will provide slightly cheaper rates. HI Hostels are usually very comfortable and consistent.

Given the short time frame of this trip and the number of places you'll be visiting, it's likely not going to be a "peaceful" experience, but you'll have to make the best of it.

BE SURE to notify your banks and credit card firms that you'll be travelling, so they don't "freeze" your cards.

I can't believe I have something to add to Ken's excellent and comprehensive post, but I do. If you're flying to Marseille airport and going right to Aix rather than Marseille, there are buses direct from the airport to Aix; no need to go into Marseille, which would waste a lot of time. If you look at a map, you'll see that Aix, Marseille, and Marseille airport basically form an equilateral triangle, so you can go from any one to any of the other two directly, without having to go through the third (I realize that may not be clear, but it will be if you look at a map).

@Harold,

I was almost out of room in my last reply but also as I mentioned in the lodgings comments, I'm not as familiar with Aix so others will have to "fill in the blanks" there. I have been in southern France, but it was a few years ago and my memory is not clear on some of the details. Your suggestions will help me also if & when I make a return visit there.

Hello Nigel, Ken, Sherry, Laura and Harold!

Thank you all so very much for all your help! Ken, a special thanks to you for the extraordinary amount of work you put in, in order to help me! I am extremely grateful! I have been wondering how to get a way to give any of you my personal contact info outside of this public forum, so that I could, if you wished, hear from you and send you photos from the trip or a postcard or something to say thank you! Maybe later I can call Rick Steves' company and ask if they could be a liasion to provide you with my personal contact info, and then you could contact me if you want me to send you photos or a postcard or some other gift or something I create from the trip. I want to tell you about the developments and answer Ken's questions, but I don't have time right now and I'll soon be gone the rest of the evening until tomorrow. So, hopefully tomorrow I can update you. But, the super short version is I just booked the flight from Marseille to London for $141.60 on 8/6 and now I'll definitely have a day in London to see 1-2 friends there. And, I reserved a tentative hotel in Aix last night (but hopefully can see if I can get either a cheaper price by staying with a family or person or somehow a nicer hotel for less). I also just booked the round trip Rome-Dubrovnic, so it is now clear that I definitely will have a little time in Rome and I will definitely have some time in Aix and definitely 2 nights and one day in London. So, the Rome-Marseille piece is all that's left with the flights. Haven't had time to check into how to find the bus from the Marseille airport to Aix, but I am grateful to Harold for knowing about it! So, I will be back in touch tomorrow to answer Ken's questions and to tell you the full itinerary that is now booked and we'll see about that last one-way flight tomorrow. I will have to switch airports in Rome, just as Ken suggested, but it is going to be worth it in order to reduce the cost and in order to get the shortest flight to Marseille from Rome, from what we are finding. And I look forward to telling you about the beautiful blog I found I think it was last night about eating in Rome. I'll give you the link later, but if you want to look for it yourself sooner, it is--actually, I still have the link on my computer: http://pickyeaterblog.com/two-weeks-in-rome/ Hopefully in the tiny bit of time I'll have in Rome I can at least eat at a couple of the places she suggests and walk around and see some of the sights, most of which I hadn't even heard of! (But I saw some photos on a hotel web site that Rick Steves apparently recommends.) Okay, I'm sorry I have to go, but thank you all so much! Between all of you and my travel agent, this has been an incredible team effort to help me achieve something really wonderful even with time and financial constraints! It went from overwhelming down to something quite do-able and concrete. I will hopefully write back tomorrow! Have a lovely day or evening where you are!

Hello Nigel, Ken, Sherry, Laura and Harold!
The question on the end is about whether this adaptor is also a converter... Thank you in advance for any help and please don't feel obligated to help!
I'm sorry I dropped off the planet and haven't been back in touch since I last posted on July 8th. I also heard nothing from any of you, and so I also thought that perhaps you would rather not have me keep in touch with you to tell you how the trip went, etc.! Please don't feel obligated to continue corresponding with me! If you are interested, I have long since booked all the flights within Europe and also as of a few days ago booked the last hotel room. Now, I'm on the finer details (packing tonight although I don't leave until Thursday) such as reviewing packing lists, what safety luggage is needed (lock, neck wallet and/or or safety back pack for passport and credit cards), and I've reviewed several packing lists for Rome and Croatia for women. Do you have any thoughts about whether it is really necessary in visiting Rome, Croatia and Aix and London for me to buy a special backpack that apparently prevents someone from obtaining your credit card info electronically from inside the pack? (I'd never heard of such a theft until today!) Do you think it is really necessary that I have a neck wallet as they call it? Since I'm traveling alone in Rome, do you think it is not a good idea for me (safety-wise) to take an express train, subway and bus to my hotel, but rather should be picked up as my hotel offers? I'd rather do public transportation if I will be safe enough. The web site I looked at for women travelers didn't indicate about how safe I would be alone in Rome (I'm guessing that is the place of the greatest concern, and I'll only be alone in Rome and Aix and only a day alone in Dubrovnic. I'd rather not buy these items if I don't need them but need to decide by tomorrow to get them shipped in time. I have a money belt (more like a very flat fanny pack that is for a passport) but of course with summer clothing, that will not be hidden whatsoever, nor would anything else for carrying a passport, credit card and money! (This is what started me looking online for answers.) Lastly, if you've been to Dubrovnic or Rome and have suggestions about how to get from Dubrov from the airport, the accommodation I have has not said how to do it, nor what would be safe. I'm staying near the port and the old city. From Rome, I'm just wondering if the public transport will not be safe for me and I should spent the money to have the hotel pick me up. ($77 one way) I will have to do public transport, I just realized, when I return from Dubrov and I fly into Rome and have to switch airports by public transport in order to get to the airport for Marseille (Campino or however it is spelled). Can I plan to walk around in Rome, Dubrov or Aix by myself, as I had planned, all without a cell phone? Thank you, thank you for any help on any of this! And please don't feel obligated to help, either! Oh, last probably easiest question to answer: I can only find adaptors to purchase for the electricity difference in Europe, but I'd read I need both an adaptor and a converter. This is the one I'd buy if it does both: Mudder® US UK EU AU Universal All In One International Travel Power Plug Adapter Charger With 2 Port 1A USB for Cell Phone
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Abricotpeach:

First, get guidebooks for the places you are going. Rick Steves books are particularly good for first time visitors. They will have answers to lots of your questions, like all the options for getting from the airport to the city.

Second, when you post, please break it up into paragraphs. It's very hard to read when it's all in one block.

Third, don't worry too much. Lots of young single female travelers go to Europe every year and do fine.

Now for some of your specific questions:

"Do you have any thoughts about whether it is really necessary in visiting Rome, Croatia and Aix and London for me to buy a special backpack that apparently prevents someone from obtaining your credit card info electronically from inside the pack? (I'd never heard of such a theft until today!)"

This is a manufactured "problem" designed to sell expensive backpacks. Don't buy any special things just for this.

"Do you think it is really necessary that I have a neck wallet as they call it?"

It is a very good idea to have some sort of hidden (and I mean truly hidden) place to keep your passport and large bills. This way, if you are pickpocketed (or if you just lose your wallet), the most important items are still with you. You should look at a neck pouch, a "hidden pocket" (it hangs off your belt inside your trousers), or a real money belt (which goes around your waist, over your underwear but under your clothes). This is for "deep storage." You keep €50-100 in an easily accessible place; if you need more, you access your hidden storage in a bathroom.

Something that shows, like a fanny pack, is not hidden; NOTHING valuable should be in it.

"Since I'm traveling alone in Rome, do you think it is not a good idea for me (safety-wise) to take an express train, subway and bus to my hotel, but rather should be picked up as my hotel offers? I'd rather do public transportation if I will be safe enough."

You will be fine on the bus or train from the airport, but if you are jet-lagged and/or feeling apprehensive, there's nothing wrong with taking a taxi. A taxi from Rome's airport to the center is €48 (fixed rate); if your hotel is offering something comparable, you can use it, but there's no need to pay a lot more.

"I just realized, when I return from Dubrov and I fly into Rome and have to switch airports by public transport in order to get to the airport for Marseille (Campino or however it is spelled)."

It's Ciampino (pronounced cham-PEE-no), and the other one is Fiumicino (pronounced fyoo-mee-CHEE-no). I don't know about options for getting from one airport to the other, but again, guidebooks will (or you can look at each airport's website, although these vary tremendously in how helpful they are).

"Can I plan to walk around in Rome, Dubrov or Aix by myself, as I had planned, all without a cell phone?"

Sure. You'll see lots of others doing the same.

"I can only find adaptors to purchase for the electricity difference in Europe, but I'd read I need both an adaptor and a converter."

For any appliance you are thinking of taking to Europe, look at the Input on the charging "brick" (you may need a magnifying glass). If it says "100-240 volts, 50-60 Hz," then it will work in Europe with just a plug adapter. Do NOT use a converter, which can damage the device. Remember you need one kind ("Southern Europe") for France, Croatia, and Italy, and another kind for London. Both are for sale here; buy a few of each in case they get lost: http://tinyurl.com/4dd4h

If it says "110-120 volts" but nothing above 200, or "60 Hz" but not 50 Hz, it CANNOT be used in Europe with just a plug adapter. You will need a converter or transformer, and you must use the correct kind for each device. Better yet, leave it at home, and buy a new one in Europe. If you post the specific devices and what their input labels say, people can help you further.

Hi abricotpeach- a few things, if these help: an oasis of pleasantness in Rome is the Borghese Gardens, a tree-filled park that affords greenery away from the hustle of big-city Rome. It's on the north side of downtown Rome. We were there in December 2012, so it wasn't the height of flower season, and it was cooler than it will be for you in August, but is was pleasant to stroll thru the gardens. Even in December, people were riding bikes thru the park, and while we didn't look into renting a bike for a ride, I believe you can do that, if it strikes your fancy. We used Rick Steves' Rome guidebook, as opposed to his whole-Italy book, and it should have some details. The Borghese Gallery is located there, too, and if you haven't already arranged for how you'll be spending your time in Rome and what you'll be seeing, it's a lavishly orate building filled with fabulous paintings and sculptures. You need to reserve a spot ahead of time, and everyone's visit is limited to 2 hours, but it's exceedingly beautiful art in an exceedingly beautiful building in a pretty nice setting.

Rome's full of piazzas with fountains, but they often have street vendors hustling cheap trinkets, so that may or may not be a peaceful, pleasant place to hang out. Just be aware of your surroundings and don't stick around if you're uncomfortable. With people around, the 2 of us never felt unsafe. By yourself, there shouldn't be any problems at all, but you might want to be just a little more aware after dark. We used buses and trams in Rome, and they were easy and safe (although sometimes crowded at rush-hour). Flower stalls all over, even in December, offered beautiful blooms for sale or just for appreciating.

A neck wallet tucked inside a blouse or top gives you access to the contents (do so discreetly) but keeps it away from others. If the neck cord is too long and it hangs down too far, tie off the neck cord to make it shorter.

Perhaps the most dangerous thing in Rome for someone out walking is stepping in something nasty on the sidewalk -- Romans who walk their dogs don't necessarily clean up after their pet :-P

Visiting Croatia a few years ago, we didn't get as far south on the coast as Dubrovnik, but the seafood (squid-ink pasta and calamari) in Split were outstanding - caught that morning, I'm sure. We also got some great, fresh fruit and veggies at a roadside stand. Anywhere you go, if there's a street market, you'll find excellent produce. In France, "organic" is called "biologique" (like biological), and I think "Bio" is becoming a pretty universal term in Europe, including in Croatia. Designation for "vegan", I'm not so certain, and we were really surprised to find our salad, years ago, filled with kidneys underneath the lettuce in Epernay, France:-).

In Croatia, it may or may not be organic, but be sure to try some of their local red pepper/eggplant condiment, ajvar (pronounced "eye-var") - it has more zing than ketchup!

Kew Gardens, a short distance by train from downtown London, makes a great visit, and offers a peaceful getaway from that great city. I particularly remember the giant lily pads and the Queen's roses, which were unfortunately being infiltrated by bindweed. The gardener shared some of the strategies for keeping the roses and battling the stubborn weeds.

Hope you get a chance to do some dancing on your trip - have a great time!

Harold and Cyn,

Thank you enormously for all of your help! Harold, I am especially grateful for all of your very technical and precise advice, which I love! It gives me great comfort!

I've stayed up so late so many nights doing my best to prepare for this trip, so I am going to go to bed early now (10:06 p.m.), so please forgive me for not providing the specifics on what I want to charge and all that I want to acknowledge you for providing!

I will re-read both of your posts tomorrow and am printing them out as well.

I do have a Rome guidebook now, but it is too late to order one for Dubrovnic, but I think what Cyn provided and what Laura provided will be plenty for one day. I will hopefully have time to write back to you tomorrow.

I still have not packed yet, nor double-checked my entire itinerary yet, both of which I wanted to get done today, but at least I did talk to my bank today and take care of all that Q&A as well as purchasing an actual pair of work "ear muffs" they call them (you know, for running saws and stuff, so as to really block out the noise) and I am hoping these will work the best to block out the noise on the plane so I can hopefully actually sleep upright. I did many other things as well today but still so much to do!

If you have any suggestions on something to buy that would work better than a c-shaped neck cushion, which never works very well for me to sleep on a plane, that would be wonderful.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU all of you for your help!! I am so very grateful and appreciate how caring and selfless you are!

We generally fly British Airways to Europe, and while the little pillows they provide in the cheap seats may not be the greatest, that's what I've used, rather than packing my own neck pillow. The flight attendants should be able to provide an extra pillow or blanket, if you ask nicely.

They also used to provide free sleep masks, which helped to cut out light in the cabin. The masks issued in first-class were a lot nicer (better fabric, sturdier) than the masks provided to the commoners, but, alas, on our last flight none were provided. If restful sleep is a concern, you might want to pick up a sleep mask before boarding. It doesn't take up much space in your carry-on, and when you have it on, it can also signal other people not to disturb you. Masks should be available at a drug store or other shop near you, or at the airport.

abricot,

It sounds like your arrangements are all falling into place. I didn't post any further replies as I was waiting to see what other questions you had. A few comments on your last post.....

• Do you have any thoughts about whether it is really necessary in visiting Rome, Croatia and Aix and London for me to buy a special backpack that apparently prevents someone from obtaining your credit card info electronically from inside the pack?

While it is possible to obtain data from credit cards that are equipped with RFID transponders, the risk is probably low so I wouldn't bother spending a lot of money on a special backpack. A cheaper option would be to check local travel stores and find some of the credit card sleeves which will accomplish the same function for much less money.

Do you think it is really necessary that I have a neck wallet as they call it?

IMO, it's necessary to use some kind of money belt to protect credit cards, Passport and the majority of your cash. This should NOT be worn externally and NOT accessed where others can see it. Some people prefer the waist models, others the neck wallets - your choice. Keep enough cash for daily needs in a pocket or whatever and that way you won't have to access the money belt. Note that you'll need your Passport to check into hotels, so it will need to be accessible at those times (I usually keep mine in a buttoned shirt pocket when changing hotels).

Since I'm traveling alone in Rome, do you think it is not a good idea for me (safety-wise) to take an express train, subway and bus to my hotel, but rather should be picked up as my hotel offers?

The easiest and quickest way to get into Rome from the airport is the Leonardo Express (€14 PP, 32 minutes). You can buy your tickets at the airport station, either using the Kiosks or the staffed ticket office. Once you arrive at Roma Termini, you can use Taxi or Metro to reach your hotel. If you could provide the name or location of your hotel, it would be easier to offer more specific directions. It will be "safe enough" but you'll need to be vigilant for pickpockets anywhere. Watch your luggage carefully! Also, BE SURE to validate your ticket prior to boarding the train or you'll risk a hefty fine which will be collected on the spot!

Lastly, if you've been to Dubrovnic or Rome and have suggestions about how to get from Dubrov from the airport

You may want to have a look at the Dubrovnik airport website as this seems to have the information you're looking for. I won't be in Dubrovnik until later this year, so don't have any experience there yet. Apparently you can buy tickets on the Shuttle, but I'm not sure if they also accept Euro?

I just realized, when I return from Dubrov and I fly into Rome and have to switch airports by public transport in order to get to the airport for Marseille

Are you returning to FCO and then have to get to CIA for your next flight? If that's the case, the transportation is fairly straightforward. I'm sure there are several solutions, but the one I'd probably use is Leonardo Express to Termini and then TerraVision Bus to Roma / CIA.

continued.....

Part 2.....

Can I plan to walk around in Rome, Dubrov or Aix by myself, as I had planned, all without a cell phone?

You shouldn't have any problems, but you'll need to be "situationally aware", especially with people close to you. If your budget will allow, you could purchase an inexpensive PAYG phone when you arrive in Italy. You'll probably need some help from the staff to get it set-up, since the menus will be in Italian. There's a TIM store at Roma Termini, so that would be a good one to consider. As I recall, it's downstairs in the shopping area, one floor down from track level.

I can only find adaptors to purchase for the electricity difference in Europe, but I'd read I need both an adaptor and a converter.

You MAY OR MAY NOT need a Voltage Converter. To add to the excellent information that Harold posted, you need to check EACH device that you'll be travelling with. Look for the words "Input Voltage". If the specifications state 100-240 VAC, 50~60 Hz, then you'll only need inexpensive Plug Adaptors such as THIS ONE for continental Europe and THIS ONE for the U.K. I wouldn't bother with those goofy "all-in-one" things. You should be able to find cheap Plug Adaptors at local stores (Target, Wal-Mart, luggage or travel stores). I'd suggest taking two of each kind as they're easy to misplace. If any of the appliances you'll be taking have a grounding pin, different style Plug Adaptors would be required (although you can use the appliances with the ungrounded Adaptors, they won't provide the intended electrical protection via the grounding pin).

If you DO need a Voltage Converter, there are two main principles used in voltage conversion and it's VITAL that you choose the correct style of Converter for each appliance. If you're using hair appliances, note that some manufactures specifically prohibit use of their products with Voltage Converters.

Hope this helps.