Children traveling more than you

Not surprising. Both sons had made multi trips to Europe prior to high school graduation. Most on school sponsored programs. Didn't do that in my high school days. Second, transportation costs were relatively high in those days. Most of the baby boomers are fairly well off and tend to spend their money on their kids. Something my parents didn't have. Our first trip was when we were 30.

We're not yet old enough to have our children travel on their own, but that will be coming soon enough. My first trip to Europe was when I was 28 (first time to another country except Canada). My children - now 15, 13 and 9 have each been to 22 countries with us.

We didn't have children, but my niece and nephew went on their high school snowboard trip to Switzerland in grades ten and nine. They had already been to France and Spain by then, but not without their parents. Their parents take them all over the world (nice life!). Recently they went on a six week trip to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji (followed by Barbados only about a month after they got home). I kick myself for not starting to travel until I was 30.

From a child's point of view, I've already traveled more than my parents did by the time they were my age. They have been to one country outside the U.S. (Israel) and my mom also went to Montreal when she was a lot younger. I've traveled more than they have within the U.S., too. It's a weird feeling. They still try to give me advice/tell me what to do each time I go on a trip. I guess that's par for the course.

I spent a semester in Salzburg, Austria almost two decades before my parents ever traveled beyond North America. Since then, they have taken my daughter to France and the Netherlands without me, we have all traveled together to Costa Rica, and my parents and I have gone to China. I have gone alone to various places in the world, and my parents have traveled extensively on their own, too. But it was my first semester alone that got everyone interested in international travel.

My, just turned 22 yesterday, son grew up with me taking him to Europe every year or so. We've had a great time on all our trips. He's been to Europe with friends w/o me, going to Ibiza and Berlin and with his gf to the Cayman Islands - none of which I've been to. I love to hear about his travels and am very happy I raised him to love travel and to know how to travel well, but I have to admit, it does feel a little weird at the same time. I'm sure I'll get more and more used to it over time. Meanwhile, we still plan to travel to Europe together in the future - we always have great fun.

My first visit to Europe was to Paris with a school trip during spring break of 1969, the first time my school offered such a trip. I remember my mother being a bit jealous that I was going to Europe before she did (she went the next year I believe and several times after that). I had to pay for the trip myself from babysitting jobs and allowance. As I remember the tour cost for the week in Paris including airfare was $300 and I took $50 in spending money. The day we left, there was a blizzard and we were lucky to get out of our street, let alone to the bus that would take us to the airport in Detroit. In Paris, the view from my hotel room was of the Opera at the end of street. I discovered croissants, pastries, and couscous. I loved the Jeu de Paume and Louvre and Chartres. We went to a fashion show at Yves Saint Laurent and I still have the program (why they took high school girls to a fashion show, I'll never know). The weather was cold and rainy. I loved every minute.

My first trip to Paris was as a student , over 30 years ago, My husband and I went back in 2010. Our daughter has been traveling for business to both England and France. She has an upcoming trip to Japan. I'm very happy that she gets to travel for work, just wish I could go too!

Years ago, I was that child. My first trip abroad was as an AFS student to Norway followed by a college semester in Rome. When my mother was turning 60, I decided she needed a passport and a reason to use it so we went on a mother/daughter trip to London and Paris. Since then we have traveled together about every other year. Traveling together has become "our thing". Sometimes we travel on our own, sometimes we go on a RS tour. She is now 75 and we are looking forward to the Germany, Switzerland , Austria tour this June. It's been a great opportunity to see my mother from a different perspective.

Yes - both of my now adult daughters have travelled internationally more than me. Between the two of them, they have travelled to: Australia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Bali, Tahiti, Mexico, and all of Central America except Belise. Both daughters want to go to South America but really aren't interested in most of Europe. I'm hoping to one day change their minds and have them come along on one of my next trips to Europe. Cross your fingers!

Isn't the major factor airline deregulation? I remember that when I first started going to Europe a few years ago, I was pleasantly surprised that I could get a ticket for $700 or less. I always imagined it cost at least a thousand (though I guess the price situation has worsened in recent years). Also, it seems like "study abroad" is much more of a mass-market experience these days, as compared to previous generations. Although, God forbid if backpacking in Europe ever becomes "the thing to do" for young Americans like it is for Australians. You think there's a lot of us crawling around Europe now...