Has anyone had experience on a Rick Steves tour with teens, specifically 15 and 17? We are considering the Venice/Florance/Rome tour and the Family Europe in 14 Days. We plan to stay a total of 1-month in Europe and love the idea of combining a tour with self-directed travel.
Dan
15 & 17? The Darth Vader of teen years? Heaven help you and any others in THAT bus. Think long & hard about this idea....think some more...yes, it could be THAT bad.
I haven't done a tour with my kids when they were teens, but I have traveled to Europe with them and it was great. I think the tour is a good idea -- for one thing, it's a break from you having to figure out transportation, etc. And if the kids get bored they'll sleep or listen to their iPods on the bus. (I've traveled with high school groups several times, so I know how they are.)
Hi Dan,
It has taken me some search about on this site, but, I finally found a " scrapbook " of a 14 days Family Tour" and looked through it. What it shows it alot of teens in the group and they all looked to be having fun.
Peck around on the main page to find tour scrap books.
I am also considering combining a 2 wk tour with a week or so more independent travel. I think it is a great way to cram alot into a small bit of time, then just settle into one country or city to have a more leisurly view .
Are your teens boys or girls. ??
I have been on two non-family ETBD tours and there are have been several teens on both of them. Ages 13-19. Everyone went out of their way to talk to them and the guides were great at finding out things they were interested in and then pointing those things out to them. Some stayed with their families but some went off with members of the group who were doing something they were interested in - London Eye, etc. On the bus, they usually just listened to music so they were not a bother to anyone and the bus rides are not that long. I never heard anyone make any negative remarks about teens being on what they thought might be an "adult" tour. After a few days, everyone is one big family and it is fun to have people of all ages to spend time with. I think you will have a great time and your kids will be more than welcome. You will have plenty of free time to go off and do things as a family so you can still research and pick out things to do that they would enjoy. Have fun.
SInce its the FAMILY tour - I think it would be great. But not knowing your kids - youd have to tell US? Thats a great age for Europe as they are old enough to roam - and you can make a point to include them on what THEY want to go look at during your free-time on your own. That may make up for all the museums! So get some books and start planing ideas with them for those cities.
Also - if they are comfortable around other "kids" or different ages - then the family may be fun - lots of playmates. If they are in the "im an adult now - dont want to be a baby sitter" mode - then go with the adults! Ask them about different scenarios - like what if the kids are all 10 or all the same age? You can also ask/call the RS Tour dept about the specific tour date and ask what the age of the other kids are. If they know im sure they will share it!
Dan - have you taken the time to go up to RS's headquarters in Edmonds and talk to their very helpful travel staff concerning their tours and how best you and the teens would fit in? If not, do go.
If you have already done that, I have been on 5 RS tours and on only one was there anyone under say 25-30. And, on that one tour, there were two teenagers, a boy and a girl, both in their early teens who did not socially interact with each other but got along fine with the rest of the tour members. They both acted mature for their ages.
Dan: Only you know your kids, but we quit going on family vacations after a miserable trip with my then 16 year old son. On the other hand, we've only had wonderful trips with my daughters. My husband has since then gone on several canoe trips with my son, and in two weeks my now 28 year old son is accompanying his elderly grandparents to Germany. What kind of trips you take with teenagers is a very individual decision. Thinking of my children, i wouldn't take them on a tour. My son would have been too crabby, and I don't believe that organized tours allow for teenage girl meltdowns.
Thanks all for the comments. Objectively speaking (as much as a parent can be) our kids are pretty mature so I think they will do great on non-kid trip. As our plans finalize, we are now considering the Rome tour next year. Thanks again.
Dan
When I did the Rome tour back in 2000, there was a family with 2 teenage boys about the ages of your children. The boys seemed to have a great time and got along well with all tour members. I think people are only concerned that others behave in a way that makes for an enjoyable tour, regardless of age.
On our summer 2006 ETBD Best of Europe 14 day tour, not the family tour, we had four teens ages 15-19. They were wonderful, seemed to have a great time, and got along famously with everyone. They brought along their gadgets for entertainment on the bus rides. You have plenty of free time planned within each tour, so you will know the kinds of activities your teens will enjoy separate from the tour group. I think the family 14 day tour stays in a couple of places with pools, too. If you have picky eaters, then you may need to inform them about the differences in European food and drink and encourage a bit of adventure in that regard.
Of course it depends on the family dynamics, the children's travel experience and their willingness to prepare themselves for the trip by being open to exploration of art and antiquities, but by and large it a great idea. Give them as much responsibility as possible for logistics such as train & bus schedules, using the automatic ticket machines and figuring out itineraries. LISTEN to what they want. Respect and courtesy (especially modeled by the adults) really helps close-knit situations. Avoid the commander mode. Say "Wow--those spires are incredible!" Not, "Children, look at those spires." Let them go off on their own each day, armed with passports, a map, the name of the hotel, money and a phrasebook. Emphasise the importance at keeping faithful to meeting times and places and when entering a huge site & agree to a meeting point in the event you do get separated. Agreeing beforehand to call the hotel phone number might be the fail safe plan if lost and they will relay info.
Dan, a few comments to add to the others. I agree with the previous post that suggested you might want to stop by ETBD headquarters and talk to the tour staff. It might be an idea to take your teenagers along as well, as they'll be more "on board" with decisions if they have some input. The visit might provide some enthusiasm also, once they hear about all the interesting locations they'll be visiting on the tour.
The Family Europe in 14-days would probably be the best choice, as there could be others the same age, so they won't feel isolated in a group of older people. The ETBD staff could provide a better idea on what type of "mix" they normally get on the family tours.
They should be aware that they'll need to be a bit "flexible" on the tour, and also concerning dietary matters. I'm sure the experience would be interesting for them. BTW, I have three boys (now grown), so I know what the "teenage years" are like!
Happy travels!
Our first Rick Steves tour in 1997 had six teens and we had a blast. I loved their perspective and the guide had lots of great ideas for them to do that were especially appealing to teens. Of course, every trip is different and every combination of teens is different. They do try to make it a special trip for everyone.
Barbara in CT
