Mother-Daughter only

I did this at exactly the same time. My daughter had just finished her undergrad and was heading to grad school, so I knew it was now or never. Neither of us had been to Europe before so you can only imagine the life changing experience it was. We had a rental car, a map of Europe, a copy of ETBD, no reservations anywhere, and off we went. It was a whirlwind trip... three weeks and 9 countries, and if I could relive any of my trips to Europe it would be this one. I was single so did not have the guilt issue, but I do have a son who I have not made that kind of a trip with... but I am making up for it because I have taken 2 of his 3 sons to Europe so far... #3 will probably be next year. We did not even call home once, and had no cell phone with us then, so I was fearful of what might have happened while we were gone... but it was an amazing adventure. Have a wonderful time... you might never have the chance for this kind of experience again.

I'm with Terry Kathleen. I have been fortunate enough to have visited Europe four times. The 5 week trip I made with my daughter in 2004 through Ireland, UK, Amalfi Coast, Portugal, the Dordogne and Belgium is the absolute highlight for me. It is something we regularly recall with great fondness. My husband appreciated what a great opportunity this was for us to share this time together.

I fully agree with two previous posters, you'll remember this trip for the rest of your life. Try your best to not feel guilty, this may give others the incentive to do a trip in the future. I did this with three of our children and as a male, learned so much about my kiddos after they left home. Children keep you young, we did some activities my wife and I wouldn't have considered. Good Luck!

Several years ago my daughter who was 16 at the time and I went to Europe. We went to Kirkenes, Norway (an amazing village, 250 miles above the Arctic Circle and on the Russia border) for a week, then we went to Copenhagen, Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris and to London, then spent 3 weeks driving around the UK. We had a fantastic time.

I took each of my kids, daughter, son to Europe for a 5 day trip each. I let them pick the location. My daughter wanted to go to Rome, my son to Munich. At first I felt a bit guilty leaving my hubby home, but it was more important to me to travel than my husband. We couldn't afford to take everyone on a trip, but the 5 days my kids and I spent together will always be so special. My daughter and I had a total blast. With my husband, there is NO shopping, but my daughter was all about that. I let her decide what she wanted to see, since I'd been to Rome before (with the husband) We took a few side trips out of the city. My son was all about visiting beer gardens and touring the BMW factory. I enjoyed that too, even though I'm not a beer drinker at all. Don't feel guilty, go enjoy. It's total bonding for sure. I say plan and GO. You and your daughter will never regret it, but you might if you DON'T go!

Love traveling with my adult daughter. We have so much fun, laughing at similar things, and we enjoy sightseeing together. We have been to Edinburgh and then down to Garmisch to go white water rafting. Took my niece along on that trip though too. We had a blast. Maybe your husband and son can do something together that they enjoy?

I cant imagine feeling guilty, why would you feel guilty, should you stay home and just take care of hubby laundry and pay for kids schooling, is there no room in your life to do something just because its fun and you can??!?!
Do it and don't look back. Awfully nice of your husband and son to give you women permission to go.. they are so enlightened. I haven't gone with an adult child , just one on one trips with 2 of our 3 kids when they were younger. And I have gone solo... and did I feel guilty going solo, hell no, it made up for years of weekend fishing and golf trips hubby took with his buddies.

Guilty? Seriously? :-) My Mama and I did a mother/daughter trip to the UK when I was 16 and she was in her 40s. Best thing we EVER DID. Our relationship went from "twitchy teen and nagging mom" to friends. We have memories that we and only we share, and neither of us would trade that time for the world! Go - enjoy - treasure your time together - and do not feel one IOTA of guilt!

I am leaving in under 2 weeks for a 3 1/2 week trip to Europe (iceland,Holland,Greece) without my husband or my 2 daughters. This is my 50th birthday present and I am meeting up with my cousin and we are going to have a blast. Do I feel guilty? ummmm Nope. My girls can do the same when they are 50. Do I feel bad for my Hubby? Nope, he can eat Pizza in front of the TV for the whole time if he would like. Even my girls (17+18) are excited for me and also happy that they will be able to use my car while I am away. I will probably send them the requisite postcards, and buy them something great, but I am an adult, have worked forever and have given of myself for years. My Turn!!

I just got back from my third trip to Europe and this last time, I brought all 3 of my kids. The timing was perfect in regards to their school, I turned 50 this year, my divorce was recently finalized and so it was just the right time. My son is 23 and my daughters 21 and 16. I was initially worried about how we would do in close quarters for 2 1/2 weeks but I must say, we had such a terrific trip. I never felt guilty before when I left them at home to go with my friends, but now that I've taken them, I definitely feel like I gave them an experience to last a lifetime!

Do it, do it, do it! And ban the guilt! When I had just turned 22 and my mom had just turned 50, I invited her to go with me to London. We spent 10 days there and drove each other absolutely crazy. "You walk to fast!" "You walk too slow!" "I need a smoke." "Can you please not stop at the top of the escalator?" And on and on. But I wouldn't trade the memory of that vacation for the world. We had a fantastic time, in spite our near-constant carping at each other. Just do it.

You will create memories and a special bond that only traveling with one other family member can bring. I cherish the memories of taking my mom on her 76th birthday to England to visit the place where our ancestors once lived. The separate trips with each daughter, the Rick Steves the two girls and I took together (a tour helped when dealing with daughters with very different traveling styles) and maybe the best trips are those with granddaughters the summer they are 15. No one else is invited and I don't feel a bit guilty. I have something so special with each of those family members from the trip we took together. Go, Go, Go and don't look back.

I don't think that you should feel guilty. It is very important to have a bonding time with your daughter as you may not have this time again. Not to get into your personal life, but hopefully your son and husband do not make you feel guilty and if they do not do that, then go and enjoy yourself. Maybe even if it is not Europe, you could do something special with your son at a different time, just you and him to have a bonding time. This way you can show him, that it does not have to be Europe, but something to show him, he is important too. As for your husband tell that he is wonderful to supporting this and appreciate that he is happy you and your daughter can go. It sounds like you have a great family and they support this trip.. Have a great time, life is too short to feel guilty and it serves no purpose.

And when (when!) you do go, please come back and tell us all about it. :)

Thanks everyone for your input and support. We BOOKED the tickets and are going. My son gave me a big lecture about how I should go and someone pretty special things came together to make it happen - feels right. Couple naysayers but I didn't listen to them when everything fell into place. :-) Will tell you all about it.

naysayers are almost always inexperienced scardy cat travellers ,, never mind them!