I am a senior in high school and my parents have been curious as to what a good graduation present would be. I really would like to go to Europe by myself. Would it be possible for a 17 year old to go on the Rick Steves 7 Days in Rome tour over December break, or would I be too young to fly by myself internationaly?
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
The minimum age for flying alone is generally sixteen, but it varies by airline. Pssst! Hold out for just the bucks and do it alone. My daughter moved herself to France for her junior year of high school and I think she was fifteen at the time.
Posted by
Spokane, WA
477 posts
You might want to check out Andy Steves' company. http://www.wsaeurope.com He does long weekends (4 days, 3 nights) for students and you could combine something like this with travel on your own.
Posted by
Coppell, TX USA
284 posts
Need to check with the airline you plan on flying with. Things have changed quite a bit since I was your age. Today they have more restrictions. Recommend having 2 ATMs and 2 credit cards from completely different banks to ensure you don't get stuck without having the ability to withdraw cash or pay for last minute expenses. Use a money belt. The RS tours tend to have older individuals on them in general. Some will have teenagers that are accompanied by their parents. The RS tours would cover about 1/2 of the time and your will be on your own the other 1/2. You might be able to team together with other tour members for the other 1/2 (but would meet the individuals for the first time on the tour and may or may not share the same interests). Hard to really recommend without knowing your level of maturity, comfort level, and whether the tour covers items you are interested in seeing. Edwin
Posted by
OP
Higganum, CT, U.S.A
4 posts
Thank you Ed, Leslie, and Edwin for all of your valuable information. Ed- I'm thinking that I might want to backpack through Europe by myself. After college, I want to do the Peace Corps. After completing one two year stint in the Peace Corps, the serviceman recieves $6,000. I'm thinking I should just wait out and use that money plus the money I will have saved up to backpack through Europe. Perhaps my big adventure could be a semester abroad in college. Time tells all I guess, and I have plenty of it to make up my mind. Leslie- I had looked into Andy's tours, and I don't know if they are suited for me. I was thinking of something a little more then a long weekend. Thanks anyway though! Edwin- Thanks for the advice. I had gone to Europe with my aunt to Paris and Vienna and we had taken the precautions you have recommended. Now that you mention it, a RS tour might not be for me because of the older clientele. Thank you all once again. I'll find myself traveling one way or another, even if it's not through a RS tour over December break.
Posted by
Los Angeles, California
1986 posts
A number of years ago there were 'backpackers" bus tours through Europe, specifically geared to students. i think you even slept on the bus at campgrounds.
Posted by
Orlando, Florida
676 posts
I would also check with the RS tours and see if they'll even take an unaccompanied minor on a trip. For legal reasons, I'd say no