We have a daughter graduating HS and turning 18 who would like to travel Europe for 3-4 weeks with a friend (same age, sex). We are looking for a tour that just visits 4-5 cities (e.g. Paris, Barcelona, etc.) for 4-5 days at a time and which travels by Eurail and stays in hostels and/or camps. We are seeking to find a guided/chaperoned tour with ~20 or so other kids of the same age. To date, we have only found the two extremes: By guided motor coach, which travels to and visits a new destination each day. Or one where the traveler makes all the plans and travels by train or bus (e.g. busabout). We don't want our daughter to be sitting in a bus all day nor do we want her traveling around on her own... hence the desire for something in between. Thanks in advance...
-David
Posted by
winston salem, nc, usa
1078 posts
Are you sending this person to college this fall? My daughters' were hassled more in DC than anywhere in the EU they traveled. They should pick a couple of countries, hand them a cell phone and (maybe) a rail pass, or do one of Andy's tours while there. Let loose, you will probably be pleasantly surprised by how they will grow up, but they should only tell there mothers' all the details(and that goes for college too).
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32349 posts
David, Depending on your budget, you could also consider the RS Family Europe tour (or one of the other "Best of Europe" versions). These don't provide a "chaperone" per se, but the groups are definitely safe. While on the tour, they would also learn some travel skills, both from the Guide as well as other members on the group. One possibility would be to start in London for a few days, and then move to Paris for the Best of Europe 14-day tour. While she'd be on her own for the first few days, London would provide a somewhat gentle "culture shock". At the conclusion of the tour in Rome, she could fly to Spain and spend the remaining time there. This would provide a good overview of Europe, a taste of independent travel as well as group travel, and would be easy to fit into a 3-4 week time frame. Open-jaw flights would of course be required, and you may want to arrange a Cell phone so that she can send regular texts to let you know all is well. The combination of group travel and self-guided travel would provide her with the opportunity to tailor the trip to her preferences and interests, rather than being herded around on a motor coach that visits a new destination each day. This would also allow her to learn some new skills and independence. If the trip is well planned with a detailed Itinerary, there should be no problems. This is only one option of course, but in the same situation it's something I would consider. You'll have to decide if she as enough "life experience" and confidence to handle something like this. One question though - WHEN is this trip going to be taking place? Good luck!
Posted by
Los Angeles, California
1986 posts
There used to be tours specially designed for coolege and graduating high school age students. Your daughter would be happier on one of those with fellow travellers of same age and interests. Got to be able to google something. Most guided tours do seem to aim at (and attract0 a fair number of more elderly participants
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9212 posts
Most people age 18, are considered to be adults and thus travel on their own in Europe. The hostels are full of people this age and your daughter will have a blast. She is traveling with her friend, so not sure what you are worried about. My daughter at age 18 would have certainly refused to go on a "chaparoned" tour. Perhaps your daughter should do some research and plan her own trip instead of having daddy do it for her?
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11758 posts
I went to Europe for 7 weeks when I was 19 with a girlfriend same age. Did all the planning, saved all year, paid for it ourselves, had a blast. I can honestly say it was a life-changing experience. We used Frommer's "Europe on $5 a Day" and successfully traveled on that amount of money. As Jo recommends, let your daughter (make her?) do some research and planning, let her make some choices. She'll have to make lots of decisions -- and do some research -- on her own while touring, whether guided or not. She'll meet many kids her own age doing the same thing.