travel with a 17 yr. old

Greetings
It really depends upon the country - for instance, in the UK, many pubs only admit over 18s in the evening.

One tip - make sure you daughter gets an ISIC Card (student card) before you leave - you can can great student discounts in Europe (museums, sometimes restaurants, sometimes public transport, performing arts etc.), but they often will want to see an ISIC Card because they don't want to worry about looking at a strange student ID.

I think the ISIC also includes some travel or medical insurance. Google ISIC for the website which has more info.

Kate

Dinah - not sure if you are just referring to drinking age kind of things but I believe most of Western Europe drinks at about age 16 - with certain restrictions. I know in London it was you had to be 16 to drink with food (and then it is only beer & wine) but 18 to go to clubs or to drink hard liquor. My 17 year old daughter was only occasionally asked for ID when she traveled post high school with her 18 year old friends. I think she was only turned away, again, from "clubs" and We have traveled with both our kids, most recently with my 17 year old son to Italy. As long as he was with us he was never asked about his age. When we were in Prague last year we were able to order beer for both kids (then 16 & 19) at a restaurant but I saw signs for "drinking clubs" that had an age limit.

I think in most of European countries the age limit is 18..

One thing that won't be a hinderance because of her age are museums. Because she's under 18, most museums, at least in Paris, will allow her to enter for free. So that's one thing you won't need to worry about! Just make sure she brings her ID and Passport with her when she goes to the museums.

I'm living in France right now as an exchange student,and we go to bars at night all the time. Not once have I gotten carded or asked my age, so I'm pretty sure your daughter will be fine. She could even order a drink, and they won't do anything. They are a LOT more lenient in France when it comes to drinking than they are in the US. I hope this is helpful and I hope your daughter and you have a wonderful trip!

My 14 yr old was poured wine in Paris, and he looks 14! When a child is with a parent there really are no raised eyebrows about drinking with food, and in fact when I was 13 I spent the summer with my grandmother( she was french) and for my birthday we invited about 3 or 4 neighborhood girls for cake ,, and they came with their mothers, and we all had champane , and my friends assured me this was normal( not that they drank all the time, but that on special occasions no one would think twice about serving a child a special drink)
Your 17 yr old IS legal to drink in Paris. She will be served, epecially since you will be with her, and frankly it is a civilized way to introduce her to alcohol rather then something she tastes with her buddies at some beach party , drinking goodness knows what!
She will be free in many French museums, but she must have here id, I do not suggest lugging a passport around all day, leave in hotel safe and bring student id or Dl , with a photocopy of pp.

She shouldn't have any problem. I just took my 18 year old granddaughter for her graduation gift. She is young looking but was never carded and when we went to the Pompidou in Paris the ticket taker asked her age and when we said 18 she said she could go free and since there were four of us (her mom and aunt) were with us we got in on a family rate. We were there during the big semi annual sales and so my beautiful granddaughter is now going to college with a swank and inexpensive French wardrobe. We had a fabulous time. Enjoy your trip.