I'm looking for an Italy tour for my wife and 16-yr old son. I very much like the idea of traveling with a group to be able to connect and share the experience with other people. I wonder if that same connection would be available for my son. Do you find that many of the Italy tours have kids in the teenage range? It's tough to gauge based on reading tour descriptions. I don't think I'd lean towards a "family" tour, since these tours typically focus on smaller children. Just curious in everyone's experience here if the Italy tours (whether it be My Way or otherwise) would typically have families with teenage kids. I realize this is virtually an impossible question since the composition of each group is different, but I'm going to give it a shot. Thanks!
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11854 posts
Have done 2 RS tours-- one to Italy, the other to Greece. Had at least one teen on each.
They were welcomed and integrated well into the group
Posted by
San Francisco area
1883 posts
I’ve taken over a dozen tours all in the mid May to early June time frame. I don’t recall any teen kids. Generally a couple or 2 couples in their 20’s to early 30’s. I suspect that’s due to the school year. Presumably more teens in the late June into summer trips. But it can get hot in Italy that time of year.
Maybe give the tour office a call to discuss?
Posted by
San Diego, California
5558 posts
If you have free time in Venice I'd suggest looking up Row Venice. The family gets rowing lessons on the back canals, about 90 minutes. I think it's much nicer experience than a gondola ride. I'm assuming that Row Venice survived covid.
Safe travels!
Posted by
Seattle
212 posts
In my RST experience traveling with my daughter while she was still in college, tour dates during summer months all had teens to early 20s as members. This included VFR (a great tour if you don't have a ton of time and 3 nights in each city is terrific) Best of Barcelona & Madrid and Best of Paris. Tour dates that are 'off season' and/or non summertime will have the least likelihood of including students and will primarily have folks of mumblety40-50-60-70-80ish age. What's been most consistent is that other tour members are generally a friendly, happy and open bunch of fellow travelers eager to enjoy the delights of the destination. Your teen could be one of a few in his age group or possibly the only one, which may actually give him special status with his likely in-the-know-of-things-young-people-know-that-old-people-do-not position.
Posted by
Atlanta
5183 posts
Many RS Tours, and if memory serves correctly, there were teens on all of them. They all seemed to fit in without any problems.
Posted by
27 posts
Having travelled on two My Way tours and signed up for a 3rd in 2022, yes, it's appropriate for a teenager. Remember that you will be on your own for the local activities and can plan what interests your family most and gear your time to include what your teenager would like to see and do. There is bonding time with your fellow tour members while on the bus (and breakfasts and the occasional group social hour) and that does lend itself to sharing meals and activities with some of them. The My Way Spain tour did include a family with teenager/young adults and I would go on the My Way Italy tour again since each destination has more to offer than time to see and do. Have a gelato every day!
Posted by
8194 posts
No problem, just treat your son as you would an adult.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thanks everyone for the thoughtful replies. It helps hearing everyone's actual experiences. The time of the year is such a good and obvious point I didn't even think about. We'll be going over summer break, so the likelihood of school-age kids will increase. Thanks again, this is such a great forum.