traveling with 17 yr old boys

Vicki - I think Pat makes a good point; you have to know your kids & what they will do. That being said, here in Rome we see kids 15 & up together, in groups, and alone all over the city. So is is a SAFE environment yet like all travelers they need to be alert to their surroundings.

Lots of American kids come over here and DO drink - because there they can. Italians don't really enforce the drinking age, but they have NO TOLERANCE for public drunkeness. So that's a lecture to have.

Our kids have traveled much. In Paris, when our youngest was 16, we gave him an Intl Cell phone, his metro ticket, my camera, and he took off to do the Paris Roller (30 km skating around Paris). Then WE HEADED to the cafe to drink, wondering if we'd done the right thing!

He came back 2+ hours late with 25 kids in tow, saying they had 4 km to go! Had the time of his life and still emails some of those kids who live all over the world. Again, he was an experienced traveler & a good kid. Good Luck!

You know the boys best, what do YOU think you can allow them to do safely.. LOL, I mean, without you along are they the type that would drink( sorry, had to ask, I know my 17 yr old would) , and chase girls??
I am sure they will be safe physically ,, as long as they stay in main touristy areas, keep together, not accept drinks from strangers, and you have told them all about not flashing their money around and watching for pickpockets( main danger I'd say)

Give them a card with hotel or apt. address on it, so even if lost they can find their way back with help anyways.

Remember that to you 17 is just a child, but really they are only one year away from being men in many places in the world, able to go to war, own a gun, drink legally , and at 18 many lads are travelling alone in Europe having a great time.

And -- the drinking age is much lower in Europe correct? So they may be served in any bar or restaurant -- what teen wouldn't want to try this?
I think doing things on their own in a Tuscan hill town would be OK, possibly Venice also. Have them read Rick's guidebooks and be savvy about the basics -- like moneybelts, etc. They can have a lot of fun, but shouldn't treat Europe as a playground.

As others have said, it really depends on your boys--how much you trust them and how much common sense they have. If it's any help at all, though, I'm a teacher who takes younger teenagers (13-14 yrs) abroad. Despite the fact that I'm pretty paranoid about safety issues, we usually let them go in groups of three within a neighborhood (ie, anywhere in trastevere, anywhere near the Spanish Steps) and have them check in every few hours. I would say that as long as they have a working cell phone (and you have one too) they should be okay for long stretches on their own.

Thank you Pat, BG, Ron and Kim. I will take all your advice and make sure they have cell phones, location information and money belts at all times. I will also make sure they are in contact with us every few hours and give the lecture (many times) about not taking drinks from strangers and avoiding public drunkedness. After all, what's the point of being a 17 yr old boy in Italy if you can't have a glass or two of vino and chase some girls...

Well my first word of advice would be to NOT let them on a scooter. Riding a scooter in Rome is… well a foreign experience! What I mean by that is the rules are all different. I and a few of my friends ride scooters by necessity, not choice. Heck, I'd rather drive in a tank in this traffic.

So far I've only had to lay my bike down ONCE ... when an Italian came out of a supermarket without looking... did not even stop after I went sliding BY HIS CAR!

Because the rules are SO different, it can be very challenging to drive here - especially since there are so many one-way streets. If you do not know you’re way around Rome it is very difficult. Scooters ride right down the middle of the street on the white double-line, they dodge through traffic to move to the front of the line at traffic signals, they cut through crosswalks, etc. (To be continued!)

(Riding the motorino -- continued....)

I had some friends who came over and one day sat on the steps of a church at a major interchange and were amazed at all the near misses – most involved motorini! So by all means, keep them off the scooters…

But Pat is correct to say there a lot to do here for teenagers. A metro/bus ticket/pass is tremendous freedom… and they will be safe in Italy. Trust me, they will not be bored!

Vicki, if they have drivers licences, perhaps a day/half day tour (with guide) on a scooter? I don't know if there is an age limit but they might be interested. It's a thought... Sorrento, they could take a ferry ride while you do as Rome Ron and his wife did. Drink and worry a little. lol In Rome, they might like to explore underground Rome. Ron might have some clues on that. Kids of that age are pretty sensible, and we need to give them credit for that. Enjoy the wonderful experiences the family will remember for ever, AND, you might get a few photos worthy of showing at the 21st birthdays.

OK - one last thought on the motorino... here's a GREAT video of what's it's like to ride a motorino in Italy... This is in Naples, the ONLY place in the world where people drive WORSE than Romans!

http://www.lifeinitaly.com/video/driving-in-italy.asp

Ciao!

I was thinking of out of Florence or Siena re. the scooters with guide. Not the Audrey Hepburn experience. Ron, I love the video. It makes my experience on Lipari (when on a scooter) absolutely dull by comparison. he he

Vicki,
I traveled through Italy, France and England when I was 17 with two other girls and only once felt unsafe and that was in London of all places where we speak and understand the language! The reason we felt unsafe was because we were girls.. so I'm sure your boys will be absolutely fine. As long as they use common sense, they shouldn't have any trouble.

Ron, thanks so much for the link to that very funny and scary video. There certainly will be no scooters for these two boys!!!! You have given me good ideas and encouragement so I am now comfortable with letting them go on some explorations on their own -- as long as they have cell phones and money belts.

You're welcome Vicki - my friends call scooter riding "Russian Roulette on Wheels," and you can see why after looking at that video (and that looked like a pretty calm day!).

Your boys WILL have a great time - Years ago my 16 year old moaned about "having to come with his parents..."

After he was here a DAY, he did not want to leave!

Ciao,
Ron