16 year old night away

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

My (he will have just turned) 16 year old DS wants to go to a gaming convention with three of his friends, and stay overnight. Do we let him?

A)It's a couple of hundred miles away from us.
B) he's a late bloomer; the most he's done without us is a sleepover every now and then, and spent a couple of hours in the local town with friends.
C) would a few 16 year olds even find somewhere to stay?
D) would a gaming environment be safe?

I would appreciate any thoughts.

[cdtaylornats]

c) Its a gaming convention - they wont be sleeping
D) Unless they get nerded to death

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

Ah - so they stay up all night. Shows what I know!

[ProfGrammaticus]

It's a gaming convention. All the info you need will be on the website!

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

ive looked, it's double Dutch.

[ProfGrammaticus]

😃 Ask your son to translate!

[ProfGrammaticus]

I'm not sure hotels will let him stay, but I know a friend of DS stayed alone in a B&B last summer when he was 16, maybe they are more flexible.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

I've just looked; it says 16 and under should be accompanied by an adult. And it's not on overnight so he'd have to stay somewhere.

There is no way I'm asking my son to translate (!) - he'll just tell me what he thinks I want to hear.

[ProfGrammaticus]

I think he would probably be safe.

I think how ready he is will be demonstrated by his ability (or inability) to plan the trip to your satisfaction.

My 16yo went away for a few nights last summer. The deal was that he got in touch morning and evening, and I knew how he was travelling and where he was staying. It was still a bit stressful but he was fine and he had a great time.

[scarlets]

Any nearby Youth Hostels?

[thesandwich]

Is it at the nec?

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

Yes thesandwich.

Thanks for input everybody. Everyone so far says "yes" it looks like.

[thesandwich]

Hi. My dd (18) is going as a volunteer. The accomodation(!) is reserved spots for pop up tents in an exhibition hall- nec is a huge well managed exhibition complex. Hotels are there- at a walking distance.
Looks like that is part of ticket package deal. There is s ban on drink/ drugs in the accomodation halls. Dd has been to lots of shows at the nec- it is very easy to get to from the station- undercover walk. Lots of food places. Hope that helps!

[leonardthelemming]

16-year-olds can stay in Youth Hostels as long as there are at least two of them. Premier Inn accepts bookings from 16-year-olds according to their website.
The experience of going away without parents will be good for him.
You might find the other thread (about staying at home at that age) interesting.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

That's quite comforting information, thanks thesandwich. A pop up tent in the hall sounds a good idea. Although the site recommends adults accompany 16 and under year olds it doesn't look as though it's compulsory, even with overnight camping, so it is possible for him to go. Food for thought, thanks.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

I think I posted on that thread leonard I think I was in the no camp .
Thanks for checking out Premier Inn.

I guess we might let him go. He's lucky he's ds3, I think we've relaxed a bit over the years, I don't think we would have let PFB or ds2 go.

[thesandwich]

Dd just back having had a great time- did your ds go? It was geek central! I went to collect her and help her lug her gear back and saw lots of very pale faced young chaps emerge blinking into the light!!