Holidays with teenagers

[Socialaddict]

I am interested to know what are the best long and short haul holidays you have been to with your teenagers?
Just looking for some exciting new ideas really, regardless of budget. We are reasonably well travelled, (have taken DD on holidays since she was a baby, now 15yrs). Never done a cruise or a safari, so would be interested to hear any recommendations.

[chickensaresafehere]

You're lucky she still wants to go with you !!

[chemenger]

Longhaul - Costa Rica - tour from caribbean to pacific at easter, loads to do and see, good food and accomodation. Shorthaul - Stockholm and the archipelago in summer, not too hot, good balance of sightseeing, shopping and activities. We have also done several road trips in the US, would probably rate Seattle and Washington state highest but it is hard to beat the southwest national parks and Yellowstone.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

We have done several holidays in USA which tends to suit all if us. Planning to go to Japan next summer.

If they were skiers we would do that every year, but unfortunately they're not keen.

[PurpleWithRed]

Skiing, and Orlando for the exciting bits of the theme parks. Couldn't ever afford a safari but would have loved to do that as would they.

[Ragwort]

We tend to go to the US - mainly for skiing.

chicken - I will consider myself 'lucky' when teenage DS doesn't want to come with us apart from the fact that we pay, I don't think he really enjoys holidaying with parents - I never went on holiday with my parents since the age of 12. Couldn't imagine anything more boring .

[ajandjjmum]

South Africa - Cape Town, Safari in Sabi Sands, several nights at Victoria Falls and Johannesburg for a few nights. An amazing trip for us and our then 15 and 16 year olds.

We also went to Australia a couple of years ago, Sydney, Northern Queensland and Uluru - good trip, but not as exciting as South Africa.

We're currently planning a trip to Califonia next year, and our now 22/23 year olds want to come with us - which will be brilliant! I know it's largely because we're paying but I spend ages planning activities that we will all enjoy. Can't wait!

[ChipsandGuac]

We're going to Costa Rica for Christmas and I am beyond excited! So much to see and do for all of us.

We live in the States and have travelled around it a lot and we all adore California, particularly PCH and Yosemite. Arizona is great for a road trip, not least because of the Grand Canyon, but there's also loads more to see and do there. My kids loved going to a dude ranch for a couple of days, even though we were all a bit saddle sore by the end.

It's never entered my head that the teens might not want to come with us. If we're good enough to hang out with when they want a ride somewhere, we're good enough to hang out with on a 2 week family holiday!

[Bunbaker]

DD is 15 and this year we went to Northern Finland in February and Rome in October - both a great success.

[Leeds2]

We love cruises with teens, although the last two we have done when DD was 15 and 17 we took a friend with us. I don't know if she would've enjoyed it as much on her own.

There are teen clubs on board, but DD has never used them. She did love the kids' clubs when she was younger!

Something which a friend swears by is flotilla holidays sailing around Greece. They have a crew of her, her husband and two teens. Says it is great to meet up with other crews in the evening. No sailing experience apparently required.

[Socialaddict]

Fantastic responses, thank you all!

Costa Rica sounds really exciting, have a great time Chips ! We did California last Easter and it was fab! I would definitely recommend it for teen holiday! We still have some of the US to do, although we have done a fair bit already.

The safari in South Africa sounds amazing ajandjjmum ! This is definitely on my list possibly for next year. What company did you book with or did you package it yourselves?

chicken - I know we are lucky for her to still want to come with us, which she still does with pleasure and I cherish every minute as I know it will not last much longer. She prefers our family holidays to school trips anytime. We try and do our holidays on a high end budget, which she would not get travelling with school or friends

Australia also sounds good but I think you need a longer holiday to really experience this country and the only really long one we get is the summer one, which is not suitable for Australia I think.

We ski every year and always go to different places in Europe. Never skied in the US. Where would you recommend there?

This flotilla holiday around Greece is really intriguing, Leeds2 who do you book this through?

Many thanks all, great suggestions!
I hope all of you have something exciting planned for Christmas too! We are off skiing, can't wait!

[anxious123]

I'm only 10 years older than your LO op. Holidays I loved - Aachen Christmas Markets in Germany (I was 14), Cicily (16 - 2 weeks in the sun post GCSEs), loved Berlin at 15 and hamburg (though being with my parents it was a little cringey but I did see some brilliant bands.

[janinlondon]

Flotilla regulations in Europe have changed quite substantially over the past two years, so the "no experience necessary" bit is not really applicable any more. BUT you can train in about a week, and then do a flot in the second week. Sunsail/ or neilson.....

[SheGotAllDaMoves]

We've had lots of great holidays with teens.

The best ones are those where we travel about a bit. Sitting put in one hotel/villa doesn't seem the best recipe. Not that the teens dislike that, but more that they prefer the other sort (and still talk about past trips and ask to do it or something like it again).

Particular faves;

California road trip.
Canada (both trips, one to the East and one to the west, were fab as we love the outdoors).
China.
India/Nepal.
South Africa.

And we've visited Florida several times successfully.

[TurnOffTheTv]

My daughter loves going on cruises, I never saw her this year, unless she was coming ashore with us. Masses of stuff for them to do (have to be back in the cabin for 1am) they chum up pretty quickly if they go to the teen bar.

[nmg85]

Would also say a cruise or Canada or Iceland. All great for the whole family. A cruise would give your teen more freedom and allow a mix of alone / with new friends Time and family time

[Leeds2]

Thanks for that, jan. I have never done a flotilla holiday myself, it is a school mum who raves about them!

[Schoolchauffeur]

DD 20 and DS 17 have been with us on all inclusive in a Turkey, City break in Barcelona and we have New York trip booked. We are also going on a big trip to Australia next year ( although we will separate for part of the trip). We have done several ski trips to Canada with both kids which is great as everyone spends time apart as well as together - everyone's busy all day so it works for all of us. Uk city breaks with a band thrown in or sporting event have also worked for us.

[Socialaddict]

Fantastic recommendations, thanks everyone! I just wish there was more time before they leave home! Hope she still wants to come with us when she is at uni too, so we can experience all these holidays! We have travelled a fair bit, but now you all mentioned all these new things I feel as if we've been nowhere!
school where about in Canada did you ski?

[BoboChic]

My DSSs are at university now. DSS2 will still say yes to anything involving skiing (the snow sort but also the water sort) - if you want to carry on having holidays with your DC as they get older, indulging expensive hobbies in comfortable locations seems to be a bit of a theme among our friends. While DC are still at school and living with all the comforts of their family home, they all seem keen to travel the globe. Once they are at university their interests shift massively and they want shorter holidays doing something they are guaranteed to enjoy.

[Ragwort]

Bobo - following your point I shall make sure any future holidays are of the cheap and cheerful variety ........ camping in a wet field - personally I can't imagine anything worse than carrying on holidaying with teenagers/grown up children although I know plenty of parents who seem to enjoy it.

[BoboChic]

Absolutely, Ragwort - the ball is very much in the parents' court on this one! TBH I'm not overly keen on long holidays with hulking males - if DP wants to take them skiing without me, that's fine

[ajandjjmum]

We did have a card from DS a couple of weeks ago - on a break in Barcelona. He said he was realising the benefits of holidaying with us!!! I love family holidays though.

[SheGotAllDaMoves]

I was recently telling my mum how I was planning a big trip for DH and I in Autumn 2017 when DC go to university.

Both DC who were milling about stopped in their tracks, gob smacked that we were planning on going on holiday without them.

I pointed out that by that age they would want to go with friends, doing whatever young 'uns do.

Yes of course, they said, but we want family holidays too!

I suppose I should be flattered .

[BoboChic]

IME, SheGot, DC cannot imagine that their parents will also have a new lease of life and that things will change when they leave home! They will get used to it

[ajandjjmum]

We do loads without the DC - just returned from a week in Hong Kong. But still enjoy the time we spend together as adults. Our next trip is for three weeks, and the DC are joining us for the final two weeks, which is the best of both worlds for me.