18 year old solo traveler. Would you allow this?

My 18 yo daughter went with her pals interrailing but as she had a job to start, while they were going to uni, she had to leave them, and in Istanbul and had to travel back to London on her own
She did this without mishap including, with the help of a 5 dollar note tucked in her passport, short circuiting immigration controls at the Bulgarian border. This was pre glasnost times and pre mobile days.
I was quite proud of her but my older and slightly wiser self is appalled. A lad should be a lot safer.

He should look at summer camps in Scandinavia then. They all have them and they usually really want English speakers!

Jt hw can work and save and go anyway. My DS spent one summer working in language camps in Austria and Italy and then backpacking. Following year went to Thailand. Not sure what he has in mind once he finishes uni this summer

Well, then he's not acting like an adult and needs to deal with it.

How fantastic, good luck to him

To me op you give him to money to travel as he pleases or don't give him any at all. To give it with conditions is controlling. He's an adult and can decide what he's comfortable with. I feel claustrophobic just reading this, you're potentially just storing up more issues for him not letting him spread his wings.

YABU to think you have to allow anything. He's 18 and doesn't need permission.

Ive travelled a lot.
I would suggest to him to join a group tour or expedition for the first week or two and he will meet lots of people and the lay of the land. Its a great way to start a journey :)
Just a week or two then leave it open.

Your son is an adult all you can do is advise.

My niece had just turned 18 was going to Asia with her friend.
The day before friend broke her leg.
Cue niece going on her own.
Vietnam, Thailand, Korea and onto Australia, new Zealand.
Only organised hotel was for the first night after that it was
youth hostels. Everyone was so friendly she tagged on to
different groups at different stages of the trip.

I know many young females who have done this alone. They all had a great time and met lots of people from all over the world.
I understand your concerns but let him fly
💐

Let him go alone, those are safe, easy counties to travel in.

The location makes a huge difference to me too. It's Scandinavian countries if they are anything like Iceland they are super friendly and fairly safe.

As someone else said he needs to be careful with money and passport but that's exactly the same for any backpacking holiday.

I think you'll sap his confidence by insisting he goes with a group. Let him plan his own trip.

I'm willing this lad on, Op you've done a great job rasing a boy who has the confidence to travel alone. Don't ruin it.

These are great countries with good healthcare, facilities etc. He just needs to be super careful with his valuables - phone / wallet / passport.

@Pippyls67 My niece and nephews use Contiki to travel Europe , they all survived

Exactly! I thought you were going to say he is going somewhere very remote and dangerous. Scandi countries are super safe, friendly, clean. He will have a brilliant time! I don’t know why you are so worried, he will meet others in the hostel in no time. And learn a lot and definitely gain confidence.
teachint himself norwegian? That’s amazing, he sounds clever with interesting hobbies.

Rome is fantastic too, obviously has pickpockets but no more dangerous than London! Millions of tourists in Rome every year!

I think you need to let him go, giving him all the support you can in terms of gathering information, planning, safety, etc. Good on him for having the confidence to take this opportunity. Keep the lines of communication wide open.

My DS went to Japan at 19 but he did meet friends while he was out there - its never been easier or safer tbh to travel alone. The fact that he’ll have a phone so can contact you or emergency services at the touch of a button, has translation in his hand at all times, can find and book travel and accommodation instantly, and transfer money etc. he’ll be absolutely fine. What a great character building and confidence boosting opportunity for him. Try not to let your very natural fear and worry come across, allow him to be excited about it and help him plan what he wants to do. He’ll leave as a boy and come back as a young man!

This. He’s not planning to go anywhere dangerous, those are very safe destinations.

Talk it through with him, but if he thinks he would prefer to travel by himself then there is no reason why he shouldn't go for it. Group travel is definitely not for everyone (and the likes of Intrepid are quite expensive compared to independent travel) and most of Europe is pretty safe and easy to travel in. If he stays in youth hostels etc then it is very easy to meet people to spend some time with if he wishes. I travelled around the US by myself when I was 19 without any experience of indpendent travel - just simple holidays with my parents. Stayed in youth hostels, had a great time. And it was much harder in those days without mobile phones! I just wished I'd brought my glasses with me (too vain) as I had trouble reading the departure boards in stations and aiports, which was bit of an obstacle!! Scandinavia is notoriously expensive though. He might want to consider other cheaper parts of Europe.

I did a budget expedition tour in South America when I travelled alone. It was all organised and I met loads of great people who were similar ages and also solo travellers. I also did some travelling alone and didn’t enjoy it as much and found it really difficult and lonely.

He could easily look up a low cost tour. The more expensive tours tend to be less social as they’re aimed at older people wanting to stay in hotels rather than camping or staying in hostels on the route.

I haven't rtft. I would suggest he does a short trip in the UK to get used to public transport and hostels. Then head for Rome - the trains in Italy are quite cheap so using the interrail ticket isn't always the cheapest option. Explain that he can meet and chat to other young people in hostels. Tell him most people are nice but some are not and so to have good boundaries - if it sounds too good to be true it probably is, always make sure you know how to make your own way back from anywhere you go, learn how to say no, don't engage with street hustlers, don't get incapacitated by drink and drugs - and to have a fabulous time. Having money added to a Monzo card or Revolut can be useful for traveling. Make sure he buys travel insurance. My dds met several girls solo travelling when they went with friends, and plenty of boys doing the same. Hostels in Europe can be expensive. Very cheap in Malaysia and Thailand apart from the air fare if he fancies that.

Let him go. Just check insurance and tell him to be careful of pick pockets in Rome, just as he woukd in any major UK city.