18 year old solo traveler. Would you allow this?

He's 18.

Its not about 'allowing' him.

I travelled alone abroad for the first time age 17. I travelled to Australia alone in my mid 25s.

Don't let YOUR anxiety, ruin his opportunities.

I highly recommend the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden as 'first places' to go abroad alone though if that works to reassure you. The language barrier isn't a problem.

Travel in Italy is easy enough - language is more of an issue but still easy in tourist hotspots, but you need to be a little more careful in Rome. But honestly no more than you would in London really.

Encourage him. Its a real confidence booster.

He will be fine. Book backpacker's hostels in big cities and he will meet lots of other young people doing similar.

My daughter wanted to do this at 18. She applied through Bunac for a work experience holiday in USA. She was away for around 3 months working on a ranch by the blue ridge mountains. We financed the flights. But she earned money whilst there and was given all meals/accommodation free. She made friends from all round the globe and had an amazing time. Something like this might be worth considering.

The Mumsnet response is that he's 18 and you have no control over him.

You are wanting to fund it so you can control him!

https://www.intrepidtravel.com/uk/search?page=1&sort=relevance&keyword=scandinavia

I travelled with this company 20 years ago. It was mainly single travellers from all over the world. The experience was incredible. There is a group leader and an itinerary (which included experiences you might struggle to arrange independently). For me it was the perfect solution for wanting to travel but being very inexperienced and wanting a safety net.

Do him and you a favour and let him take the reins in his own life. Your controlling behaviour is so damaging. Time to cut the strings and butt out.

New Zealand is expensive to get there

New Zealand is expensive

Your DS is never going to learn if he doesn't try

I ralso recommend going to somewhere in UK first

Ireland
Jersey
Isle of Man
Scotland
Wales

Crikey! Absolutely let him go!!

Australia/New Zealand on a working holiday visa could be fun for him? He can get a job out here fruit picking or whatever.

Asia - teaching English?

Or just maybe a euro-rail ticket round Europe!

Whatever he decides to do, I'm sure he'll have a wonderful time!

I was off abroad on my own from 18. Best thing I've ever done!

It's kind of you to find nance it, but perhaps just give him the plane/train tickets and enough spending money for a short time and encourage him to finance the rest by working his way round. Most backpackers work when abroad doing fruit picking/packing or hospitality jobs and it will help him feel more independent and develop better life skills...

Make sure he has travel insurance

It's not expensive

And for Europe and few other countries he needs his GHIC card. Just apply online

Lots of people travel at 18 so he'll be fine

Scandinavia is expensive and not the usual traveler choice but it's safe enough. Rome is also expensive but well travelled and very beautiful

If he decides to travel for longer with his funds and have a proper adventure If he sticks to Thailand it's very friendly and safe and he'll meet travellers along the way to hang out with

It's very easy to navigate getting around

He can fly into Bangkok and stay in roads near to Koh San road. Then just go to bars on koh san road where you sit and watch TV at the bars but you chat to other travellers to find out where's best to go and how to get there.

He can then buy tickets for coaches to places like the islands or Chang mai to trek.

Hi i hav travelled to Italy solo and had no problem, it was Florence. Rome is a good start, i have been 3 times and i love it so much to do. Rome does have problems with petty theft, but if you keep money and phone safe and use common sense no problem and i have never had any. It is jubilee year in Rome and will be very busy but lots of activies. I get a lonely planet guide book for all my travels as written by locals. They cover everything from how to get there, places to stay and visit, health, security etc...

I went travelling a few years older than that. On my own, financed by myself, started in Nairobi and did Africa, India, the far east etc. And this was even before smart phones. There were loads of others in my position, and absolutely nothing catastrophic went wrong. The things that do go wrong (think missing your train or something) forces you to problem solve and figure something out.

If you’re going to finance him going it is so he can have the experience of a life time, not so you can stifle him further and make it as ‘safe’ as possible.

I would want him with another person or in a group He is inexperienced and would thank you in hindsight when he is older, he’ll be the same with his own dc if he has them! He is only 18. It’s just safer all round. Someone in a medical emergency or just to be less of a target than a solo traveler. It depends on the country and exactly what he is doing but personally I would insist and frame it as
safety related. You cannot stop him, but I would give it a good go! it’s hard being a mum, you are not being unreasonable x

Should say

Extreme Day Trips

He can stay longer, but great place for ideas

Buy international plug adapter to plug mobile phone charging cable into socket on the wall

(Some sockets are only 2 pin or other shapes)

Morocco is also cheaper than Europe

No restrictions from myself !

At 18 he is an adult
He can marry, fight for his country, travel the world !

I would recommend

Investigate the post Brexit rules for the maximum 180 days for staying in European countries.

Get passport

Buy travel insurance

Investigate what he will be charged to use mobile phone data abroad. He can ask his mobile phone provider.

Get a Revolute card or credit card that charges zero to use it abroad or to take cash out of ATMs

I recommend visit Edinburgh as a city or Liverpool or London

Also suggest
Fly to Denmark Copenhagen
Or
Fly to Schipol Netherlands /Amsterdam or ferry
Train s straight to city centre
Book accommodation before going
You can buy an "I am Amsterdam card" which gives cheap publlic transport & reduced price entry to some museums.
Walk round or find walking tours.
Food & drink is expensive, but there are supermarkets

I also recommend Iceland, expensive but worth visiting & he can join group tours

Turkey is much cheaper, because not in Europe

Look at Youth Hostels

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When I was young
I travelled for a month round Europe on the train
I slept overnight on the train & saved paying for accommodation between cities
He should Investigate travel via trains

‐--

Suggest that he joins "Extreme Dat Trips" group on Facebook for plenty of ideas * he can meet people

Sky scanner to look at cheap flights, book direct with each airline (not via a 3rd party)

I’m sorry to hear about your depression. Raising a child feeling awful is hard. You’ve obviously done pretty well to save up and raise a young man who has an excited about travelling.
Perhaps you can plan some of the travelling together. I love watching YouTube videos of places I’d like to go and get lots of local tips. Compile a folder of where to go, how to get there etc.
All the best!

I think it’s fine. I travelled alone at just turned 19 and it was great. It’s not for everyone, some people don’t like traveling alone at any age, but for many it’s great. He won’t be ‘alone’ in the world at all. He isn’t going to be in an uninhabited wilderness. There are always people around who will help if he needs it. If he has a bank card and a phone that work where he is, then he should be fine.

I didn't read it all but I think you could do one step at a time. If he isn't keen on an organised trip (I never was!) then do a weekend somewhere - give him a budget and be there to help him think things through but then leave him to it for say a 3-4 night trip to anywhere in Europe he fancies. Do you have any friends or family who travel often who can help him (just occurred to me that you might not be able to help in a practical sense as you don't travel yourself)?

Things like - how will he get from place to place? Does he need plugs, different cash, etc?

Do something easy for a first time traveller - basically a larger city in Europe, they all have great public transport etc. Rome would be fab :-)

Then go up to a longer trip once he has some confidence and experience?

It's really lovely that you're encouraging him to do this - I know it's so hard to push your kids to have a different life than you have yourself.

What about a group volunteering trip? My DD went to Thailand when she was 19 for four weeks on an organised trip where they helped sea turtles. It was an amazing experience and she met so many new friends from all over the world. Everyone there was between 18 and 23 I think and the vast majority travelled alone. She shared a room with a girl from the US and they are still friends today.