18 year old solo traveler. Would you allow this?

I wouldn't force him on a group travel type thing if he doesn't want to go, they would be my idea of hell and I've travelled alone a lot. If he likes the idea of one though then why not get him to check some out?

Scandinavia is very expensive, so something he needs to be aware of. In Rome he should be aware of pick pockets - not something to overly stress about, they tend to just shrug, laugh and move on if you catch them at it, but just be aware so he keeps his belongings safe.

Staying is hostels is a great way to stay in places cheaply and meet people, sometimes they organise local trips out as well. Trains in Italy are really good and cheap if you book in advance, a rail trip down through Italy would be a great trip, he could visit Milan/Verona/Venice/Florence/Pisa/Sienna/Rome/Naples/Sorrento/Amalfi coast and then get the train from Salerno all the way down to Sicily if he wanted - it even crosses the water. Italy is just a dream of a country, so many beautiful sites and fantastic food. I would go there over Scandinavia any day of the week personally.

Edinburgh is a great idea in summer - he'd meet people from all over the world if he stayed in a hostel and there are loads of hospitality jobs he could do part time to make it a working holiday. One of mine did the hostel + bar work one summer and had a ball. Another one worked in a cafe and a High Street shop after A levels until she'd saved enough to go travelling in her gap year before Uni. The following summer she worked full time in the shop again to fund her first car.

Absolutely let him. Travelling is such an incredible experience and it’s brilliant he feels confident enough to travel if it’s not something you’ve ever really done with him. I would say that Scandinavian countries can be very expensive so his money might not go very far there. Central America and Asia he’d get to travel a lot more on less money. I left home at 18 to work abroad and travel and continued to do so until the age of 30 (with frequent visits home and family visiting me on trips). It’s the best thing! There’s such an incredible world out there!

Scandinavia and Rome??? From the level of unease in your OP I thought he was proposing cycling the length of Africa or something.

To me, it’s mad that an eighteen year old would be financed by his parents when he’s be3n able to have a job for years, but that’s not what you asked. I think you need to stop your anxiety constraining his life, that you should just wave him off, and that you should focus on getting help for your anxiety. It’s no way to live.

Could he firstly do a (long) weekend away to see if solo travel is something he enjoys? Flights to Barcelona, or Venice for example can be ridiculously cheap - leave on a Friday and return Sunday evening for £60 return. Then a cheapish hotel in city centre means he can have a day or two exploring, before flying back. Have a play on skyscanner (put in random dates and search "Everywhere" and see what options come up)

I personally love exploring solo, - the only thing i dislike about it is going to restaurants by myself so instead i tend to grab a sandwich or something to eat in a park.

Just make sure he has travel insurance (easy enough to get online), a valid passport, bank card and phone charger.

Just going for a weekend initially will prove to himself that he can do it, and will help him learn about planning a trip (pre booking museums to avoid queues, how to navigate airports/train stations, making his own itinerary, etc).

Has he travelled round this country before? Is he adept at managing public transport?
Has he got a passport?

My dd2 did this - gap year between A levels and uni. Worked for 6 months, saved, went travelling for a few months.

I went travelling around Asia on my own at 18 - Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia...

No mobile phone, no internet, I'm 5.1", female... had the best time.

Let him do whatever he wants. Don't put restrictions on his freedom.

He sounds really sensible and lovely. Has he looked into camp America? He can contact camps directly, it's much cheaper that way

If he's 18 and paying for it, you have no say.

Sorry just realised I asked about what countries and it's there in your op.

Rome and Scandinavian countries sound perfectly normal and safe, it's not like he's said Albania or the other side of the world (which arem't necessarily unsafe, just further away which could feel more anxiety inducing.)

My dd said she feels more unsafe in London than most European cities.

He'll have a great time. One thing - I'd advise against Scandinavia as it is cripplingly expensive. Maybe South East Asia instead? There are a lot of backpackers about and he'll make friends in no time if he stays at a hostel.

@Onlycoffee It's not controlling if you set the rules from the beginning. Eh i'm happy to pay for X,y, z destination and activities but not this or this etc. It's not unreasonable to expect an 18 year old to respect that. If they don't like it they can early their own money.
Entirely different if money is given without any pre agreed restrictions and then it's held against him whilst he's out there. That's controlling. Being given money is always transactional. Even if you're given money as a child, it's a transaction, parents expect at the very least that you behave or spend it on the agreed items and not for eg a tattoo or drugs. Mutual respect is important and giving your kids money without any expectations for responsibility is seriously failing them.

Would he consider group trips at first?

I thought I would rather eat my own arm than join a group trip, but I did one with the kids a couple of years ago, and actually, it was handy having all the transport and itinerary sorted for me, a lot less stress.

I would let him go yes. Those countries are generally very safe.

If you'd said somewhere notorious for elaborate scams I'd have said no as a first solo travel experience.

I've travelled solo in Europe, Middle East and Australia and found it true that solo travellers make more friends.

I read your OP and knew it would attract harsh replies. By laying it out as all your "fault" you've become an easy target. Don't take it to heart - it sounds like you are your own harshest critic and don't need anyone else putting the boot in.

Depending what he's done before I would start even smaller. @Shetlands idea of getting a job first is excellent, if he has not worked before. Also would he consider starting with the UK? Eg Edinburgh has a lot of hostels for young travellers. He could go up there for a bit, there's loads to do, see if he manages to make friends etc or whether it is all a bit much, and plan next steps from there with a much better sense of what might suit him.

I moved to UK all alone at 18. Almost with no cash.
He will be fine and will learn a lot.

If he just wants to go to Rome or the Scandinavian countries then at 18 that is completely fine. He would have more fun with friends but he will also meet people along the way by himself if he’s an open person. I went at 18 with a couple of friends round Italy but travelled back by myself, and when to Peru and Ecuador at 19 (in a more organised trip but still at times by myself). At 22 I went round the world completely by myself including places like India and Cambodia. All this was without a mobile phone.

He's 18, not 88

Completely agree with this. If he hasn't already had a summer job, I would consider this a much more valuable source of learning, life experience (and money!) than any 'travel' or what we used to call going on holidays. I think the idea of matching what he puts aside for a holiday at the end rather than wholesale paying for it is also an excellent idea.

How very transactional

Good for him. I would be fine with my DS going to these countries alone (similar age). My only concern would be whether he would have more fun in a group, in which case I'd consider this company https://www.exodus.co.uk/- I've travelled with them before and there was a range of ages (although obviously he'll be one of the youngest at 18). Hope he has a great trip! Well done to you also for encouraging this.

It's not Europe but I can highly recommend the Think Pacific organised trips to Fiji - I went at 19 and the group were all solo travellers aged 18-22. A few went home after, a few continued their travels separately or together but everyone was just starting out.
It was thoroughly organised, very safe with food etc included. It is a mix of a charitable project with some relaxation at the start and end I loved it. I think they also do Bali now. Worth looking in to!

https://thinkpacific.com/

Just because op is paying it doesn't mean she calls the shots, that's very transactional and controlling.

The risk is that ds will understandably want to call his own shots and self fund, and less money means fewer safe choices. Eg Ealing an unknown neighborhood at night instead of getting an Uber etc

When my dd travelled I did send her extra money at times to ensure she could always make safe choices such as an uber/bolt/ taxi, a hostel in a better area etc

I think a volunteering type trip or maybe WWOOFing?

Semi organised with room for manoeuvre. And I always think have a 'job to do' really helps with shyness.

Good luck to him x

https://wwoof.net/