My daughter wants to go abroad without me

As she's still a child and not 18, and also not travelling with a parent, she will need a letter of consent from you (both parents actually, otherwise showing official documentation as to why she only has one parent)

Airports often ask for this when a child is not travelling with both parents, and want to know why, especially if they have different surnames. Too risky to travel abroad without. So if you're not willing to provide that, she could come across issues.

www.gov.uk/permission-take-child-abroad

TBF this is why I paid for my nephew to come with me to SE Asia - he'd never been anywhere but the UK and his home country (in the EU). But I would never judge my sister for not being able to afford that, just wanted him to have that experience. I travelled around a LOT with my parents as a kid and wanted him to have a similar experience. It seems to have worked as he's off to university in a completely different country in Sept! Sounds like OP's DD's cousin wants to do the same for her

You are being ludicrous. She’s 16. Plenty old and mature enough to go abroad with another adult. If she isn’t then you’ve done something very wrong.

The ones saying YABU fail to note that you hardly know this 23yo woman. It is one thing for your ex husband to know his niece, I presume niece as she is your daughter's cousin, but you don't have any idea of what she is like now. Your daughter is 16 and still a minor so of course you worry. You aren't being unreasonable to say no due to having no knowledge of the personality, behaviour etc of this 23yo. I think YABU to say sixteen is too young to go abroad without parents. I went on a school trip to Germany at 13 with teachers obviously. We even had a few hours 2x paired in groups to go around the town centre and at a small theme park and we were ok. Can you not neet this cousin for coffee and have a chat? I think some replies have voiced sensible concerns that is this cousin looking for a babysitter whilst she goes out. You would not want your 16yo daughter left caring for a toddler on her own abroad incase he fell ill or heaven forbid any accident. It would be a nice thing for your daughter to go abroad, but you should meet the young woman to see who she is first and her maturity, integrity if you let your 16yo go with her to Benidorm.

Christ, this comment reeks of entitlement and over privilege.

Well, she'll drink alcohol and probably have sex, so if you're ok with that? And yeah, of course she will, her cousin is not her mum and won't want to be uncool and stop her from partying.

Sixteen and never been abroad ???? Why have you not brought her abroad?

Will you or dad need to provide consent form as 16yo not travelling with close family?

She's 16. How are you planning on stopping her if she says she's going? In Scotland 16 year olds can get married without their parents permission

My son and his girlfriend travelled South East Asia for a few months at 17. They made the most amazing memories.

Its hard but you need to cut the apron strings at some point.

Perhaps to have some help with the toddler, a chance to go out herself.

Let her go, please don't spoil it for her, she will resent you.
You have a time to find out how this is going to work out.

Absolutely let her go. What a lovely memory for her.

To help ent er rain the 2 year old or just becayse she enjoys her company, mix of both.

I moved entirely to a different country alone at 16, got a job, accommodation etc by myself for five years.

I'm not saying that was a great parenting choice by my parents but I think people can underestimate the abilities of teens.

In this case she's being accompanied by her older cousin who has a kid so is not going to be going out getting smashed every night (unless as PP say she's been invited as a babysitter!).

I took my teen DN on a month long holiday to SE Asia when I was late 20s as he'd never really travelled before and we had an absolute blast.

I think you're being majorly overprotective. Don't deny her this opportunity!

That would be a firm no from me unless you know the 23 year old is very responsible and your DD is too. Where is the 23 year old with a 2 year old getting that sort of money from? I would worry about drinking, drugs and getting in all sorts of trouble.

Lol the cousin probably only invited her to babysit. Have you told her of that?

My first assumption is that adult cousin wants free babysitter. Daughter will probably be fine but I'd get that clear first.

I wouldn’t want my 16 year old left responsible for a toddler abroad around pools, balconies, busy beaches etc.

Eh? My son flew to Portugal alone to meet a family and friends over there - he was 16 with BA they did the assistance thing but he loved it.. why would you say no?

Isn't it a right of passage to leave school and go on an abroad holiday with your mates. Inbetweeners anyone?
A trip with her cousin and 2yr old will be positively tame in comparison.

I travelled all over the Europe and Canada by myself at 16, amazing life experiences. As long as she knows how to keep herself safe I wouldn't hold her back.

In the situation you described I wouldn't send either of my daughters. Not in a million years. Or son for that matter.

If it was just the 23 year old cousin, I’d understand your concern a bit more. But with a toddler in the mix, this won’t be a holiday full of inappropriate behaviour (hopefully) and the cousin is likely just after some company and another pair of hands to help her on holiday.
The only worry I’d have is if the cousin was likely to take advantage of your daughter as a babysitter and bugger off out clubbing each night.

I would assume your DD going to be spending a lot of time babysitting.

My 12 yo can navigate airports. They're easier than some train stations!