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Original poster

How many of your teens (age 16) have travelled abroad on their own

39 replies

iwantavuvezela · 26/03/2023 12:49

Teen is pushing to go away with friends for a week in summer to Europe beach type place - age 16. I have said no, and teen has said that "everyone does this at the end of Y11". I am happy to go with more independence and freedom(s). However it's the staying in a hostel (are they even allowed to do this) going out at night, young girls ..... seems a rush towards independence - would love some views on this

I can definitely see this happening in a year (age 17 and onwards) when teen also has a bit more life experience under her belt.

OP posts:

Buttalapasta · 26/03/2023 12:52

My ds went abroad at 17 with friends. Some hostels asked for parental consent forms.

FixTheBone · 26/03/2023 12:57

I went to Australia for 6 weeks with a friend after my gcses...

Weekend stay in bali on the way out
Spent 3 weeks in Perth with my grandma
A week in Sydney in the central youth hostel
Another fortnight in Perth on the way back

I think it depends very much on the teenager and the destination though, my eldest daughter, now 22, no chance, my current 16 year old daughter, no hesitation, my 15 year old lad next year after his GCSEs? Again doubt it.

Chateau · 26/03/2023 13:19

Mine went abroad with a friend, both age 17. They were both pretty sensible. At 16, I don't think I would have been keen - particularly if it was a large group where you don't necessarily know all the kids going and have an idea as to how sensible they might be.

They could only stay in hostels as hotels or self catering wouldn't accept a booking from an under 18, and we had to give consent for them to stay to the hostels.

Interested in this thread?

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16 year olds Secondary education

Wavinggoodbyetoo · 26/03/2023 13:20

My friend backpacked around Europe after GCSE’s. Mine DD no chance as she doesn’t have the problem solving capability.

Mumblechum0 · 26/03/2023 13:21

Mine flew alone to the States at 15, transferring at Denver, to meet a friend, no problem.
also went to Ibiza after GCSEs.
Again no problems (that I’m aware of😘)

adulthumanfemalemum · 26/03/2023 13:34

Mine flew solo aged 14 and 16 but they were being met by adults and the whole holiday was organised by me/other adults. I can't imagine my 16 year old being trustworthy and organised enough to go on a trip without adults. I went on a package holiday aged 17. I could imagine them doing similar maybe if I helped them book everything. No way I'd let them go off backpacking with no planned accommodation etc.

Original poster

iwantavuvezela · 26/03/2023 16:17

thanks for all the replies - my teen is just turning 16 and I think would be able to handle this but am going to get her to wait one more year until she goes solo and gathers some more life experience together as well. I've told her that this summer on our family holiday she can start with more independence and see how that goes!

OP posts:

OriGanOver · 26/03/2023 16:26

No chance at 16 and I'm not one of the usual MNers who won't leave their 16yr old at home alone overnight.

My teen dc have been told 18.

Fedupofdiets · 26/03/2023 16:34

Not at 16 either. They have flown alone but only when meeting relatives at the destination and staying at their house. I would not have allowed them on a holiday alone at 16.

BrainOnFire · 26/03/2023 16:37

I did at 17 - a month inter railing with my friend who was also aged 17. My DC are teens and if they wanted to I would let them (but they haven't asked!).

GoodVibesHere · 26/03/2023 16:38

No way I'd let my 16yr old DD go alone abroad with friends yet.

Lcb123 · 26/03/2023 16:46

I went to France with a friend to stay with her dad, age 16. We got the train on our from London to Paris then down to south of France. Depends if they’re sensible and you trust them. Hostels are fine!

Jux · 26/03/2023 16:50

Mine went to a few places alone at that sort of age. Mostly on coaches, tbf.

titchy · 26/03/2023 16:50

No everyone doesn't do this at the end of year 11! Reading festival, or Newquay maybe. Abroad - no. Unlikely to be able to get accommodation, and not all airlines take unaccompanied 16 year olds without an airline chaperone.

Clymene · 26/03/2023 16:52

Where are they planning on staying? You can't rent most places until you're 18 nowadays

Jux · 26/03/2023 16:52

and I went to France alone - train from London, ferry, train to Paris and then taxi across Paris to another train into Loire valley. Took two days when I was 14.

reluctantbrit · 26/03/2023 16:55

Unless they travel with someone over 18 they will have issues getting a hotel room or booking a camp site.

DD will go next year when she is 17 but that's an organised trip and her friend will do the World Challenge as an independent but again, that's supported and organised to a certain degree.

I wouldn't have an issue with travelling by plane but not being alone for a week.

Clymene · 26/03/2023 16:56

I left home at 17 and was travelling alone from the age of 12 but that was the 1970s. Today is very different.

Unless they know someone who has an apartment they can stay in, it's a non-starter.

Theredjellybean · 26/03/2023 16:57

I would be wary at 16 and a boy tbh...if it was maybe a small group going somewhere but with one set of parents ( we did this - took dd1 and dsd1 + 4 other 16 yr old girls to a villa with us and sort of left them to it but were there in background) it would be ok, or if they were going to a fesitval at 16 - yes but lads going off to a hostel abroad and this their first time travellign independently i would be wary

MandyMotherOfBrian · 26/03/2023 16:59

They did at 17 and 18 (at 16 and 17 it was during covid so they couldn’t really have even if they had wanted). We’ve always traveled a lot as a family though so they were well versed in what to do and quite sensible.

Original poster

iwantavuvezela · 26/03/2023 17:02

DD has emailed air b and and found out she can't do that without an adult - I am admiring her tenacity at looking up flights and costing that, looking for hostels (but of course I know from hostelling myself most young people there are very later teens early twenties not very young 16 year olds. I had suggested that she and friends might want to go instead to a friend of ours whose daughter is mid twenties and stay with her as a compromise (not the. beach vibe but a cool European city as a compromise!). I really wanted to hear some thoughts, so thanks for all the responses - my gut feeling was no and that she is not ready

OP posts:

Clymene · 26/03/2023 17:06

iwantavuvezela · 26/03/2023 17:02

Most hostels won't accept under 18s either. Staying with a friend is a great idea (if your friend is up for it!)

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 26/03/2023 17:12

No chance at 16, I think at that age they're fine until something goes wrong.

It's too young imo.

Tinytigertail · 26/03/2023 17:17

Oldest DD flew alone at 15, but to stay with family. Youngest went at 17 (Yr12) with a gang of friends to France. I think it depends on the individual child and the location.

PFBToSecondary · 26/03/2023 17:17

I went with a group of friends after GCSE's to the holiday let of one of the friend's grandparents. We were all boarding brats though so used to being dumped at an airport, travelling alone and sorting ourselves out without parents.
Mine haven't had a chance to even travel abroad yet with us so it would be a firm no from me.

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