Teenage girl going on first holiday without parents

[Rudi44]

Hi, sorry wasn't sure where to post this. Looking for advice, reassurance etc.
DD, post A Levels heading to big European holiday city for first holiday without parents with 4 girl friends. All lovely girls who get on well, like to hang out, drink cocktails, eat nice food. I am under no illusions that they will drink too much and flirt with boys. I am out of my mind with worry, I know we have to let her go and hope we have imparted even a little common sense into her but I so anxious about everything. Firstly, any tips for me to pass on to her that your teens found helpful and secondly, any advice to keep me calm! Ta!

My number 1 tip would be, even when not on holiday, never let anyone get separated from the group, especially when you've been drinking. Girls in particular are vulnerable when they're alone and intoxicated

Exactly as @Funkyslippers has said! Remind her that she should not separate from the group or let her friends separate. They should try stick together especially when drinking.

It’s going to be a tough few days for you whilst she’s away, I say this honestly as I know you’ll worry no matter what. Tell her to have a good time and send you lots of pictures of places she’s visiting.

Following as my DD doing similar although she's naturally pretty cautious and not overly interested in boys.
We have a form to fill in for the airline/holiday company as she's under 18

Same as here- stick together and don't leave drinks unattended. Drink a pint of water before bed. Take condoms..... and get insurance.

Stick together, keep an eye on each others drinks. Don’t let anyone go off alone & make sure you text each other when you are back in your rooms.

As a parent this is where you have to trust them!

Don't mix swimming and alcohol.

Don't dive in to any pool you don't know the depth of.

Keep enough cash on you for a cab at all times and an emergency charger.

Keep an eye on drinks and on one another.

When walking, stick to the main routes.

Don't go out walking in hot sun and drink plenty of bottled water.

My DD went away to Italy after A levels op with a lovely group of friends and it all went well and they were remarkably sensible! I was worried at the time but didn't need to be. One of them was an Italian speaker which helped. They organised everything themselves. They had a great time and still talk about the trip to this day. It kind of solidified the group and they all meet up regularly now when back from uni.

I hope your DD has a wonderful time op and try not to worry! It is a milestone but a good one!

Agree with NEVER split up, no matter what. No leaving drinks unattended to go dance. Finish them up, then dance.

Don't talk to anybody who stops you on the street to ask if you have dropped this gold ring (hah!), sell you a flower, or to ask you a question etc., particularly in Paris. Don't even make eye contract.

Pickpocketing IS REAL and EVERYWHERE, so don't bring passports out during the day etc., and I don't think it's over-cautious to have a photocopy of passports back at airbnb on saved on their phones/email etc.

Obviously travel insurance.

They're going to have so much fun.

In addition to advice above - Make sure they have a plan if something happens to their phone - eg cash or physical copy of bank card, boarding cards etc. In the lead up to a similar holiday (that went well) I found out my DS didn’t even have his friends phone numbers as they just communicated via snap chat. So passport, bank card and paper list of important stuff in safe at hotel, phone (apple pay) driving license (for ID) when out and about.

Make sure they have lists of contact details not only for each other but also each others parents/next of kin so that should anything happen there isn't the drama of trying to contact people. Could also set up a group WhatsApp with the parents in just so if any parent is worried for no reason ie someones phone has died/got lost/broken then others on the holiday can reassure them that this is the case and nothing bad has happened.

And wear suncream.

Always wear a cross body bag. Keep it on even when eating.

If they are nice girls who have been a calm established friendship group for some time I really wouldn’t worry. Dd currently on a post a levels girls trip wouldn’t occur to me to worry! They will have a blast. We do have a WhatsApp parents group to discuss - they got caught up in flight issues yesterday but made it there eventually.

If it’s Barcelona Dd went there last year with a friend and felt very safe - lots of female bar staff in the clubs and they palled up with a gang of Aussie girls on their gap year. Had a ball

My DC has also just finished A levels and is currently on day 5 of interrailing with a friend, so I know the worry you're feeling!

Like others said my advice is to never leave one another alone, and always go to sleep on your side after drinking...

thanks so much everyone, lots of great advice for DD and me!

Add your credit card to uber on their phone so if they have an emergency they can get home.

In the same situation here, DS is 18 and just finished A levels and is away on hols now I got a Revolut card for emergencies and gave him the card and pin just in case. I can add fund when required and know he has emergency funds

On nights out, I would say to have one person be the designated mostly-sober person. Not that they have to have NO alcohol, but have one person have just a moderate-to-low amount so they can keep their wits about them and get everyone back to the hotel in one piece. Speaking from (a very scary, but ended up ok) experience.

Sounds super fun…. Good for her! Hope they have a wonderful time!

Be vey vigilant of pick pockets.

are any of the girls 17yo still? If so get them to get a letter from their parents saying it’s ok to be abroad for customs/immigration. 18yo Dd and her friend who was 17 got stopped and they questioned dd like she was a child smuggler! 😁

And if they have a spare revolut emergency card consider keeping it in their luggage (hidden) at their accommodation so if they do have a bag snatched they don’t get all their cards. Pretty sure Dd has the app as well so the card is on her phone. If they have iPhones do that new anti theft security feature, makes it harder to use banking apps, etc while in an unrecognised place…..look into it anyway, I’m not sure how it works.

Physical copy of boarding pass, passport, insurance details. They'll have a great time! Ds19 went away last year after his A-Levels and enjoyed it, but not as much as he thought he would, but he's a worrier, so couldn't wait to be back home!

Take a photo of her important documents and keep it on your phone/laptop.

A photo of a passport won't be accepted for travel but having it will make it easier to replace if you need to because you'll have the passport number, expiry/valid dates and such like.