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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Ideas for surprise weekend for 18 yr old?

15 replies

mumblechum1 · 21/02/2012 18:56

DS doesn't want a party for his eighteenth, so am thinking of paying for him and his best mate to go away for a weekend together. Initially thought of Amsterdam because I've been zillions of times, it's small, everyone speaks English, it's laid back, just a generally nice place, but everyone I've told about my idea makes this face Hmm as they're thinking only about the red light district and smoking dope (he wouldn't have enough money to go to a strip club and and I don't mind the odd spliff).

Soooo, does anyone have any ideas? Ideally Europe somewhere, as they couldn't get a drink if they went to NYC, and staying in England would be a bit boring imo.

I haven't mentioned it to him, it would be a matter of taking him to Heathrow on his birthday morning Smile

Any ideas gratefully received.

OP posts:
Bossybritches22 · 21/02/2012 19:03

What a fab idea, how about Bruges? Lovely old city but also some nice market place bars if they just want to sit & drink beer and watch the lovely ladies people watch Grin

SkiBumMum · 21/02/2012 19:05

Wow! Fab present. Barcelona is good for a weekend especially if he's into football.

Cinquefoil · 21/02/2012 19:10

Agree that Barcelona is a good idea (as is Amsterdam).

A long weekend in Tangier would be also be fantastic.

schoolchauffeur · 21/02/2012 19:57

Or if he is into music what about tickets for a festival with posh/comfort camping. My teen DD would kill for Rockness/T in the Park/Glastonbury weekend pass.

Jobforlife · 21/02/2012 20:56

Barcelona or Madrid - both fantastic weekend destinations and very accessible... Amsterdam good, Lisbon? Berlin? ...

perhaps put a shortlist together and have a quiet word with his mate to see what he thinks (he'll have to be in on the surprise won't he!)

Funnily enough, my dd aged 15 just asked me this evening what I did for my 18th Birthday, and sadly, I can't even remember (it was a loooong time ago mind).

Original poster
mumblechum1 · 21/02/2012 21:13

Hmm, thanks for ideas.

He's been to Barcelona with us a couple of times, and is going to Reading anyway a few days before his birthday.

Madrid, Tangier, will look into those. Sadly he recently watched In Bruges which isn't exactly a good advert which is a shame because I love Bruges.

Or I guess Paris would be pretty easy. I'll ask his mate's parents whether they'd be ok with Amsterdam but suspect they'll do The Face With The Eyebrow.

Thanks everyone.

OP posts:
MaryZ · 21/02/2012 23:32

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MaryZ · 21/02/2012 23:34

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Ponders · 21/02/2012 23:37

what music does he like? are any of his bands playing in Europe any time soon? DS2 is going to see Radiohead in Berlin in July (we're not paying, like, he turned 18 last year, but we might've if it had fitted...)

MaryZ · 21/02/2012 23:43

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RavenVonChaos · 21/02/2012 23:59

My daughter (17) went to Amsterdam for four days in early January. She had a fantastic time. I was fine about her going really, as I have been a few times and found it safe, easy to get around and people very friendly - all my mates were a bit Hmm - but then I reminded them that we live in Brighton the drug death capital of the UK and then they were more Shock!!

So she went, had a blast, did not get trafficked or take heroin. Came home safe and very appreciative of home.

For her 18th I am trying to arrange a good old fashioned family knees up with a DJ etc...much to dd's horror.

post · 22/02/2012 00:09

I'm biased because I hate surprises (not presents but parties etc), but are you sure it wouldn't just be better to ask what he'd really like?
Just seems a shame if there's somewhere he'd love to go and you pick somewhere else?

yellowflowers · 22/02/2012 00:20

When I was 17 me and a friend wanted to go to Paris but it was too expensive so my mum suggested Amsterdam instead. Hahahahahaha. We did lots of drugs and picked up strangers and took them back to our hotel and generally misbehaved. It was great.

Now I am a mum of course my daughter will not be allowed to do anything nearly as much fun.

But you know what, if they are into drugs and sex they'll do that at home anyway so why not in Amsterdam.

sillymillyb · 22/02/2012 00:26

What about Prague? Good flight access and cheap once there?

Original poster
mumblechum1 · 22/02/2012 07:31

Wow, loads of good ideas, thanks!

Festival - he's going to Reading anyway for the weekend, and I really want him to go somewhere on his actual birthday. I have a bit of a thing about celebrations being on the actual day, otherwise you've blown loads of money on whatever, a few days or weeks beforehand, then on the day itself, it's a bit flat. But maybe that's just me Grin

football - not interested.

Amsterdam - Maryz , Shock and Raven Smile -could go either way! I don't think he has had much experience of drugs or sex . I still kind of like the Amsterdam idea.

Post, I asked him recently, just generally, where would be his ideal weekend and he said NYC but he's going there the month after his birthday, it would be q expensive, and they can't drink there till they're 21.

Prague - I love Prague, will look into that one.

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