Teenage travellers (or my son is an idiot...???!) HELP!

[Lisa78]

DS1 and mates want to go for a week away next July, when they have done their GCSE's.
I've screamed no bloody way for about 20 minutes, but now I am breathing properly again, I am looking for some advice, oh wise ones!!!

They don't have a clue (neither do I TBH) though they do seem to have made an effort to do some homework

Can anyone suggest a good place for a start, Scotland seems to be the favourite at the moment but I'd prefer Blackpool or something

And where would they stay? They thought a Youth hostel but they seem to have it in mind that it would be like a hotel, whereas I think they would have to move their stuff out in the am

And whats the cheapest way to travel?

Sorry, million questions but I don't know where to start!

thanks

Won't

I think hostels are more civilised than they used to be. And won't a YH in Scotland be terribly healthy and outdoorsy, whereas Blackpool is full of cigarette machines and drag bars (I have nothing against drag bars per se, may I point out, but suspect DS might - horror - drink too much and stay out late in their environs)?

You can tell it's a long time since I spent any time in the company of teenage blokes, can't you:o

I would get them to camp or stay in a hostel. Did you expect a hotel holiday with your mates at their age? I certainly didn't. Besides, at that age, roughing it can be much more fun than having everything laid on.

Oh definately let them go and to scotland. I spent many a holiday in my teens (15 onwards) Youth Hostelling. In those days as long as you were staying the same place for more than one night you could leave your stuff in the hostel. Even more likely to be able to now.

I met so many lovely friendly people when hostelling, I think it really is a fun but safe way to start exploring the world on your own!

They sound pretty responsible. (I am ducking now) why on earth would you prefer them to go to Blackpool?????

Lisa - how old will he be? Lots of places don't accept bookings from groups under 18 or from same sex groups either. Camping would probably be cheapest but if he's anything like my son he likes his home comforts!

Scotland sounds good to me, less likely to get into trouble than in Blackpool . Is he a student? Thinking about discounts on rail or coach here as we recently looked at coach prices to the Lakes from the Midlands and it wasn't cheap.

Here is the scottish youth hostelling associations link

SYHA

My niece and nephew did this (separately) when they were 16 - it seems like a rite of passage. Newquay in Cornwall is apparently the place to go to after GCSEs - it sounds a bit like the U.S. spring break (i.e. horrific!). Not handy if you are based in the North, though. I would have thought National Express or one of the cheaper coach companies plus youth hostals or camping would be the way to do it. You don't have to move all your stuff out each morning from a youth hostal. Next summer is a long way away. Your DS and his mates should take responsibility for arranging it, though (with your and the other parents' approval of course). I'm so glad my DS is only 3!!

There's a nice youth hostel in Edinburgh about 5 minutes walk from me. They could start there and you could use me as a contact in case of trouble if you like! (not that you know me from Adam, but you know what I mean).

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I think camping somewhere on a registered site would be fine - and the more remote the better - Scotland sounds great to me! At least they are not asking for a holiday in Ianapa (sorry about spelling!)

might take you up on that tamum! You won't mind checking on them 12 times a day will you?

He'll be 16 - well, 16.5, post GCSE's

We've just got back from Newquay - NO WAY are they going there unattended, EVER! Even when he's 30!

Hmm Lisa, I went to Blackpool loads during my teens, and you really don't want to know what I got up to, but trust me you'd prefer him to go to scotland

Blackpool, used to go to pleasure beach a lot also but think cottage idea sounds good if they can stay out late and have all their friends to stay afterwards...yha are great but maybe they wpnt want to do the cleaning jobs each day, where a cottage they could help all together on the last day...how many friends did he have in mind, 2, 6 or 20:o

You dont have to do cleaning jobs in YHs any more and I think they would be great for 16 yos. I had lots of yh holidays in scotland with friends as a teenager and its great fun and you meet lots of people.

I think they should be able to manage a coach to somewhere with a Youth hostel, and maybe walking between a few? At that age I went on youth hostelling trips, stayed in a carvan on a site, went camping, and even on a boat on the Norfolk broads. All adult worries were fulfilled and justified, but we didn't get pregnant, arrested, etc!

if they went next August, they could do Edinburgh festival. I did that with friends after A Levels, and it was great fun! I stayed in a lovely youth hospital near Haymarket station. Agree with just about everyone else that just about anywhere in the country would be better than Blackpool for keeping teenage lads away from drinks/nightclubs etc.

Let him go, but please do yourself a favor and let him figure out how and where. He'll be having to do this for himself soon enough anyway. This wil be an excellent dry run and he may even figure out that next time it's worth listening to mum! Worst comes to worst they'll sleep in a field or on a beach. Certainly wont kill them.

LOL at Lisa not letting her ds go to Newquay until he's 30!! I hate to throw a spanner in the works, but many campsites etc do not allow same sex group bookings and you have to have at least one adult travelling i.e. over 18, so check this when you book

Newquay post GCSEs 2005 - our group of 6 lovely 15/16 yrs girls are desperate to go - some mums OK with 18-30 campsite which allows younger groups as they've heard it's well organised but I'm not convinced. Any alternative recommendations? Has anyone let their girls go? Adventure holidays and youth hostels don't appeal - there doesn't seem much else for this age group who want to be independent and not marshalled into activities. Help!

gosh! i would flat out say no. whats the chances of getting drunk at the least taking sommat worse probaby, strange girls ( or boys whatever floats yer boat) sounds like a right good shag n booze fest actually - its the same as what they would do if you went on holiay and left them in charge of the house.

so with that in mind i would prefer my kids in the middle of a field with no transportation in a youth hostel in the highlands of scotland. where there will be someone to call an ambulance should they start to choke on their own vomit. sorry i cant be more positive!