16years olds -youth hostel holiday should she go?

[grittypud]

A group of my dd friends want to go to a youth hostel in Newquay just after gcses. We are not happy about this for several reasons but saying no when ' everybody else is going ' is going to cause major arguments .She is expected to get good grades but of course we won't know results until after the event, The web site says it is for 16 to 25 year olds . I don't want a just 16 mixing with 20 year boys (men), near night clubs & beaches ,with no curfew . it is also costing @ £400 in total which would be best put to her major trip to Ecuador summer 2008. She could go to this type of thing when 18 . Having written this down just convinces me further that it is not a good idea but''''' how to cope with her understandable grief at being left out ?
any comments /help please.!

Agreed motheroftwoboys... the letting go is sooooo hard but it has to happen. I am older than you and I was only 17 when I went abroad with friends (and that was a long time ago!)
I dont know where you live grittypud but maybe Newquay is just a few hours drive away for you? DD1 rang twice a day when she was away to reassure me and she did 'grow up' a bit... it was good for her.

Having said all that, I am dreading DD2 going ... the house will be soooo clean as I can't sit down and have to keep myself busy whilst I worry......!

dh is absolutely dead against her going.
cost is £170 b&b for a week plus train travel plus all other food travel and 'going out' is probably a high estimate by organisers but better that than thinking it is going to be cheap

I went to Canada alone when 16. Let her go - although financially I would say no, unless she wants to forgo the trip to Equador.

My dd and a big group of friends went to Newquay post GCSE's. She had a great time, but it is natural to worry. If you are uncertain then it might be a good idea to speak to a few of the other parents. You might find they are wavering too and if a few of you say no then it is easier all round.

we have dts 16yo and ds19yo- I agree you may have to grit your teeth and let her go, she will appreciate the trust you show in her. but I would expect her to pay part of it. However, I wuld add that last year one of the Dts had a fab holiday with YHA, called do it for real, they did film making, other activities available....may not be the 'rite of passage' thing she's after but they really had a great time and it was very good value, she could go with a group. If this doesn't appeal, you'll have to have the serious chat....and I would include in that, afterome awful events happening locally, to never, ever,get in a car driven by someone who has been drinking. Best of luck.