Teenagers travelling without adults.

[waterlego]

Just interested to get some opinions on this.

DD is 16 and doing her GCSEs. She turns 17 in September. She wants to go to Paris for a couple of days in the summer holidays with a friend who is also 16. They want to stay in a Youth Hostel. Both girls are pretty sensible and not prone to risk-taking or unpredictable behaviour.

When DD first floated the idea, I thought it sounded ok and wasn’t overly worried at the thought of them travelling alone. But now I’ve had more time to think about it, I wonder if it would be terribly irresponsible to let them go.

I do trust them to behave sensibly and look out for each other, but can’t shake off the thought they are vulnerable, purely because of their age, and the fact that neither of them are used to spending much time in cities.

Am I mad to consider this? Would you allow your almost-17 year old to go?

I would say no. Camping with friends, maybe, but Paris - nope.

I would providing they are already independent (so many 16 years olds I know are not) ultimately if she asks for permission at nearly 17 I'd say she is the trustworthy type anyway.

Paris just isn't a very safe destination

How much travelling in Europe has she done with you, and has she ever been anywhere in the UK by herself? If this was her first ever solo trip anywhere and she didn't have recent experience of dealing with European cities, stations, airports etc, or has a tendency to lose or break bags, phones and wallets, miss trains and buses and so on, I might suggest they do something closer to home first. But if she is a fairly seasoned traveller, and the friend is the same and they are both sensible, then maybe.

DS spent a few days in Paris entirely solo when he was 17, I went there with a boyfriend at 17, DD did trips to an even bigger city with friends at 16/17. Between us we had a few hiccups (stolen cash, lost wallet, missed bus) but survived and learnt from it.

The biggest problem you might find is that these days it is hard to find even a youth hostel that will take unaccompanied under-18s.

I think it sounds ok they go but I would be a bit worried about the youth hostel bit. I’m not sure about Paris but a lot of hotels in Spain/Menorca will allow 16+ as long as you call them and ask first. Can she bring more than just one friend (safety in numbers after all.)

I think it's perfectly fine - I travelled solo as a teenager and had no major issues. The world is even smaller now, and she will be able to contact you if she needs to. Just make sure the hostels she is looking at allow under 18s.

It would be a hell no from me

I put 16yo DS on an airplane to Berlin with 17yo friend for 5 days. so I'd lean towards yes, wouldn't I.

I’d say yes, as you say they’re sensible. Paris is just amazing, and perfectly safe

Have you watched Taken?

I don’t base life decisions on Liam Neeson films

Thanks so much everyone. I am thinking twice about it, partly because of some of your responses and questions. I think I might try to steer her towards a UK city, or a camping trip.
DD has travelled quite widely with us, but has never really had to take responsibility for carrying and looking after travel documents etc, and she has been known to be a bit scatty and disorganised so that would be a bit of a worry. Thinking about it, although she has been to our nearest city with friends, she hasn’t even been to London unaccompanied (we live in the SE) so I’m going to suggest she does a day in London with a friend at some point before going elsewhere in the summer hols.

Interesting thoughts about Youth hostels too. We’d assumed that hotels wouldn’t take a booking for someone under 18, so it’s good to hear that they might, and may in fact be preferable to a hostel (safer, perhaps?)

Thanks everyone. I’m definitely leaning towards trying to get her to stay in the UK for this first solo trip.

DD is 16 and will also be 17 in September. She and a group of 5 friends are going up to Scotland for 5 nights after GCSEs. They’re staying in a house that belongs to the family of one of them and will be going there by train.

I feel fine about it - most of them did DofE together and they’re all pretty sensible.

I think I’d feel more concerned about her going abroad although not sure if I have a tangible reason.

I was twelve when I started flying between school and oversees home. Journey involved flight, cross London by tube, train from Euston. Coach from school met the train for the final lap of the journey.

I absolutely loved the independence of travelling alone. Still much prefer solo travel.

I also thought the same.

Unless Liam Nesson is your husband, no, do not let her go.

I went to Paris on a coach trip with my sister when I was 17 and she was 15. Parents waved us off and picked us up

We got flashed at once but otherwise fine. I worked in a travel agent though and was very confident

I now have a 16yo dd and she would not be mature enough to handle the travel arrangements etc.

It's making me realize I need to teach her more about independent travel though

Sounds fine to me- it will be an adventure. Paris is easy to get around.

I’d actually rather they went to a holiday destination than a city for a first solo trip abroad. Negotiating a city on your own can be tricky if you’re not used to it, especially if everything is in another language. Unless of course she is fluent in French and then that wouldn’t be an issue.

getting them to practice with a trip to London is a good idea. I’d also get them to consider a long weekend in a more holiday type resort with transfers sorted to get them used to being responsible for their own travel, luggage and all the responsibility in a more controlled way before tackling Paris solo.

Yes i would let her go but I’d want her to do a few city trips here first.

My DD spent four weeks backpacking around Europe at 17 with a friend, staying in hostels. Most of them were fab. But she had spent the previous couple of years travelling in the UK independently.

Taken 🤣🤣, is that a joke!

I was thinking let her go until you said she hadn’t been to London alone. She needs some big city experience first. If she does go I would say travel by Eurostar, take one easy to manage bag, travel documents/cash etc. in a pouch round her neck and make sure she doesn’t stay around the big train stations, the areas are pretty seedy which is why the hotels are cheap.

You need to check with the accommodation that they will take under 18 yos. It is not a given.

17 and upper sixth I would (because many friends would already be 18 and it's wrong to hold them back from their peer group). But not any younger

A trip to London sounds a good idea first. But honestly, nearly 17 is not too young. I think it’s great she wants to do something outside her comfort zone and would be encouraging it.

There are worse things to base life decisions on.