Whether you are at home or halfway around the world,
parenting teenagers can be a challenge! It's a time you may see as both a
blessing and a curse, especially when it comes to travel. You are finally past
the obstacles of strollers, nap-time breaks (for the kids at least!) and need
to tailor itineraries to accommodate the attention span and energy level of
younger kids. They are finally old enough to appreciate the different cultures,
history, and cuisine of the places you visit.
Of course, while it's often better than what you see
at home, they also bring them the eye-rolling, attitude, and need to document
everything on Snapchat. But even with all of that, the teen years are the
perfect time to expose your children to international travel. For many
families, a trip to Europe is on the family bucket list.
Top Tips for Vacationing in Europe with Teens
Involve Them in the Planning
Even if they haven't traveled internationally before, many
teens are fairly savvy travelers already. They are almost all savvy internet
researchers!
Ask them to do some homework during the planning phase and
let you know of any "must-do" activities or "must-see"
landmarks. You might be pleasantly surprised by what they come up with!
Put Them in Charge
Don't worry. I'm not suggesting you give them carte blanche
to plan the whole trip. But putting them in charge of certain aspects of the
trip (and empowering them to take
charge) provides a great learning opportunity.
This can be as simple as giving them a budget for their
spending money, snacks, and other incidentals and allowing them to manage it
entirely on their own. Or consider putting them in charge of something like
checking the Metro maps and figuring out the route to your next destination.
Both will develop skills you'll want them to have as they move into adulthood…
and they will appreciate being trusted with these tasks.
Unplug… at least Part-Time
Before you leave home, have a family discussion about the
cost of international data plans, texting, and phone calls. Set clear
expectations about how and when they will be able to communicate with friends
back home, their favorite social media pass, and game time. Having those
conversations in advance will save you from having to argue about it as you
make your way to the top of the Eiffel Tower!
You'll also want to make sure you do have a plan for giving
them some "tech time." Look for hotels and accommodations where they
can spend some time online in the evenings and occasional breaks at a coffee
shop or restaurant with WiFi available. Finding a balance of allowing them the
normalcy of communicating with friends will go a long way towards cooperation
and paying attention during the rest of the day.
One more tip… unless you do decide to invest in the
international data plan or buy an international SIM card to use on the trip,
make sure they put their phones in Airplane Mode to avoid unexpected roaming or
data charges.
Plan Some Outdoor Activities
When you ask teens what their least favorite part of a
European vacation, the reaction is usually the ABCs… "not another bloody
cathedral!"
Europe is full of fantastic museums, cathedrals, and other
landmark buildings… but that can quickly become tiresome to teens. They need a
break from all that history sometimes! Balancing your time spent in historical
sites with outdoor breaks will help tremendously. Fortunately, plazas, parks,
and greenspace are also easily found in Europe. Consider renting bikes,
rollerblades, Segways, or even mopeds for an afternoon of outdoor fun.
Hopping on the back of a Vespa to tour some of Rome's top
sights might just be the perfect way to follow up a long afternoon touring the
Vatican. It is the perfect balance of culture and fun!
Find the Local Teens
Pay attention to where you may find groups of local teens
gathered. Allowing your teens to interact with locals their age is the best way
for them to see what makes us different, and exactly how much we have in
common, with other cultures.
You may find groups of teens playing soccer in a park, cafes
that have teens hanging out, shopping centers with trendy shops, or even local
universities. These are often activities that can't be planned in advance, but
when you stumble upon these opportunities… seize them! They are almost always
guaranteed to become a highlight of the trip.
Seek Out Teen-Friendly Restaurants and Accommodations
While fine dining may come to mind when you think of
European vacations, it's not always something that excites teens. They are
unlikely to appreciate the experience of a Michelin starred restaurant.
Consider limiting fine dining experiences to lunch rather than dinner. The pace
of lunch is usually a little faster than dinner, which can take hours. You'll
get the experience without as much complaining from the teens!
While fine dining may not be their cup of tea, that doesn't
mean you won't be able to enjoy authentic culinary experiences. Street vendor
food, trendy cafes, hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and even lively trattorias
with local sporting events shown on TVs will all be big hits with the kids.
Unlike US hotels, most European hotel rooms will not
accommodate more than two people. Your travel advisor will be able to suggest
hotels that may be the exception to that rule, or to help you find
family-friendly hotels that will meet your family's needs. Your travel advisor
can also assist you in finding non-hotel accommodations such as furnished
apartments, villas, or similar options. These non-traditional options allow
your family to spread out a bit. Many of our clients enjoy having a kitchen
available so they can shop the local markets and cook up some of the regional
cuisines!
Introducing your teens to new cultures, foods, experiences,
and people on a European vacation will create lifelong memories they will
treasure forever. You'll enjoy watching them discover new parts of the world
and the conversations it is sure to spark. There is no better time to plan an
international vacation!
The perfect family vacation starts with a travel
consultation. Just click here to visit my online calendar and find a convenient
time for us to chat. We'll talk about what kind of trip you are looking for and
how I can help. After that, I'll put together a no-obligation quote for you to
review and we can get started planning!
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