Best Destination for Teenage Girls?

Old Sep 27th, 2016, 01:39 PM
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Best Destination for Teenage Girls?

Hey all,

My younger sister graduates high school this year, and I'm trying to convince my mother to let me take her to Europe for a week or two in mid June/early July. I'm trying to keep this inexpensive as possible, because although my mother and I would both be contributing I don't want to burden her or put her in an awkward position and I myself am a college student, so I'm not exactly rolling in dough.

So I want to start looking at flights and hotels ASAP, because I want to get the best deal possible.

Some more background: We live in New York City, and although I am a total city person my sister is a bit more of a country person, so I'm trying to find something that's the best of both. We both enjoy the beach however.
We are of Greek and Irish ancestry, and haven't been to either-actually, we haven't even left the country yet. So those are both viable options.
Regrettably, we both really only speak English, although she took Spanish for three years in high school and is pretty good at it. I took French all four years of high school, and while I'm nowhere near fluent I can hold a conversation (I'm taking Latin now, which I do not think will help me). We both know a tiny bit of Greek, but not very much.

I asked her how she felt about Italy, and she said it sounded nice, so originally we were going to go with that, but I'm fearful it'll be too expensive.


Thanks for the help!
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Old Sep 27th, 2016, 01:41 PM
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Also it seems I've mistakenly tagged this United Kingdom-sorry
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Old Sep 27th, 2016, 01:41 PM
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Why not begin with Ireland?
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Old Sep 27th, 2016, 01:42 PM
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< Best Destination for Teenage Girls? >

Top Shop at Oxford Circus.

Otherwise I would suggest York or Edinburgh. Both have lots of history with countryside nearby.
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Old Sep 27th, 2016, 01:51 PM
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I know lots of young people of Greek descent who travel to Greece and really love it.
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Old Sep 27th, 2016, 01:51 PM
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I actually think London and Paris would be the perfect first overseas trip for two young women.

Or London and 2 or 3 days in one of the smaller historic cities such as Bath or York or Oxford.

Or say Rome/Venice/Florence.

I'd personally not do Greece as a first ever trip -- it s a great destination but logistically just a little more complicated.
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Old Sep 27th, 2016, 02:00 PM
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Well London and Paris are probably the pricey options. Italy not so much so, esp. if you get away from the major tourist cities. Why not Greece? I'd think the cheapest, great food, your heritage. Combine Athens with one or two islands (did you give a time frame?). I don't think it is very logistically complicated and English is very widely spoken. True maybe not as much culture, but enough and a great place for young people.
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Old Sep 27th, 2016, 02:03 PM
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Take her to Ios, the perfect Greek island for the younger traveller.
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Old Sep 27th, 2016, 02:07 PM
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I think visiting a couple of Greek islands would make a great economical trip for young women. London is likely the most expensive city in Europe and no beaches! English is spoken in all the tourist destinations in Greece, it's casual, beautiful, historic, food is great, ferries between islands are a fun way to travel and it's far less expensive than the other locations suggested above. A definite vote for Greece!
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Old Sep 27th, 2016, 02:21 PM
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First off, don't worry about your language ability. Thousands (millions?) of English-only-speaking people visit Europe every year.

If money is an issue, why not make the trip shorter? Say just go to one city, and stay only one week?
Paris
Amsterdam
Venice
Florence
... any of those would be great for a one week trip for two young women traveling together. You can keep expenses down by looking at staying in B&B, hostels, monasteries, etc.
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Old Sep 27th, 2016, 02:49 PM
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>>Well London and Paris are probably the pricey options. >London is likely the most expensive city in Europe
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Old Sep 27th, 2016, 02:54 PM
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Thanks for all the helpful responses!

I asked my sister what was most important to her and she said shopping and food-the shopping comment kind of contradicts her claims she's more of a country person, though I suppose she could just mean she doesn't enjoy Manhattan.

I know Greece and the Greek Islands would be great for food, and we do have some relatives there and it'd be nice to see them, but how is the shopping there?

Due to terrorist activity, my dad is a bit nervous about Paris (he said he's okay with Rome/Italy though, which I think doesn't make a lot of sense-I mean, A. every city is a target nowadays and B. we literally live in New York (admittedly in Queens as opposed to Manhattan, but still) which is probably the BIGGEST target ), so we may have to rule that one out.

I've always wanted to visit Amsterdam, but I'm not sure if my sister would like it.
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Old Sep 27th, 2016, 03:22 PM
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" The £ is very depressed vs. the $..."

As is the Euro, everywhere in Europe costs Americans less than it did a while back, but London has no advantage in that regard, still certainly more expensive than Greece and many other destinations. Money left for shopping, lots of fun boutiques in the islands.
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Old Sep 27th, 2016, 03:41 PM
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What kind of shopping is your sister looking for? Is she more of the big box stores type, or would she prefer smaller boutiques like Intermix, Olive and Bettes in NYC?

As MmePerdu states there are great boutiques on many Greek islands, at range of prices. I do think Greece would be a really fun first trip to Europe, especially with the heritage connection.

If it's big box stores AND boutiques she's after, I'd focus on a city instead. Many are situated within reach of great countryside experiences, so within a week and especially if you extend to two weeks, you could do an overnight or two night country oriented stay in addition. Think London plus maybe Bath area or Cotswolds, Paris plus Loire Valley or Giverny area, Dublin plus any myriad number of scenic places.

Or if you have two weeks, do both! A week for Rome or another major city in Italy you have interest in, plus a week in the Greek Islands (try to limit to 1-2 islands).
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Old Sep 27th, 2016, 03:59 PM
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Just in case you have not realized, you mentioned these two things:

>>> I myself am a college student, so I'm not exactly rolling in dough.
>>> a week or two in mid June/early July.

June/early July is precisely the month so many other families tied to the US school calendar travel. Transatlantic carriers have every intentions to extract maximum revenue from those who want/must travel at the same time as you. Same for hotels, but not as much as you are not competing with European families.

>>> Due to terrorist activity, my dad is a bit nervous about Paris ... I think doesn't make a lot of sense-I mean

Many people around me are in the same boat. However, that is precisely when the airfares can be low. Earlier this summer, about a week, the airfare to Europe was incredibly priced about a price I have seen about 12 years ago. Since then, the airfares returned to the usual high prices. It appeared the airline booking engines over reacted to US travelers cancelling trips to Europe in mass. Alas, I am pretty sure the airlines have reprogrammed their booking systems to prevent such overreactions.
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Old Sep 27th, 2016, 06:48 PM
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Of your options, I'd pick Italy, or possibly Italy + Greece if you have time (I haven't been to Greece, so can't offer much there). Ireland is gorgeous, but outside the cities, the scenery is harder to get to without a car, and I'm guessing that renting one will be very expensive if you're both under 25. You can easily take trains to get around Italy - not so much the true countryside, but you can get to somewhere like Cinque Terre or the northern lake district by train, or base in Florence and look into day tours around Tuscany. Rome might be tough if your sister isn't a city person, but it would be great for shopping. And of course you can find amazing food all over.

London + Paris would be a great first trip as well, but if your top picks include Italy, why not do that?

There are tons of trip reports here (threads with the globe beside them) - you could skim a few and see what sounds fun to you.
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Old Sep 27th, 2016, 08:20 PM
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For a week.. I would only consider one city.. period.. that the easy and cheapest way to go.. as the more times you change location , the more you spend in transport.

Personally I did a 3 month back packing trip at 23.. and visited at least a dozen countries , but my friend and I loved the Greek islands the very best.. with Switzerland a close but super expensive second.

This past spring my 19 yr old daughter ( well she turned 20 half way through her trip) and her friends spent a couple of months backpacking around Europe.. they also said their first favorite was Greece ( they did Corfu and Santorini.. and had tickets to Ios.. but ferry strike kept them on Santorini) , and their second favorites were Germany and Dublin..so.. there you go..

I hate shopping and so does my daughter however.. so... consider that..
Beaches, partying, and natural sites were the order of the day for my daughter and her friends ( they did private boat tour to the natural mud baths somewhere off Corfu) and they also took an awesome ATV tour.. as well as partying , beaching and just hanging out with other young folks.
(note , they also did stuff like museums etc . .but not in Greece or Dublin... more in Paris and Rome etc)

Paris is super easy.. and my daughter went there.. with my blessing.. as you clearly must realize.. the risk of living where you live is just as scary in terms of considering terrorists targets.

If you have two weeks you could make it a good trip, you are young and not launched into full time careers.. once you do that good luck getting two weeks off.. so I strongly advise you to take that two weeks NOW.. plus the airfare is so pricey it seems like a waste to only go for a week .

Language is not an issue.. most tourists speak their own language and maybe can slaughter one other.. but you can always make do with just English. .however I ALWAYS suggest learning the "polite words" like please and thank you in the language of any country you visit .

We didn't speak any greek when we arrived in Greece as a young adult. .and that was a few decades ago.. but we managed just fine.

If you like shopping..( and spending too mmuch money ) then look at either Mykonos or Paris.

I love London but I don't care what anyone says.. its pricey as heck. and I can squeeze a dollar till it screams when it comes to travel.

A not very nice place. .( aka dump) costs at least 100 GBP in central London.. for 100 EUROS I can get a decent budget room in Paris , Barcelona, Rome etc.. and 100 GBP is 115 euros..

Dublin was reasonable, we rented a house right near Temple Bar area,,so bought food in grocers and MS( I LOVE the MS food floor .. all these prepared take and heat foods.. )

While initial airfare to Greece might be a bit more.. you will get the best bang for your buck there..

My adult step daughter and her boyfriend came with us this spring/summer to Greece and they had a nice room in a hotel we stayed at for 45 euros.. ( we took a more deluxe room and spent 100 euros) . This was on Naxos..
Mykonos and Santorini ARE more expensve.. but still cheaper than London or PAris. In Santorini my daughter and her friends had only planned to stay there a few days because it was pricey.. but because of ferry strike they stayed longer and found much cheaper place to stay near the beach on the flat side of island.. Kamari.. they loved it.. in Corfu they stayed at the hostel the Pink Palace..which was famous in my day as a bit of a party hostel.. it still is..
On Mykonos ( my dd did not go there) we stayed in a nice hotel for 90 euros ( Poseiden ) , but years ago Paradise Beach was the place to go for younger folks.. it still looks super popular theres a camp/hostel there.. look it up..

Shopping in Mykonos is not cheap. but you can find good gyros and cheap food if you look .
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Old Sep 28th, 2016, 02:57 AM
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Hi I'd do Rome and Florence very easy to get around great shopping and food and the train to both cities are easy, I did it with my gfs a few years ago very easy. Fun trip.
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Old Sep 28th, 2016, 04:57 AM
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If possible consider fitting in Puglia (Apulia) into your trip. Puglia and especially the Salento was once one of Italy's best kept secrets but (also thanks to Fodors) is becoming increasingly popular. The climate is fantastic, the beaches as good as Sardinia (and the water warmer), the food is incredible (and truly the place of the Mediterranean diet), a land of culture and conquest, and also beautiful cities including one of my favourites - Lecce (the Florence of the South).

But considering your Greek ancestry it is an interesting region. Not for nothing the most important Roman road - the Via Appia - ended at Brindisi allowing a short route to ancient Greece. In the Salento (the true heel of Italy) many towns have Greek names and the local dialect has Greek roots. Also many (now ruined) monasteries were dedicated to translating Greek texts to Latin.
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Old Sep 28th, 2016, 05:04 AM
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Hi

Greece is GREAT for shopping. Everything is so cheap compared to the rest of Europe. Greece is the only European country I go to where I buy an extra duffel when I am there just so I can buy things to take home on the plane in the luggage hold. Also Greece is so beautiful -- and since you have some Greek ancestors, you'll get an exceptionally warm welcome. (Greek-Irish, sounds like a fantastic mix!)

It's not just that food is cheap in Greece, it's also that Greeks eat a lot of delicious and nutritious street food, so that helps keep the prices down every day for meals. And there are loads of cafes where you can sit for hours and just have a coffee (ice cold coffee if it is hot, and it is wonderful). Even if you eat lunch at a museum (and please go to the Acropolis, not just shop!), it is not expensive.

I think for a week if you can afford to travel a bit inside Greece you can go to more than one place. Visit the amazing ruins in Athens, but then visit a beach or island. If you go to the most touristy ones where the cruise ships go, you will pay high prices. Ask around, do some research, to find the quieter islands and beaches. The parts of Greece that are not so famous are still extremely beautiful and fun. Have fun!
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