ok to send my 18 yo to Madrid?

I backpacked through all of Europe when I was 18, and I think Madrid is fine (although there are pickpockets like in many big cities). I'd consider the Hotel Plaza Mayor. Single rooms aren't expensive, and it's right next to the actual Plaza Mayor. That's a great central location. The rooms are pretty basic, but I doubt he'd mind.

Not unless you want to speak Spanish to your grand children!

I think 18-year-old boys vary greatly in their maturity levels. I would only send a VERY mature and responsible 18 year old on a European trip by himself. At this age, it wold be better if he traveled with a companion because two (young) heads are better than one.

It depends on the 18 year old. You know your son better than we do(!) How responsible is he? Do YOU think he'd be OK? Does he speak Spanish? I don't think it's anything specific about Madrid as a destination, but traveling solo anywhere at a fairly young age. Some kids would be fine, others in way over their heads.

I think that most 18 year old boys would and should have a traveling companion for overseas travel.

Has he traveled much both in the US and overseas?
Could he find someone else to go with him? IT gets lonely when you are at that age to travel by yourself.
What are some of his plans of what he is going to see and do over there?

Maturity levels differ tremendously - as do types of experience. When we took my stepdaughers to europe they were allowed to go off for daily activities together when they were younger (11 and 14) and evening activities when they were older (14 and 17). But they were big city kids, spoke French and a little Spanish/Italian - and had travel experience.

IMHO every 18 year old should be able to travel alone - but it might not be right for a kid with no travel experience and sheltered and/or naive. A travel companion would make the trip much more fun - but he will undoubtedly meet one or more at his hostels.

You can probably get some idea by talking to him about has plans. If he seems organized and has an idea of what he needs to know - fine. If he seems clueless you may want to suggest he do some of the US first.

My kids grew up spending every summer in Europe from the time they were infants until the time they were young adults, and I never would have sent my 18-year-old son alone to Madrid alone. Mind you, I would have sent my daughter had she wanted to. Perhaps your son is up for this and is more mature than most 18-year-old boys, but I really think he'd do better with a friend along. Having someone to watch your back and just bounce ideas and impressions off is worth a lot.

Madrid has some special challenges, too. Many will disagree with me, but it would be very far down on the list of European cities I'd send a kid off to for his first taste of the Continent.

Well, I agree that Madrid wouldn't be the place I would choose - not because of any special risks - but just because there are many places that are more youth-friendly and he will meet more young travelers - like Amsterdam or Prague.

Also - there's something a little odd about "sending" him. If he can;t plan the trip by himself he has no business going.

Why does your son want to go to Madrid? I am asking because if he has specific reason there may be some way to go on an organized trip with others of the same interest. I would be very reluctant to discourage an interest in travel but would want to work WITH him to figure out a safe way.

Madrid would be a fine place for him. There are many young people and many who speak English. And while there is some pickpockets, there is little violent crime.

Mom-please note that Madrid is party town where things do not get going until 11 PM.

yes, he is an adult, it is fine for him to go. i'm sure he will meet tons of people, there are plenty of expats in Madrid teaching, people are friendly, and he is an adult.

I am missing what is so particularly difficult about Madrid compared to other European cities, or why it is more dangerous for youth. That said, it is a city where it's good to know some Spanish, to a greater extent than it is useful to know German in Berlin, for example.

Has your son indicated why he has a particular interest in Madrid? For many 18-year-old young men, the fabulous art museums would not be the primary reason, but who knows in his case.

I often wonder how many parents respond to the particular location based on whether or not THEY might want to go to it...IOW, if you had said London or Paris my suspicion is there might be a lot more "yes" responses...just a thought.

BTW, would you let him to to a city in the US alone???

Language exchange (intercambio) is a very interesting experience. Café Madrid (Escalinata street‚ Opera underground station) is MADRIDBABEL’s 'meeting point' that meets up every Wednesday from 21:30 pm to 02:00 am; at Café Madrid you can find both many of the group members and a lot of people from all over the world (to integrate yourself just let yourself known to the coordinators‚ Fran and Susana).
http://es.groups.yahoo.com/group/madridbabel/

MADRIDBABEL bilingual website:
http://www.madridbabel.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7&Itemid=27

Great place for second hand books and nice bar where you can meet a lot of English speaking expats in Madrid. During the day it's lovely for a cup a coffee while you read a book or surf the net with the free WI-FI. They also organizes "intercambio" sessions.
http://www.jandjbooksandcoffee.com/

I usually dont recommend tours, but if he is going alone perhaps he may want to join a tour. I went on a Contiki tour when I was 24 (I was one of the older ones) and it was great fun. I know they travel fast, but it gave me a good overview and I was travelling alone and found I preferred to be with a group as it was my first time to Europe.

Contiki is well respected and very popular: http://contiki.co.uk/tours/europe

Yes, there is was lot of partying on the trip, but I never felt I had to take part if I didnt want to and made some great friends.

Just another option that might make you more confortable...

If he wants to go than I would say yes. Sure there are pickpockets but not the type of violent crime one would be more likely to experience in a place like Prague or London. Aramis, that was a really funny comment. As a 20 yr. old who lived in Seville I can relate to that.

Do you know anyone who has been to Madrid or another European large city who also knows your son fairly well? One of his teachers? A friend's parents? I'd ask them.

Nobody here knows your son.

WOW - tremendous response! I should have included more but your comments and questions were very interesting and well received. Additional notes: he would like to practice his Spanish, plans to stay with a friend of a friend fell through but that is where the idea originated, he read some guide books and narrowed it down to Madrid as there are many things he would like to see, all right there in Madrid. One of his teachers will be helping him make further plans, her family is there. He has not really traveled alone, just summer camp! I would like for him to have a travel buddy but in this economy there are not many that can afford to right now. More comments are welcome!

This is a tough question, and I think you received some really good comments to digest. As the mom of a 20 year old son, and as someone who lived in France at 19 and traveled alone the following summer all over Europe, here's my 2 cents for what it's worth.

First, I agree with everything StCirq said -- again, from my own experience. I think StCirq has spent yards more time in Europe with her kids than we have, but we've taken our son to Europe about 10 times since he was 1 year old, so maybe we're a close second. If I knew there was support, by way of a place for him to stay or a family to meet (with time on his own), I would say "Sure"! But going around on his own without that support -- for my son I would have hesitated. On the other hand, there are some of his friends that I am sure would have handled it without any problem at all. For me, since I had been planning my European adventure since I was 11 (I am NOT kidding!), and saving work money since I was 16, my mom didn't even blink much less hesitate at my grandiose plans. Admittedly, I went over with my best friend (who had just turned 18, but had lived in France and Switzerland as a child) and we lived and went to university together in France BEFORE I went traveling solo, so I had plenty of time to acclimate and get pretty fluent, at least in French before embarking on my solo adventure. And I could get by in Spanish and German as well, albeit minimally.

If you can find a family to host your son, that would be most ideal. Alternatively, as suggested by jamikins, those Contiki tours make a really good first taste of Europe and your son will definitely meet a lot of travelers in his age group to hang with and have fun with. I never did this, but my sister in law did, and she had a blast!

newwoman,

I think he would benefit from some structure, like living with a family and maybe attending Spanish courses at the University.

My son , who is now 21, went 3 times to Spain during the summers while in HS to study Spanish. Whereas the first two times he went with an organized groups, the last time (he was 17) he went independently. He enrolled in the Spanish courses summer program at the university in Santander and lived with a family. That worked very well. I am sure there was a lot of partying , but he had a structure and a family that to some extent watched over him. The university organized trips in the weekends which were optional.

Isn't this the sort of trip people used to describe as 'character building'?

In my experience, nothing lets you find out more about yourself than being alone in a foreign country, particularly when you barely speak the language. Having some sort of structure in place (whether it's a language school or host family) would, for me, remove the whole point of traveling somewhere on my own.

I understand it's more for the piece of mind of the parents, but in this day and age with all the ways to keep in touch, I don't think it's necessary. I think that as long as he has his accommodation sorted before he arrives he'll be fine, particularly if he books a hostel. He'll meet people instantaneously and be off on the sort of adventure that is probably filling his every waking thought (if he's anything like I was).

Let him spread his wings and go.

newwoman,
Ok, sounds like he knows what he's doing. I'd ask him to speak to his teacher and ask specifically if her family would be a contact for him (and as a point of contact for you if he is not taking a cell phone). I don't think he necessarily needs to stay with them but if he has this kind of support it would probably reassure you.
I'd be proud of your son for planning a trip like this!

If he hasn't done this sort of thing before, I'd suggest he joins some sort of overland trip first for a few weeks and then heads of on his own. Additionally, he's likely to meet a travelling companion on the overland trip.

Has any recommended yet www.thorntree.com? And go to their Europe branch on The Thorn Tree forum. Have your son do this himself. He can talk with his peers about these questions (I believe TT has a much younger readership than here on Fodor's, with more budget/student/backpacker/hostel types there).