Taidow

Hi Everyone,
Years ago I promised my nephew that I would take him on a trip when he graduates high school. It is now that time and we are stuck on where we can go. I have travelled many places but I am not sure if an 18 year old would find it as interesting as a woman in her 30s did. He has been to Paris and London. He doesn't really have any interest in politics or history so I am really stumped. Are there any other suggestions?

vjpblovesitaly

He is an adult at 18 not a boy. I would ask him where he is interested in going. Where are you coming from? Maybe Mexico somewhere with snorkeling, ziplines, and stuf like that

ElendilPickle

What are his interests?

Lee Ann

thursdaysd

Does he actually want to go? If so, surely he has some ideas on where.

NewbE

Along the same lines, what has he ruled out? Does he have any place in mind, however impractical? Because if he does, you could try to do something similar to that wish...

I also think that he would enjoy going someplace you have a passion for. When we are young, being taken is part of the pleasure, I think. And yet he is old enough to feel awkward if he gets the idea you're going somewhere you're not into to for his sake.

dutyfree

Costa Rica;Rome or Spain?

Taidow

Thank you everyone for your suggestions and comments. I asked him what interests him and he didn't really know. Typical 18 year old. haha. I have suggested Rome and he wasn't interested. He has mentioned Greece or California. I wanted to give him some other options though. He also likes sculptures, but not painted art, so I am not sure if there are any museums like that anywhere? The only one I could think of was in Paris (Rodin), but he doesn't want to go there.

thursdaysd

Greece sounds like a great idea. Plenty of Greek sculptures there! You could visit Athens - Acropolis plus great museums - and then one or more islands - maybe Crete - and there are plenty of interesting places on the mainland - Delphi, Monemvasia, Meteora, etc. etc.

suze

Is he at all sporty or outdoorsy. Would he like hiking, surfing, ziplining and stuff like that?

As already suggested I think somewhere like Mexico, Costa Rica, or Hawaii with good weather and lots of fun outdoor opportunities. A California trip is a fantastic idea too (why don't you like that idea?).

Over going to Europe since he doesn't seem all that interested in that anyway.

NewbE

California would make a great vacation, IMO--something for everyone in that state, it seems to me. There's a Rodin museum in Philadelphia...doesn't seem like the best choice otherwise.

If he's not really into art, take him someplace where the art can be snuck in here and there as opposed to the focus of the trip.

Greece would fit the bill...

kja

"I asked him what interests him and he didn't really know. Typical 18 year old. haha. .... He has mentioned Greece or California."

Then it sounds like Greece or California are the places to consider! You might get some guidebooks for each and give them to him. And giving him the guidebooks could be a great way to broach the issue of any relevant financial limits. (Example: Does he really want to go to Greece, but think saying so would be asking too much?)

On the other hand, I'm not sure why YOU "wanted to give him some other options." Sounds like the two of you need to talk!

Whatever you decide, he's a lucky guy!

thursdaysd

"Someplace where the art can be snuck in"

Art appreciation is not a requirement for successful travel!

NewbE

Oh, that's true, thursdaysd! I got the perhaps mistaken impression that the OP wished to encourage the nephew's nascent interest in art... and, I admit, I believe that art appreciation is, well, a good thing

Sojourntraveller

Well when I was an 18 year old, I knew exactly what I was interested in. Girls. And I knew exactly what I wanted to do. Meet them and get lucky. What I also knew is I had no interest in going anywhere with my parents or any other relative. I'd say I was a pretty typical 18 year old in that regard.

So either you don't know him as well as you think you do or you are telling us he is an airhead who actually doesn't know what he would like to do. Which is it?

Buy him a ticket to Mykonos, Ibiza or the like, book a cheap hotel room and give him a debit card for a bank account you will put a pre-determined amount of spending money into daily (so he can't blow it all in the first 2 days) and set him loose. See what he thinks of that idea.

I could understand if he was NOT a typical 18 year old interested in girls and sex but even if he was a fanatic about playing the violin I would expect him to be able to tell you that. I don't buy 'he doesn't really know'. I think it is far more likely, 'he doesn't want to say'.

Try asking his best buddy what vacation he would send him on as a gift. He'll know.

suze

Are you sure he wants to take this trip with you? Maybe that's his hesitation in stating a destination... that he doesn't really want to go?

I agree about NOT pushing "art" onto him if he has no interest. I'm a lot older than 18 and art is just not an interest to me. Doesn't make me a bad person... or a bad traveler.

sparkchaser

18?

Amsterdam. Buy him a go in the red light district.

kja

Granted, I'm not male and I'm not 18 -- but I certainly have known many young men of that age who would have happily given up a few weeks of "chasing tail" for an irreplaceable opportunity to travel to Europe. (To be honest, I suspect that many of them would not have assumed that they were giving up the "chase" even if they went! ;-) )

If such a trip was promised long ago, there may be an argument for following through on the promise -- something that could well have implications far beyond the present. I had an aunt who promised all of her nieces and nephews that they could visit her in NYC apartment once during said niece's/nephew's high school days -- and she fulfilled that promised for every niece and nephew BUT ME! (The timing simply didn't work out.) Yes, I'm over it but I won't deny that it hurt for a while!

In my limited experience, 18-yr-old boys don't always feel comfortable knowing what to say in response to a genuinely generous offer -- when to ask for what they REALLY want and when to look for signals of what they are supposed to say, when to admit that they didn't think the original suggestion would prove "real" and so haven't actually looked into options, etc. Since he did mention at least two places, I think there's good reason to consider exploring those options with him at greater length. If nothing else, it would be a great lesson to him that what he says is, in fact, taken seriously! It wouldn't mean that you necessarily restrict the options to Greece or California, but it would at least show that you take his words to heart. By way of contrast, I wonder what he would think if, after mentioning these two specific places, you say - well, then, how about X?

And just for the record, some young ladies might, in the future, LOVE knowing that this young guy gave up some time on the beach to accompany his aunt -- a point in his favor that would long outlast his limited time abroad with you! He might even be savvy enough to know that!

BTW, I think he's lucky to have you as a travel companion - if he does, indeed take you up on your very generous offer!

ovenbird

Safari! At 18 I think he would love the game drives and talking with the guides.

suze

I'm repeating my suggestions but I think Mexico, Costa Rica, or Hawaii could each be perfect for this request.

Belinda

How about Thailand? You could take him to Bangkok for a few days and then on to Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai. I bet he'd be thrilled with an elephant trek through the jungle. And he would end up with terrific bragging rights.