Solo travel in Europe as a 18 year old female

Old Jul 9th, 2017, 06:20 PM
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Solo travel in Europe as a 18 year old female

Traveling alone in Europe as a 18 year old female

Ellen L · 2 forum posts
Minnesota
Jul 09, 2017, 1:57 PM
I am currently a 16 year old that that loves the idea of backpacking through Europe after I graduate from high school. I have traveled to Canada a few times, Mexico once, Jamaica once on a mission trip, and all over the US. I would love to go to Europe in the fall (September/October time) and start college a semester late, I feel like 6 months would be nothing in the grand scheme of life but my mom fears a trip like this would make it so I don't ever want to go to college and would prefer I do a study abroad program. I all ready have an idea of places I would like to travel to; London, Luxembourg City, Milan, Paris, Warsaw, Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Bruges; i would plan on using the eurail system and would stay in youth hostels and some of my dads old friends he meet from backpacking himself and from when he was stationed in London with the air force. My dad is all for the idea and loves it and thinks 18 would be the perfect time and age to do a trip like this alone but my mom is a little wary of the idea of me being gone and alone for so long, so I was just wondering if there is anything that would help calm my moms worries or if 18 is to young to do something like this or would a study abroad program be better?
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Old Jul 9th, 2017, 09:05 PM
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kja
 
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Hi, ellen_kay,

I must admit that I don’t think there is a simple answer to your question(s), because people differ so very much!

I would encourage you to continue researching your options. I suspect that having detailed and well-researched plans will help allay your parents’ concerns. And if you must defer your trip, for whatever reason, your research will still be of benefit. If you don’t take the trip when you are 18, you will be even better prepared if you wait.

I would also strongly encourage you to listen carefully to both of your parents – they probably know you very well, and may have some insights that you would do well to consider. FWIW, I think it would be to your advantage to identify a plan that both of your parents can support, even if it means waiting a bit. JMO.

Be sure to take college admission / deferral options into account. In my day, it was easier to take a semester off after beginning college, rather than beforehand. I don’t know if that remains true; it could well depend on the specific college you hope to attend.

With your enthusiasm for travel, I can see no reason why it won’t be part of your life, even if you have to wait a while. Getting your “college feet” wet first might not be a bad idea….

Best wishes from a much older solo female traveler!
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Old Jul 9th, 2017, 09:12 PM
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kja
 
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*** Duplicate thread alert! ***

Please see your other thread
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...old-female.cfm

(No worries, ellen_kay, just heads-up to other Fodorites.)
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