Y son 23 yrs old is planning to travel all over Europe by rail. My concern is he is going alone. I am worried for his safety and that he may miss many attractions. Also finding hostels and places to stay near railways. I am from American an have been to Europe a few times but always had a car. So are my concerns overboard. Thanks.

Yes, I think you are worrying needlessly. Have your son do a bit of research ahead of time. I believe the Lonely Planet forum will be more of a help to him than this forum. Train is a terrific way to see Europe. I don't understand what you mean by he may miss many attractions. If he researches a bit ahead of time he will be informed what there is to see and do in each location he chooses.

Yes, stop worrying. European cities are safer (crime-wise) than the US. Will he miss many attractions? Of course, even with a dozen trips he will miss many attractions. What I would wish for him is that he gets to see the places that interest him most. Does he have a guidebook? If not, why not gift him one - a Lonely Planet guide, perhaps.

He is 23 - not 15.

Thanks for te feedback. I understand he is not a child but he is my child. My mind is at ease as wish him happy traveling. Thanks again.

It is normal for parents to worry about kids any age - mine were everytime I went when I was 19, 20, and onto say 30 - without valid reason of course.

I was happy to have gone alone - I met many folks there, changed my itinerary a couple of times (postponing my flight back to wing around Ireland with a nice Dutch gal!), etc.

Europe has a system of youth hostels and youth hotels that are great meeting places and have nice bars, etc on the premises. Get him a copy of Let's Go Europe - the bible as they say for younger travelers - written by college students, Americans, for their age group - tremendous run down on zillions of hostels - critiquing the good and bad ones and of course night life as well as a cornucopia of just relevant great info - cheap eats, etc.

Europe's train system is fantastic and folks his age from around Europe and the world are taking the train around - he is under 26 so can buy a Eurail Youthpass and in most countries just hop on any train anytime - I took lots of overnight trains with others - had a great time with them and saved on the cost of a hotel or hostel - can literally cover lots of ground in one day.

There are pickpockets in heavy tourist sites but a little common sense and a good money belt UNDER the clothes will be a deterrent to getting pickpocketed - except in Barcelona and Madrid I have rarely heard of any strongarm street crime in any European city - just does not happen except in those two cities.

anyway for loads of great info on European trains for you to look at to assure yourself they are a great way to go and very safe and for him: www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com - download the latter's free and excellent online European Planning & Rail Guide for lots of rail intieraries and tips on using trains - www.seat61.com is a British based site that is rather British-centric but also gives good general info to plan such a rail trip.

And put any angst - your son is safer traveling in Europe than in any American city IME and shrug off any remarks 'he's 23' - he may be 23 but he will always be your kid - one would have to be childless to realize that I guess and any parent would have concerns and that is all your question asked, not to plan out what yes he should plan - but it is natural for anyone parent to be worried about going into what to them may be the unknown!

He is a grown man and presumably able to take care of himself and decide where he wants to go/what he wants to do. His list may well not match yours.

And yes, you are completely overworrying/overthinking this. If he can't organize this himself it;s time he learn the skill set. (And yes, I have 2 DDs who went to europe with a friend or boyfriend when younger than that - as I did at 19). Its not brain surgery - you just need to get a little organized.

pay no attention to janis or nytraveler and their rather rude IMO comments - you are not trying to orchestrate his trip but just through your naivety are worried and wish to be assured that there are no harms in harms way and that traveling around Europe is a lot easier due to the fantastic train system than you fear, which with the youth hostel system and all in all is even safer and much easier than traveling around America.

That is your concern and as a concerned parent would be mine as well if I did not know what was up with it all. Carry on with questions and feel comfy that some will be less combative and give you answers you are seeking.

So just ignore these comments and you will get helpful comments from folks who can put themselves in your shoes and not theirs!

In other words do NOT be deterred in asking questions due to these IMO rather rude comments that

.

Do tell him to lock his luggage while on trains. I know two young men who dozed briefly while riding trains and had things lifted from their bags. Both knew better, but they hadn't expected to nod off.

A parent is always a parent. Perfectly natural to be a bit concerned for your son as he sets off on a new part of his life. What a wonderful exciting, learning adventure he is headed off on. Encourage him to come on this forum and ask questions.

buy him a copy o Let's Go Europe - invaluable - amazon.com has it - this would be the most help you could give him IME.

Do tell him to lock his luggage while on trains. I know two young men who dozed briefly while riding trains and had things lifted from their bags. Both knew better, but they hadn't expected to nod off.>

And have a secure money belt that goes under the clothing - worth reiterating - passport, c cards, money, etc always always in it - leave nothing of value in youth hostel lockers or bags that could be pilfered on trains but in eons of riding European trains this would be a very rare occurence IME.

At least today parents can always be in touch and thus reassured by smart phones or email, etc. When I first went calling home was a travail that cost a ton so writing was the main way but now if anything happens back home he will know instantly - no having to do down to the American Express office to pick up mail or search thru mail at youth hostels like in the old days.

Attractions, you cannot do much thing about and it would be far superior lesson for him to learn the hard way if he comes home with shoulda's after coming home. He is less likely to repeat the same mistakes in the long run over if he was told to do this and do that.

Think this way, if he is left with the passport, one credit card, and one debit card, he can continue the trip. Everything else is a fluff. With the way he would be traveling, these crucial items must be with him all the time in pickpocket proof manner. Others might have gotten away, so far, being less careful of crucial items and make fun of him for being too paranoid. But remember that these people would be nowhere to be found to defend their "relax, its your vacation" spiel if he leaves his credit card and passport in his bag in a hostel or in pants pocket (following "I have never had problem" advice) and get taken.

Money belt is a must--keep a few Euro in front pants pocket so he won't have to access money belt a lot. Use restrooms to access money belt. Keep at least one hand or other body part on luggage at all times.

As to his personal safety--he should beware of "friendly strangers"; not accept food or beverages from strangers or "new best friends"; Don't wander the streets late at night, particularly if drinking. Don't get drunk or take or carry drugs--most countries in Europe are serious about enforcing drug laws.

Give him a good guidebook well in advance of departure so he'll know what he wants to see and can make plans to go there. The ones listed above will all help him a lot. But as Kathie says, he will miss some attractions, even with two months. So he will need to prioritize.

Your son's very lucky to have the chance to do this. Wish I'd first seen Europe at his age.

My first sojourn solo abroad, besdies to Canada, was a similar trip and I learned more things on that six-week adventure than all I had laerned in College - history and just how to cope in a foreign country where Gee they don't speak English (including parts of England!)