Best European tour company for my 22 year old son
 

Any suggestions on what company to use for a tour for my son. We've been to Europe several times, but now he wants to venture solo. I want him to have the comfort of a tour since he is traveling alone.

We've looked at AESU, EF, and Contikki.

We'd like a tour with young people preferably 21-25.

He could probably be fine on his own, but I think it would be better to meet up with other young people on a tour. Then he can choose what he does & doesn't want to do, but still have the company of other young people.

Contiki worked for me. My first ever trip to Europe.

I did 21-day, starting in London. I added on a few days at beginning in London and that wroked out very well. Had chance to get over jet lag, meet some fellow travellers and get my feet wet.

They were well organized, covered a lot of territory, good guide, some nice extras.

Just a heads up that you may not like all the responses you get. The man is <u>twenty-two</u> - not sixteen. Are you paying for the trip too?


Anyway, check out Contiki.

What does HE want to do?

I think he's old enought to make his own decision....

Personally, I would let him go solo and book him into some hostels. He should be able to meet some people

My mother who is in her 70's still whines about the tour her parents MADE her go on... LOL!

If he's sure that HE wants to go on a tour Con Tiki is the best well known - but if often considered a party tour.

Frankly at 22 you coulnd;t have paid me to go on a tour. If he travels alone and stays in hostels he wioll meet a lot of other young people from all over the world - much more interesting than taking a tour with primarily americans.

Yeah, I figured I'd get some flak on the fact that he's 22. I went on a student tour when I was 22 and loved it. It was AESU. I'm just not sure that it would still be the best choice.

I still hold to the fact that it's better to be with a group of young people rather than being all alone in a country in which you don't speak the language...As far as meeting people in hostels, well, some of the hostels I've seen are pretty rough. That said, I think it would be hard to meet young people any other way except for maybe in a bar or pub...

Offspring of any age should do their own travel research, mom. That way their minds are on vacation long before the trip begins, and once they land they know what they are seeing and doing.

As a note, Contiki has a lot of Aussies, Kiwis and Canucks on their tours.
Yes, it is a fun tour.
If he is hesitant about travelling alone, this tour would give him the confidence as well as some ideas of where to go back to..solo if he wants.

Contiki was the first and last tour I did. Have been overseas now many tiems..it just took a little help for the first time.

Most people here will go towards DIY, but there reasons for going on tours

Contiki was also the first and last tour I did, but I dont regret it at all. Like Michel_Paris says it gave me the confidence to go it alone from then on but at the time (I was 24) I wasnt comfortable doing it on my own.

Some things to keep in mind:
1. Accomodation is shared and unless he pays for the upgraded tours it is far out of town in most places so you really have to stay with the group

2. Most of the people on the tour party hard. Every night. I didnt because I wanted to feel ok sightseeing the next day and I never got pressured to, but most do.

3. Its a lot of time on a bus. You see alot, but you are in transit ALOT of the time.

Would I recommend it for a young firstimer, understanding the above, YES. Would I do it again myself, NO. But I dont regret doing a tour my first time at the age of 24 having never travelled internationally before.

Are you sure he is on board for the tour? You say that you have been to Europe several times so that would lead me to believe he should have the confidence to do it on his own staying in hostels. I too think he should be the one planning it. Then again maybe he is, and you are just doing this on the side. :)

He's definitely old enough to do his own travel research. I was 19 went I spent a semester abroad in Montpellier and I was planning all my own trips by that point. I had only been to Europe once before, with my parents when I was in high school. I'm not saying he shouldn't go on a tour if that's what he really wants to do, but why are you asking the questions for him? Does he really want to spend all that time on a bus hopping from one city to another? Another option would be to find a friend to go with him, and travel by train and bus. That's how I always traveled when I was studying abroad, and I think you get a much more personal experience that way, plus you can tailor your trip to your interests. And you he doesn't necessarily have to stay in hostels. There are plenty of affordable hotels around if you do your research.

The problem is you keep saying what you want... if it's not what he wants it's a waste of everyone's money.

We once took a Girl Scout on a tour who went only because "my mother made me" She was miserable every day and totally "uninvested" I learned. From that point on they had to EARN at least half the money with the group, if they put that amount of time in they "wanted" to go.

There's also Busabout, which is a hop on-hop off tour. Bus rides can be long, but it might work. It's not a traditional tour, most of the participants are young,and he would have some flexibility as to itinerary.
http://www.busabout.com/

Another possibility is Intrepid - http://www.intrepidtravel.com - it will be a mix of ages, although likely to be younger on Basix and Explorer tours, and less likely to be party-and-snooze-on-the-bus. But at 22 there's no reason to send him on a tour. If he (not you!) picks up some Lonely Planet or Let's Go guidebooks he will quickly figure out where the backpackers will be. He should be hanging out on Twitter and checking into couchsurfing, not having you post on Fodors!

<i>some of the hostels I've seen are pretty rough</i>

Some are. Many more aren't. I've stayed in some that my parents would have found uncomfortable, but I had no problem with.

If he wants to do a tour, great. He should be doing the research to see which company sounds like the trip he wants. If he wants to go it alone or find a buddy, thousands of people his age or younger have done it, come back safe and loved it. (I did at 19 with a couple of friends who were just as naive as I was.) Assuming he's courteous, independent and has some common sense, he'll be fine either way. I agree with CarolA - it has to be a trip he wants to take; otherwise there's not much of a point.

Thanks for the advise guys. I appreciate your input. Any other ideas on tours would be appreciated.

Our DD took off to see the world when she turned 21, we paid for the first 4 nights accommodation in London at a hotel so she could get her bearings. From there she went into a hostel for 10 days before embarking on a 45 day Contiki tour. She loved it, made some great friends, yes they party hard BUT that choice is up to you. She is now home, some 2 1/2 years later with the most wonderful memories and friends all over the world.

She used this site to book and vet all the hostels she used.
http://www.hostelworld.com/

Thanks, Maudie, I lke the idea of a hotel and a hostel. Did she stay for those first 14 days in London?

Also, was she on a budget Contiki tour? The gentleman I spoke with at Contiki said that the budget tours were the ones with the most young people.

Finally, did she have any issues with the hotels being so far from the city center?

Again, thanks for your input.

"<i>The gentleman <B><red>I</B></red> spoke with at Contiki . . . </i>"

"<i><B><red>I</B></red> llke the idea of a hotel and a hostel.</i>"

"<i><B><red>I</B></red> still hold to the fact that it's better to be with a group of young people rather than being all alone in a country</i>"

"<i><B><red>I</B></red> want him to have the comfort of a tour . . . </i>"

There has not been even one mention of what <B><red>he</B></red> thinks/wants except >><i>now he wants to venture solo</i><< . Is he happy that his Mom is calling Contiki and organizing everything??

@janisj - for something that will amaze (and depress) you about modern helicopter parenting, try this: http://www.salon.com/2012/02/28/pare...sor/singleton/