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/

Granted there are hostels that are poorly run and rife with drunkenness and drugs. But there are also a bunch of reputable hostels that provide safe housing for many tens of thousands of students from 17 and up throughout europe.

If HE would really be more comfortable on a tour (but I never would have done it, although I went for the first time at 19 for 5 weeks with my boyfriend) then that's fine.

But before deciding I suggest that he look at some Let's Go guidebooks and the Torn Tree section of the Lonely Planet web site. these will help him pick out the better hostels and tell him where local students hang out so he can meet - and perhaps travel with some of them. Our teen daughters did this when we took them to europe a couple of times and they had some fun evenings with local students.

In your original post you state <I>..." but, now he wants to venture solo".</I> Let him. He'll be fine and it'll be a far better experience doing it by himself rather than relying on a tour which does everything for you. Kids younger than twenty-two do it all the time. My son was living in Belgium and racing bicyles when he was only 18.

I honestly think the best help you can give him for this sort of trip is:

- make sure he can (and, more importantly, actually does) do his own laundry
- get him some good guidebooks and point him in the direction of the Thorntree forum
- <i>ask</i> him if that helps him work out the practical questions: how are you going to manage your money, find places to eat, buy picnic food in shops, ask directions and advice, understand local public transport, get local maps....?

If the answer comes back that he'd feel happier with a tour, then proceed as you're planning.

<i>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.</i>

Just want to point out that when you're 22 years old, meeting other young people is not an issue. Pretty much all you have to do is walk down the street, or sit in a cafe, or go to a club, or sit in the park,or do just about anything really. Most people are still single in their early 20's with few obligations and it's a whole different mentality from the way you travel in middle age.

Even if he's not on a tour, he, he can still choose what he wants to do or not do. In fact, he can do it more so if he's not on a tour. I'm not anti-tour if that's what <u>he</u> wants to do. Maybe you're concerned that things can happen to young people on vacation (e.g., Natalee Holloway), but bad things can happen right in your own hometown.

He's a grown man. Cut the apron strings already. Give him the info on tours,hostels, and guidebooks that you got from this thread, and then let him make his own decision about how he wants to travel.

Elaine, I am not sure if it was the budget one but she did stay in a mix of hostels, cabins, tents and budget hotels so I guess it could have been.

Yes she did stay for the first two weeks in London as that is where her tour left from. I think it was a hostel in Russell Square, funnily enough she was only telling me last night what an "awesome" hostel it was. For her 21st family and friends purchased gift vouchers for some tourist sites, The Eye, Tower of London etc. This was a brilliant present and made her money go further.

Some of the accommodation was out of the city but that is how they keep the costs down. The kids all looked out for each other, they all made sure they traveled in groups. I don't remember her ever saying it was a bother. When the tour ended she then traveled to revisit some places she loved and visit new places.

She is a trained travel agent and worked very hard at 2 jobs to save for her trip which she organised herself.

I know it's hard to let them go off alone but you might be surprised by how well your son can sort this out for himself. Give him all the info and let him make a basic plan, a little discreet suggestion or nudging here and there from you will knock it all into shape.

May be company wants your son to carry out responsibility at the city where they are sending him.

Last summer we were visited by two 17-year-olds from Canada who bussed and trained around England and Wales for three weeks, the whole journey organised by themselves. That is what I call travelling.

Here's another option for independent travel that might interest him

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Interrailing

And I see someone has set up some packages for it (though I have no idea whether they're value for money or any good):

http://www.interrailingpackages.com/

Not sure of the requirements for these tours or if the dates sync with your son's plans, but some info on the site may be of interest.

http://www.wsaeurope.com/

Gap tours cater to young people.
Just before I left for 3 months in Costa Rica last year I rec'd an email from Sta Travel about a 1/2 price weeks tour to the Carribbean coast of CR with Gap Adventures. The group was comprised of maybe 10 young women in their 20's, one early 30's married couple and 65 yr old me. ( I can't resist a sale!) Most of the group did party hearty and spent more time in bars but I was comfortable in the hotels chosen and did sightsee on my own, which I prefer anyway.
I'd travel with Gap again if I get another sale offer.


Karen

Bit like broken telephone.

Give him your password at Fodors and let him loose here. We'll get him lined up.

If this was a 'surprise' gift, I could see the value of this thread. But if it is just planning, why not let HIM ask the questions?

"Give him your password at Fodors"

Better: he should get his own account here. And, more usefully for a 22 y.o., one on Lonely Planet's thorntree.

Love the controversy!

Thanks for the tour suggestions. Keep them coming!

There is no controversy. There is unanimity among posters that your ADULT son should go on his own if that's what HE wants to do.