Then guess-timate $100 each time she changes cities by plane, train or bus, so x 6 = $600>

A Eurail Select Youthpass could be cheaper than that per travel day.

I think Suze is close on the money, but I would allow more for admissions and local transport. More like 40 euro a day. The $100 to move cities might be a bit scant, depending on the mode of travel.

But starting with air tickets, then somewhere to sleep, transport to get from place to place, something to eat, and then recreational $$ is a good framework to build a budget on.

Sure guys, that's why I called it a "guess-timate"!

Actually I think the plane fare is the single biggest one that could be off, since I priced only from JFK and maybe she's in LA or Seattle or a non-major hub airport.

I rarely do anything with "admissions" myself, so for me that particular amount would be zero most days.

There's also the "staying with friends" part which could eliminate the hostel few and maybe even get her a free meal or two on certain days.

Lots of variables, just trying to give Mom a place to start.

My advice: go with her. Get separate hotel rooms, let them be on their own during the day, but at night they check in with you at the hotel. And when you leave for a new city, you all leave together. 17 is still pretty young and the world is a big place. I'm not saying she couldn't do it, but if she were 21 or 22, I would feel differently. At 17, you might consider tagging along.

IMHO we're still not sure what the mom's question really is.

And without knowing that we are shooting blind.

Sad to say but in the US many 17 year olds have never been to a big city and never even used public transit (just get driven or drive everywhere).

I would been have perfectly happy with either of my DDs doing this but they were mature, had city smarts and had enough money to pay for a trip.

Until the OP come back with a clearer question there's little we can do.

Traveling with a friend can be trying. I have known several young people who hate each other shortly into the trip, even to the point of splitting up and continuing on their own.

If they have not traveled or not together, the OP's daughter and her friend should go together to a medium or large city neither of them have been to, for three or four days. It should be for sightseeing, not to a beach somewhere. They should plan every single thing themselves, use public transport to get there and do it entirely on their own.

If that works out, the second thing is to make very sure any friends they plan to stay with will be there and will host them. At least have backup plans in case any of the hosts fall through.

>>IMHO we're still not sure what the mom's question really is.<<

I absolutely agree -- I hope the OP comes back and gives more details re what she really wants to know.

I just hope she isn't one of those newbies who never returns because they are waiting for Fodors to notify them of thread activity.

But at lease zeppole/sl got a chance to post her usual snippiness . . .

If there's one thing worse than piggy-backing on a thread for an advert, it's an advert for something that can't happen, like advising a 17-year old to rent a car in Europe. Triangled.

I agree with sandralist , wait for more info but I also know that I plan trips for many adults or help them out. Two of us are doing a trip now for five and their attitude is whatever we decide so a 17 year old on her first trip is a biggie and I can understand Mom's concerns. Not everyone is good at trip planning. I guess I remember going to the travel agent still! The internet changed all that of course but there is a lot of info to go through.
My nieces went with study abroad programs that helped them out with planning.

If you look at hostelworlds webpage you can pick hostels with a kitchen easy enough to save some money. Paris even has some.

This truly depends on the person, and we have zero background about the daughter. Plenty of 17 year olds travel Europe on their own without incident. But I'm sure there's also plenty of 17 year olds who are not mature enough to handle a trip on their own. We have no way of knowing which this girl is.