First trip to Europe with teens 14 and 15 Spain or Italy?
 

We are planning a 3 week trip to Europe next summer with our two boys ages 14 and 15. We will definitely be visiting Germany and Austria to visit family but would like to add either Spain or Italy for the third week. It's always been my dream to visit Spain but worry there is not as much to do there for the kids as in Italy.
We want to give them a taste of each country so are not allocating more than a week in each. Any suggestions for what to do in Germany and Austria are also very welcome!!

Going by car or train?

Maybe car in Germany and Austria and take train to Italy - can take an overnight train for the experience Munich to Venice or Florence or Rome - for lots on trains and where to go by them - www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Yes I think Venice, Florence and or Rome would be on more interest to kids for the Vatican, Colosseum, Venice, etc.

Night train to Venice
2 nights
Train to Florence 2 nights
Train to Rome 4 nights

Quick but possible.

If the Spain v Italy conflict is being driven by the boys interests, then why not let them make the decision? Especially after a "family" visit. (I'm sure the family is wonderful but having parts of my vacation dictated by family commitments sitting around a living room or in a backyard was always a sore point when I was a teen)

At 14 and 15 they are mature enough to be instructed to do some research on the two countries and report back to you on which they would like to visit, and why.

It also serves as a teachable moment and will go a long way to ensuring there is "harmony" on the trip as they can't whine/moan/complain "I wish we had gone to Italy/Spain instead".

Let them decide. They're plenty old enough.

I can't quite understand the notion that there's not enough to do in one country versus another. You're only going to be in Country X or Y for a week, so you're not going to doing much in-depth traveling to begin with, hardly even scratching the surface. Surely there are thousands and thousands of things to do and enjoy in such a short time in any country, anywhere.

If they study Spanish in school, a trip to Spain might be in order.

As noted above, if you are ambivalent let them decide.

Then better advice can be given as to where to go in either country.

What do they like or think they like?

do the kids even care? We do not know and I think they would be equally happy/unhappy in any of those countries. Maybe your family over there could help plan for some activities teens would like - like bungee jumping or whatever.

If they study Spanish in school, a trip to Spain might be in order.>

Maybe if your trip is next summer have them take a Spanish class?

Or have them read up say on ancient Rome - whet their appetite for modern-day Rome, etc.

Thanks for the great replies. They actually study German in school so we are good in that regard.
I took some of your advice and asked each boy to do some research and present a power point on which country they would prefer to visit. They took it seriously and researched both Spain and Italy. Of course, one chose Spain and the other chose Italy so I'm back where I started. We are going July of next year so friends have recommended adding in some beach time. I would love some recommendations for a nice beach town in either country where we could spend a few days. Thoughts on that?

Valencia and Malaga are ibeautiful cities with great beaches..

<Of course, one chose Spain and the other chose Italy so I'm back where I started>.

That cracked me up... I LOVE it when people say "let the kids decide" because I get either no response ("that's too far away to think about, mom") or a split response. Every.time. So yeah, when they have something they feel strongly about, that helps - but still as the parent you know better about what will appeal to them.


I haven't been to Spain but as a former teenager, I vote for Italy :) They have probably seen / heard of many of the sights already, and the food is more reliably kid-friendly... your kids are older than the typical "picky toddler" but even in my late teens I remember being grateful for the Italian-food portion of our family Europe trip. And... it's Italy.


I also think your boys will love Germany and Austria. Tons and tons of hiking, castles, and trains... just absolute bliss.

Sorry, advice in Germany... where are you staying? We stayed in Munich for about 5 days and spent 3 of them on trains to the usual (Fussen for Nueuschwanstein, Garmisch where we went to the Olympic park, and hiked the Partnach Gorge) . Don't miss this if it is possible - the boys will love it:

https://www.bavaria.by/partnach-gorg...irchen-germany

We also went to Oberammergau, it all kind of fades together all these years later but I remember those days as just perfect. We still laugh about how we would jump on a southbound train, hope it was the right one but know that even if it wasn't, we were going to love it - I don't think there is a single bad destination in the Bavarian Alps!

I would love some recommendations for a nice beach town in either country where we could spend a few days.>

Cinque Terre is both a popular place for easy hiking between five idyllic seaside fishing villages - Monterosso has one of the nicest beaches in Italy - hike the popular hiking trail and come back in afternoon for a dip?

https://www.google.com/search?q=cinq...w=1745&bih=863

We presented Spain, Portugal or Italy to our grandkids for a family trip. They all chose Italy.

If the Spain voter identified places in southern Spain as him main sites of interest, going there in July could be a grueling experience, since it is so hot in Spain in July, even if you toss in beach weather.

Maybe if you identified what it is about Italy and what it is about Spain that is attracting to your boys people could help create a trip in just one of the countries that made both happy.

For what it's worth, when I read your first post, I was ready to reply that I actually would choose Spain as having more to enjoy with teen boys than Italy (tapas, hikes, beaches, castles, horseback riding, exotic history, modern pop) but unless the family was interested in going to northern Spain in July, I'd pick the cooler parts of Italy. (While Italy certainly has heat waves in July, it is easier to pick an itinerary with shady cool spots midday than it is southern Spain).

14 and 15 year olds were asked to do
power points? When is their annual review?

Guess new posters here are damned if they do and damned if they don't. i often feel especially sorry for parens who post on Fodor's to ask for advice because it becomes a forum for snapping and snarking at the poster about their parenting skills or trying to make their kids look stupid.

Travel is often quite expensive for families (another reason I'd be tempted to pick Spain over Italy were it not for July). I'm never the person footing the bill for travel with teens and under, but based on my experience of traveling with kids that age, I'd be reluctant to foot the bill for a trip chosen by kids that age. To me it's quite normal for kids to have limited interest in foreign countries, or most travel in general, and while most of them can get engaged with a foreign destination, it takes some adult guidance in my experience -- and the trip generally goes better if the adults are picking places they want for a family experience, not just catering to their kids' ideas.

Both Spain & Italy have a lot to offer youngsters, so hopefully the OP can get some guidance about crafting a trip to either Italy or Spain in summer that is fun and illuminating for both kids.

As I think is becoming commonplace... I absolutely concur with PalenQ and the Cinque Terre / Monterosso. Now I want to book a trip there for mine...

>>I would love some recommendations for a nice beach town in either country where we could spend a few days. Thoughts on that?<<

Anywhere that's topless.

Well I'm sure the boys would all be for that but IMU the toplessness has disappeared from French beaches and assume Italy and Spain too - some say because of Internet and camera phones.

Curious as to Italy and Spain and topless beaches???