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???

<i> Monterosso has one of the nicest beaches in Italy </i>

Huh? It's the nicest beach in the Cinque Terre, for sure.

Well yeh I was paraphrasing some rating for Monterosso beach I saw once that did call it one of Italy's best but yes I agree with you - best in Cinque Terre -others are rocky I think - and pretty small as beaches go - but nevertheless a nice beach in a place where there are other touristic things to do besides beaching it.

<i> ... toplessness has disappeared from French beaches and assume Italy and Spain too ...</i>

In general, near-nudity of all kinds has pretty much disappeared in Italy. When I first moved here, the cover of L'Espresso, a serious news magazine, almost always had a nearly-naked woman on the cover. All of the game shows and variety shows on TV had several very scantily clad assistants who pretended to be smitten by an ugly aging host in a suit. All of that is gone. The hosts are less formally dressed, and the assistants are more ... dressed.

I like to think it's because women are now perceived to have value other than as sex kittens.

There are still a few small nude beaches near where I live, but the residents in the vicinity complain about them constantly. (This has always been the case.) I never see topless women on the beaches, although I do see women who have removed their tops but are lying face down. I don't know if they have some clever way of putting the top back on while prone. There are still bikinis around, and lots of 2-piece suits that are not exactly bikinis, but I also see an increasing number of women who wear little bathing shorts and tank-top-type bathing tops.

It's like France then - when I first started staying in France to watch my young so we went to the municipal piscine a lot and even teen-age girls were all topless- now none are and would not even think of it they say. And at the seaside young and old woman were nearly all topless - none now I hear -funny when my kid's mama and her friend came to Michigan and hit the beach on Lake Michigan they took off their tops -I had to tell them they could be arrested.

How things change and oddly for some reason towards modesty and not away from it as have so many other sexual moralities. I do think phone cameras and Internet postings have something to do with it.

So OP does not have to be worried about teen boys being corrupted!

We were in Rome with 2 teens: 15 and 16 over Christmas last year. They loved the Vatican museum and a day trip to the country....hated coliseum lines and a lot of walking. Favorite was a trip to Siena when we rented a car and didn't go into any big tourist sights.

This Christmas we are going to Spain and I think there is going to be a ton for them...The Alhambra! Monkey's in Gibraltar and they may force us to go to Morocco because they want another country on their list... but I think it would be a mess!

Soooo....I think either would be excellent!

Oh and congratulations for having kids that would research!! We tried to get ours to but they never did!

Toplessness was a gift for oncologists
maybe people are now less stupid than 50 years ago

Tough place to end up - :-(

Ask the boys to discuss their research and choices amongst themselves and see if they can come up with an agreement. If they can't let them know you will have to decide but that it won't be because you are picking one of their choices at the expense of the other but on what you think is best for everyone and based on what each of them indicated they were hoping to enjoy on the vacation.

Actually, now you have to go to Times Square in New York to see topless.

No, you just have to go canoeing on the Dordogne.

The beaches in Spain are much better for kids, with lots of space to roam and have fun. There are loads of great water-parks here too. It's also more cost-effective with children, as Italy can get a little pricey. Restaurants are not cheap, especially in the tourist hot-spots. Malaga is an amazing place to visit at that time of year and really has everything you could wish for.

>>No, you just have to go canoeing on the Dordogne.<<

I am reserving my canoe now.

Beware of those piranhas infesting the Dordogne! But seriously a neat thing to do anywhere - not sure much of that in Italy or Spain however.

After travelling to Europe with two teenaged girls for a month once and a teenaged boy another time, I definitely vote for Italy. I think the suggestion of the overnight train to Venice then Rome and Florence is a great idea. We did that and it was wonderful. Even just 1 day in Venice is ok amd more in the others as they have so much to see. Fun to get up early in the morning (even with teenagers) and see how the place gets it's mail, deliveries, garbage removed,etc. All on the canals. definitely would not waste time on beache- you can do that anywhere.
Have fun plannnng! Be carefu, two of mine fell in love with a Europe and ending up each living their for a year:)

I think the suggestion of the overnight train to Venice then Rome and Florence is a great idea>

Yes the overnight train could be an experience they would never forget:

https://www.bahn.com/en/view/offers/...nightjet.shtml

Venice and gondolas!

Venice even has a nice Lido or beach - short enough boat ride from San Marco - in summer it will be hopping like any popular Italian beach:

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