Followup to earlier post re: daughter & friends going to Europe for 6 weeks
Jun 15th, 2009, 06:19 AM
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Followup to earlier post re: daughter & friends going to Europe for 6 weeks
The comments in my earlier post (http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...etw-cities.cfm) were useful and now the girls are happily in Paris.
Before my daughter joined the trip, the girls already purchases roundtrip airfare to London, instead of the open-jaw approach. AFter some of the comments on my earlier post, I suggested that upon arriving in London, they take the Eurostar to Paris. They agreed, and all went smoothly. They are staying at a family friend's place (1 of the girls has some Europe family & friends) a little outside the heart of Paris but are managing fine with the metro.
They are flying between most of the destination. Eurail routes between the cities they plan on visiting were complicated and long so they decided to go priamrily with the cheap airfares (ryanair, easyjey, aegean). I think 1 route, other than teh Eurostar, they are taking the train.
They are staying with family connections in Paris, Rome and Barcelona, and the rest they booked hostels in advance. They left equiped with their budget europe guide books and some maps that I had at home.
ALso, after researching phones for Europe in this forum, we decided to purchase a phone through telestial.com so we can be in touch. So far it's worked like a charm and is of great value for something like this. We plan on using this phone for future trips to Europe as well.
Before my daughter joined the trip, the girls already purchases roundtrip airfare to London, instead of the open-jaw approach. AFter some of the comments on my earlier post, I suggested that upon arriving in London, they take the Eurostar to Paris. They agreed, and all went smoothly. They are staying at a family friend's place (1 of the girls has some Europe family & friends) a little outside the heart of Paris but are managing fine with the metro.
They are flying between most of the destination. Eurail routes between the cities they plan on visiting were complicated and long so they decided to go priamrily with the cheap airfares (ryanair, easyjey, aegean). I think 1 route, other than teh Eurostar, they are taking the train.
They are staying with family connections in Paris, Rome and Barcelona, and the rest they booked hostels in advance. They left equiped with their budget europe guide books and some maps that I had at home.
ALso, after researching phones for Europe in this forum, we decided to purchase a phone through telestial.com so we can be in touch. So far it's worked like a charm and is of great value for something like this. We plan on using this phone for future trips to Europe as well.
Jun 15th, 2009, 07:08 AM
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NYC:
For my grandchildren's college graduations, I have set a ritual of sending the graduate to Europe for 6 weeks. So far two of them have gone in the past six years, each having friends along (not at my expense, of course...whew!). You can rest assured, mommy, that daughter will have a thoroughly GRAND, lifelong unforgettable experience. Kids love to figure out their own way to get around, so I've done very little planning for them...I've taught them how to do their own...at age 22 they seem to know what they want to see and do.
As a grandparent (or parent)sending them off is an indescribable joy which you, too, will surely experience.
Good going, MFNYC! You've had, and will continue to have, such vicarious joys with your daughter.
stu
For my grandchildren's college graduations, I have set a ritual of sending the graduate to Europe for 6 weeks. So far two of them have gone in the past six years, each having friends along (not at my expense, of course...whew!). You can rest assured, mommy, that daughter will have a thoroughly GRAND, lifelong unforgettable experience. Kids love to figure out their own way to get around, so I've done very little planning for them...I've taught them how to do their own...at age 22 they seem to know what they want to see and do.
As a grandparent (or parent)sending them off is an indescribable joy which you, too, will surely experience.
Good going, MFNYC! You've had, and will continue to have, such vicarious joys with your daughter.
stu
Jun 15th, 2009, 07:23 AM
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Thanks Tower. This group is 3 girls, 20/21. I gave my daughter a travel journal to record their adventure. My husband had a similar adventure back in the day, and so did a nehpew of mine, so it kind of runs in the family!
Jul 2nd, 2009, 06:32 AM
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Well today is their halfway mark. They are currently in Rome but will be headed to Ios tomorrow. So far they've stayed with family connections but starting tomorrow it will be youth hostels. They have been a bit wine and dined, but haven't met many fellow travellers. This should change once they're at hostels. They are looking forward to some socializing.
They're having a great time and everything has gone smoothly (transportation between cities, touring, etc). The only hiccup was that they had a hostel booked in Santorini, but 1 of the owners fell ill so they shut down. Last minute they found a room in a hostel in Ios which turns out to have great reviews on tripadvisor.
My daughter's Let's Go Europe guide has proved to be invaluable, especially when they had such a last minute change of arrangements. Also the phone we purchased from Telestial is great. We can speak to her any time we want (and vica versa). She's also had internet access at the places she's stayed so far, so has sent some emails as well.
I'm really looking forward to reading her journal and seeing her photos.
They're having a great time and everything has gone smoothly (transportation between cities, touring, etc). The only hiccup was that they had a hostel booked in Santorini, but 1 of the owners fell ill so they shut down. Last minute they found a room in a hostel in Ios which turns out to have great reviews on tripadvisor.
My daughter's Let's Go Europe guide has proved to be invaluable, especially when they had such a last minute change of arrangements. Also the phone we purchased from Telestial is great. We can speak to her any time we want (and vica versa). She's also had internet access at the places she's stayed so far, so has sent some emails as well.
I'm really looking forward to reading her journal and seeing her photos.
Jul 2nd, 2009, 06:43 AM
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I remember my first trip to Europe at age 21 (getting on toward 50 years ago), I sure wouldn't have been very candid in any journal my parents would read; I did, however, write long letters (which are still in a desk drawer at my parents' home) with all the details fit to print. I did keep a journal which was well hidden from parental eyes, though the doings were pretty tame by today's standards.
If your daughter has half the fun I had and half the memories I have, she will have a super trip!
Thanks for reminding me of days of searching for a place to stay in "Europe on $5 a day" and other adventures.
If your daughter has half the fun I had and half the memories I have, she will have a super trip!
Thanks for reminding me of days of searching for a place to stay in "Europe on $5 a day" and other adventures.
Jul 2nd, 2009, 08:05 AM
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THanks MFNYC for coming back to report on this venture... those of us who fret and worry to get things right always appreciate feedback. About the phone -- I found that INCREASINGLY a phone is a must ... for calling ahead to hotels etc, arranging to meet people. Several years ago, you could more readily use phone cards and public phones, but they are harder and harder to come by. Unfortunately (as you found) it's an expensive hassle to get US phones to work abroad (just as with our TVs, the US is behind everyone else in achieving compatibility). My son the geek assures me that this will be worked out within a couple of years - the US cannot remain out of step forever!! (altho we seem to do, re the metric system).
Jul 2nd, 2009, 08:37 AM
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Honestly, I thought I'd be an insomniac worrying for the 6 weeks she's away, but knowing I can contact her whenever I want, has allowed me to relax (and sleep).
When she first mentioned the idea, my reaction was NO, but then I thought about how much I would have loved doing something like that, and my husband had done it for 3 months at around the same age. How could I say no? This opportunity may never present itself again. It's just too good to pass up. Definitely a once in a lifetime experience. I couldn't deny her of that!
When she first mentioned the idea, my reaction was NO, but then I thought about how much I would have loved doing something like that, and my husband had done it for 3 months at around the same age. How could I say no? This opportunity may never present itself again. It's just too good to pass up. Definitely a once in a lifetime experience. I couldn't deny her of that!
Jul 2nd, 2009, 09:40 AM
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MFNYC,
What a wonderful parent your are! I was offered an opportunity to go to Europe twice as a teenager. I worked and my parents scrimped and saved to send me. I know now that my parents knew what you do..it is something that will change their life forever.
I have looked forward to going back again since my teenage years and finally we leave in three weeks. My parents traveled extensively and I caught the travel bug from them. You have given a wonderful gift to your child that she will have forever!
Take care,
Michele
What a wonderful parent your are! I was offered an opportunity to go to Europe twice as a teenager. I worked and my parents scrimped and saved to send me. I know now that my parents knew what you do..it is something that will change their life forever.
I have looked forward to going back again since my teenage years and finally we leave in three weeks. My parents traveled extensively and I caught the travel bug from them. You have given a wonderful gift to your child that she will have forever!
Take care,
Michele
Jul 2nd, 2009, 10:11 AM
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Gee thanks Michele! My parents never travelled or went on vacations other than a weekend in the Catskills once a year. My first time on a plane was from NYC to Boston for a job interview. I got the bug when I started working and could afford to go on my own trips. Unfortunately with school schedules and work commitments, our travel time is limited. But I'll be an empty-nester starting this September, so hopefully now there will be more opportunities. We have gone on 3 fmaily trips to Europe but my kids barely remember. My daughter is an art student (and of course older) so she's much more tuned into it all now.
