lbb

My first trip was 3 weeks in Switzerland and France when I was 26 years old in 1996. I was bitten badly by the travel bug and have been back every year since. Having been so influenced by the travel bug I was determined to expose the ones I love to it also. I took my best friend on her first and second trips to Europe in 1999. She was 26. Then I exposed my father in 2000. He was 64 and got his first passport for that trip. My mom wouldn't fly at that time so I had to get really creative to get her to take her first trip. In 2002 My husband and I ran off to get married in Italy. It was his first trip (he was 27), It was my moms first trip and she was 65. It was his fathers first trip he was 55, his sisters were 21 and 23. His sisters boyfriend was also 21. My best friend Paulie was 37. Dad made his second trip and it was Christinas 4 trip. I will never forget my first trip. There is nothing quite like the first time yet it still seems to get better and better. Have fun

Anna

My first trip was when I was when I was 19 years old. I went from the U.S. to Great Britain. I stayed for three months with a family over there. That was in 1986. In 1995 I went to Paris. I returned to Paris in March of 97' on my honeymoon. In Novemeber that same year I returned to Paris as I had an used ticket and needed to use it or lose it. I have not been able to travel abroad since. My husband works as a Consultant and travels about 75% of the time. It is hard to anticipate when he will have a break. We are planning a trip for 2004. Oh well I have fun on the Fodors board reading about other peoples trip. I am learning a lot here and I appreciate the information.

RzzzA

WoOW!!! Your posts are really getting me geared up for this trip! Thanks and keep them coming...

ls

My first trip was at 21 to Spain and Morocco with a group from my college - led by one of my Spanish professors - right after I graduated (airfare was around $300 r/t from NYC). I had the travel bug, but no money, so I saved my pennies, and went again six years later with my 18-year-old cousin to France, Spain and Switzerland. In the interim, I've traveled to Germany, Austria, Hungary, Croatia and made some return trips to France, Germany, etc., and just returned from my 8th trip to Europe. I'm planning next year's trip already.

cd

46 yrs old!

Gail

At 58 I took my first trip . Went to Portugal with my maid-of-honour and her sister who is a travel agent.<BR>Loved it so much.Now my husband and I go to Spain evry year and travel from there. We are both 62.

Cat

38! <BR><BR>Lost my job and decided to spend some of my severence pay before starting my next job. I went to London.

Sarah

I am 25 years old from Canada and I was 9 on my first trip to Europe with my mom and brother--it had such an amazing impact on me--I went again on my own when I was 15 and have been back about 6 times since. I am heading to ireland and scotland next july-when and where are you going RzzA? have fun!!

Vicky

15 - one of the school tours Amsterdam and all thru Germany. Very little memory of it, however except eating pastry in a cafe with Dutch penpal... sitting at a cafe in Berlin writing and watching the poodle at the next table... being greeted by the Mayor in Rothenburg... did 3 week tour of capitals after college - I was 23 then got involved in community theatre and didn't get my passion for travel back till 1996 - have been going strong every year since then! Leave for Christmas markets in GErmany/Austria on Thanksgiving!

Jean

I was 5 years old when my mother took me with her to visit her family in London for the first time since she had married my dad and moved to the States 10 years before. I remember only a few &quot;scenes&quot; -- having tea in the basement of Fortnum &amp; Masons, walking along a busy street holding the most enormous black umbrella over my head, walking up and down the house stairs (because we lived in a single-story ranch home).<BR><BR>My mother took all three kids to Europe when I was 12 while dad stayed home and made the money. (Thanks, dad!) We bought a new VW beetle and drove The Grand Tour through seven countries over most of a summer. I remember so many things, my older brother remembers entirely different things, and my younger sister remembers almost nothing. (Interestingly, my brother and I have the travel bug while our sister does not.) My mother remembers everything that went &quot;wrong.&quot;<BR><BR>When I was 16, I went on a study tour to Sweden, Finland, the Soviet Union, and Poland. We were supposed to visit Prague, but the Russian tanks beat us there. (OK, do the math and you have my approximate age.) So, we rolled through on the train with the window blinds closed and an armed guard standing at each door. Cool stuff when you're 16, but I'd feel much differently now. Met wonderful teens everywhere and just knew even then that the Soviet system was somehow doomed. The Russian kids were just obsessed with all things American, wanting to buy my jeans, begging me to send them American music, asking endless questions about our freedoms, etc.<BR><BR>After high school graduation, with about $600 and a train pass I spent most of the summer following the sun and staying in university dorms in major towns. Average rate about $4 a night. I'm not sure I'd recommend this adventure for an 18-year-old woman today, but the experience was absolutely priceless.<BR><BR>It was several years later (after college, work, marriage) before I travelled outside the U.S. again (on some interesting business trips to Tokyo and London). Then American Airlines started their frequent flyer program. (Thank you, American Airlines!) We've been travelling anywhere American will take us ever since. I'm seeing some places I saw more than 30 years ago(!) but with a mature prospective and appreciation of all the world has to offer. Still haven't been to Prague, but it's on our wish list.

Marsha

I was 20 - I spent a month in Paris (French theater interim) and 4 months in Avignon at the Institute for American Universities. I only wish I had the opportunity to do that semester again!

Alli

I was 15 (1993) when I made my first trip to France. I went as an exchange student with 6 other junior high schoolers and one of my teachers. I lived with a French family, when to class with my exchange sister, and experienced Villejuif and Paris like a real Parisian! It was one of the best experiences of my life!

Bob

I graduated from college in 1969, married and ready to hit the world at age 21. I got my first job and then was drafted in the Army in November 1969. I kissed my wife goodby and headed to basic training and probably Viet Nam.<BR><BR>Luckily I got sent to Germany. My wife joined me and we spent the next 18 months traveling at every opportunity and seeing Europe at a very early age.All in a VW Beetle and eating sandwiches,no fancy restaurants!<BR><BR>We would not take a million dollars for that experience. We now have been married 34 years and still get to Europe as many times as we can. Getting started early really helped. Your age is the same I was when I first saw Germany. I envy you the trip and the experience.<BR><BR>Just travel....

geri

Ahhh, you lucky people--ages 4, 15, 21, 17, etc. I was 52, my mom 72 when we first made it to Europe. Mom's last journey was at 80 when we did our 6th trip.

Lucy

Hey abc, we have something in common: I was also conceived in Madrid! Must be something in the water! ;-)<BR>I never made it till Europe (London &amp; Italy) till I was 23 after a year of madly saving after I finished university.

Steve N.

I was 17 and a senior in high school when I first went to Europe. I went on a tour with my high school to England and Scotland. It was amazing! Since then I went to Europe one more time. I went at age 19 in the summer of 2002 for six weeks. I went to England, France, Spain, Monaco, Italy, Greece, Germany, Switzerland, Liechenstein, The Netherlands, Austria, and Belgium. I had the time of my life. Now I will be leaving for France on December 29th 2002 to spend New Year's Eve in Paris. Then I will make my way to Marseille where I will study for 7 months. I plan to travel alot and attend some of Europe's famous festivals like the Running of the Bulls and Carnavale.

GB

My first trip was when I was 10 in 1969.I fell in love with traveling. Took school trips to France and Italy when I was 16 and 17 and returned again for a family vacation at 18. Traveled all over Europe for 4 months at the age of 24. I’ve been back half a dozen times since but not nearly as often as I would like. Thanks for reminding me of all those wonderful trips.

monique

I took my first trip to Europe the day after I graduated from college in 1999. I was almost 22. My boyfriend (now my husband!) and I spent two weeks in Dublin, London and Paris. It was everything I expected and more. There will always be something special about that first trip. Since then, I have been completely addicted to thinking about and trying to find ways to get myself to Europe! My next trips were a quick long weekend with my mother in Paris, then a three week honeymoon to Italy, and then two weeks this past summer in flood-soaked Central Europe. In 2003 we're going to do two weeks in Spain and Portugal, and I'm hoping to make a quick trip to Prague in the spring to see what we missed because of the floods!

RnR

23, and it would have been nice to start earlier - but I recall money being a consideration, I think.

steve

32 was the first and been back 4 times the last 3 years.