Marj

24, to London.<BR><BR>That was about 20 years ago. I've taken my kids, first time, ages 8 &amp; 11 to Paris and Amsterdam. <BR><BR>I'm sure you will have a great time and will revisit.

bobbie

Hey, Diane, I too went to the Universite de Caen in my sophomore year! Hated the food, ugh! Traveling after the semester was my introduction to Europe and after marriage, children, etc we didn't get traveling again for almost thirty years but that was an unforgetable trip to Australia. Since then my daughter has been my travel companion and are constantly planning our next trip, sometimes we plan more than we go unfortunately....

Rita

I was 32. I was raised in a small Irish community in Pennsylvania. The church's housekeeper decided to get a group together for a trip to Ireland. WOW. There were 45 of us, family and friends. I've been traveling ever since. This past October was my seventh trip to Europe. Happy traveling. Rita<BR>

nina

I was 13, went to study Spanish all over Spain. My husband first went when he was 3, and came home speaking Italian.

janell

22-Paris!<BR>I'm 23 now and going to London in 3 weeks. Hope to make Europe a yearly tradition (if not more often)!

Elaine

I was 17 and my sister was 15. Our parents sent us to Dolomites (northern Italy) to stay with grandparents. On our return flight, we had to change planes in London so we got off and changed our tickets to several days later and got our first taste of independent travel. I went back again in 1972 when I was 19 and spend the summer hitchhiking with a girlfriend. Great education!<BR>

beachbum

19, 31 years ago. Had a one-way ticket and about $700 in my pocket. Bought a bicycle in Paris, and rode for four months before cash ran low. Worked illegally in Germany for a few months to earn enough for more travel and the flight home. The most memorable 11 months of my life.

RzzzA

Hello! it has really been interesting reading these posts...i really, really, really can't wait to go already! <BR><BR>Sarah, i'll be going in the fall 2003 and mostly in italy although i do plan to visit some neighboring countries.<BR><BR>Like some of you, (and being 22 and fresh out of college) I had to save a good chunk of my paycheck to make this trip. Despite the need to save money for other things such as repayment of school loans, I felt that it was important that i go now while i'm still in my &quot;youth&quot;! I figured that if i went later, professional obligations and such would keep me from fully experiencing the joys (and pains?) of travel!!! <BR><BR>

RzzzA

beachbum, hats off to you! that's the type of no-obligation, carefree, spontaneous travel i'm talking about! I don't know how easy/hard it would be to do that nowadays, but surely that was something you look back at fondly and with great pride!!!

meg

I was 12, we took a trafalga tour of Europe,then 2 weeks in london and then 4 weeks in Ireland. Going again in 4 week with mum and dad, I'm now 14. We will be spending 2 weeks in England and 2 weeks in Ireland. I'm very lucky to be able to see the World.

Carla

34. I had a frightening experience with melanoma in May of that year. In Oct my husband announced that he had to go on a business trip to France and Holland (his first trip out of the country, too). I emptied the savings account, called the grandparents to babysit in shifts and went with him. Nothing like contemplating an early death to give you motivation! We had a wonderful trip. I never missed the money, and the kids (who were 3 &amp; 7 at the time) did just fine. They are now grown and I've been back to Europe 3 more times.

vgt

very good thread<BR>

Erin

My first trip was in 1995. I was 25 years old and went to London with my college roommate. Going back to London in March 2003 (for the fourth time).

laura

I was 16 and went with a school group to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland for 4 weeks. Had an absolute blast! Went back when I was 20 and lived for a year in Munich and did a lot of traveling from there. Am planning on going back next fall to Italy for my honeymoon!!!

s

I was 20 and a senior in college when my sister took me to England. It was at the time when Princess Anne was getting married and we waited along the Mall to see all the carriages and royalty. Afterwards we saw them come out on the balcony at Buckingham Palace. Just lovely. And the big treat was seeing Princess Grace and Prince Ranier just strolling along the Burlington Arcade with a single &quot;bobby&quot; behind them. That started a life long love of travel.

Deb

Hi,<BR><BR>I was 13 when my parents took me to the British Isles for the first time. After that first exposure, I was hooked. In fact, my graduation gift from high school was a 6-week European tour. I have gone overseas on average once a year since. (However, I had a real blessing - my father worked for an airline so I got free to almost-free airfare until I was out of college!)<BR><BR>Even though I don't receive travel privileges anymore, I still try to go overseas at least once a year.<BR><BR>By the way, have a great time!!!

SA

32 - Back for my 10th trip (I think) in March. It will be my 6 month old daughters 2nd trip if you count like Glad (in uterus).

michael

I was four years old. That was in 1960. We flew on Pan Am(remember them). Naturally I remember nothing. The first trip I do recall was in 1964 at age 8. My family and I went to London Paris and Rome then off to Bari Italy to visit family. Travel was so different. My parents actually dressed up to tour. My fater wore jacket and tie on the plane and for dinner. A far different time

Sherry

I am 27, and leaving next week for England and Scotland-- my and my husband's (also 27) first time to anyplace in Europe.<BR><BR>I'm so excited, I could cry. My husband lights up like he's 7 years old when we talk about it. Which is .... um... constantly.

Rachele

I was 21, and it was 2 days after college graduation in the summer of '85. Great stuff -- 6 weeks bashing around Europe on $1500, staying in pensiones. You can't do that anymore.