Get them to look out for one another. The advice to 'not speak to strangers' is absurd - this is where holiday memories are made.

Fact is, millions of 18-25 year olds travel and backpack around Europe and we only hear about the few who are killed or injured. I would say Europe is far safer than the USA where anyone can buy an AR15 semi-automatic weapon and commit mass shootings.

"safe" is a relative term. If the young ladies in question are from Detroit, Chicago, East LA, Flint, Baltimore, DC, Youngstown, etc., then I'd be hard pressed to find a city they would not be prepared for.

Just tell them not to act like dumbasses and not come back with anything that can't be treated with antibiotics and everything should be fine.

In ANY European city the girls will be much safer than in Detroit, Chicago, Baltimore, Los Angeles, etc.

The structure of European cities is totally different from the structure of American cities - less segregation, more mix of uses and especially the city centres day and night full of people strolling through the streets.

So, please forget all safety concerns. And also forget New Year's Eve in Cologne (my son was there with his girlfriend and their reports differed considerably from that what the media wrote). And New Year's Eve is always a very special situation.

That said, let's go practical.

Italy belongs to the most expensive countries in Europe, France is also very expensive. Germany is on a middle level and Spain and Portugal are inexpensive countries.

So, given their preferences and restrictions, I would recommend going to Spain. It is a large country, and there is much to see and to do. They will find vibrant cities there - Madrid, Barcelona - which are full of art and history and lifestyle. They find scenery, beaches, and Moorish heritage as far north as Toledo.

If they want, they can even dip with daytrips into southern France.

However, I would not recommend to go to Andalusia in summer - it will be too hot and many places do not have A/C.

Alternatively, Berlin would be quite an experience for the girls - a vibrant, cosmopolitan city full of art, history, entertainment and attractions of all kinds. And surprisingly inexpensive and easy to managed with an excellent public transport system.

Thanks to the vibrant club scene in Berlin, recreational pharmaceuticals are obtained fairly easily.

Since they are all 18, it is important to note that they will all be able to legally drink alcohol. This may (likely) or may not (unlikely) be an issue.

I was in Madrid one Sunday morning in July 2011 enjoying a coffee in a cafe and had the, err, "opportunity" to be seated next to a group of young American gals whose stories mainly consisted of getting drunk and sexploits with exotic and hot European men.

Thank you spark, for your most assuring and comforting words to OP. She will sleep much better now.

traveller1959 - Italy is not expensive. Some parts are expensive - such as the historic centre of Rome but even that has its budget hotesl. Outside Rome, you can head off to areas where you pay 15 euro per night for a share room with a private bathroom. Even the Amalfi Coast has its budget places - people just have to be prepared to do some research.

But in spark's example, that was those girls' own choice, not a particular danger imposed onto them by Europe. They could and probably would have done the same anywhere in the world.

A big question is how much common sense the OP's girls have, how well they stick together and take care of each other. Another question is whether they have any experience with alcohol and know about the effects, so they know how to recognize the taste and where their limits are. (When I was about 15 my mother made me taste all varieties because she said, you have to know how the hard stuff tastes so no one can fool you. I still consider this an excellent idea. And I am still convinced that whiskey and cognac are awful, having never tourched either again...)

On the other hand, young people have to make their own experiences and parents don't have to know everything. They are legally adults at 18. So parents must let them go at some point.

Quokka, knows what's up.

Spain is great, and safer than many other places, IMO. Knowing the language is good, at least they can understand what people next to them are saying. And, as if you said they are smart girls, they will know how to avoid nasty situations.

What does "affordable" mean?

The price level of a country is not only a question of accomodation.

For a traveller, it is the sum of several prices:

- accomodation
- entrance fees (can be exorbitant is some countries)
- activities
- public transport
- an occasional taxi ride
- food in restaurants
- beverages in restaurants
- foods from street stands/grocery stores
- beverages from street stands/grocery stores
- souvenirs
- miscellaneous (like communication etc.)

If you sum up all these elements, Italy is about as twice expensive as Spain and about 25% pricier than Germany. Believe me, I live in Europe and are a frequent traveller.

The differences of price levels have reasons: It is inflation. Italy had traditionally high inflation rates and before the Euro, inflation was compensated by currency adjustments. Within the Eurozone, there are no currency adjustments any more which means that Italy gets pricier from year to year. It's basic economics. Same with France. Switzerland (the most expensive country) and UK are also expensive because of their exchange rates.

A quite good map of price levels (albeit with a few errors, as usual) you find here:

http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/

Very interesting.

But factor in all the free museums etc in London and it goes some way to compensate for the exchange rate when compared to other cities that charge large entrance fees to sites.

I'm sorry but the free museums in London to little to offset the crazy prices for food and decent accommodation.

You can do most EuropeanCities on the cheap, it's just what you are willing to give up. Spain and Portugal will be the most affordable, but I don't think that's the best trip idea. I would suggest Prague andBudapest offering the most while only slightly more expensive

You can eat very well on a budget in London. It really isn't that hard.

I budget £50/day. That keeps me happy as it includes coffee and beers.

You can eat well on a budget in most places, although perhaps not Scandinavia and Switzerland. Shop the markets, eat picnics, sandwiches and ethnic.

Spain and Portugal are countries. Prague and Budapest are cities. It is silly to compare them. And I would put Lisbon and Barcelona in the same class as Prague and Budapest, although I found Prague far too crowded and have not been back, while I have revisited the others.

I don't know what sparkchaser considers decent accommodation, but I will be sleeping in an LSE student dorm this summer - en-suite with kitchen on Drury Lane - for around 100 USD/night. If the four young women of the OP were willing to share a bathroom they could sleep in an LSE dorm for 54 USD/person in singles or twins. My favorite B&B in Bloomsbury has a shared bath quad for 50 USD/person. I'm sure hostels will be lower and with four of them they might get a private room.

I need to look into those places you mentioned for my next foray into London. My next trip to London I was able to score Hilton Canary Wharf for 55% off.