Safe, Affordable European Cities
Jun 15th, 2016, 06:25 AM
#41
Yes, but 55% off what? People were touting "cheap" prices for New York a few years back, by which they meant 50% off, but that was still higher than I wanted to pay (I slept at the Jane for $99 plus tax).
The B&B I referenced above is the Ridgemount, where I get an an-suite single. The Arosfa nest door is a bit posher and a bit pricier, but I think the Ridgemount has better bathrooms. The Jesmond is a bit cheaper.
This is the site for LSE dorms (I'm sleeping at Grosvenor House): http://www.lsevacations.co.uk/home.aspx
This trip I'll also be sleeping in en-suite B&B rooms at Christ Church Oxford and Sydney Sussex Cambridge, booked through this site:
http://www.universityrooms.com
The B&B I referenced above is the Ridgemount, where I get an an-suite single. The Arosfa nest door is a bit posher and a bit pricier, but I think the Ridgemount has better bathrooms. The Jesmond is a bit cheaper.
This is the site for LSE dorms (I'm sleeping at Grosvenor House): http://www.lsevacations.co.uk/home.aspx
This trip I'll also be sleeping in en-suite B&B rooms at Christ Church Oxford and Sydney Sussex Cambridge, booked through this site:
http://www.universityrooms.com
Jun 15th, 2016, 07:02 AM
#42
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Budapest and Prague revs were an attempt to get the thread back to what the OP was asking, not an invitation to the less travelled for snarky response
Unless the youngsters want to enroll in my class on how to pickpocket the pickpockets in Madrid and Barcelona, they are better choices. Lisbon? Nah
Unless the youngsters want to enroll in my class on how to pickpocket the pickpockets in Madrid and Barcelona, they are better choices. Lisbon? Nah
Jun 15th, 2016, 11:15 AM
#47
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Spain seems a natural fit. You don't really need a foreign language in most of Europe as long as you stay on the tourist routes, but their Spanish would make a trip to Spain much more memorable than the ordinary "pre-college summer abroad."
Sevilla is one of the neatest cities in the world, and any of the smaller Spanish cities would work. I would give anything to be 18 and in Sevilla! Madrid too, probably. I'd advise them to get out into the smaller cities, towns and countryside, as that's where Europe comes alive.
E.g. when driving in rural Andalucía many years ago, we stumbled upon some pilgrims during El Rocio and will never forget it.
http://www.andalucia.com/festival/rocio.htm
One piece of advice above that you should ignore is to forget all safety concerns. Everyone has to be concerned for his or her safety, especially beautiful teen girls who are natural targets for all sorts of evil critters.
Let me reiterate one of the comments above: they should stay together and should be very careful of over-friendly strangers. Never accept a drink or food---not even water--or, obviously, drugs, from a stranger, and keep an eye on all drinks at all times.
Also, keep passports, most credit cards and cash in the safe in the hotel or apartment and carry only one credit card and some "walking around money." Money belts or bra purses are good. Don't let them bring any expensive jewelry, assuming they own any. There are lots of shops in any foreign city selling cheap "bling" (if that's not an oxymoron) that will permit them to feel dressed up without having to worry about losing something valuable.
!Espero que les pasen un buen viaje!
Sevilla is one of the neatest cities in the world, and any of the smaller Spanish cities would work. I would give anything to be 18 and in Sevilla! Madrid too, probably. I'd advise them to get out into the smaller cities, towns and countryside, as that's where Europe comes alive.
E.g. when driving in rural Andalucía many years ago, we stumbled upon some pilgrims during El Rocio and will never forget it.
http://www.andalucia.com/festival/rocio.htm
One piece of advice above that you should ignore is to forget all safety concerns. Everyone has to be concerned for his or her safety, especially beautiful teen girls who are natural targets for all sorts of evil critters.
Let me reiterate one of the comments above: they should stay together and should be very careful of over-friendly strangers. Never accept a drink or food---not even water--or, obviously, drugs, from a stranger, and keep an eye on all drinks at all times.
Also, keep passports, most credit cards and cash in the safe in the hotel or apartment and carry only one credit card and some "walking around money." Money belts or bra purses are good. Don't let them bring any expensive jewelry, assuming they own any. There are lots of shops in any foreign city selling cheap "bling" (if that's not an oxymoron) that will permit them to feel dressed up without having to worry about losing something valuable.
!Espero que les pasen un buen viaje!
Jun 15th, 2016, 11:29 AM
#48
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When young and in the US, I slept 50% of the time for free.
With people I met, at airports, and once under a bridge (not my best night).
Would I want my daughter to do that ? No. I also slept in hostels. About as confortable as in a dorm in the army. Esp with snoring guys.
Cheap holds no meaning in itself. You can do UK on the cheap, it will be more expensive than Spain on the cheap.
I slept in 4* hotels in Prague, very nice for 100€ a night. I read here that some find a hostel in London cheap for 100$. I prefer a 4* in Krakow than a hostel in London.
Now there is no London Bridge in Krakow. But vodka shot is less than 1€.
With people I met, at airports, and once under a bridge (not my best night).
Would I want my daughter to do that ? No. I also slept in hostels. About as confortable as in a dorm in the army. Esp with snoring guys.
Cheap holds no meaning in itself. You can do UK on the cheap, it will be more expensive than Spain on the cheap.
I slept in 4* hotels in Prague, very nice for 100€ a night. I read here that some find a hostel in London cheap for 100$. I prefer a 4* in Krakow than a hostel in London.
Now there is no London Bridge in Krakow. But vodka shot is less than 1€.
Jun 15th, 2016, 11:46 AM
#50
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As long as they stay together and not get too drunk when going out at night they will be ok in both Spain and Italy. I really can't see anything happening in cities there unless they are extremely unlucky.
In general I would say Italy is quieter than Spain as it is more expensive so it you won't find all this places full of northern Europeans that party and are drunk all day long. But "normal" cities in Spain will be ok. I started travelling alone with girlfriends when I turned 16, and I never felt threatened in any way.
In general I would say Italy is quieter than Spain as it is more expensive so it you won't find all this places full of northern Europeans that party and are drunk all day long. But "normal" cities in Spain will be ok. I started travelling alone with girlfriends when I turned 16, and I never felt threatened in any way.
Jun 15th, 2016, 11:47 AM
#51
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< a group of young American gals whose stories mainly consisted of getting drunk and sexploits with exotic and hot European men.>
You can get drunk anywhere, but as for the men, isn't that why we go to Europe when we are 18?
You can get drunk anywhere, but as for the men, isn't that why we go to Europe when we are 18?
Jun 15th, 2016, 12:18 PM
#53
<but I am worried more about rape, kidnap, theft and the things they really can only try to avoid.>
How do you "only try to avoid" getting kidnapped? How many American 18 year old females have been kidnapped from major cities of Europe recently? I really don't understand this particular concern.
As far as personal safety, I assume they will stay together as a group? Or at least in pairs? Not be off alone at night somewhere?
Theft is not difficult to avoid or at least raise your odds it won't happen to you. That's more a matter of dealing with your belongings with common sense and precautions. How you carry your money and passport (money belt), etc. etc.
How do you "only try to avoid" getting kidnapped? How many American 18 year old females have been kidnapped from major cities of Europe recently? I really don't understand this particular concern.
As far as personal safety, I assume they will stay together as a group? Or at least in pairs? Not be off alone at night somewhere?
Theft is not difficult to avoid or at least raise your odds it won't happen to you. That's more a matter of dealing with your belongings with common sense and precautions. How you carry your money and passport (money belt), etc. etc.
Jun 15th, 2016, 01:06 PM
#56
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You can get into trouble in any city if you go around late at night, go with any guy, get drunk, etc. >
Or in any frat house in the U.S. there is far more danger of this than in Europe probably.
Or in any frat house in the U.S. there is far more danger of this than in Europe probably.
Jun 15th, 2016, 01:12 PM
#58
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The Taken franchise reminds me of this quote from the Importance of Being Earnest: "To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness." Substitute "wife or daughter" for "parent" and you get the scope of Liam Neeson's predicament in those films!
Jun 15th, 2016, 02:11 PM
#59
I watched Turistas a week before my daughter left for her study abroad into the rural areas and cities in the Dominican Republic. That image of the taking of the kidneys was in the back of my mind for a while. Don't watch that movie.
Taken, funny enough is a good thing to show the kids. Peter the nice cute boy at the airport who wants to ride with them seemed innocent enough. I just always reminded my girls they would be dead because their dad isn't Liam Neeson.
Our friend's son was kidnapped from a bar in Brazil. He was traveling with a friend from college who is brazilian and he was staying with their family. He is 6ft 3 and blonde and was kidnapped before he even drank anything. Fortunately his kindappers werent' too smart and he had his cell phone and was able to contact his parents. The FBI got involved and between them and the local family/cops, he was found unharmed. This was over spring break this past March.
Key advice here is to not drink too much, always be aware of your surroundings and never go off with anyone alone. Always keep your passport under your clothes or in the hotel safe.
Taken, funny enough is a good thing to show the kids. Peter the nice cute boy at the airport who wants to ride with them seemed innocent enough. I just always reminded my girls they would be dead because their dad isn't Liam Neeson.
Our friend's son was kidnapped from a bar in Brazil. He was traveling with a friend from college who is brazilian and he was staying with their family. He is 6ft 3 and blonde and was kidnapped before he even drank anything. Fortunately his kindappers werent' too smart and he had his cell phone and was able to contact his parents. The FBI got involved and between them and the local family/cops, he was found unharmed. This was over spring break this past March.
Key advice here is to not drink too much, always be aware of your surroundings and never go off with anyone alone. Always keep your passport under your clothes or in the hotel safe.
Jun 15th, 2016, 04:00 PM
#60
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Get them membership cards of Hostelling International. The HI hostels are meant for young travellers (although there is no age limit), they do have some more rules and some more safety than private hostels. And they cost less that hotels.
A footnote concerning hotels, just in case they might be considering one hotel room for all of them: Hotel prices in Europe are usually calculated per person, not per room, and the number of persons staying is limited so smuggling more people in would be considered fraud and lead to trouble. A double room is for 2 and no more than 2. Four people would need a quadruple room, which are rare beasts, or two double resp. twin rooms.
A footnote concerning hotels, just in case they might be considering one hotel room for all of them: Hotel prices in Europe are usually calculated per person, not per room, and the number of persons staying is limited so smuggling more people in would be considered fraud and lead to trouble. A double room is for 2 and no more than 2. Four people would need a quadruple room, which are rare beasts, or two double resp. twin rooms.
