I want take my 17 year old grandaughter on a tour--preferably a small(er) group. Just beginning to think this out an would appreciuate hearing others' recommendation regarding tour companies and destinations. We're probably looking at 9-12 days, including travel. Thanks in advance.

Where in Europe, it's a big place?

Why a tour? Europe is very easy to travel on your own.

If I were taking a teen on a tour I'd look at Rick Steves' family tours, although your teen is almost am adult:

https://www.ricksteves.com/tours

I haven't taken tours, big or small, in Europe, though I have given them, but it's hard for me to imagine one that a 17-year-old would enjoy unless it involved a lot of other similarly aged young people. I think at 17 I would have been bored to tears on a bus with a bunch of older people. But perhaps there are tours specifically geared to a mixed group. Rick Steve tours do get a lot of praise.

My daughter spends a weekend a year with a grandmother's friend. They just live to be taken care if by the grandma.

My rec would be to giro paris or Berlin or or and to spoil the grandchild. With one or two day trips - even Disney or parc Astérix.

It's interesting that many assume a teenager would be bored on a tour with older people and for some tours I might agree. However, I've been on several Rabbie tours where there have been teenagers even twenty year olds with parents and they seemed to have a great time. I suppose it depends on how well they get along with their parents or in one case I remember an aunt and her 16 year old niece. I wouldn't hesitate to take my soon to be 12 year old granddaughter on a tour but I would be careful as the tour company. They're are some tour companies that I would avoid even if not traveling with with a teenager because everyone seems to be on their last leg so to speak. Rick Steves might be a good fit.

I think 12 is significantly different from 17.

Rabbies is a different sort of animal than the large group tours - they are small, they are mostly short (1 to 5 days) and those on the tours select their own accommodation -- not large 'tourist class hotels'. So a Rabbies tour for a few days say in Scotland in conjunction with London independently for 4 or 5 days would be fine for a teenager/grandmother. But most of the typical mass market Globus/Trafalgar/etc tours - say a 'Highlights of Italy' - that would sort of 'fit' a grandmother (not well IMO) would be awful for a teenager.

These are scrapbooks for one of last year's RS Family Tours.

https://dmarksding.wixsite.com/familyeurope2016

This one was written by the teen:

http://londontoflorence.weebly.com/

I agree. It was the mass market type of tour that I said I'd avoid even if not with a teenager and certainly with a teenager.One aspect of Rabbies that works well for all ages is that the driver/ guide gives commentary on the places enroute to your visit, then they drop you off and tell you when to be back. There is no leading a large group around giving talks etc. Rabbies tours give you a lot more independence and that generally works well with all ages. In fact if you decide you want to shop instead of visiting a particular site fine. If you want to go to a pub that's fine too.

Yes, 12 is different from 17 but I certainly wouldn't take a 12 year old or a 17 year old on any mass market tour. I think both ages would enjoy a Rabbies tour or probably Rick Steves. The OP needs to provide more information as to where she is thinking of traveling, for how long. their interests and a budget is always helpful.

I think it's great that you're planning a trip with your 17 year old granddaughter. This is the kind of bonding and memories that make life special.

I recommend a Rick Steves tour for the two of you. I haven't been on one but know several people who have (and have run across a tour group on my own travels) and they seem to be the types of people a 17 year old could enjoy being with. And afterall, this is an experience for the two of you! If she gets bored now and then she'll live. She's getting to see Europe!

Definitely involve her in the planning. It will enrich the experience for her.

A friend took her then 18 year old son on a Rick Steves family tour; she thought the ages were a good fit for both of them. I would check it out.

When I was in high school, 14 -17, I much preferred the company of my mom and her friends, who were also my friends, to my high school classmates.

One should not make assumptions.