Planning a trip to Italy (two weeks)and Greece (one week) for 2005 and wondering what everyone's opinion is on taking the teens or not. We will be 51 & 47 and the teens will be 18 & 15. I have heard both opinions from friends. Take them! It will open their minds to a whole new world. Leave them! They will be bored???

Also wondering about where to fly into and out of. Plan to go to Venice, Rome, and the Amalfi coast. Then to Athens, Lesvos, and Santorini I hope.

Is lodging that much more expensive for four rather than two?

I am rapidly becoming quite fond of the Fodorites on this site. Very informational and soooo entertaining

Thanks in advance for any and all replys.

I would have taken my son at that age, but then he is great and we have a good relationship as a family.

I know he never would have been bored either in Italy or in Greece, but I don't know your kids, so I couldn't say whether to take them or not. I know some friend's teens that I would not want to travel with and some would be alot of fun to be with.

Only you know that. Grab some guide books and go over them with the teens and see how they react, if they start whining, I would say "nay".

Yes, you know your kids best.
Discuss it with them, as suggested, have them thumb through a guidebook.
I have traveled with younger kids who are into history and new experiences, and they love to travel. If you balance the things that might be of less interest, like art museums and churches, with
other activities like boating or historical sights or shopping or outdoorsy things, you might have a good compromise. But no whining allowed!

Take them! You don't have to spend all your time as a four - at 18 and 15 they're more than old enough to go off on their own to the beach or shopping if they don't want to spend as much time as you on the serious sites (assuming they get on with each other OK!).

Hi,
I am Laurie's daughter, I'm 15 years old. Last summer my parents took my brother,17, and I to Europe for about 3 weeks. It was alot of fun. The museums were really very interesting, although I thought I would hate them before we left. After about the 6th museum we went to, it did get a little boring, so we cut down a little bit.

The only part I would complain about would be missing my friends. My parents gave me a phone card to use though. I got to call my friends every once in awhile.

My brother probably enjoyed the food the most, which I could agree with. Trying the foods was probably one of my favorite parts.

It was fun to try to learn the language as well. Before I went to Italy, it would take me a long time to be able to peice together a few words, but after being there I find it easier to understand and comprehend what they were saying.
I guess what I'm trying to say is yes, they would probably really like it and they will most definitely thank you for the experience later.
~Molly~

Thanks SeaUrchin. Both kids are great and interested in their Dad's heritage (Italian), my daughter even wants to take Italian. Also, they are wonderfully exposed to many different foods and willing to try practically anything once!

Any books you can recommend? Fodor's, obviously...

Molly,

Great to hear from the "younger generation" and your thoughts about your expectations and the actual journey. The phone card is a great idea!

papagena,

I heartily agree...although our papa might not let his "babies" off on their own so easily!

We have taken our three daughters on two (all three of them)/three (two of them) trips, and they are among the best memories of traveling that we have.

Similr ages as your family. Do go with separate rooms at least occasionally. You both deserve it.

Best wishes,

Rex

congratulations, they sound like the type of teens that would be fun to travel with - take them!!

You will have memories that will last a lifetime, especially since it is part of their heritage.

Have fun and write us a trip report!

We took our son to Italy when he was 18, and he had a great time.

We seldom saw him in Venice and Rome as he picked up with locals in both places--we think he had quite a romantic interlude in Venice as there were some long distance phone calls to Venice on his room bills over the rest of the trip, followed by several months of extensive letter exchanges took place once we got home.

He did hang out with us more on the Amalfi coast as we took a lot of day trips--but we didn't see him much in the evenings there either.

A 15-year old might be more of a problem.

BTW, the kids might like to read Rick Steves or Let's Go guide books, they are geared to a young crowd. I know there are more too written by college groups.

Boy, would I have had a great time in Italy at 15, flirting with those cute Italian boys!
Oops, don't tell their Dad that!

I would definitely take the teens - even if they think they won;t enjoy it they will. Hotel for four will be significantly more than hotel for 2 - they're not little kids that can sleep on a roll-away cot - but have you considered renting an apartment to get more for your money?

Last summer we took our two sons (then 14 and 15) with us to Rome, Florence and Venice for about 2 weeks. We had a wonderful time and they loved the experience--from the food to the girls to the museums. The only thing I would do differently is get them their own room (a double) rather than getting quads at each hotel. I didn't realize how different Italian hotels were compared to American ones.

The one thing we always do when we travel as a family is that each person reads the travel material and selects one event, sight, etc. that they want to see in each location. So we hit all of those and then fill in with what we feel are other must-see attractions. Always works out well for us, and everyone feels good about the trip.

Leave them home!!!
Go and enjoy yourselves. Let them "dig up" a trip for themselves when they have the interest.

Having them do their own planning and research makes it a better experience for them, since the planning leads to the excitement and anticipation.

If you do end up taking them, maybe "assign" them an area, a region, or a day's activity to plan and investigate. Learning the history of that area or city, and obtain a map.

Seems like when we just pack them up and take them, they are just looking ou the window with no appreciation of what it is they are looking at, and how much planning went into the trip. They might as well have stayed home and watched it on the big screen!!!

Just an opinion!!

Take them! We're taking our 14 and 17 year old girls to Europe this summer and we are all really excited. Some of our best memories are of the vacations we have taken together. We live our day to day lives with routines and stresses as a family and I wouldn't want to exclude my teens from vacation time when we relax, enjoy ourselves and explore new things. They will be out on their own soon enough and my spouse and I will be vacationing as a couple. I enjoy their company (most of the time) and look forward to our family vacations.

I forgot to mention it will cost more but I think it's worth it!!!

Children generally begin to resist the family vacation experience at 14 or 15. By 18 they are much happier traveling with friends--and the least little thing causes them embarassment.

I traveled a lot with my kids when they were younger. I did learn, however, that, when they expressed a preference for travel with friends, to let them go.

My personal advice for ages 18 & 15 would be to send them on their own trip. There are plenty of trips geared to trips. No, they are not cheap, but you go away while they are away and everyone has a better vacation.

If you decide to travel as a family with your teens, once you get there be prepared for them to do nothing with you except to having that homing instinct when they need money for something.

My family with one 19 yr. old son are taking a Globus tour this May. He's the one that wanted to go and picked out the countries he wanted to visit. Definitely take them, what a great experience!

Hi galestorm

Take 'em! My parents took my two
brothers and me all over (airline family)from the time we were little kids. At 15-16, I often didn't want to go (might miss a good party or something) but once on the trip,were glad we went. Let them have some of their own adventures; my parents let us teens go off on our own, (the ususal precautions are always in order, of course) and we really appreciated the time away from the folks and with each other. Let everyone get to pick some things they like to do and if someone is feeling cranky or tired one day or night, just let them hang in the hotel and get over it (this can inlcude Mom and Dad!).

Great memories, both good and bad, will be made. The life choices that my siblings and I have made were GREATLY influenced by all our exposure living and traveling in other places. It is like nothing else!