High School Graduation Trip
 

Hi All, without too much commenting on the appropriateness of such a trip, does anyone have any ideas for a group of 18-year olds who would like to spend the week after graduation (mid-June)renting a house somewhere near a beach in the US? We live in PA and lots of kids here go to Ocean City, MD, but this group would like something quieter. Of course, they can't find anyone willing to rent to them....

We would prefer they choose hostelling in Europe on the basis that it would be a more rewarding experience, but my daughter says that none of her friends are interested in that (oh foolish youth!) So, any suggestions?

Your first problem is that no rental agency will rent to a group of 18 year olds. I know the rental agency we use for our house checks. Whoever rents the house must show up to get the keys. If a parent rents for them and the rental agency finds out it is for house parties (their term not mine), they get booted out immediately with no refund.

They are going to have problems finding hotels that will accommodate them because of their age.

I suggest the parents get together and take the kids.

I spoke to a real estate agent friend of mine who deals in vacation rentals, and, like the above post states, hardly anyone will rent to this age group. In fact most rental agencies will not rent to single groups under 25.
She also wants you to understand that because this group is under 21, if they are caught drinking or causing damage to the rental, YOU THE PARENTS can and will be held liable.
She suggests, as the above post mentions, that the parents take them on a trip.

It is not uncommon for kids from the NY city area (NJ included) to spend a few days down at the Jersey Shore following their prom, graduation, etc.

However, I think it would be fairly difficult to find someone to rent you a house in a town like Seaside Heights, Wildwood, or one of the other destinations popular with the teen crowd. If my nephew's experience after his prom last year is an indication, you probably can find a hotel/motel in one of these towns that will rent to you.

Thanks for the replies. I knew a house rental would be a problem, and I've already told the group that I would not lie to get them into a house. I don't blame the owners; I wouldn't want that age group in my house for an extended period unchaperoned.

Hotels will be difficult too? I absolutely hate to suggest a package trip to Mexico to a hotel that will allow them in, but, boy, their options are really limited. By the way, they are resisting parents coming along, but they may come around to seeing that they have no choice.

I don't have a senior yet but am already talking about this subject with my friends. One idea that has come up is sending them on a cruise. Legal drinking and no driving. One friend I know specifically planned an exotic family trip during the beach week time so her child wouldn't go to beach week.

Suki, I highly suggest you do a google search before you allow them to go to Cancun.

Laws in Mexico are Nepoleonic in that you are guilty until you've proven yourself innocent.

Spring break horror stories abound and our state department even has a warning on its site on how groups of kids might want to avoid Cancun.

Read this--> http://www.freep.com/news/metro/spring25_20010425.htm

They can hostelling in USA as easy! For example in San Francisco I know at least 2 youth hostels in a good, safe, central location, and 1 more not in a central, but nice location in a park above the bay.

Suki-My younger daughter is graduating from high school this year too. She wants to go on a trip and we are going through some of the same issues. I think she may actually get the opportunity to go to Cabo San Lucas but only because one of her friends family has a timeshare. I am trying to work out the details as to whether an adult will be there as I am not sure I want her in Mexico without an adult present.

Someone suggested a cruise. I was actually looking into that for my other daughter (21)who wants to do a short one for spring break. However as somone pointed out to me (thank you) for a young adult to go on a cruise unaccompanied, they have to be 21. Unfortunately my daughter's friends are only 20. I checked with the cruise lines. They do check their age and will not let them board alone unless they are 21. However, a cruise might not be such a bad idea if a parent or two went along. The parents could relax and the kids could have fun without feeling the adults were looking over their shoulder all the time since the ships are so big.

FainaAgain also has a great suggestion. Have them do some traveling in the US, maybe to the West, since it is different than where you live. Good luck!

Suggest that they all get jobs together at a summer resort. They can spend the whole summer together instead of just a week.

I did not read the whole article GoTravel, but thanks for posting it. I retract all mention of Mexico. To her credit, my daughter has said she definitely would not go to Cancun, and really just wants a quiet house in the Outer Banks for grad week (not spring break). She did the research and found that no one would rent to her group. This group of friends is trying to keep the price reasonable, and paying for the trip themselves. I'll keep thinking on it.

By the way, thanks for all the great replies. Some very interesting ideas are developing here.

Have they looked into a cruise?

What about several of the parents getting together and renting two houses or several condos. The kids can stay together but parents could still be close by.

Unfortunately, it is probably all of us who ruined it in the past for other high school kids.

There may be some motels that still rent to 18 year olds in Myrtle Beach.

We had a large group that went camping. It was a lot of fun and they were very well equipped. We helped them plan and pack...
As far as I know, there are no camping problems at National Parks and such. 18 is old enough...

I think I lucked out with our oldest and his Senior Trip. He went to the Bahamas with his HS youth group. There was constant supervision and they had a great time while teaching Bible stories to a group of kids there.

I went to Hawaii with a girlfriend for 10 days on my senior trip. A family friend who lived in Hawaii was a chaperone. My son's fiance also went to Maui for her senior trip last summer and a parent went along, also. Take some adults to supervise! ***kim*** (~~)

Several people have mentioned a cruise, but if I recall correctly you have to be 21 to go on a cruise unless you are in the company of an adult. I looked into a cruise with a few of my friends our first year out of high school (about 5-6 years ago) but at the time we were all too young.

I know that they don't seem to be interested in Europe, but hostelling sounds like the best option. Have they considered possibly camping?

There is (or was?) a hostel HI/AYH affiliated just 1 block from the beach at 24th & Pacific in Virginia Beach.

I like the idea of them getting a job together at a summer resort. I tend to say "so what" as to whether they want parents around or not. I'll bet it the parents footing the bill.

How about a long distance bicycling or canoeing trek, or similar activity? Maybe too tired at the end of each day for too much hijinks!

I cannot imagine NOT willing to try hosteling in Europe. I'd have died for a chance to do that at 18 and would be willing to donate an organ AFTER the trip if I could go now!

When I was a teenager many moons ago, we could get a hotel room at 18 as long as we had a credit card in our name and a photo id. I'm surprised things have changed that much.

I would think that there would plenty of places in the Caribbean (Jamaica immediately comes to mind) where you could buy a travel package for your child that is paid entirely in advance. If you wanted to stay with US territory, maybe St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands would be a good place to look. It's off season there, as opposed to the US mainland, so prices might not be as high as one might expect.

rb - I can't imagine not wanting to hostel in Europe either. I would have loved to do that.

Instead I spent my "grad trip" trapped in a car on a 2 week road trip with my parents going to visit family out of state.