<p>I know many people who went backpacking across Europe as high school grads/undergrads, and am itching to go. However, due to the state of the world, I don’t see that happening any time soon. I thought it would be interesting to get a few opinions on this.</p>
<p>Parents, did you ever go backpacking? Would you let your child go?</p>
<p>No, Martha, do not go for a while, yet. I would be patient and wait a while. And, when you go where a hat which has the Canadian flag on it.</p>
<p>I have not been backpacking but all three of my kids have. I would not mind if my college kids went with a friend or two to Europe. I know quite a few college students doing study abroads in Europe right now. I’m not sure what the difference is.</p>
<p>Do you mean hitchhiking or do you mean traveling by train and staying in hostels? I wouldn’t recommend the hitchhiking. There are swarms of kids ‘backpacking Europe’ by doing the trains/hostels though. You shouldn’t do it on your own, most I’ve seen over there are typically in groups which would be safer. I haven’t researched it but there’s probably a ton of info on the web.</p>
<p>My daughter was in France all summer. Most of the summer she was at a job. But for part of the time, she traveled on her own. She was not backpacking. She stayed in hotels. </p>
<p>This semester she is studying abroad in Italy. She has a lot of weekly travel that is not alone. Howver, there will be at least one ten day period she has off when she will travel alone to various places in France visiting people she has met. She uses planes, trains and buses to get from one place to another. She also calls us when she reaches a new destination and shares her plans ahead of time. She just turned 20.</p>
<p>I went backpacking, but the real kind: to the bottom of the grand canyon, among other places…</p>
<p>What do you mean by “the state of the world”? Iraq/Afganistan and other major conflicts are nowhere near Europe and the last time I checked civil war hadn’t broken out here either. I’ve been to lots of European countries by myself, even Russia, and I can’t speak another language above phrase book level. Nothing has ever happened to me with the exception of being pick-pocketted and losing my purse on the Paris metro. Do you really think everywhere outside the US is a shoot-out-per-minute? The most scary public transport situation I ever had was in LA where there were a group of teenagers on the back seat comparing their selection of guns and knives. I wouldn’t hitch-hike and if using hostels go to those which are members of hostel associations such as YHA. They will have a list of standards which they will keep to.</p>
<p>GO!!! </p>
<p>The “state of the world” is unlikely to get better in your young lifetime. If you wait you won’t be able to go – or you’ll suddenly require luxurious accomodations that you won’t be able to afford so you’ll postpone again.</p>
<p>Live your life and don’t find excuses.</p>
<p>Well, that’s my 2¢.</p>
<p>I did the train pass/youth hostel-camping thing several times as a college student. I liked it so much then that when my kids got to be high school and college age, I did it again with them several times. Hostels are the way to go travelling in Europe in a party of five - mom, pop, 3 teens. Then, last summer my two college boys went to Japan on their own, travelling by trains and staying in hostels.</p>
<p>The state of the world has never been better for travelling, at least in Europe. The time to go is June, when they are fully geared up for summer travelers but there are few, since school is still in session most places. The dollar has taken a beating against the euro in the last few years, so American tourists are rather rare now. Last summer in Paris, the waiters were not only polite, but actually grateful for us being there.</p>
<p>Ditto. I never did the backpacking thing but I have travelled a lot. Went to London last year right after the bombings, the transit officers, police, etc. were so soliticous it was almost embarassing. I felt like a little old lady.<br>
I also went to New York for July 4th the summer after 911…same experience. Never saw so many NYPD officers in my life.<br>
My son also went to Eypgt last April right before an incident there and had the same experiences with security, etc… these places are so grateful for tourism that they go out of their way to take precautions. (Boy our family has great timing huh?)</p>
<p>My 16 year old son spent last summer in Egypt – used public transportation extensively and was on his own alot (he lived with a host family) and had no issues. Spent a week in NYC and LA this fall doing the hostel/public transportation thing without any incident. He will backpacking across Europe sometime soon, depending on what other opportunities crop up for him this summer.</p>
<p>I spent 10 weeks one summer post college graduation backpacking around Europe, sleeping in hostels, on trains, in train stations, traveling everywhere by rail, with no itinerary at all. I went with one friend; she and I split up for parts of the trip while different people joined us for others. We had a friend in Rome to stay with for three days (clean clothes, real food…yay!). We stayed with some foreign relatives too, and met interesting people everywhere we went.</p>
<p>I still think about that trip, 25 years later. It was fabulous. I have tried not to dissuade my children from experiences because of the current world situation. Living in fear is no way to live.</p>
<p>I agree 100% with Weenie. My D wants to go to Israel and “the state of the world” over there isn’t so great, but then my mother kept waiting for it to get “safer” and now she is 83, in declining health and wishing she had gone. There are many ways to get around Europe, on the safe and cheap. Get a Eurail pass, stay in youth hostles, use common sense. It’s a great, big wonderful world and you should see it.</p>
<p>Bike toured UK with my brother, staying in hostels.</p>
<p>D travel to UK and Spain on her own.</p>
<p>I would let my college age child go, especially if she was traveling with friend(s).</p>
<p>Go for it. Go with a friend. Don’t hitchhike. Dress appropriately (and not in an obviously American way.) Stay in hostels, pensiones and cheap hotels. Talk with the locals as much as you can, open yourself to the new culture as much as you can. Email home often. Repeat: email home often. </p>
<p>This is the advice I gave D when she was traveling in Argentina last year as a 17 year old high school exchange student. (Yes, it was scary for me.) But I did same as a 17 year old in Europe, except with a backpack, and no such thing as email.</p>
<p>another piece of advice that my son has been given time and again – if asked, say you are from Canada!</p>
<p>I remember when one traveled throughout the world as a proud American, not one who had to lie about country of origin.</p>
<p>We can largely thank the Bush administration for that. </p>
<p>A friend told me this story while visiting Vancouver last year: they were on a whale watching tour and the guide, to make time pass, asked everyone on the boat where they were from. Couple #1 says “we’re from Germany.” Polite applause. “We’re from Montreal” says father/son. Polite applause. This continues until it reaches my friend. “I’m from the US” he says - and is greeted with uncomfortable silence until the guide breaks the moment and starts talking whales…</p>
<p>
Thats American pride for ya! <puking> When I visited Spain and Portugal last summer, I dress so obviously American it was not even funny (Indians, Kent State, American flag, and Nike t-shirts) I never ran into a problem at all. People in Europe are very nice. They hate W with a passion, but many Americans are like that also, so its not that big a deal. You will surprised how many people have actually been to America. Also if you are going to stay at a youth hostel, don’t be surprised if the rooms are not devided by gender, and people will have sex with you in the room. It’s pretty cool, but not for everyone.</puking></p>
<p>contrary to popular belief, no one will shoot at you if they find out you’re American. Contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of Europeans do not dislike Americans.</p>
<p>How do you tell the Americans in Europe? The ones with Canadian flags.</p>
<p>You have no reason to live in shame.</p>