<p>A few months ago, my friends and I began discussing the possibility of taking a road trip after my graduation (they’re a year younger than me, but they’ll be attending graduation to sing).</p>
<p>Originally, our plan was to have all of our stuff packed and ready to go in however many cars we need based upon the number of people going. When I asked my parents about it initially, it seemed like they thought I was kidding.</p>
<p>We’d probably take anywhere from a few days to a week. We want to go basically up the coast of California and then back down to where we live.</p>
<p>If we stay at the number of people who originally suggested the plan, there would be 2 girls and 2 boys (none of us are in relationships with each other, so the whole “what if someone fools around” thing is a non-issue). And since I won’t be 18 yet, one of the boys who is coming is already 18 (because you have to be an adult to rent a hotel room, yes? I don’t really dig the whole sleeping in the car thing XD). However, there’s a probability that we may add a few more people for fun (2 of us will be able to drive at this point).</p>
<p>So my question is: If your Senior presented this plan to you, what would you say? Any suggestions on how to bring this up with my parents? Any revisions to the plan that you think should be made? Any insight greatly appreciated. ^_^</p>
<p>I did this with my friends in high school. You should probably make a detailed itinerary for your parents - where you’ll be on each day, what you’ll do, where you’ll stay, how long you’ll drive, etc. That’ll help them see that you’re serious about this, as well as helping you to flesh out your plans. My parents were pretty worried about me when I did it, so I promised to call when we got to each location (which I did). Remember that some hotels will rent to 18 year olds and some will not, so you’ll need to find out whether the ones you want to stay at do. You may run into a problem especially because some of you are minors, and some hotels require that someone 21+ be staying in a room with minors. Most hotel rooms have 4 people max per room, so you’ll have to rent more rooms if you decide to add more people to your trip. Also begin saving money NOW so you’re not scrambling at the last minute to pay for this trip, and realize that you’ll probably end up spending more than you thought you would. </p>
<p>Just let your parents know that you’re serious about this, that you’re willing to fund it (if you aren’t, you probably should be, so that your parents can’t hold the “we’re paying for it, and if we don’t want you to go, you don’t go” thing over your head), and that you want to be safe and have a good time. If you present it logically they’ll probably see your point of view.</p>
<p>I don’t know how it is in California, but most hotels around here (midwest) don’t rent out rooms to people under 21. Just something to find out before you go.</p>
<p>Oh, and I live in CA too, and I found that cheap(ish) hotels/motels will rent to you, but the more upscale ones won’t. So get ready for a long line of Days Inns and Motel 6s.</p>
<p>I think it sounds like great fun. My DD and her best friend flew out to California last spring break. Both were 18 at the time. They rented a car, stayed at a hotel, visited the Ellen Show (audience) and tooled around L.A. and surrounding areas. I wish I could recall the name of the hotel they stayed in, but it was a very decent one and my husband had reserved it for them on Priceline, so they got a good deal. The car rental company charged either $5 or $7 a day additional fee because the girls were under 21, but they had no problems. The girls each paid for their own airfare, car rental, hotel, food, etc. They had a great time! I hope things work out for you.</p>
<p>^That’s a good idea Thanks again for all the advice, looks like I need to get together with these friends of mine and do some serious planning. :)</p>
<p>If you were my child, and you weren’t 18 yet, my answer would be no; you are not ready for a road trip, since you are not yet a legal adult.</p>
<p>My D wanted me to approve a Senior Week group trip to Cancun. I was the first parent to say no, the rest of the parents followed suit. The next plan was a week at the Jersey Shore. I nixed all of the shore towns except the one dry one. That’s where she and most of her friends ended up staying. They rented a house from a relative of one of the girls, who checked in on them from time to time. (I also had a friend check in on them.) They had a wonderful time.</p>
<p>I am from SF and it is a great city, and close to so much!!!</p>
<p>And I suggest youth hostels, because they usually have lounge areas, you can meet other people, etc…</p>
<p>My D did a road trip with 3 other girls to disneyland and had a blast</p>
<p>Two girls were over 18, two under, it was no big deal at all</p>
<p>Other BIG thing you must consider is the driving, make sure that the drivers have had that year under their belts so they can take other kids in the car</p>
<p>I have no problems with road trips and having adventures…it can do wonders, so long as it is well planned, with lots of communication, etc</p>
<p>How many parents trekked through Europe? lots and we survived</p>
<p>I’ll have to talk to my other friend that can drive…he just got his license, but he’s already 18, so I need to see how that fits in. </p>
<p>I will have had my license for a year by this time. GREAT suggestion though, always something to consider, especially when you’re driving away from home.</p>
<p>Lucky, living in SF. I may be going to college at SFSU (already been accepted ^_^)! I absolutely fell in love with that city when I was there last May.</p>
<p>Disneyland is a good idea, except that I’m so close to it we’ve all been there a gazillion times (my school even does Grad Nite there).</p>
<p>I may look into youth hostels, but again, not sure how much my parents would go for that. Great suggestions though!!!</p>
<p>OK, maybe it’s because I’m not from California, but there is no way that I would allow my d to go on the kind of road trip you’re proposing, primarily because of the driving issue. Even with your license for a year, you are way too inexperienced a driver to carry other teenagers that far for that long. You’re all intent on having a good time, which is wonderful, but that doesn’t translate into a safe inexperienced driver. And the winding, narrow, steep hills of SF tax even experienced drivers who are not familiar with them.</p>
<p>I’d suggest that you guys go by bus to SF. The city has public transportation, or you could even take cabs - cheaper than trying to park in SF! </p>
<p>My d and her friends did a 4 day trip to Montreal. They went by bus, took public transportation in the city and returned by bus. No muss, no fuss, no designated driver worries.</p>
<p>I actually prefer youth hostels to motel for young adults because you aren’t alone, they are very safe and most are non-drinking</p>
<p>and sure SF is a bit tough to drive and park, but you can leave your car and take the buses, etc…but going by bus or train might be fun</p>
<p>you could train it up and fly back</p>
<p>Driving 101 up to San Francisco, from LA, I just did it, was easy, 6 hours…and a for a freeway, very safe…better than I5, less places to stop, but so pretty…</p>
<p>I wish you lock…we parents have to let go sometime…</p>
<p>As a mom though, I’d be less than enthusiastic about letting young drivers head out on such a long trip. Could you break it down into such short segments that no days were more than 4 hours?</p>
<p>I second the trip to SF- without a car. Public transportation is really good there, and I would be worried sick about the drive. Have all of you even had your license long enough to drive other teens? (For those of you from out of state, teens here either have to have their license for a year, or be 18 in order to drive other kids around)
And it’s not the streets in SF that would scare me, it would be long straight stretches of road when the driver drops something and loses control. My 19 y/o D wants to drive back cross country from Allentown to CA with friends in June, and I will not allow her friends to drive her car. I may be a control freak, but I have heard and seen too many sad stories. My H and I will meet her and drive back across.</p>
<p>That said, I think the fact that you asked here, knowing some parents will criticize the plan shows maturity, and I respect that. I just think you could have just as much fun without driving being involved. I like the youth hostel idea too!</p>
<p>See, I’d worry a lot more about driving in SF than the long stretches of road. SF require real driving “skill” - parallel hill parking, traffic maneuvering, etc. Driving along long straight patches is, while tedious, fairly easy, especially when you have someone else in the car so that you don’t “zone out”. DEFINITELY do not get in the car (in SF or elsewhere) when you’ve had a few drinks.</p>
<p>Also you probably won’t want to be driving more than 4-6 hours per day. It gets boring. Perhaps you could extend the trip a little and make some more stops - start out at Disneyland, check out Magic Mountain, etc, and move upwards, finding fun things to do in the cities you stay at - Casa de Fruta, etc, before making it all the way up to SF? Road trips sound fun mentally but in actuality when you’ve been stuck in a small car where your legs are cramping for 7 hours, you’ll wish you’d stopped a couple hours back. Even if you just stop at the hotel and goof around in the pool and don’t really get “out” (by the time you get to SF, you’ll have TONS to do) it’ll be a nice way to break it up.</p>
<p>Also I’d broach this subject now with your parents, so they can get used to the idea. And be aware that several of the people expressing interest now will probably back out - fact of life - so don’t make any firm and absolute plans until closer to the date.</p>
<p>None of us are old enough to drink, and my friends know I wouldn’t tolerate it anyway. But it’s a great suggestion. ^_^</p>
<p>After talking it over with a friend, we’re thinking of taking the train/bus straight to SF.</p>
<p>It’s cheaper-no gas expenses. Just hotel/food/other amenities.
You don’t have to limit the guest list to those who can fit in your car.
The parents would probably be much more accepting of driving us to the station than letting us take off in the car.
We all LOVE LOVE LOVE SF, and this way we wouldn’t have to drive for hours.</p>
Thanks again for all the advice, looks like I need to get together with these friends of mine and do some serious planning. :)</p>