<p>MY D may want to travel to Europe following graduation in May but most her friends are still looking for full time employment and don’t want to make plans. Any thoughts on tour companies that have young adult groups?</p>
<p>Here is a link you could use as a starting point. I don’t have experience with any of the companies.</p>
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<p>Thanks, proudwisdom. I should have been more clear–she is graduating college, not high school.</p>
<p>Check out Colette tours.</p>
<p>Years ago there were 2 companies I knew of that catered to young adults - Insight Tours and Kontiki. I have no idea if they are still around but I took an Insight tour of Europe and loved it.</p>
<p>Look at STA travel.
Pricier than making own your travel plans but geared for young people.
Have the 10 countries in 10 days bus tours for the young people who don’t want to hassle with booking hotels and rail passes.</p>
<p>I know not everyone agrees with me, but I think most of the fun of travel is doing the planning on your own and letting serendipity determine where you end up. I’m not against tours now and then, but I’d never want them to be an entire trip.</p>
<p>I also think one should stay put - 10 countries in 10 days is pointless.</p>
<p>I also think you should tailor your experience to what you like to do. If you wouldn’t spend 10 days in art museums in the US, why would you do it in Europe? Spend some time window shopping or finding hole in the wall places to eat or go for a hike.</p>
<p>Is she outdoorsy? REI offers great tours for younger, active crowd that involve biking, kayaking, hiking, etc.</p>
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<p>Intrepid Travel skews to a younger crowd. Also, with Intrepid you can combine and link tours.</p>
<p>Kontiki is very good…I think it is the Europe version of Collette and I forgot that…while I agree planning on your own is great if this is a single college age woman who doesn’t want to travel alone a tour might be a great choice.</p>
<p>your D needs to make some friends with kids who are going to grad school… that is my suggestion.</p>
<p>I completely agree that traveling with a friend and without a tour is the ideal way to experience one’s first trip to Europe. The 9 week trip I took in 1972 after sophomore year in college (and the 4 week trip I took in 1977 after law school) remain among the highlights of my life. The unexpected adventures and people we met can never be replicated on an organized tour. I am also concerned about the “10 countries in 10 days” aspect, but it may be my D’s only option.</p>
<p>RE52-
The biggest problem with planning your own trip begins with buttoning down the dates of travel especially since the potential travel buddies are looking for jobs and do not want to commit.
Plus while she loves her friends they may not be the best travel companions.
Someone has to be the grownup and get them place to place, check in to hotels, plan what sights to see and some may just want to party all night and sleep all day.
Perhaps finding a friend or cousin who wants to do the 10days/10 countries trip as a fun way to preview places she will want to return to visit in depth in the future.</p>
<p>if you traveling with people who have different goals it will not work out… if 1 person wants to be a tourist and one wants to party their way through Europe, that is not a good combo. That should definitely be taken into consideration.</p>
<p>Is anyone familiar with AESU? They have college “graduation” trips, many of which are for specific universities (although since my daughter is moving back to LA, she may be more inclined to travel with UCLA group, which apparently would be OK). The itinerary for these trips is slightly less rushed than ConTiki, which I think would be better. AESU is sending a list of “references,” but I would love to hear from someone here for a potentially more balanced view. Thanks.</p>