<p>As I get ready to send my son off to Europe for 2 weeks, I began to wonder where kids from Europe visit when they travel. Is the US a hot destination or do they prefer other areas of Europe? If they visit the US, what cities do they usually visit? I would assume they travel to NYC, but where else?</p>
<p>I find that many of my children’s friends would take a visit to anywhere in Europe over touring the US or even Canada, so I was curious if it was the same for European children.</p>
<p>My nieces and nephews who live in Paris have visited me, but they travel more frequently within Europe: Italy, Greece, Germany, England, Rumania, Spain… It used to be that kids wanting to have English-language immersion went to England (Margate in Kent seemed to live off French students). But a couple of my nieces and nephews came here to learn American English. They were very familiar with Baywatch and other American TV series (more than I in fact). When my niece was visiting, the school welcomed a group of Italian high schoolers. They went off to NYC and my niece tagged along. She reported that the Italians all wanted to go window shopping on Madison and Fifth Avenues.</p>
<p>I think they mostly stick to Europe. It is hard for European kids to travel around the U.S.–our train system is poor, bus system is kinda scary, in general transportation is too expensive, distances too great. Few people outside major cities here speak any foreign languages, so unless their English is pretty good, they might not have the confidence to explore the USA. Also, many Europeans perceive the US as dangerous (lots of guns, etc.)–parents there might discourage their kids from touring the US–even if they had the $$. Our history is short, so not a lot of great monuments, cathedrals, etc.</p>
<p>Other than NY, Philly, Boston, DC–maybe Florida/Disney World? Grand Canyon? San Francisco, LA?<br>
I remember seeing a lot of foreign tourists in New Orleans, but they probably won’t be going there now. . .Once ran into a couple German students biking across the midwest. Very rare indeed.</p>
<p>We’ve met up with kids on trains who have been biking/hiking – Germans like water, and there are a lot of public “baths”. The lakes are popular destinations, too. Although Europe is pretty safe, many cities are rather expensive, and the people we know (kids and adults) aim more for nature than for touristy things.</p>
<p>Many of my H’s coworkers have never left Bavaria! When we go somewhere, they can’t wait to hear about it. (Guess that’s true for many US folks, too – We lived in Atlanta, but have never been to places like Charleston! Don’t feel the same urgency to see everything.)</p>
<p>My D’s school makes annual trips to visit sister schools in the US (West Virginia), China, and Greece. Greece seems to be quite popular, as is Southern Spain.</p>
<p>We also have a number of friends who’ve been to the US several times – Usually aiming for Disneyland/world, NYC, and “cowboys and Indians.” Those are all adults, though, or families with US connections.</p>
<p>binx-Funny you mention Charleston, I am also in Atlanta and have been to Hilton Head 20+ times, but have never been to Charleston! Of course, I have never been to Europe either. My family takes a trip twice a year; once to the beach in the summer and a week during the kids spring break. That trip is usually to NYC, Boston (to visit family), Disneyworld, Hilton Head, or college trips! The only other time we really travel is for a family function, although as empty nesters now we are thinking of travel a bit more.</p>
<p>Charleston is wonderful. Go see it, but wait until the summer heat passes. Unless you are used to it, of course. I find summer heat in the south to be unbearable.</p>
<p>Kids in Europe can hop a plane for peanuts & spend a long weekend in another country. Last summer we were in Ireland & couldn’t believe the great deals. Plus, with B&Bs & pensiones (sp?), the kids can really enjoy a great holiday on a budget. International airfare in the summer is outrageous, although I found the fares much lower than least summer. Usually, a kid from Europe will want to make a long US trip, as the airfare is such a big chunk of the vacation budget. </p>
<p>We’ve entertained kids from Germany (relatives’ relatives) and they want to see Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty, NYC, Jersey shore, & no sales tax clothes shopping in NJ.</p>
<p>All I know is that lots of Italian kids head to Greece, and Irish kids head to Italy.</p>
<p>We’ve seen thousands of Euro kids down under, travelling or working/travelling. I met hundreds when I lived in New York. S1 reported heaps in Africa. The ones stopping through here always have Thailand on their destination list. In general, Euro kids are more adventurous in their travel–having travelled most of Europe with their high school classes.</p>
<p>European and Aussie kids travel the world way more than we American kids do. They make fun of how little we travel. Gap years, often more than one, are common in Europe. They strap on small backpacks, buy cheap round the world tickets and just keep going in one direction until they circle the globe. The US places most popular are NYC, SF and LA. They love the beaches of the South Pacific and are found ALL over Asia, especially the bargain countries. The demise of Phuket is very depressing to European kids. Vietnam has taken its place as the hotspot. They know far more than most American kids about the rest of the world and especially world politics.</p>
<p>Indonesia, especially Bali and Java, is full of Europeans, kids and adults. It is the ultimate bargain country offering culture, nature and tropical weather. I’m sorry that it’s not on most Americans’ holiday radar screen.</p>
<p>They also go to South America backpacking all over. ( and so does my son)</p>
<p>I can’t believe no-one has mentioned Spain. The whole of northern Europe (Brits, Germans, Scandinavians) seems to migrate their in the summer, on cheap package deals to get sun burnt and drunk. Particularily popular are the Balearic Islands and Canary Islands. The ultimate party island seems to be Ibiza (pronounced eye-be-tha). There are whole foreign towns out there eg Torromolinos, which is 100% British and Irish occupied and full of UK/Irish-style pubs.</p>
<p>Spain, Italy, Portugal, Egypt…mainly warm destinations with beaches. There were tons of European tourists in Sharm el Sheikh when I was there in 2004. Probably a little bit less now, however…</p>