We have traveled throughout Europe & C.A. with our 2 boys since they were young - they are now teenagers & great to travel with. I actually just joined this so I could get more ideas where to take them (thinking about Turkey this summer).

Traveling with teenage boys:

Feed them often! Find the best gellatto in Italy. Best ice cream in Paris. Make that part of the adventure. Try new foods not found at home.

Keep it short! Definately short attention spans. Don't expect to see everything in the Lourve. Decide what you want to see and when they start to lose interest - promise them great chocolate if they stick it out a little longer.

Sports: Find a swimming pool or beach. Germany has great Olympic pools. Take them to a real soccer game in Milan. Rent bikes & bike around town (many German towns have them). Eat in a sports Brasserie in Paris - big screen Tvs w/ US sports dubbed in French. A boat ride on the Seine (not really a sport). Make up sports - who can find .... that fattest pigeon in the park in Paris, the smallest car in Italy (or the most expensive), or a race through the maze-like alleys in Venice (without losing your brother), try to train a pigeon in St. Mark's Square.

Time Out: Just stop & feed the pigeons (Paris & Venice are great for that). Sit in a park and watch the people. Don't feel like you're rushed to do everything. I may have missed seeing some famous painting in Milan but I wouldn't give up the time I spent with my boys checking out fancy cars (we did see the Duomo too).

Other Kids: Stay in hostels - they're more likely to meet other teens. Bring cards, travel chessboard, hacky-sac or small ball(a must in our packs)what ever they are into that they can play with others (no language barrier). The German hostels are great. Some Italian ones we've stayed in were good also. They often have pool tables & other activities.

Good Luck & Have Fun.

Do they know their first 'legal" drink will be waiting for them?

there is a national park in the Netherlands called Apeldoorn, which has a zoo called Monkey Park. They have all different kinds of monkeys, gorillas, chimps, etc... as well as a few different areas where you can actually interact close up with the monkeys. The best are the squirrel monkeys who will climb on your shoulder or sit on your lap. your kids will love it (i certainly did)

I think the imporant thing, especailly from what you have said about them liking the Carribian alternative, is that you have things to do, but, you don't over-do the sights.

I reccomend getting a youth orient guide book, like "Let's Go" and paging through it. You should leave the option of just hanging out in a city. (But certianly not just in the Hotel/Hostel, otherwise the being in Europe part would obviously be a bit silly.) I think that you should be too worried about "keeping them busy" if they like shopping, exploring, food, drink, sports, games, photography, art, socializing or...

Whenever traveling with more than two people, I find it best to plan on a few cities to "set up shop in" and then let everybody do what they want from there. For instance you could get to Paris and say, okay I'm going to the Pompidu who wants to come. If no one else does you'll have to let them do what they want, and you can just go on your own. (I realize you'll have to figure some plans out with the youngest because she probablly can't just run around alone.) When I first get to a city I don't run to the sights. I want to see the culture first and that's what you kids would be doing if they just wanted to go explore the Metro or sit in a cafe or on a beach. In my opinion its a bit more important to see how people live than how a select number of people lived. If you just encourage them to do the most interesting sights and otherwise let them do what they would like, you all will actually get much more out of the trip than if you have too strickt of a plan. No expectations leave room for no disapointments.

Hi All...

My middle son, 17, finally spilled the beans about why he doesn't want to go to Europe this summer...he says it's dirty and full of germs! Apparently, he thinks that everything old must be dirty. And yes, he does have a germ thing and is a neat and tidy person...now what?

BM

Therapy expenses can be tremendous.
The bright side is that you now have one less air ticket to purchase.

Anyone who thinks europe is dirty and full of germs, but the Carribeann is spotlessly clean needs to do a little research.

He's 17. Old enough to be able to take care of himself for a few weeks. Let him do what he wants. If he'd rather stay home, his loss, much as I think he (and anyone else) would gain a lot from some time in another country.

Offer to send him instead to bible study camp.

I don't know about where you live, but the streets of every European city are much cleaner than those of most American cities I've been to. Its completely understandable... but Europe is much less "germy," just explain the wonders of socialized health care...
European are very sanitary people, except maybe the French (just kidding.).

Expect things to be different. Things will definately not be as "packaged" in Europe. There is less fakeness (like malls) so things aren't as homogenous, and, that's the fun of it. I really think the place is still far far far cleaner than this contenent. The people, too.

It sounds to me like he just doesn't know what to expect. I think its part of the reason trips like this are healthy: they help us escape our fear of not knowing what to expect and worries about what "the right" thing to do all the time is.

Hostels are great places to stay in and meet people, but unfortunately they are not always sparkling clean If cleanliness is an issue, you might stay in a hotel the first few nights until your son has seen that Europe isn't that "dirty"

As a solo backpacker I prefer the atmosphere of private hostels, but in my experience the HI Hostels are generally cleaner than the private hostels. They are easy to book on-line or by fax, but do usually require a special hostelling card. Anyway, a good starting point for hostelling.

Good ideas...all of them. My personal favorites are sending my son to bible study camp and therapy! Maybe I could combine the two and he could get therapy while at camp? Actually, bundlewrap's idea about staying in a hotel the first couple of nights is a good way to let him see that there ARE clean places in Europe. I got on some hostel sites and showed him some pictures (the choicest ones)and he agreed that they weren't "too bad." I'm not going to spend too much more time trying to persuade him though...I need to make reservations pronto!

Well, i must say, that your son is like most of my students...he wont enjoy the idea of it, but once he is there, will thank you up and down forever!! (after the awkward, "ok you were right" stage) which should last about 3-5 days

yeah, I agree with Tommy - your son will love it once he is there so put up with his complaining now I guess.

My brother is a very negative/difficult person and never had ANY desire to travel. He went on a cruise for a work trip (he was very apprehensive about it and just thinking it would be no fun besides the drinking part) and it was supposed to go to Cancun or something or other but I think a hurricane/weather at the time caused them to reroute the cruise. They ended up going to this small podunk town on the coast with little hut bars and they could kayak to little islands around them and whatnot. HE LOVED the small town atmosphere and came back with a completely different attitude about travel and culture. He had never experienced this before and so he had no interest in it until then. I know my bro is a tough-headed character, so if he can change, then I'm sure your son will change his mind about Europe - Europe's the best. :-)

Well Brooke, your brother sounds exactly like my son! Boy, is he tiring. He's very negative, difficult, and he's a worrier! Plus, of course, he likes things clean...who doesn't but geez! I'm encouraged by your story. I'm really hoping that once we get to Europe, his attitude will change and he'll lighten up.

OK, my 2 cents.

Tell the boys that girls go topless, or even nude, in Europe in parks and beaches. They should enjoy that! Six weeks, I say do 3 countries, 2 weeks in each. Find a good location in each (maybe do a week in two cities in each country) and do day trips. Tell them that out of 7 days, so many will be for family things, so many for doing things on their own, so many for travel time. Have each one pick the country they would most like to see. Then have them pick what to do there. However you get to pick a few things too. Eastern Europe would be cheaper for you, if money is an issue.

Have fun and I bet the kids will thank you afterwards. Let us know how it goes.