We're hoping to take our 13 year old nephew to Europe next summer, and want him to have an active role in the travel planning process. Are there web sites in particular that would appeal to a teenager looking to do some research? We've told him the trip will have two destinations -- Paris, and a second place of his choosing. We want to give him some good reading material to help make his decision.
I'm sure we'll have many questions along the way, as we have no kids of our own and have never traveled with kids. We're excited to show him Europe and help him have this experience

This probably isn't exactly what you had in mind, but check this site for a start, http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/graffiti61.html

Have you tried doing a search on google or bing using "Europe with teens" or "travel in Europe with teens," just to see what comes up? That's how I found the Rick Steves link.

Denise

waaaah, My aunt never took me to Europe! Lucky guy.

I bet he has an idea of what he would like to see just based on movies,media,friends trips etc. etc. RR

Thanks -- Rick was one of the first I thought of too. I've searched but I'm finding sites geared towards adults planning trips with/for teens. I'm hoping to find suggestions of sites that kids themselves would enjoy visiting. You know, I go to Frommer's, but I can't see my nephew reading that site.

If there are especially good guidebooks anyone would recommend for him to read, I'd love to know that too.

13 (and he'll be 14 by the time we go) never felt so long ago as it does now that I'm trying to picture this trip through his eyes.

Lonely Planet has guide books, and active forums.

However, they're for a slightly older crowd -- more college age, independent travelers, and the boards can get very rowdy, and they're not always polite, so I don't think I would let him go on there alone (or at least you should look and see the level of dialogue first) -- they might direct him to TOO good a time! But these kids, mostly European, are very well-traveled, so they might have some interesting suggestions for someone who is just a couple of years younger than they are.

Another college-age guide/site is the Let's Go guides put out by Harvard students. I haven't looked at them in years, so I don't know what the snark factor is on the boards.

They will at least get him closer to his age level, and the books capture the feel of a young person planning inexpensive travel, maybe for the first time, interested in things like rock music and alternative culture, less than the opera and the business district. (Though they may be in there too, and he may be very interested in those things. Not every teen wants to wear black and hang around the town fountain, obviously.)

You can obviously then "truth-test" any information you get there, here, if you want a second opinion.

Have fun planning!

Dana - have you checked out this list of Paris books for teens on the main Slow Travel France trip planning page? Lots of possible books to spark an interest in Paris can be found here!

Edited to add - you might also spark his interest by letting him read some of the ST Trip reports written by folks traveling with teens. I remember enjoying Amy'sreport of her trip with her two boys; others can be found by sorting trip reports to locate those about Paris with adults and teens.

Judy

I love the "Daytrips" by Earl Steinbicker. In Europe they have ones for France, London, Germany, Switzerland, Spain & Portugal, Ireland, and Holland, Belgium & Luxembourg. They have some interesting trips and ideas and also include strategies for choosing a base city, getting around, etc.

We only have the Italy book, but I found it full of information. At least your nephew wouldn't have to dig through a bunch of big books, only these more condensed versions, to decide where else he would like to visit. I'd be willing to bet your local library has most, if not all of these guides. You would only need to purchase the France and his second choice.

What a lucky young man and how fun for you two to see things through his eyes!

Denise

Thanks everybody, and don't give me too much credit. His grandparents are helping with most of his expenses.

I checked out Taking Your Kids to Europe from the library, and will take a look at the other things recommended here. I sent him to Lonely Planet, intending for him to read the guide info -- hope he doesn't wander into the ThornTree!

I've used lets go and its good, youth focus.
did I miss it or does he have preliminary ideas?
RR

t-mac

I did not have much luck engaging my 14-yo son prior to our trip although he loves history and watches the History channel constantly. However you might search the ST website and see what movies take place in the city you're going to and put them on your netflix list. The Thief Lord takes place in Venice, for example, and Gladiators would be good if you're going to Rome. I'm sure there must be a movie and/or book list for Paris.

Also, we went on Google maps and were able to pinpoint the exact location of our rental, and could "walk" up and down the street where we would be staying. That was fun.

At his age he may be interested in WW II and would enjoy going to some sites in France.

DD

Maybe it's not what you had in mind, but here is what I've already done with my teenagers at home: have them get information on potential destination through wikipedia (because it's a site they necessarily already know so they feel comfortable with it) and then check where it is and routes and all with google map and google earth. Actually using google earth is fun for them, you can have them visualize the route from one spot to the other. Then they can check from 'standard adult' websites if the sites are really interesting. I find that more than the type of website, it's the kind of activity you get them involved in that will make it a hit for their age range. I hope this helps even if a little!

Rick Steves son has a website on travel for college students and a year abroad. I've looked around it a little bit and it looks bit too old for a 14 yo. The info is also not too detailed.

Andy Steves

Kim and her mother just went to Paris with her daughter and nephew, both young teens. If you search you can probable find the posts where she got lots of wonderful advice.

The first time I took my nephew to Rome he was 13 or 14, I've lost track at this point. I gave him a copy of the Eyewitness Guide because it has so many pictures and diagrams and I thought that would capture his imagination better than a lot of reading. It seemed to work for him.

Our town library has a lot of guidebooks. They're generally a couple of years old, but the main things to do in Europe have been there for centuries so they're pretty well covered, regardless of the age of the book.

My colleague and I have traveled with high school students for years. Several years ago we submitted an essay to Slow Travel with suggestions about traveling with teens. Maybe it will give you some ideas! Here's the link: http://www.slowtrav.com/europe/cm_teenagers.htm

Cecelia