should i let my daughter go on holiday alone?

Question

my daughter wants to go on holiday with her cousin this summer on their own to spain..they are both 17 but i cant help worrying about them..should i let them go?is it safe??what do you think

theyre both girls

Answer 1

Your daughter won't like me after this message but NO I don't think you should let two 17 year old girls go off together to Spain. With all the terrorism there is going on and Natalee Holloway going to Aruba and never being found and countless others, there is no way I would ever allow it. I wish you could personally ask the parents of the boys and girls that have been taken if they would let them go off by themselves again. Our children aren't safe in our own back yards where we can watch them, how can they be safe on holiday to Spain? I hope you can find something to do that will make it up to her but I pray you won't let her go.

6/6/07 7:00 AM
On Good Morning America just coming on is a news brief of a girl being taken from a Target store as she leaves the store, her parents will be interviewed on the show. I wonder if they would let her go to the store by herself again if they had it to do over again? She is 18 and this is Kansas.

67/07
Just curious what your decision will be? Will you let us know?
I guess you heard they found Kelsey?

Answer 2

Only you know your daughter and her friends so only you are qualified to make that decision. Sit down and talk to her about your concerns. Do you think she would be into drugs and have random sex or not? Can you trust her. Bear in mind she will probably go to an all-night party and do things she wouldn't normally do at home - that is all part of growing up. You need to discuss with her and set boundaries. If you think she may have sex there discuss with her the high numbers of infections caught on holidays and make sure she has protection. If you are worried about safety tell her to always stay in the group, if she is going out at night walk the route in daylight so she knows where she is going, don't accept food and drink from strangers etc...
Have an agreed time when she will contact you every few days, have her let you know what she is planning to do and if she is planning on going on a day trip get her to text you when she gets back.

I think that at her age she is probably mature enough to go away on her own, but you need to discuss things fully with her and make sure she is able to make responsible decisions.

Answer 3

Well, do you trust your daughter. She is at a very close age of maturity. So, giver her some freedom. Talk to her about how you feel and tell her what you want to happen and what you dont like. Why not try and work something out. Like, if you let her go, tell her that she needs to check in and you may make phone calls as well. Its okay to worried about your child. All that is doing is showing her that you love her alot and thats a beautiful thing! I hope this helps. Be Safe, Be Smart..God Bless :)

Answer 4

At 17 I don't think so. I would wait until they are legally adults, I know it's only a year, but it could make a difference in maturity levels.
Two 17 year old girls alone, for the first time in Europe doesn't sound like the safest thing to me. If it were me I wouldn't let them go.
I would really think hard about it. Is it they're first time on their own for a major trip (if so don't let them go)? Offer other alternatives, go on a road trip, etc. They can always travel to Europe while in college.
Hope this helps.

Answer 5

I have a daughter at the age of 18years, last year she went to Greece and the only reason I let her go because she went with her best friend they are like sisters and her friends younger and older sister, the older sister is 28years old and i know she is very mature, and i know my daughter would be well looked after. My daughter is going to Portugal at the end of this month with the same girls, but if my daughter came home and said to me she wanted to go on holiday with just here best friend then no i wouldn't let her go. Spain is a place alot of young people are drinking and partying all night and things going on that i won't mention. She is too young to go on her own. I think if it were my daughter, i would trust her but not others. I seriously think you should think about this properly, i am sorry for a young girl to go to Spain is not ideal. It is up to you sometimes, we have to let them be independent, but i wouldn't let them go to Spain. I hope this helps, from one mother to another.

Answer 6

If your daughter is a sensible girl ,and her cousin is also then i don't think i would stop her. You have to learn to trust her sooner or later.But on the other hand if she was a bit silly with sleeping around with boys and getting drunk then i would be concerned. You don't want any unplanned pregnancies or her been taken advantage of whilst shes away. Tell her if she goes shes only allowed to go to a quite resort. my daughter is going away this year to lanzarotte shes nearly 18 but i trust her as shes agood girl,but i will still worry thats what us mothers do.

Answer 7

I have just come back from Benidorm a hive of nightlife, and isaw loads of young girls having a good time and going to the clubs, but I never saw one in a drunken state in the morning in fact they were up early wanting to get a tan by the pool!!!

I agree with Mork tell her your expectations and let her spread her wings, also tell her about the dangers she might encounter.

We all have to learn about life, we can only guide and be there if things go wrong and the way we learn is by making mistakes.

You sound good parents. Good Luck with your decision

Answer 8

Wow that is a very hard decision!
17 is young, still when I was 17 I could be trusted however the world was much different then.
Is she mature? I think I'd feel better if there was someone older with them.

Answer 9

As a teen parent, letting go is something we dread. I know you know what I'm talking about. We have nightmares about this kind of stuff. However, I must be honest that, unless there will be an adult accompanying them (and I mean a family member or trusted older chaperon...NOT an older friend), I think they need to wait at least another year. Even at eighteen it will be hard beyond belief. But they have to become adults sooner or later. It would have to be a no for me, at least until she is eighteen, and then only in the company of a larger group.

Answer 10

If they are both under 18, they shouldn't be allowed to travel alone.. so my answer is hell no!!

Besides many airlines will not let a minor (anyone under 18) travel alone unless they have a family member waiting on the other side (which they check).

Tell your daughter it isn't safe at that age and perhaps wait a year or two