Parents, what do you think...?

Question

My 13 yr old daughter and her friend have been wanting to take a trip to Toronto (just a few hours away from where we live) to stay in a hotel for a night. They found a very nice hotel online with fairly low rates. My daughter is asking that if my husband and I possibly attend and stay in another room, could they go? She has offered to do extra chores so that she can fund the room herself (with her friend). Should I permit her to go? I asked what activities she and her friend would do. She responded that shopping and a little sightseeing might be good if she thought that she and her friend could afford it. The method of transportation would most likely be by car, otherwise a train ride that would likely cost about $20.00 per two youth.
Your thoughts, please?

Answer 1

Only if you go too and have an ajoining room...13 is too young otherwise. They need to be chaperoned round the city too.

Answer 2

This is just my opinion. If you and your husband go I say why not! I also dont think you should let them roam around Toronto alone follow them but at a safe distance so you know they are safe but they feel as if they are "on their own". I am not saying your child is doing this but you never know who she or her friend talk to on the internet and might be planning on meeting up there so I'd go and I'd do some shopping/site seeing as a safe distance but close enough to make sure they are okay. Also both parties having a cell phone incase you loose site of them is a good idea too.. Always air on the side of caution. If your gut is saying no then it should be NO

In the spring of 2004 I took my daughter, neice, 2 nephews and 2 of thier friends as well as my sister on a trip. We rented a SUITE and the boys had their own room and bathroom(with tv and fridge) but there was only one exit out of the hotel room. Maybe you can find a hotel that has this or get ajoining rooms. Might be more then 20 per two youth though. I live in the US and it was way more then that US dollars

Answer 3

If it is a chaperoned trip I see nothing wrong with it. But I sure wouldn't want to turn a couple of 13 year olds loose on their own in a big city like Toronto. Anything could happen. The possibilities even scare me as I sit here answering this question.

Answer 4

Well, when I was 13, I was already getting into trouble. Thats when I met one of my girlfriends who was a bad influence. Just wanted to give you a little insight on the fact that 13 isn't too young to think about being rebellious. But I don't see anything wrong with them going as long you go with them, which they offered. You and your husband take them, sure go ahead and stay in a room (close by) and make sure to say good night before bedtime, but then be sneaky and do a surprise visit around midnight to make sure they are still there or doing something wrong (like smoking or whatnot.) You can think of something to say like "Are you guys cold? Or "Are you guys hot in your room? Our room is soooo hot!" Say something if you care about your daughter getting mad at you for checking up on her. Make sure that you have meeting places and restrictions. Good luck and have fun too, you and your hubby go out to eat or something!

Answer 5

I would just let them do it. If you get to go too. Trust your daughter, and also remember there would be ways to keep an eye on them. Just make sure you set rules while your there. Tell them what times they need to be back to there room and then check on them at that time, tell them they have to let you know wherever they are going, and they should have some way to get a hold of you or your husband while they are out so that they can call and check in or you can call them.

Answer 6

Honestly, I would say no unless if they stayed in the same room as you. 13 is too young to be in a hotel room by themselves, even if you are in the room next door, they can sneak out. teenagers will be teenagers, trust me on that. and letting them roam around free by themselves in an unfamiliar place is just bad business. Maybe Im paranoid, but either way, I think its better to be safe than sorry. And another thing to add, there is more than likely more to it than you are hearing. Even if your child has been a perfect angel up until now, she may be hiding stuff from you (just as we all did to our parents), maybe they are planning to meet someone down there.

Answer 7

I'm not a parent, but why does she need her own hotel room? This sets off a red flag in my mind. Is she generally trustworthy? I don't think she should go around the city alone with her friend certainly and you need to use your best instincts on the separate hotel room.

Answer 8

Only if I had an adjoining room would I let my 13 year old daugther stay in ahotle 3 minutes or 3 hours from where we live

Answer 9

I'm guess your daughter's friend is also a girl. That is really important to know. I would say get rooms with a connecting door and let them know you will be checking up regularly on them. I wouldn't leave them unsupervised for a really long period of time but I think this will be very fun for your daughter and her friend. I would let them do it.

Answer 10

Sure, if you chaperone. Sometimes hotels have two adjoining rooms with a door connecting them--I've seen them. See about that kind of a set-up.

I've been to Toronto...it's fun, I like it. I just don't like the rush hour!

Answer 11

My daughter is about that age, and I know that right now, if she were to ask, I'd say no. I'd get her an adjoining room, for her friend and I, and I may not even make them pay for it, but I would not let them do it alone. There are just FAR TOO MANY sick people out there, that a couple cute teen girls alone would just be too tempting.