ABD for Teens?

[campbyers]

We are planning an ABD for our teens 15 and 17 for summer 2014. Any ideas which would be good for that age? I know there are now some "teen" trips, however, we have already visited costa rica and aren't interested now in Peru. We have done the London/Paris, Germany and South Africa trips when the kids were younger and Disney was THE way to go. However, now that they are older and don't need to be entertained, etc, we are curious if one destination would be better than others?
We were thinking Ireland, Scotland or even Greece. Would appreciate any feedback! Thanks!

 

[sayhello]

We are planning an ABD for our teens 15 and 17 for summer 2014. Any ideas which would be good for that age? I know there are now some "teen" trips, however, we have already visited costa rica and aren't interested now in Peru. We have done the London/Paris, Germany and South Africa trips when the kids were younger and Disney was THE way to go. However, now that they are older and don't need to be entertained, etc, we are curious if one destination would be better than others?
We were thinking Ireland, Scotland or even Greece. Would appreciate any feedback! Thanks!

I went to Greece on an Adults Only trip, so I can't specifically speak to how it is for teenagers. But the itinerary is the same, and it was one of the most fabulous trips I have ever taken! Your kids need to like visiting ancient ruins, and some hiking. The kayaking was really fun, and I could see your teens enjoying that.

Of course, I'm going to be totally useless by telling you that the reports for both Ireland and Scotland have also been wonderful. So I don't think you could do wrong with any of them.

Sayhello

 

[campbyers]

Thank you for your reply to my question. I am a little concerned regarding safety and cancellation. Greece is my choice - and yes, my kids have done their share of hiking and ruin exploration.

Have any of the Greece trips been cancelled and/or have you heard anything regarding cancellation? I know Disney has a cancellation policy, yet that doesn't cover security issues, right? We were going to book Egypt 2 years ago and they were not accepting any tour bookings. However, I do know that National geographic was still going during that time...

Does anyone have any thoughts on the safety issues of Greece?

thanks!

 

[familygoboston]

Sounds like you are gearing for Europe, but we've found that for our teens, that trips like Africa and Ecuador appealed. (CR too, but that appealed to younger kids being a short flight from the US) We did an ABD in Ecuador, another non ABD trip in Africa. Because of the distance involved and the nature of the kind of attention required for those trips- long flights and going out on early "game" or animal explorations, we found the age of any kids involved skewed older generally. My teens love wildlife, so that was appealing for them, but it depends on your kids. One thing I will say is that I found ABDs very accommodating to teens, welcoming them in to be goofy with the "kids" during Jr adventurer activities, but very understanding if they preferred to do the "adult" stuff instead (meals, or lectures). I found the Adventure Guides handled it exactly right- no easy task!

Good luck!

 

[sayhello]

Thank you for your reply to my question. I am a little concerned regarding safety and cancellation. Greece is my choice - and yes, my kids have done their share of hiking and ruin exploration.

Have any of the Greece trips been cancelled and/or have you heard anything regarding cancellation? I know Disney has a cancellation policy, yet that doesn't cover security issues, right? We were going to book Egypt 2 years ago and they were not accepting any tour bookings. However, I do know that National geographic was still going during that time...

Does anyone have any thoughts on the safety issues of Greece?

thanks!

Obviously, safety seems to be an ever-changing thing in Europe these days. But I felt TOTALLY safe the entire time I was in Greece this summer. At the time, the only protests going on were occurring strictly in Syntagma Square (the government buildings in Athens) and none occurred while we were there. The ABD does not go to Syntagma Square (it does drive through it a couple of times, but it could easily be bypassed.)

I have not heard of any Greece trips being cancelled. But we don't have people on every trip, so it's hard to know for sure if *none* have been cancelled. And ABD *will* cancel if there's any question of it not being safe (as you can tell from the Egypt trip). As far as I can tell, ABD *will* work with you if they cancel your trip due to safety reasons. We had a father & son on our Greece trip who had switched from the Egypt trip when their trip got cancelled. The father said the son was happy about that, because it was the 2nd time their Egypt trip had gotten cancelled, and so far, the son had gotten 2 ABDs out of it, because the father is determined to go to Egypt, and keeps re-booking it. You might want to check with ABD or your Travel Agent on that policy, but that's what I've seen.

Sayhello

 

[tchrrx]

The Costa Rica trip that we are booked on this summer is a special teen itenerary. I don't know if they are offering this for other locations, but it might be worth looking into.

 

[west&east]

Come with us to Central Europe next July! My daughter would love to have another teen on the trip!

 

[mbferruggia]

I am looking fir a trip for my 17 year old boy and 15 year old daughter. Anyone going this summer to Greece with teenagers. Last year we went to Ecuador on ABD and they were the only teens.

 

[JLoane]

How about Scotland? My teens (16 year old daughter and 17 year old son) are very excited about the trip. And so is my 20 year old son!

 

[wiigirl]

The Costa Rica trip that we are booked on this summer is a special teen itenerary. I don't know if they are offering this for other locations, but it might be worth looking into.

 

[abbyjt]

We are planning an ABD for our teens 15 and 17 for summer 2014. Any ideas which would be good for that age? I know there are now some "teen" trips, however, we have already visited costa rica and aren't interested now in Peru. We have done the London/Paris, Germany and South Africa trips when the kids were younger and Disney was THE way to go. However, now that they are older and don't need to be entertained, etc, we are curious if one destination would be better than others?
We were thinking Ireland, Scotland or even Greece. Would appreciate any feedback! Thanks!

My kids are currently 15, 17 and 19. They loved China in 2011, Greece in 2012 and Southeast Asia in 2013. All those trips had a decent number of teens on them. We usually go in late June or early July. For 2014 we booked the Prague, Vienna trip. We told our teens there would most likely only be little kids on the tour no other teens, but they are all fine with that. They have to be prepared to be the only older kids if that's how it works out.

 

[Mrpill]

I am looking fir a trip for my 17 year old boy and 15 year old daughter. Anyone going this summer to Greece with teenagers. Last year we went to Ecuador on ABD and they were the only teens.

. We are doing the DCL with ABD add-on leaving Venice on July 5th, 2014. Family of 4. 16yo and 18yo. This will be our 3rd ABD (Alpine Magic and DCL Med). Love DCL and love to have everything planned for us with ABD!!!

 

[WeLoveABD]

How about Scotland? My teens (16 year old daughter and 17 year old son) are very excited about the trip. And so is my 20 year old son!

When are you heading to Scotland? My DS just turned 20 (today, in fact!)--we are heading to Scotland with ABD next June (the one that includes the 4th of July).

 

[JLoane]

We're on the August 4th trip so unfortunately, we won't be traveling together. It looks like such an amazing trip. I get excited every time I think about it!

 

[sayhello]

When are you heading to Scotland? My DS just turned 20 (today, in fact!)--we are heading to Scotland with ABD next June (the one that includes the 4th of July).

I've added you to the Roll Call on the first page of the Meets thread. If you tell me who all is in your party, I can update that!

We're on the August 4th trip so unfortunately, we won't be traveling together. It looks like such an amazing trip. I get excited every time I think about it!

Just wanted to check, you mean August 3rd, right? And I agree! The trip looks amazing! Very exiting! I just need to buy my airfare & actually book those pre-tour hotels!

Sayhello

 

[WeLoveABD]

I've added you to the Roll Call on the first page of the Meets thread. If you tell me who all is in your party, I can update that!

Just wanted to check, you mean August 3rd, right? And I agree! The trip looks amazing! Very exiting! I just need to buy my airfare & actually book those pre-tour hotels!

Sayhello

Thanks! It will be me, my DW and our 20 yr old son and 13 yr old daughter