Best ABD teen girl - Greece, Italy or Germany?

[scottmel]

Hi We are doing ABD BSM this July and just know we are going to love the Disney tour experience. My DD16 is interested in planning our next ABD trip and will be her first overseas adventure. She was really interested in Germany, Italy (the tour that includes Rome, Florence as this reminds her of Assassins Creed ) and Greece.

Any one done all 3 or any of these with a teen girl that can weigh in on the enjoyment of the tour? It will be her SURPRISE highschool graduation present.

Thanks for any feedback. And the trip must occur in June or July and I know this sounds nuts but can I assume the hotels are air conditioned? Back in the late 90;s I am scarred from a visit to the UK where the hotels WERE NOT air conditioned and we happened to be there during record breaking heat for England!!! Figures! So honestly AC is a must for me....

 

[twentyco]

I took my almost 14 year old daughter on the Italy trip this past summer, and she really enjoyed it. She is VERY interested in both art and history, though, so that is part of the reason. We went to a couple of extra art museums, and also Ostia Antica on our own. There were other teen girls on the trip (others her age, a 16 year old, and two 18 year olds), all of whom seemed to enjoy themselves. I have not been on the other trips, so cannot speak to those, but I am sure you'll find the right one. Good luck!!

 

[scottmel]

I took my almost 14 year old daughter on the Italy trip this past summer, and she really enjoyed it. She is VERY interested in both art and history, though, so that is part of the reason. We went to a couple of extra art museums, and also Ostia Antica on our own. There were other teen girls on the trip (others her age, a 16 year old, and two 18 year olds), all of whom seemed to enjoy themselves. I have not been on the other trips, so cannot speak to those, but I am sure you'll find the right one. Good luck!!

thanks! Was the trip as great as it seemed? Were you pleased with it - how was the heat? AC in all rooms etc or was touring pretty hot

 

[carpenta]

We just did the Germany trip this past June with our 13 yr.old daughter and she loved it. There were about 1/2 the numbers made up of kids so she had plenty of company. The trip follows the "Romantic Road" of knights and maidens so it was a treat seeing all the castles and even staying in one. We did an Italian trip earlier (with another company) that mimics the ABD trip and my daughter loved it as well. Both of these I would recommend for a taste of history wrapped in romanticism. P.S. the trip in Germany two hotels (one being the castle) do not have A.C.. We survived and I can relate for a definite need for A.C. especially on vacation.

 

[twentyco]

thanks! Was the trip as great as it seemed? Were you pleased with it - how was the heat? AC in all rooms etc or was touring pretty hot

We definitely had a good time, and there were aspects of it that were unbelievable, like the Sistene Chapel and the gondola ride in Venice. I didn't find it uniformly fabulous, but we liked it a lot and would recommend it. The days in Rome were warm (we went in late June), but not overwhelmingly so, and all of the hotels had AC that seemed to work well (though others had issues with the AC in the hotel in Tuscany, we did not).

 

[scottmel]

We just did the Germany trip this past June with our 13 yr.old daughter and she loved it. There were about 1/2 the numbers made up of kids so she had plenty of company. The trip follows the "Romantic Road" of knights and maidens so it was a treat seeing all the castles and even staying in one. We did an Italian trip earlier (with another company) that mimics the ABD trip and my daughter loved it as well. Both of these I would recommend for a taste of history wrapped in romanticism. P.S. the trip in Germany two hotels (one being the castle) do not have A.C.. We survived and I can relate for a definite need for A.C. especially on vacation.

Thanks! That sounds wonderful! Oh I am so torn between Germany and Italy..but the no AC in the hotels honestly I don't know if I can handle that...Not sure if Germany weather differs from Italy but my brother got married in Italy in June a few years ago and said it was so hot etc. I can't handle that sort of thing....

 

[SingingMom]

We did Germany ABD last July. The two hotels without AC have fans in the rooms. The weather was warmer than usual at that time and we had no problems. ( and I sleep with a bedside fan on every night!). I think the trip is perfect for a teenager!

 

[carpenta]

We traveled the end of June and the weather was perfect. Highs in the high 70's and cooler at night. We had no problems. As you know the weather can be variable but in Germany the average temps where the hotels have no AC are quite reasonable. In Italy we traveled in late April and you could not ask for more perfect temps and crowds. Even though it was Easter we still found Rome quite easy to navigate.

 

[georgiagirl2]

We did the Italy trip this past June with our sons, ages 17 and 15. There were several teenage girls on our trip, just graduated from HS or early college. They seemed to love the trip as much as our sons did, maybe more so, as they spent a lot of their free time shopping in Rome and Florence.


The mask-making in Venice was a hit with all the teenagers, but especially the girls. Their masks were gorgeous!


We were there May 26 - June 3, so it wasn't very hot yet. Highs in the mid-70s. As we like it very cool at night when we sleep, we used the AC in all three hotels with no issues.


I don't think you could go wrong with any of these trips.

 

[kristilew]

OP, we haven't done the Italy trip yet but will in December with a 17yo girl. Not sure what courses your DD will have taken by the time she graduates, but my DD is currently doing the AP Art History class and it will cover much of the art and architecture we will see on this trip. If your DD will have taken it, that might be a swaying factor. As would taking German as her language, for the other trip. I don't think you can go wrong either way!

 

[mare1203]

We did the Italy trip at the end of June and did not have any issues with it being too hot or with the AC in any of the hotels. The temperatures were generally in the mid-80's, but not unbearable by any means.

On our trip there were a number of girls between 14-17 who all loved it. There were also a couple of us in our twenties and we had the same thoughts. If she like art, history, and elegance (and food!), Italy would be a great choice.